Issue 5, Volume 100 by The Fordham Ram

The Fordham Ram Volume 100, Issue 5

Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918

See centennial spread, pages 14-15. March 7, 2018

FordhamRam.com

Alt-Right Flag Pictured

Budget Deadline Moved

By JAKE SHORE STAFF WRITER

By AISLINN KEELY NEWS EDITOR

United Student Government (USG) Budget Committee opted to move the budget submission dates up due to this semester’s unusual spring break dates. Instead of the traditional March 1 to April 1 submission period, clubs are expected to submit their budget and operations packets from Feb. 19 to March 19. The university has combined spring break with Easter break this year, since Easter falls on April 1, close to the usual spring break period. This ‘superbreak,’ as members of the community have dubbed it, would take up two weeks of the traditional budget submission period. Having club leaders and budget liaisons away from campus for two weeks of the process may have caused problems, according to Kaylee Wong, GSB ’20, vice president of finance. “That was going to be tough,” she said. Club leaders often reach out to the budget committee for assistance in the process, including submitting packets for feedback and reaching out with questions, according to Wong. She said the budget committee was very concerned about not being as available for two weeks. “It can be a confusing and mystifying process so we like to be a resource,” she said. In addition to this, Wong said the Budget Committee sought to avoid forcing club leaders to spend their breaks on budget and operations packets. “I think that’s unfair, I think we all work so hard at school, we deserve to have those two weeks to relax spend time with family, friends, do what you want without having to worry about your club’s budget packet,” she said. However, the earlier budget dates put some club leaders under greater pressure, since they coincided with midterms. Sofia Fernandez, GSB ’20, treasurer for Musical Minds, said the budget timeline was already time constraining, and earlier dates could add to the stress. SEE USG, PAGE 5

in this issue

Opinion

Page 9 Let’s Not Spend a Bunch of Money Fixing McGinley

Sports

Page 28

Season Ends in Heartbreaker for Women’s Basketball

Culture Page 18 “The Lost Tapes” Looks at the Life of Malcom X

KEVIN STOLTENBORG/THE FORDHAM RAM

Students bid on prizes and bought raffle tickets to benefit the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation.

Benefit Auction Brings in $12,000 For Be Positive By JOERGEN OSTENSEN ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

This year’s Fordham Dance Marathon (FDM) auction generated $12,000 to benefit The Andrew McDonough B+ (Be Positive) Foundation. Around 200 people attend in support of the foundation and its efforts to improve the lives of families affected by pediatric cancer, accord-

ing to Claire Polacheck, FCRH ’19, FDM’s executive director. FDM has now raised close to $54,000 this year, and Polacheck said she is confident that it will reach its goal of $100,000. “We are on pace with where we were last year in terms of percentage, and we are excited for the final fundraising push,” she said. The event began with over 50 raf-

fle items, including baskets prepared by the Residence Halls Association (RHA) board of every residence hall. Later, there was a live auction where 17 items were sold for prices ranging from $60 dollars for an autographed poster of Clyde Drexler, to $2000 for the first housing slot. The winner of the housing slot SEE FDM, PAGE 6

A picture of a group of Fordham students posing on Murphy Field with an alt-right flag has been circulating on social media in the last month, making appearances on online forums about the alt-right and meme pages. A Ram investigation into the photo suggests that everyone surrounding the flag except the person who brought it did not know they were about to be immortalized digitally alongside an alt-right symbol. Ten students are pictured around a “Kekistan” flag after an intramural soccer game last spring, which has been used as a symbol of white nationalism. Every student, after being contacted, verified the photo as real but did not wish to be identified by name or face. Most of the students interviewed said they had absolutely no idea that they were posing with a symbol of white nationalism and condemned altright politics. “When we were taking the picSEE FLAG, PAGE 3

CAB to Make Proposal By AISLINN KEELY NEWS EDITOR

Campus Activities Board (CAB) is drafting a proposal to move to departmental status, which would allow the organization to receive funding without going through the United Student Government (USG) budget process. The proposal is slated to reach the Student Life Council (SLC) at its March 14 meeting, according to Maxson Thomas, FCRH ’19, president of CAB. At that time, the proposal would be voted upon by the members of the council, moving CAB to departmental status or voting down the proposal. Departmental status would allow CAB to receive full funding without going through the USG After circulating an initial version of the proposal at last month’s SLC, Thomas is incorporating feedback in a revision to be submitted at the next meeting. The Office of Student Involvement (OSI) has worked with CAB and USG through the process. SEE CAB, PAGE 7

KEVIN STOLTENBORG/THE FORDHAM RAM

Commuter Assistants will now have a seat on the Student Life Council, representing the commuter population.

Commuter Assistants To Be Added to SLC By HANNAH GONZALEZ ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

This coming academic year, commuters will gain representation at Student Life Council (SLC) meetings. A Commuter Assistant (CA) position has been added to council meetings, to represent the interests and concerns of commuters. According to Monique Dumaine,

assistant director for leadership and commuter student services, the position will grant commuters a voice in SLC meetings, where topics and updates from all areas of the Fordham community are discussed. “Members of SLC wanted to ensure the commuter voice was equally represented during the full council meetings,” said Dumaine. “All members of SLC were in sup-

port of the creation of this position and are looking forward to seeing it come to life.” Commuter Assistants are a team of student leaders who serve as mentors and programmers for firstyear commuter students, according to Dumaine. Their role is to foster a sense of community amongst the population of students who do not SEE SLC, PAGE 5

NEWS

Page 2

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS Feb. 18 Hoffman Ave. 8 p.m. A student was crossing the street and was struck by a vehicle making a right turn. The student did not fall to the ground and was not injured. The vehicle drove away. The student reported the incident to Public Safety and the NYPD was notified. Feb. 24 Finlay Hall 9 p.m. There was a fire alarm in Finlay Hall. The alarm was triggered by students cooking in the basement. The FDNY responded, the room was aired out and the alarm was reset. March 1 Rose Hill Gymnasium 10 p.m.

March 7, 2018

Money Matters

Incoming Students Borrowing Less Data Reflects National Trend By JASMIN BOYCE STAFF WRITER

The Office of Student Financial Services is seeing a trend of decreased borrowing by incoming Fordham students. As Spring enrollment decisions draw closer for prospective students, Fordham provides students and their families with information on how to finance their Fordham education and counsels them to avoid borrowing. “In the past five or six years there has been a downward trend in borrowing,” said Associate Vice President for Student Financial Services and Director of the Financial Aid office Angela Van Dekker. “Our counseling plan is payment plans first, only borrow if you have to.” According to data released by Fordham University’s Office of

Financial Aid, 13.6 percent of students at the university currently cover their direct charges through utilization of loans. The low percentage of Fordham students making use of federal and private loans reflects a shift against borrowing in recent years, according to Van Dekker. She pointed towards the university’s reference guide for financing Fordham and the online financial aid portal as tools implemented to improve the process for students. “For over 20 years, [The Office of Financial Aid] has been providing students with a sheet that encourages students to compare the various packages provided by other schools,” stated Van Dekker. “We try to be very upfront.” While this comparison varies school to school, one factor remains constant among the bunch:

national trends reveal that students are borrowing less. The National Center for Education Statistics recently released data that shows undergraduate loan borrowing has decreased, while the percentage of students receiving grant funding has increased. The Office of Financial Aid at Fordham has recorded similar trends occurring at the university. Shelda Zajmi, FCRH ’19, said she was not surprised by the downward trend of borrowing. After seeing her older acquaintances failing to pay their loans back or seeking out programs to help defer or lessen the burden of their loans, she said she thinks incoming students are advised by people in their lives to avoid accumulating debt. “I think more students are making choices to attend schools where they’re not going to put

A student reported that his laptop was stolen from his backpack in the Rose Hill Gym during a practice. The incident is still under investigation. March 4 Finlay Hall 7:30 p.m. Several students were stuck in an elevator in Finlay Hall. When it was determined that the elevator mechanic could not respond in a timely manner, the FDNY responded and freed the trapped students. March 5 Arthur Ave 7:30 p.m. There was a smoke condition at 2486 Arthur Ave. caused by a student cooking on the stove. The FDNY responded and ventilated the location. There were no injuries.

KEVIN STOLTENBORG/THE FORDHAM RAM

Thebaud Hall, pictured above, houses both the Office of Student Financial Services and the University Enrollment Group.

themselves in debt, because there is this push from educators and people around them who are telling them not to take out loans at all,” said Zajmi. However, the financial aid process can be challenging, according to the findings of New America, a think tank working with uAspire, a national college access and success nonprofit focused on college affordability. New America released an evaluation of recent financial aid award letters distributed by universities and colleges across the United States. The data set surveyed 11,334 award letters from 936 colleges across 44 states, representing 6,023 prospective students for the 2016-2017 academic year. A large percentage of letters featured a precarious structure and lack of transparency when guiding students and their parents through the process of funding their education at the institution, according to New America. Faults included an absence of cost information, discrepancies of remaining costs after receiving aid, misleading terminology and ambiguous aid types. These errors lead many students into a confusing admissions process, including Zajmi. “The higher education system doesn’t make the information accessible, and if it does, it’s littered with technical terms no one understands.” Zajmi said. “Financial aid offices are so hard to navigate, because they want you to pick their school.” To reform the system, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a meeting recently to discuss greater financial aid simplification and clarity. In his opening address, Senator Lamar Alexander, committee chairman, discussed the higher implications of taking steps towards financial aid reform. “Today we’re looking at ways to simplify, and make more effective, federal regulations,” said Alexander. “To make it easier for students to pay for college, to pay back their loans and to reduce red tape so administrators can spend more time and money on students.”

This Week at Fordham Thursday March 8

Friday March 9

Saturday March 10

Irish Night

Fordham Dance Marathon

Windham Mountain Trip

FUPAC Dance Workshop

McGinley Lounge 8 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Lombardi Field House 2 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Windham Mountain 6:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

McGinley Ballroom 2 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Wolf Conservation Center 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Slainte: Fordham Irish Dance and Fordham Gaelic Society are teaming up for their biggest event of the year. The Fordham community is invited to experience traditional Irish music, food and dance.

This year, musical groups Chiddy Bang and Saen will be featured performers of Fordham Dance Marathon. Tickets are $10 presale or $15 day-of-show and will include food and entertainment for the day.

Trip attendees will be able to enjoy a day of winter activities on Windham mountain with the Ski and Snowboard Club. Sign-ups will be at 8 p.m. in McGinley Lobby on Wednesday, March 7.

FUPAC will put on a dance workshop with two members of Flava and Expressions to raise money for charity work in the Philippines. There is a suggested donation of $2. All are welcome.

The Pet Advocacy for Underprivileged Survivors club invites the Fordham community to visit the Wolf Conservation Center in Salem, NY. Students will meet Ambassador Wolves.

Sunday March 11 PAUS Wolves of North America

NEWS

March 7, 2018

Page 3

Students Pictured With Alt-Right Flag FROM FLAG, PAGE 1

ture, I paid no attention to the flag, as I was unaware of what it stood for,” said one student. “Just recently, I have discovered that the flag has been used as a political symbol of discrimination and hate. I was horrified.” Nine of the 10 students pictured told The Fordham Ram they were unaware of what the flag represented when the photo was taken. Except for the student who brought the flag, everyone pictured said they learned it stood for an altright ideology only afterwards and sought to be dissociated from it. “We had planned to take a picture for our last soccer game that semester. Having the flag in the background was not planned,” one student said. “At the time of the photo, most of the team didn’t know what the flag was.” “I honestly thought it was a country flag,” said another student. “I feel terrible that the pic is offensive, but I really had no idea what the flag stood for at the time.” Two members of Fordham College Republicans are pictured in the photo, one of whom owned the flag and brought it out for the photo. He defended his actions to The Ram as a “meme” and “a joke done in a private context.” “This photo literally impacted no one,” said the student who brought the flag. “All I can say is that this photo was a joke. We were representing the fictional Kekistani national team as a joke.” Both men pictured who were in College Republicans at the time that the soccer field photo was taken also participated in the December “free speech” altercation at Rodrigues’ Coffee House. The two pictured College Re-

publicans, one of whom has since left the club, confirmed that university investigators asked them about the photo during the investigation into the Rodrigues’ incident. However, they said the photo was only a small part of the investigation. The member who brought the flag said he has since left the College Republicans. The eight other students pictured were unaffiliated with the club and took no part in last year’s actions at the coffee house. The Kekistan flag bases its design off of a German Nazi war flag and has been used by white nationalist groups, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Some white nationalists brandished the flag at a demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia last year. However, the picture of the group of students was taken in the spring of 2017, while the Charlottesville protest took place in August of 2017. Christopher Rodgers, Rose Hill dean of students, released a short statement on behalf of the university regarding the picture of the alt-right flag: “Fordham University neither condones nor allows hate speech. After researching the background, symbolism and context of the image, the University took steps to address the situation with the students involved.” Rodgers declined to comment further on those steps. Interim Title IX Coordinator Patricia Scaglione said she could not comment on the status of an active investigation. John Carroll, associate vice president of Public Safety, did not respond to a request for comment.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a group that monitors extremist groups, said “Kekistan” originated as an online meme from the messaging board site 4chan but was later co-opted by the altright and white nationalist groups. In one explaination of the symbol, the group detailed how “Kekistan” exists in a murky space in public discourse “between satire, irony, mockery, and serious ideology; Kek can be both a big joke to pull on liberals and a reflection of the alt-right’s own selfimage as serious agents of chaos in modern society.” Those on the College Republicans executive board said in a statement that they want it to be known that the symbol in the photo and its ideology have nothing to do with their club. “Things like this, like the Kekistan flag, that are intended to inflame people – if they are intend-

ed to inflame, they are not affiliated with our club and not affiliated with traditional conservatism,” said the statement. Rodgers declined to comment on how university policy addresses symbols of this nature. One of the pictured students posted the photo to Facebook last year to celebrate the team’s intramural soccer win, but the poster was apparently unaware of the flag’s connotations. The post was deleted this week after The Fordham Ram began its inquiry. Since last spring when the photo was taken, it has been posted and reposted on different corners of the Internet. The student who brought the flag to the game also apparently posted it to the subreddit r/kekistan last year. The picture has since been deleted but the thread has not. In the past month, the picture had been featured on a Kekistan

meme page with a large following on social media. The photo is also featured in several different 4chan threads, a messaging board website where the Kekistan meme originated and across different meme posting websites. In some instances, anonymous commenters on the threads where the photo was posted disparaged members of the photo based on their race and gender. Most of the students in the photo, after being contacted, expressed surprise about the photo being brought up at this point in time, having been unaware of the flag’s meaning and how much the photo had spread online. “I do not agree with anything that the flag represents or stands for, and I am quite angry that I am even in a picture with this flag,” one student said, “As a result of this lack of communication, I will not be playing for the team any-

COURTESY OF REDDIT

Students were pictured holding a “Kekistan” flag, a symbol based off of the Nazi flag, on Murphy Field.

Facilities To Install Amazon Lockers By HANNAH GONZALEZ ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Within the next academic year, Amazon lockers will be installed on campus to provide students with 24-hour access to their packages. These outdoor lockers will help decrease the congestion of the post office during peak periods, according to Marco Valera, vice president for facilities management. Valera said the goal behind the lockers was to enable students to

pick up packages outside of business hours. “As you know, we don’t stay at the post office 24/7,” said Valera. “These are there 24/7.” To ship to a locker on campus, a student ordering from Amazon would select the Fordham University Amazon locker location at checkout. Once the package is delivered to the locker, the student will be given a passcode to open the compartment. The student then has three days to pick it up before it

is shipped back to Amazon’s facilities. The two locations of the lockers will be outside of the Ram Van offices and Rodrigue’s Coffee House, to accommodate residential populations on both sides of the campus. The lockers will be painted green to match the campus, and both sets will be outdoors in order to provide all-day access. Lockers will also be installed at the Lincoln Center campus. Valera said he hopes the new

KEVIN STOLTENBORG/THE FORDHAM RAM

A potential benefit of the Amazon lockers will be to decrease the traffic of Amazon shoppers in post office lines.

lockers will alleviate overflow at the package window. “We’re hopeful that it will help with some of the backup at the post office,” Valera said. Some students have expressed a desire to pick up packages outside of normal business hours. Margaret Joyce, FCRH ’20, stated that the inconvenience of the post office is one of the reasons she doesn’t order from Amazon more frequently. “It’s hard to get packages between classes, because that’s when everyone’s trying to pick them up,” said Joyce. “With the Amazon lockers, it’s convenient that you don’t have to go at a certain time.” Ashley Qamar, GSB ’20, said she struggles to find time to pick up packages during the limited hours of the post office. “The issue isn’t with the post office,” said Qamar. “The issue is that I don’t have time to pick up packages during those hours.” The 24-hour locker service won’t face the same limitations, according to Valera. The project has been in the works since Amazon began offering the service, according to Valera. The delayed installation is due to the backlog of locations requesting Amazon lockers. “Amazon had just rolled out this service to universities and other institutions,” said Valera. “It’s relatively new.”

Valera said there are some limitations to the services the lockers provide; packages must be small enough to fit into its compartments. While a student could have one textbook delivered with no problem, ordering eight at once might prove to be a challenge, according to Valera. “There are some limitations, like the size of the package,” said Valera. “But Amazon will tell you when you check out. If you’ve got a big package coming in, it won’t work.” Joyce and Qamar both expressed their concern about the three-day timeframe for pickup. “I would be worried about forgetting the package, because I forget my packages at the post office all the time,” said Joyce. Qamar said that, though she appreciates the decrease in post office traffic the lockers would provide, she would ultimately choose the campus post office over the possibility of her package being returned. “I would probably prefer to have my packages sent to the post office,” said Qamar. “It’s closer to my dorm, and they also send you notices and hold onto your packages for longer.” Valera said the lockers will not necessarily be permanent fixtures on campus. “It’s part of an agreement we have with Amazon,” said Valera. “If it doesn’t work for us, it can be ended.”

NEWS

Page 4

March 7, 2018

Research Spotlight

USG Column

Student Conducts Third Study on Stress

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

Daniella Toto, FCRH ’20, is conducting her third research project on the effects of stress under Molly Zimmerman, Ph.D.

By JULIA RIST STAFF WRITER

Daniella Toto, FCRH ’20, is no stranger to research projects. Since completing her freshman year, she’s already received three research grants from Fordham. Toto, a sophomore double majoring in psychology and biology, is looking at how personality is connected with perceived stressfulness, and if anxiety has anything to do with that relationship. Toto said that she expects an emotionally stable subject will report less stress, and vice-versa. “The more emotionally stable you are, the less stress you get,” Toto said. “More emotionally stable people tend to report lower levels of stress, and generally will be less anxious than those who have lower emotional stability.” Molly Zimmerman, Ph.D., a psychology professor, is serving as Toto’s advisor. Zimmerman, who runs the Clinical Neuropsychology Lab, said she was impressed by Toto’s early initiative to get involved with research. Toto’s project grew out of a larger project run by Zimmerman. However, Zimmerman said Toto’s project is all her own. “Her research project dovetails with a larger project I run that examines interrelationships of light exposure, sleep and cognitive function,” Zimmerman said. “Dani’s project is completely her own and has been driven by observations she has had working with study participants in my ‘parent’ project.” Zimmerman also has five graduate students helping out at the laboratory. Most of them are pursuing degrees in clinical psychology. Some of the graduate volunteers from Zimmerman’s study help Toto take surveys that she created to better inform her own study. Right now, she’s up to 186 volunteers. Toto said her tests are mostly based around cognitive function.

These types of tests range from a simple pen and paper test to a watch that measures how much light exposure the subject is receiving when they’re sleeping. “There’s a bunch of different tests we do to these students,” Toto said. “Mainly it’s all testing for cognitive functioning, so we give them a bunch of different surveys that test for that. These tests each have their own variable that they’re concentrating on.” All of the previous research projects that Toto has conducted share the central theme of stress.

Photo of the Week:

In the summer of 2017, Toto looked at how stress affects the sleep of Fordham students. In this study, she predicted that students would have less stress because they were away from school, which she cited as a constant stressor for many people. She said she had to make sure this research had a seasonality component to it, due to the fact that she was completing it in the summer. “I predicted that in the summer students are going to be less stressed because we don’t have any school work,” Toto said. “Since

we’re less stressed, we will therefore get more sleep because stress affects sleep and sleep also affects stress.” In Toto’s second research project, she tried to better understand the correlation between personality and stress. She completed this project in the fall of 2017. In her research, she looked at how emotional stability affects stress. In her third and current research project, Toto is expanding on the data that she found while completing her second project. Over the course of the spring semester, Toto will look into how anxiety plays a role in the relationship between stress and personality. Toto plans to submit her research to the Fordham Undergraduate Research Journal (FURJ). Although Toto has done many research projects, she said that this will be the first time that she will be publishing her findings. “It was very hard [learning how to write a psychology research paper,]” Toto said. “There were a lot of variables, and I’m not the best at statistics. Dr. Zimmerman has been a big help with that.” Her research paper is due before the Fordham Undergraduate Research Symposium, where she’ll have to present her findings. The Symposium will be held on April 11 in the second floor of McGinley. Toto hopes her research will help more students recognize if they are predisposed to anxiety and stress. She said that there should be more information available about anxiety and stress so that people are aware of how to manage it. “My research isn’t focused on finding out ways to deal with the stress,” Toto said. “It’s more focused on figuring out who is stressed, which is the first step to figuring out how to fix that.”

KEVIN STOLTENBORG/THE FORDHAM

This view of Lower Manhattan can be seen on the Staten Island ferry. Many take the boat trip for its scenic views of the city, such as the skyline pictured above.

USG To Hold Walk-Out By SARAH HUFFMAN STAFF WRITER

This Thursday, United Student Government (USG) voted to cosponsor a campus-wide walkout on March 14. The idea was presented to the Senate by Neil Joyce, FCRH ’19. Joyce said that he was contacted a week ago by a student at Fordham College Lincoln Center (FCLC) and a member of Fordham Law School (LAW). The students are planning walkouts for their respective schools in response to the Parkland, Florida shooting a few weeks ago and asked for Rose Hill participation. Joyce said he wanted to go through the administration to get the project approved. He said he contacted Dean of Students Christopher Rogers, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Jeffrey Gray, USG Executive President Brian Reardon FCRH ’18 and Executive Vice President Abigail Kedik FCRH ’18 in order to get things moving. “This is a necessary first step in advocating for common-sense gun reform, and I hope that we as a Fordham community may advocate for justice in the weeks and months to come,” said Joyce. He also said that a walkout was an appropriate response to the email that Father McShane sent about a week ago concerning public protest in response to the Parkland shooting. The walkout would happen on March 14 at 10 a.m. and would last 17 minutes to honor the 17 lives lost in the Parkland shooting, according to Joyce. USG also approved a letter that would be sent out to the student body explaining what the walkout is and why it is happening. The Senate said they hope a letter will help students feel more comfortable attending, as well as explain the intentions behind the walkout. Reardon also added that Campus Ministry reached out to him about creating a time and space to pray and speak about the walkout and the issues it addresses. The Senate also discussed ideas for writing letters and tabling in order to spread awareness about gun law issues and what needs to happen moving forward. In his executive update, Reardon thanked the Senate for approving the co-sponsorship and the letter. The senate chose ASILI as their club of the month for February to recognize the club’s efforts during Black History Month. The Freshman Senate said the ASILI fashion show was a huge success. The Election Commission gave an update concerning election season. Senators Scott Saffran, FCRH ’18, and Sofia LaBella, FCRH ’18, said they had their first information session and there are two more in the coming weeks. They said that anyone interested in running for a position needs to attend one of the meetings. President Reardon also encouraged everyone on Senate to run again.

NEWS

March 7, 2018

Page 5

Womens Studies Examines #MeToo By KATHERYN ROBERTS STAFF WRITER

With the recent rise of the #MeToo movement and the spread of awareness regarding sexual abuse and misconduct, Fordham’s Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies department (WGSS) plans to incorporate the movement’s teachings into the classroom in hopes of initiating discussion on the issue. In Fordham’s Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies department, both teachers and students hope to incorporate the movement into

their classrooms. Orit Avishai, professor and co-director of women, gender and sexuality studies, said she often includes topical content in her courses. “In my courses I always rotate some of the content to reflect current issues,” she said. “I’m quite sure that next time I teach my gender courses, as well as my introduction to sociology course, I’ll include a unit addressing the movement and the larger issues that it speaks to.” Colleen Granberg, FCRH ’18, has taken classes within the WGSS

department and said she has noticed a change in her classrooms since the #MeToo movement’s rise. “I think that people are coming into class with a much more nuanced understanding of the factors at play, such as power dynamics in the workplace and the institutional protection of habitual predators,” she said. This understanding has contributed to better class discussion, according to Granberg. “People are learning from reading about it in the news and on social media, and while sometimes

KEVIN STOLTENBERG/THE FORDHAM RAM

The Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department incorporates current issues in its curriculum.

Commuter Assistants To Gain Seat on SLC FROM CSA, PAGE 1

live on campus. “This individual would be able to spotlight what is being accomplished in the world of Commuter Student Services, draw attention to concerns from this population and continue to build connections with the Fordham community at large,” said Dumaine. According to Dumaine, three commuter assistant representatives will serve their population alongside the three residential assistant representatives currently in attendance of the meetings. Nemesis Dipre, FCRH ’18, currently takes part in SLC meetings in her role as executive president of the Commuting Students’ Association. She said that the Commuter Assistant position will be able to speak to the interests of first-year commuters in the same manner that resident assistants on the council speak to the interests of their residents. “Unlike the Executive President of CSA, the CA represents a student employee organization that executes their own set of events and meetings that focuses on freshman commuters,” said Dipre. “The CA’s position on the board will allow the SLC to include insight on the needs and concerns of first-year commuter students.” Commuter Assistant Patrick Infurna, FCRH ’20, agreed that the creation of a Commuter Assistant position will give voice to the particular interests of the first-year commuter population. “Commuter Assistants give spe-

cial attention to commuting freshmen, so anytime a CA’s voice is heard, a commuting freshman’s voice is heard,” said Infurna. The creation of a Commuter Assistant position is a step toward increasing representation for commuters and discussion of the unique challenges of the commuter population on campus, according to Dipre. “I hope this position inspires more conversation about commuter needs and brings more commuter students to SLC meetings,” she said. Commuters Assistants have similar hopes for the position. Infurna said that increasing communication between the commuter and residential populations will help build a community for commuters on campus, as well as facilitate relationships

between commuters and residents. “We know that there are plenty of untapped ways of integrating the commuter and resident populations, so we’re really excited to work with the council,” said Infurna. “I can really only see great things coming from our new representation.” The Commuter Assistant position will be joining the council in the 2018-2019 academic year. Current attendants of the meetings include representatives from Office for Student Involvement, Residential Life, Dean of Students, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Fordham College, Gabelli School of Business, United Student Government, Residence Halls Association, Campus Activities Board and Commuting Students Association.

THE FORDHAM RAM ARCHIVES

The Student Lounge is a community space utilized by commuters.

that information is inaccurate or oversimplified, it has definitely allowed us to have interesting discussions in class because students are approaching these topics armed with a new knowledge and context regarding sexual assault,” Granberg said. Most of the classes within the WGSS department focus on understanding femininity and gender through the experiences of women, but Associate Professor of Journalism and Media Studies Amy Aronson said she hopes the department can eventually add more courses about masculinity in order to create more of a discussion amongst her students regarding topics like the #MeToo movement. Aronson said that masculinity is a box in the same way that femininity can be. It imposes expectations on men for certain kinds of behavior and represses other kinds of behavior, according to Aronson. A department that addresses masculinity allows students to examine larger questions that address the intersections and dynamics in gender, according to Aronson. “Many gender studies programs have really embraced masculinity studies in the last 20 years, and to really become moved from being primarily women’s studies programs to being really truly gender studies programs that look at masculinity and femininity and the dynamics among them,” she said.

While most of the students in WGSS are female, Aronson hopes the program can incorporate more classes for male students in order to initiate discussions about the two genders. The #MeToo movement, which was started in 2006 by activist Tarana Burke to help survivors of sexual assault, has been actively present on social media. The hashtag has become a way for victims of sexual abuse and harassment to share their stories. Since the Weinstein story broke, over 60 women have come forward with accusations against him, according to Elle. In addition to this, dozens of men have been accused of committing similar types of sexual misconduct, including comedians Louis C.K. and Aziz Ansari, actors Kevin Spacey and James Franco, journalists Charlie Rose and Matt Lauer and others. One of the most controversial cases regards former U.S.A. Gymnastics Association team doctor Larry Nassar, who was sentenced to 40-175 years in prison after more than 150 victims came forward accusing him of sexual assault. Since the October 2017 allegations of sexual misconduct began to surround Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, many women have come forward with allegations of Weinstein and other high profile men in media committing acts of sexual assault, harassment or misconduct.

USG Moves Budget Dates FROM USG, PAGE 1

“Some students cannot meet this new timeline, and penalizing the club with sanctions if they do not meet this new budget date should not be a consequence,” said Fernandez. The decision on the date change coincided with Wong’s February election, when she filled the position vacated by Elizabeth Crennan, FCRH ’19, the previous vice president of finance. Wong said the decision to change the dates stemmed from the initiatives she focused on in her platform, when she spoke on being a resource for clubs. “I recognize it can be so confusing, and when we’re wrapped up in our USG world we can think it makes so much sense because we’re constantly immersed in it,” she said. Wong served as a club leader before her senator position, which she said gave her firsthand experience of the challenges that come with submitting budgets. The earlier dates have changed the usual process for some clubs. The staff turnover of Fordham University Emergency Medical Serviecs (FUEMS) usually allows for the outgoing associate director to guide the incoming associate director through his or her first budget submission. This year’s dates do not allow for this, according to Ashley Katusa, FCRH ’18, associate director of FUEMS. “While this doesn’t necessarily create problems, it will detract from the amount of training I’m able to do with the incoming Associate Director,” said Katusa. Katusa also said the earlier dates will make it difficult for FUEMS to

factor in later upcoming costs that cannot yet be accounted for. “Ideally, I’d like to be able to factor in costs for the upcoming weeks, as a big cost of ours is our annual dinner,” she said. “A later budget date allows me to be more precise in the numbers I submit to USG.” The most confusing part of the process is providing backup documentation, according to Wong. However, she said she found the USG site usgbudgetrh.info most helpful when she was a club leader. “A lot of people look at Orgsync or on Fordham’s specific website, but there’s not a lot of resources there, but that USG specific website is super helpful,” said Wong. In addition to the website, Wong cited information sessions as a good resource for new Eboard members or club leaders. The next session is slated for March 12. “This is a great opportunity for new Eboard members or new clubs to come and get a glimpse into Orgsync as well as ask any personalized questions about the process,” she said. Wong said she has not heard much feedback from clubs since the date changes, but that this can be a good sign that it is not having negative effects. The date changes will not effect any other part of the budget process, according to Wong. Budget Day remains April 14, with clubs receiving notice of their funds after Student Life Council approval in early May. Wong said USG plans to return to the traditional budget dates after this year, unless another timing issue

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March 7, 2018

Students Place Bids to Benefit B+ FROM FDM, PAGE 1

was Jacklyn Onody, GSB ’20, who lost in the same auction last year when the winner paid close to $16,000. Onody is the hero chair of FDM, which means she has firsthand experience with the children benefited by the auction. The B+ Foundation calls the children it helps ‘heroes’ and RHA, through FDM, is involved with five in the local community. “I honestly love the heroes we have and I feel like anytime we get a donation I’m so excited because I know it’s going directly to them,” said Onody. The auction also featured a speech by Joe McDonough, the founder of The B+ Foundation. McDonough started the foundation after his son, Andrew, died of leukemia in 2007. He said The B+ Foundation got its name from both Andrew’s blood type and his attitude. McDonough said he found the support of the Fordham community inspiring. “This isn’t going to bring back my boy, but it inspires me everyday,” he said. McDonough discussed the im-

portance of the programs and research that the auction was funding. “Collectively, we are changing the landscape of childhood cancer,” he told the crowd. As someone who experienced losing a son to cancer, McDonough understands the importance of the work his foundation is doing. He said receiving support not only helped his family pay medical expenses, but also made him feel less lonely. “It makes you feel like you’re not so alone in the scariest, loneliest place you can be as a parent,” he said. “I felt helpless to save my son’s life, but I didn’t feel alone because we were wrapped in support.” Polacheck said she thought McDonough’s speech helped students to understand the impact of their donations. “I think hearing him brings a lot of Fordham students closer to the cause and gives meaning to the raffle tickets and bids,” she said. She also credited him with helping to inspire organizers. “It also inspires RHA and the FDM committee to keep fighting toward not only our monetary goal, but also the goal of better treatment options and, eventually, a cure for

childhood cancers,” she said. Haley Hauge, GSB ’18, FDM’s operations coordinator, said she has seen McDonough’s talks inspire students. “Hearing from Joe McDonough is always incredibly inspiring,” she said. “In my experience, when people learn about the background of The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, they are instantly motivated to get involved with the cause.” Hauge, who paid $400 for a three month membership to Equinox, said participating in the auction has a direct impact on the foundation. “I was motivated to bid on items during the live auction as the money I am spending goes directly to The B+ Foundation…instead of paying Apple or some other large corporation, my money directly helps support the fight against pediatric cancer,” she said. McDonough’s foundation is on 90 college campuses all across the country. “College students are so philanthropic…quite frankly more philanthropic than a lot of adults,” he said. “It just feels right. It’s inspir-

ing to see young people step up to fight for kids.” McDonough, who attended Fordham, said that Fordham students have been an inspiration to the foundation. “Take the numbers aside, it’s the heart and soul of the students that I’ve come to meet here that is so inspiring to me,” said McDonough. “The money is absolutely wonderful, and it’s going to help so many families and fund research, but there is just a purity of motives, a passion, a genuine desire to change the world.” Polacheck said the auction, which has been an annual RHA event for 24 years, has become an integral part of Fordham. “I think this event is a significant part of Fordham’s culture,” she said. “I’ve found that Fordham students care deeply about their community, and this is just one way that they can help it and also win some prizes along the way.” Many of those present at the event were there because they are a part of RHA. Rahil Meatel, GSB ’21, said RHA has helped connect her with the cause. “We learn more about cancer

awareness and meet some of the heroes,” she said. “I’m more obligated to be helping the cause.” Brianna Miller, FCRH ’21, a member of RHA, said she had personally been involved with the heroes. She met one a week before the auction. “His name is Jaidan, he’s awesome,” she said. Miller said she was there to show her support. “I’m here to support cancer research and The B+ Foundation,” she said. Laurel Grant, FCRH ’21, who won one of the lottery baskets said she decided to contribute because it impacts the quality of life of the families the foundation helps. “B+ is a great foundation,” she said. “It all goes to help kids with cancer and the families with treatments and just leading more comfortable lives.” McDonough encouraged students unable to participate in the auction to show their support at future FDM events, or by sending out emails asking for donations on The B+ Foundation’s website. “The opportunity is still there for you,” he said.

Sharpton Addresses Gun Violence, Race, Fordham By JOERGEN OSTENSEN ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Al Sharpton addressed issues of gun violence and a race gap in America, as well as Fordham’s place within New York City. Fordham Libertarians, College Republicans and Fordham Political Review co-hosted the activist, giving him the opportunity to speak to Fordham students on issues he said some have called divisive. Sharpton said that after the Newtown shooting politicians

promised change that has not come. He said he was encouraged by the efforts of high school students to expand gun control, particularly their focus on state legislators and congress. “If you don’t change laws then your moment will not turn into a movement,” he said. Sharpton said he learned that activism entails activism entails demonstration, legislation, reconciliation when he was a leader of Martin Luther King’s youth organization in New York City. Reconciliation is an important

part of the process, according to Sharpton. “You’re not just doing it out of some vengeance,” he said. The core of the gun debate in the United States is the legalization of assault weapons, according to Sharpton. Other issues exist like mental health, lack of law enforcement reactions to warning signs and inaction of armed guards at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are secondary to the legalization of assault weapons. “That didn’t kill 17 people.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM LIBERTARIANS

Al Sharpton spoke to Fordham students in Keating 1st at an event co-sponsored by three Fordham clubs.

What killed 17 people was that a guy with mental health problems…could buy an AR15 and shoot 17 people,” he said. He said that sets America apart from the rest of the world, since most nations do not allow private citizens to carry military style weapons. President Donald Trump has avoided that aspect of the issue, according to Sharpton. “The one thing [Trump] will not talk about is the AR-15s,” he said. Jacob Linker, President of Fordham Libertarians said part of the reason they tried to bring Sharpton to campus was that Roger Stone said he and Sharpton were friends. Stone was invited to Fordham in October and said he had recently had lunch with Sharpton. According to Linker, Stone said he was not a racist because of that friendship. Sharpton said Stone was exaggerating their relationship and that simply being his friend would not excuse racially insensitive comments. “To say you’re a racist because you had lunch with me is tantamount to saying some of my best friends are black,” said Sharpton. “He should know how offensive that is.” Sharpton said the race gap in America needed to be addressed. Not having debate about those issues is detrimental to progress, according to Sharpton. “You will never make the country what you claim you want to be if you don’t deal with how you close the race gap in this country,” he said. He said blacks and Latinos still have a lower quality of life, a different and more biased experience with the criminal justice system and less than equal opportunity. According to Sharpton, New

York City Public Schools are not on par with where they should be. “[At some public schools] you would think you were in Rikers Island,” he said. Sharpton also discussed the issue of gerrymandering, which he said was tied in with the issue of race in America. “It is antithetical to the whole concept of an American democracy that represents the population,” he said. Sharpton said that voting rights are still an issue today despite the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which he considered to be the most important result of the 1960s civil rights movement. “We’ve got to stop the impediments to voting rights and free voting districts,” he said. Eric Chacon is a member of Fordham College Republicans. He said he disagreed with Sharpton on most of what he said. “I vehemently disagree more so than not with Reverend Al Sharpton,” said Sharpton. “He’s been a large contributor to racial tensions.” However, Chacon said his group co-sponsored the event to help break down outrage politics that he sees at Fordham. “We acknowledge everyone’s voice, we can disagree and have civil discourse and not have to go at each other’s throats.” Sharpton also pointed out the lack of diversity in the audience. He said that Fordham should make a concerted effort to cultivate a student body that is reflective of the New York City community. Sharpton, who is a Baptist minister, said that Fordham has a particular obligation to having a diverse community because it is an institution rooted in Christianity.

NEWS

March 7, 2018

Page 7

BLM Leader Urges Action Against Racism By JOERGEN OSTENSEN ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Hawk Newsome, the president of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, (BLMGNY) spoke at Fordham about his activism, his biography and his discontentment with both the political system and Fordham University. Fordham Libertarians and Fordham Political Review co-hosted the event in Keating on Feb. 20. Fordham Libertarians helped bring Roger Stone to campus in October. Newsome said he was surprised that Fordham Libertarians had then invited him. “The libertarians wouldn’t have even entered my mind,” he said. However, he also said he understands the connection between libertarianism and the Black Lives Matter movement. Both groups agree that the government should be less intrusive and that the Constitution should prevail, according to Newsome. Fordham Libertarians said it is trying to encourage student engagement by bringing a variety of political voices to campus. “It’s about getting people out,” said Jacob Linker, president of Fordham Libertarians. Linker also said there is significant overlap between the message of BLM and libertarianism. “[Libertarianism] is about protecting the rights of citizens against people in power,” he said. Newsome opened his speech by saying that he had been to physical therapy that day to help him recover from injuries he sustained from the police. However, he said he wanted to speak from a place of love. Newsome urged students to take their compassion and channel it into action. “We have to find a way to turn that love into action, we are desensitized

to suffering,” he said. Newsome told the story of Deborah Danner, a 66 year old woman with paranoid schizophrenia who was shot and killed by New York Police Department officer Hugh Barry in the Bronx in Oct. 2016. BLMGNY helped to bring the case to trial, but Barry was acquitted despite evidence of ignoring police protocol, according to Newsome. Newsome said he was disappointed by the lack of people who came out to support BLMGNY at Barry’s trial. “You need to show up,” he said. “You need to take a stand for humanity.” Newsome criticized the police’s support of Barry throughout the trial. He said the institution of policing is flawed. “I’m not here to bash all police,” said Newsome. “I’ll tell you this, policing as an institution is racist.” Newsome said his upbringing led to his activism. His parents met at a civil rights rally. “I believe in my heart that I am walking in my destiny,” he said, pointing out at the audience. “My whole life is fighting for y’all.” After a previous arrest, he received a general equivalency diploma (GED) and worked as a paralegal for the Bronx District Attorney. Newsome said the corruption he saw led him to leave the DA and head to law school with the hopes of becoming a politician. “I felt like a hypocrite. I felt like a sellout,” he said. “My passion was with the people.” However, Newsome said politicians are not representing the people. “[They] do not work for you,” he said. “They work for special interests…because they operate out of selfishness, not love for the community.” Newsome’s dissatisfaction with the political system has led him to reject

the Democratic Party. “I have no loyalty to parties. I care about people,” he said. “I ain’t voting until black lives matter.” Newsome also addressed activism within the black community. He said he does not believe that blacks are holding the Democrats responsible. “I can’t let them off the hook,” he said. Newsome said he helped found BLMGNY in 2016 because he was disappointed by other Black Lives Matter organizations in New York City. Newsome grew up and still lives in the South Bronx. Housing projects are still filled with garbage, urine, defecation and drug addicts, according to Newsome. He encouraged Fordham students in the audience to come out and support him in his efforts to improve The Bronx. “Fordham should have real presence in the Bronx,” he said. “And I don’t believe that it does. I would love to help them give back to our community.” Newsome said it is not enough just to post on social media or go to one march. He said he wants people to live by Jesus’ commandment to “love thy neighbor.” He invited everyone to help his organization. “Don’t let anyone feel like you’re not welcome in this fight,” he said. Linker, who introduced Newsome to the audience, said he agreed with much of what Newsome said. “Ninety percent of what he said, there’s no argument,” Linker said. Newsome said it was important for him to speak at Fordham because it sits in the most diverse county of New York City, as well as one of the poorest. “If I could encourage or inspire the students here to go out off-campus and to work in the communities and help build up these communities then it’d be God’s work,” he said.

FORDHAM RAM ARCHIVES

Hawk Newsome, pictured above, hoped to inspire action with his visit. As a Bronx resident, Newsome said he thinks Fordham is closed off from the surrounding community, and sends a negative message with the

separation. “I think it would be hard for the average Bronxite to just take a stroll on your campus,” said Newsome.

CAB Drafts Proposal For Departmental Status

AMANDA REDDEN FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Campus Activities Board is required to put on programming for the Fordham community. FROM CAB, PAGE 1

“Based on the needs of both organizations, we have been assisting with making recommendations and working with both groups throughout the process,” said Cody Arcuri, assistant dean of the Office for Student Involvement. Thomas said OSI has been instrumental in helping CAB draft the proposal. “The Office for Student Involvement has been very involved with the process in helping me with this resolution,” said Thomas. “Most feel that this is the direction that

CAB must head into in order to better program for the student body.” Departmental status would change the way CAB interacts with USG, according to Kaylee Wong, GSB ’20, vice president of Finance. Currently, CAB is the only club that is a “permanent allocation.” This differentiates it from standard and block funded clubs. Though CAB is still expected to give a budget presentation to the Senate, it receives a previously agreed upon amount of funding regardless. “This would affect the constitutions, bylines, guidelines of a lot

different groups,” said Wong. “First would be that the budget committee guidelines would have to be edited.” Departmental status would place CAB on a different level that would interact directly with OSI rather than USG. Club Sports and Senior Week are organizations with departmental status. Though these groups receive funding from the student activities fee, it is a previously agreed upon figure that does not require a USG budget proposal. However, departments are unable to appeal for more funding.

In the initial discussion surrounding a proposal, CAB wanted to retain the opportunity to appeal for funding, according to Wong. However, this could change before the final version of the proposal is submitted. “I know that there are a lot of questions in the air about it right now, and I think a lot of them would be answered by a proposal,” said Wong. Though this is the first time CAB has sought departmental status, Arcuri said CAB’s status has always been a discussion. “The Campus Activities Board has been working with the Budget Committee over the years regarding their status as a permanent allocation organization, although the term has changed over the years,” he said. CAB is not a USG recognized club, but rather a separate entity that goes through USG for funding. It has been challenging to work out the budget process requirements for CAB, since it is mandated to put on programming by the university unlike other clubs, according to Thomas. “CAB’s operating and programming protocol is vastly different from all other clubs and organizations on campus, so it is hard to present to the budget committee when they do not fully understand CAB’s ways of operation,” he said The new guidelines and perma-

nent allocation status has led to greater confusion on what is expected from both USG and CAB during the budget process, according to Thomas. Wong said the Budget Committee felt last semester’s budget presentation was not as complete as was warranted. She said the miscommunication between the two groups may have led to CAB’s departmental proposal. “The presentation was not as full as the budget committee would have liked. Our committee had some questions on it.” Thomas also said there are conflicting expectations between USG and CAB surrounding the budget process. “As of now, varying and conflicting expectations has lead to more red tape than ever for CAB’s new status as being permanently allocated,” he said. In addition to this, Thomas said CAB’s close relationship to OSI would be more conducive to departmental status. Oversight would come from administrators within OSI. “Since we work so closely in a partnership with the Office for Student Involvement, it would allow for us to more easily program if we have a fully solidified partnership with them,” he said. The proposal will be submitted and voted on during the next SLC on March 14.

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March 7, 2018

Bronx President Delivers State of the Borough

BAILEY HOSFELT/THE FORDHAM RAM

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, pictured above, gave his State of the Borough address at a local high school.

By ERICA SCALISE

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

On Feb. 22, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. delivered his ninth State of the Borough address to a large crowd at the Bronx High School of Science. Diaz is in his third and final term, making this address his last. In his speech, Diaz discussed the successes of his administration since April 2009. These include notable decreases in unemployment and crime, as well as record increases in private development and new hous-

ing units in the Bronx. “So far, we’ve done great things,” said Diaz. “I stand here proud to report that we executed a transformative agenda that has elevated every neighborhood and community in this wonderful borough.” Since Diaz took office, unemployment has been cut by more than half, down to 5.5 percent, and nearly 110,000 more Bronx residents have jobs. Crime is also at an all-time low, with fewer than 100 homicides in the Bronx for the fifth year in a row. Diaz attributed this to the collective

work of the NYPD, District Attorney Darcel Clark and Bronxites for their commitment to a more fair and more humane criminal justice system. “Look at how different things are in this borough today than just a decade ago. We have set the bar for the entire nation on transformative urban renewal and redevelopment,” said Diaz. “We are the new standard for revitalization.” Diaz thanked a number of individuals for the roles they continue to play in working to improve the Bronx. Among those in attendance were Corey Johnson, speaker of the New York City Council and representative for council District 3, Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr., long time New York State senator and current Council Member for District 18 and Council Member Ritchie Torres of District 15. Diaz thanked Council Member Torres for his partnership on new fire safety legislation as well as his work to rename 187th and Prospect Avenue after Emmanuel Mensah, the National Guard soldier who died rescuing victims of the Belmont fire. As his term comes to a close, Diaz said there is a lot of work still to be done. Diaz discussed the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) ongoing heat crisis and the agency’s failure to replace broken boilers faster. He urged Governor Andrew Cuomo to act on behalf of NYCHA’s residents if the city would not. “We are turning up the heat on

NYCHA to act as a responsible landlord, and if they refuse to do so, I call on the governor to do it for them,” said Diaz. Along with nearly 60 other elected officials, including congressional, state and assembly members, Diaz called on NYCHA to declare a state of emergency. Diaz also stressed the importance of supporting the New York City public school system which he referred to as the “backbone of the city.” More than half of the city’s students are currently learning in overcrowded classrooms; 60 percent of elementary and middle school kids were in overcrowded classes last year, according to Diaz. He is working to address this problem by calling upon the New York City Department of Education (DOE) to work towards capping all middle school classes at 22 students in order to provide students more one-on-one time with instructors. Diaz said that the Bronx is leading the way on creating a New York City tech hub in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx. “Following our second Bronx Tech Summit, we are proposing a computer science model curriculum that integrates technology into all subjects,” said Diaz. “This is the road to developing essential modes of thinking for life, learning, and the new economy.” The borough president also called on companies to hire recent CUNY graduates. “We will continue to support

our CUNY system, as well, as we marry our students’ job skills with the needs of this city. We can create incentive programs that directly link CUNY graduates with jobs,” said Diaz. “We must build the bridges to success through synergy.” Diaz also expressed his disapproval of the lack of community input solicited by the de Blasio administration to build a new jail on a site in Mott Haven. “Reform efforts to fix our city’s jails are needed,” said Diaz. “However, any new site for a jail in this borough must be thoroughly vetted, and the people of the Bronx must have a meaningful say in the selection of any site.” When speaking about the opioid crisis, Diaz said that he welcomes increased national conversation on the topic, but will not accept a national failure to solve urban problems. “This is the gentrification of the opioid epidemic,” said Diaz. He also called for the end of cash bail in New York state and increased access to mental health services for individuals involved in the prison system. “The system should rehabilitate, not debilitate,” said Diaz. Diaz closed optimistically, underscoring the bright future of the borough. “Together, we will ensure our continued success and preserve all the freedoms that make New York City a beacon for the world,” said Diaz. “The state of the Bronx is strong, and we will continue to lead the way for our great city.”

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March 7, 2018

OPINION

Page 9

The Fordham Ram

Hey, Maybe Let’s Not Spend A Bunch of Money Fixing McGinley

By LUIS GÓMEZ

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Look, I get it. The McGinley Center is a decaying pile of midsixties garbage. The cafeteria is always packed, even with the new addition. Dagger John’s is always packed. The air conditioning doesn’t work, except when it works too well. I know all this because, like The Ram’s editorial board, I spent four years’ worth of weekends holed up in the basement of that aged wreck of a student center, putting together issues of the paper. That was one of the strange, unifying aspects of working in the print shop – it didn’t matter if you worked for the paper or The Ram, McGinley was the biggest annoyance in your life. All that said, I don’t believe that makes “reconstructing the McGinley Student Center,” as stated in the online petition as well as in The Ram’s Feb. 14 editorial “Time To Revamp The McGinley Center,” a necessary task. Instead, the university should work on fixing the already-existing inefficiencies with the way it allows students to use space on campus. First, while the fitness center may be crowded at certain peak times, that doesn’t justify fully reconstructing it. While it’s understandable that waiting for exercise machines or crowding is annoying, the mere existence of peak hours doesn’t mean that the uni-

versity needs an entirely new gym. I don’t like standing on a crowded train during peak hours, but I recognize that’s what happens when a lot of people want do something at once. For starters, the university could do more to fix or replace broken and outdated equipment already in the space rather than add more equipment that will also go unfixed. Second, to address the concerns of commuter students, an expansion to McGinley will not solve the problem. Fordham University should instead allow commuter students some broader amount of access to residence halls. A nicer public space on campus will not change the fact that the path of least resistance for most resident students is to gather in their dorms’ meeting spaces or in their individual rooms. Fancy woodwork or some new couches aren’t going to solve laziness. Third, let’s address clubs. While I will admit that spending more than four hours in the McGinley basement was far from pleasant, the notion that a new building will somehow be able to accommodate every club on campus is simply not possible. As stated in The Ram’s editorial from Feb. 14, there are nearly 130 clubs on campus. New ones appear all the time, as new students with new interests and new concerns arrive. No rea-

COURTESY OF KEVIN STOLTENBORG/THE FORDHAM RAM

Spending an exorbitant amount of money in repairing the McGinley Center may lead to an increase in student tuition.

sonable addition to McGinley will add enough rooms to give them all, or even most of them, a space. What the university needs to do before fully reconstructing McGinley is de-obfuscate its room reservation process and make more existing spaces available for students. Currently, reserving space on campus requires filling out an online form that requires about eight too many steps, and then hoping someone sees and approves that request before the required date. Further, while the university is by no means lacking in empty rooms, it remains genuinely difficult to understand what spaces

are always available, conditionally available, or off-limits to student groups. Miscommunications are frequent, and rooms are often double-booked. By making the process more streamlined and accessible, students could more easily understand what spaces are available to them at a given time, and clubs could more quickly schedule meetings and events. Let’s also consider what a project like the proposed expansion would do to tuition costs. While I’m sure the university would conduct some sort of outside capital campaign to raise funds, the reality is that any new infrastructure project creates an incentive for the

university to raise costs again. Fordham students already pay a sticker price of almost fifty thousand dollars per year. The last thing students need is another tuition hike because a new building needs funding. What the university doesn’t need is another multi-year, multimillion dollar infrastructure project that fails to truly meet the needs of students. Instead, it should make this campus that we all contribute to a more open space.

Luis Gómez, FCRH ’18, is an international political economy major from Larchmont, New York.

Aid Is Necessary For Closure of Iraq War By COLLIN BONNELL STAFF WRITER

It has been almost 15 years since Operation Iraqi Freedom was launched by George W. Bush. Since Bush gave his “Mission Accomplished” speech, what was presented as a small pre-emptive strike to “free” the Iraqi people and confiscate Hussein’s alleged stockpile of WMDs has bogged down into a perpetual state of insurgency causing a civil war between Iraq’s various ethnic groups, “ending” with the foolish withdrawal of American troops in 2011, erupting into civil war once again, enabled a campaign of ethnic cleansing by the Islamic State and leading to the return of American soldiers due to the lack of a better alternative. All while American troops have been engaged in near-constant conflict in Iraq, with a short lapse from late 2011-2014, during which the American government continued to offer advice and aid to the Iraqi Army. The conflict has consumed an entire generation of the American working class, whose sacrifice has been ignored both by the wealthy elite and by the very government which sent them in harm’s way. One grieving mother, Cindy Sheehan said of her dead son Casey, after being denied an audience with President Bush, “he was

COURTESY OF FLICKR

In order for Americans to get past the violence caused by the missile strikes in Iraq, we must pay for the damage caused.

an honorable man, and he died in a dishonorable war.” Veterans of the “War on Terror” have been left to suffer with PTSD, traumatic injuries and alienation from an American citizenry which has no conception of what it really means to be at war. Veterans of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been denied government support which was granted to previous generations of returning soldiers, and have been treated as if they are expendable by the same politicians who sent them off to fight and secure American interests abroad. In addition, the war has caused

tremendous damage to the infrastructure of Iraq. According to a recent report by the World Bank and the Iraqi Government, the American intervention to defeat ISIS alone has caused at least $45.7 billion in damages to Iraqi homes, schools, power plants and infrastructure. In addition, the third American military intervention in Iraq since 1990 has caused an unknown amount of civilian deaths and ruined any hope of an end to American involvement in the Middle East. Given the damages caused by American recklessness, it seems obvious that the American govern-

ment should foot the bill for these damages and provide additional funds to build a stable Iraq. These funds would help prevent Iraq from slipping back into chaos and ensure that the American public understands that we are responsible for what our military does abroad. The American taxpayer must be made aware of the damages caused by our government’s blatant disregard for our founding principles while abroad. Our leaders, our voters and our elders owe it to the youngest generation of American citizens, who have no memory of peace, to show

the fault of their actions and give the American people a brief lapse of calm after 17 years of war. Moreover, we must give aid to those countries which our foreign policy decisions have wronged in order to preserve the positive image of America abroad for the next generation and ensure that we are not continually pulled into the quagmire we have created over the past 17 years. In spite of this obligation, the Trump administration appears intent upon not only denying our culpability for damages done to countries like Iraq, but also upon expanding the “War on Terror” to include new countries while disregarding the Constitution’s requirement of gaining congressional approval for new foreign interventions. In the eyes of our leaders, the war must be expanded until the world is consumed by it and all of humanity has been purged of “terror.” The young people of this country, and the world, are owed peace. If our leaders cannot acknowledge the invalidity of violence and the folly of our past actions, we are destined to only know war.

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

OPINION

Page 10

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

Website FordhamRam.com Email Address theram@fordham.edu

Editor-in-Chief Theresa Schliep Managing Editor Taylor Shaw Business Director James Haranzo Operations Director Jack McLoone Editorial and Multimedia Director Bailey Hosfelt Copy Chief Lindsay Grippo Assistant Copy Chief Colette Nolan Assistant Business Director Daniel Coleman News Editor Aislinn Keely Assistant News Editors Erica Scalise Hannah Gonzalez Joergen Ostensen Features Editors Helen Stevenson Joeseph Esposito Opinion Editors Briana Scalia Christopher Canadeo Culture Editors Isha Khawaja Ryan Di Corpo Sports Editor Jack McLoone Assistant Sports Editors Emmanuel Berbari Jimmy Sullivan Multimedia Producers Charlie Maisano Tom Terzulli Digital Producers Kristen Egan Erin Clewell Photo Editors Julia Comerford Kevin Stoltenborg Faculty Advisor Beth Knobel Editorial Page Policy The Fordham Ram ’s editorial is selected on a weekly basis and reflects the editorial board’s view on a campus issue. Opinions Policy The Fordham Ram appreciates submissions to fordhamramopinions@ gmail.com. Commentaries are printed on a space available basis. The Fordham Ram reserves the right to reject any submission for any reason, without notice. Submissions become the exclusive property of The Fordham Ram . The Fordham Ram reserves the right to edit any submissions. The opinions in The Fordham Ram ’s editorials are those of the editorial board; those expressed in articles, letters, commentaries, cartoons or graphics are those of the individual author. No part of The Fordham Ram may be reproduced without written consent.

March 7, 2018

From the Desk | Erica Scalise

NPR Still Packs Passion When most individuals think of National Public Radio (NPR), they may be reminded of a time they were forcibly asked to listen to a podcast for that politics class they spent iMessaging in or, better yet, a car ride with their grandfather who practically pays NPR’s electric bills with the ungodly amount of money he’s donated to pledge drives. Garnering the attention of suburban soccer moms, pseudo-intellectuals and professors alike, NPR has faced its fair share of criticism over the years. One Washington Post article titled “NPR is graying, and public radio is worried about it” expresses concern over the average listener age coming in at a whopping 54. According to 2015 reports, 87 percent of the NPR terrestrial public radio audience and 67 percent of the NPR podcast audience is white. The article also mentions brand-name talent, such as former talk show host Diane Rehm, who retired at 79 years old to further “illustrate the situation” they deemed concerning. This does not account for the fact that in the wake of a technological revolution, it is unlikely that radio is the first choice for anyone looking to obtain breaking news. It is plain to see that these facts are troubling

for any media organization, especially one that prides itself on its “unsurpassed storytelling” and “rigorous reporting.” Based upon this, I can understand why people would have reservations about liking public radio. As a longtime fan of both NPR’s news and podcasts, I can attest to the fact that NPR suits an audience with niche tastes. This can be off-putting to individuals unfamiliar with NPR. Like any other media source, it has its faults. However, as a journalism major, I’d like to think I’m a decent judge of media, solely based on the fact that I’m constantly surrounded by it and have, almost to a fault, entrenched myself in the catacombs of storytelling. In working at WFUV, an NPRaffiliate station, I have witnessed, through the fruits of my labor, one of the many facets I value most about public radio: authenticity. It is something that no other media source has provided me with quite as well. As both a listener and an intern, the experience is unique. NPR manages to connect with millions of Americans everyday, whether it be on the air, online or in person and yet, there is something so personal, unadulterated and dependable about NPR storytelling.

From simple deliverances of the morning news in NPR’s “Up Fresh” to deeper dives like Brian Reed’s “STown” podcast, NPR is constantly on the brink of topical storytelling while still maintaining its authenticity. Unlike large media-outlets such as CBS and ABC, delivery of the news does not begin with leads such as, “Coming up: what you’re eating right now could kill you.” Instead of using fear-mongering tactics or, for lack of a better term, “selling out,” NPR maintains its legitimacy by doing what it does best: honing in on the small details in striving to create a more informed public. As a media outlet, NPR takes into account what its listeners want, which is why its most recent numbers are proof that public radio is not dying, but in fact living. According to Nielsen Audio ratings, the total weekly listeners for all programming on NPR stations reached an all-time high of about 37.4 million in the fall of 2016 – a nearly four million person increase from the same period in 2015. In 2016, flagship programs such as “All Things Considered” and “Morning Edition” reached their largest weekly audience ever, at 14.4 million and 14.65 million listeners, respectively, these news radio

programs continue to be two of the largest in the country: larger than many well-known television news programs. Whether it be on the Ram Van, riding the D-Train towards Manhattan or falling asleep in my childhood bed, some of the more beautiful and simple moments in my life have occurred listening to public radio podcasts. And while I don’t expect anyone to become NPR aficionados overnight, I challenge you to broaden the scope of your media intake as you may be pleasantly surprised by your findings. Acclaimed public radio personality and producer of “This American Life,” Ira Glass said, “You’ll hit gold more often if you simply try out a lot of things.”

Editorial | Alt-Right

In Condemnation of White Supremacy At Fordham We at The Fordham Ram condemn the “Kekistan” flag and everything it stands for. We support the free exchange of ideas, but there are lines that should not be crossed. The “Kekistan” flag mimics the Nazi war flag. It has been seen at multiple alt-right rallies. It is used to inflame and antagonize minority populations. It is a symbol of hate. It turns the free exchange of ideas into the politics of hate and fear. We could not print this condemnation in our recent news article on the same subject. But we—the members of the editorial board—are here now to tell you that yes, we disagree, and as journalists, sometimes difficult decisions must be made. Such was the case on Sunday. If you’re reading this and didn’t read the original article, go read it and then come back to us. If you’re reading this and vocalized your disappointment, or perhaps distrust, in the journalistic actions of The Fordham Ram, refer to the editor’s note at the beginning of the article as our thesis statement. As we mentioned in a disclaimer at the article’s onset, neither the identities of those in the photo were included, nor were their faces shown

due to direct threats of legal action that The Fordham Ram received during its reporting process. As the university’s official journal of record, we certainly think it is important to report what is impacting the Fordham community to the Fordham community. This is our bottom line as a campus publication. A lawsuit, regardless of its severity or end result, has the potential to impact our ability to produce the news in the future: the news that we need to share with you. The news that may have made you aware that this symbol of white supremacy was brought onto campus in the first place. If we printed the names and exposed the faces of those ten students, the threat of a lawsuit could have easily transitioned into concrete action. The legal process would be costly, both financially and logistically. As a collegiate club, we get our funding from the university through the Office of Student Involvement in the same way as any other on-campus organization. Fordham University is technically our publisher, but it is not our parent. We are not censored. We are not cowardly. We are not in bed with anyone. We have, and will continue to, re-

port on the issues impacting our campus, regardless of if they are clad with controversy or not. In the past year, we covered the scandals surrounding Students of Justice for Palestine and the vote of no confidence against our university president, among others, without the influence of outside forces. We can only report on what we ascertain to be fact. It is The Fordham Ram’s responsibility to provide readers with the facts to judge the situation themselves. Determining the guilt or innocence of the individuals in the photo is a responsibility that falls on the weight of the university. The unedited photo has now been tweeted by other individuals and student organizations many times over. In a news reporting scenario, unsourced quotations are included in highly specific situations when there is a palpable threat. In this case, The Fordham Ram received that threat. A news piece is meant to do what its name says. After a thorough reporting process, we published an article on the facts and the facts alone. The news article was not an oped. Editorializing has no place in the news section. It is simply not allowed. Journalistic integrity is not just a concept we throw around at The Ford-

ham Ram, but something that we adhere to wholeheartedly. The Fordham Ram does not produce advocacy journalism. That being said, through our reporting, we can inspire change. We can empower student activists by providing them with the necessary information and a platform to voice their opinions. We care deeply, and we continue to publish, knowing the reaction might not be pretty. Our responsibility is to report the facts as we know them, when we know them. Unless more information comes to light on this issue, our news team cannot report on anything but what it knows to be true. We at The Fordham Ram firmly believe that white supremacy has no place on our campus. The ideologies brought forth by the “Kekistan” flag and its alt-right connotations – whether displayed with deliberate intention or within meme-based territory meant to joke – create further schism on a campus where minority students feel increasingly vulnerable. If you are angry, upset or anywhere in between, we encourage you to please reach out to us at theram@ fordham.edu and respond to this ongoing situation by contributing an op-ed or letter to the editorial board.

Send your ideas to fordhamramopinions@gmail.com

OPINION

March 7, 2018

Page 11

Knowledge of Space Should Not Be Kept From The Public By ANTONIA VANZINI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Trump administration recently came up with an unexpected proposal: after 2024, federal financing of the International Space Station will come to an end. The International Space Station (ISS) is a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit. The U.S. has spent nearly $100 billion to build and operate it. The U.S. has always been a nation of scientific research, discoveries and brilliant scientists. If the plan suggested by the current

political administration is to succeed, there will be a great loss in terms of national competitiveness in the field of technological and scientific development. We don’t know what companies will be effectively able to take the station over and continue to finance its projects. Moreover, what private enterprises might do with ISS and how they will be able to support Trump’s plan is still a mystery. President Donald Trump’s main purpose is to find an agreement with international corporations that, in cooperation with

NASA, could renew financial support. The total budget request is $150 million in fiscal year 2019 and it is expected to increase over time. The first reaction to the president’s plan was of strong opposition. Senator Ted Cruz, a congressman particularly devoted to the cause, hoped that recent reports of NASA’s decision to end funding of the station would be as “unfounded as Bigfoot.” Andrew Rush, chief executive of Made in Space, a company that uses 3D printing to manufacture

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The discoveries of NASA should be known to the public, regardless of whether or not they become privatized.

objects of the Space Station, said, “the ISS is built for science and human exploration, it’s not built for profit seeking.” He perfectly summed up one of the most evident criticisms of Trump’s administration: every decision is always a result of financial and economic interests. As we all know, the president presents himself as a businessman first. In many ways, reinforcing Trump’s role in every aspect of his political career is part of his own nature. He should take into account how his decision could be critical for all the members of the Station’s staff who might lose their jobs, slowing down the research projects carried out in the last few months. Moreover, as American citizens, we all know how proud we should be of all the protocols NASA proposed and effectively carried out in history. Many remember the feeling of amazement when the Apollo 11 first landed on the Moon. The first steps by humans on another planetary body were taken by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on July 20, 1969. Although it is proven that most of the scientific community is against Trump’s plan, if this is to be adopted, the private sector would gain control of the ISS and hopefully try to make the most out of it. With government control of the ISS, Americans have decent access to their research and activi-

ties. Conversely, privatization is expected to let little to no information be disclosed to the public and national press. The public still deserves to be informed of what NASA is currently doing and should be totally free to express opinions whenever a new research succeeds and new discoveries result from it. The whole matter raises two difficult criticisms that both American politicians and NASA members should definitely take into account if their purpose is to solve this controversy in the most effective way. The government should do all that is in its power to continue to finance the station: science is not shopping. We have to find money even if the credit card is empty; time flies, and what is to be discovered and developed today cannot be procrastinated and achieved in an unknown future. Finally, if the private sector wins finding of the ISS, information should continue widespread. Common people’s welfare and the world’s development are the main objectives of all NASA projects, why shouldn’t the beneficiaries of all this hard work have the right to deeply know and clearly understand all the effort that leads to new historical discoveries?

Antonia Vanzini, from Catholic University of Sacred Heart, is an International Relations and Languages major from Milan, Italy.

Western Media Portrays North Korea as Warm–Which May Not Be So Bad By LEONARD CHIANG CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After several worrying flurries of activity in recent months, the Korean front thankfully lay placid as athletes from around the world gathered at PyeongChang for the Winter Games. Despite temperatures rated among the coldest in recent memory, inter-Korean relations thawed, and Seoul and Pyongyang reached across the 38th parallel to jointly field a hockey team under a flag depicting a unified Korea. Burning brighter than even an Olympic torch was the stir in news media. Tremendously curious about their reclusive neighbors, South Korean journalists covered their long-estranged comrades with great energy—a poignant reminder that, though denuclearization hangs like a dark cloud over peninsular policy, behind it is a decidedly tender, undeniably strong yearning to undo the belt cinching Korea in two. Western outlets chose, less advisably, to join in on the fun as well, leading conservatives in their audiences to object to what they felt was overly sympathetic coverage of North Koreans at the

Games. Responding to a CNN lead asserting Kim Yo Jong, sister to Supreme Leader that Kim Jong Un, was “stealing the show,” writer DC McAllister fumed on Twitter that the spotlight wattage spend on an official who is inextricably involved in a regime that has repressed generations of Koreans was approaching the Kardashian tier; later in the day, British legislator James Cleverly voiced concerns about the BBC fawning over the well-indoctrinated North Korean cheerleading contingent. Given that a typical reader grazes idly on headlines, this frustration is understandable; absentminded browsing could indeed have led to a remarkably positive impression of North Korea’s representatives at the Games. More discerning eyes scanning the CNN piece would indeed eventually have noted that Kim Yo Jong is in the top cadre of North Korean propagandists; regrettably, this key information is buried near the bottom of the article (after, in fact, a mention of her evening outfit). Despite such risks, the buoyant spirit of the Games helps excuse

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North Korea was cordial and welcoming to foreign nations during the PyeonChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

the overeager tone. Rather than penning provocative barbs or threatening, North Korea chose to project a much friendlier, if rather regimented, visage. The Olympic truce, then, was the perfect opportunity to use positive reinforcement to incentivize North Korean participation in the global order; surely any country would rather receive a cheerleading squad scream-

ing from the stands than receive nuclear warheads screaming from the sky. Moreover, talks between North and South are said to be resuming—an outcome that South Korean President Moon Jae-In heartily welcomes, and a significant step forward after recent history saw several links between them, including the Kaesong industrial park, severed.

Hopefully the next bit of good news comes from the White House; though judicious in standing sanctions and insisting on Chinese enforcement thereof, the Trump administration has yet to assemble a proper diplomatic staff.

Leonard Chiang, FCRH ’19, is an engineering physics major from Tolland, Connecticut.

OPINION

Page 12

March 7, 2018

ASILI Makes Fordham Community Proud

COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

Fordham’s ASILI, pictured above at their fashion show, recently attended The Annual Black Solidarity Conference.

By CHARLOTTE HAKIKSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ASILI: The Black Student Alliance joined over 700 participants from other colleges and universities at the 23rd Annual Black Solidarity Conference held at

Yale University from Feb. 8 to 11. This year’s topic was: “Let’s Get It On: Deconstructing Sex, Sexuality, And Gender in the Black Community,” which focused on “challenging traditional notions of sex(uality) and gender while making space to explore our in-

tersectional identities.” This year marked the return of ASILI to the conference since February 2013. I truly believe that those that attended can take all of the information we received that weekend about creating inclusive spaces,

absorb it and take it several steps further. Instead of simply hosting conversations where we identify systems of inequality, we should actually strategize creating lasting structural change. I cannot wait to see how this experience will affect ASILI’s future programming, discussions and ultimately, the campus. Those that were in attendance included myself, Charlotte Hakikson FCRH ’19, Anya Patterson FCRH ’19, Vanessa Reyes FCRH ’19, Nemesis Dipre FCRH ’18, Luis Benitez FCRH ’19. The conference included presentations on intriguing topics, such as Black feminism in the new millennium, marginalized and erased voices in hip-hop, Black love and Black mental and emotional health. The highlight of the conference was the keynote dinner, which featured trans rights activist and New York Times bestselling author Janet Mock.

Mock shared her experience growing up in Hawaii as a Black and indigenous Hawaiian trans woman. Through her story, she communicated the need for intersectional and inclusive movements that include ALL Black and Brown people. This includes queer and trans folk, undocumented people, sex workers and people with disabilities. She ended her speech by acknowledging and celebrating the power she felt radiating from every Black person in the room, and by urging everyone in attendance to continue giving voice and visualization to Black queer and trans experiences. ASILI had been organizing this trip since the Fall semester, and I was excited to see all our hard work come to fruition.

Charlotte Hakikson, FCRH ’19, is an African American studies major from Bronx, New York.

Tino’s Takes | Faustino Galante

Teachers Should Not Be Armed On Feb. 14, 20-year-old Nikolas Cruz killed 17 of his former classmates attending Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. In the wake of this tragedy, lawmakers and citizens alike have become increasingly polarized in regards to the issue of gun control in the U.S. While many individuals have condemned the NRA and called for major changes concerning American gun laws, others, including President Donald Trump, have rallied together to preserve the Second Amendment. After initially pledging to take action on guns, Trump quickly redacted his promise. The president, in a Feb. 23 speech, claimed that he would do everything in his power to protect the Second Amendment and made the claim that, “well-trained, gun-adept teachers and coaches” should be able to carry guns in schools. Trump took to Twitter the next day to defend his statement tweeting, “Armed Educators love our students and will protect them. . . must be firearms adept & have annual training.” The notion that arming teachers would be an effective solution to America’s gun problem is a preposterous one. For a single second, it seemed like our president would finally work to institute positive changes regarding gun control. It

appeared that he would stand true to his anti-establishment campaign promises and stop blindly accommodating to the NRA. Unfortunately, like many politicians in America, Trump has come to shape his policies in order to cater to the corrupted lobbyists who finance him. Allowing teachers to carry firearms is wrong seeing that they are not trained law enforcement officers. Who is to say, moreover, that a teacher maintains a degree of mental stability high enough to be trusted with a gun? Lastly it is important to recognize that exposing young children to guns in a classroom setting could potentially cripple America’s youth. A teacher’s job is to educate, not to protect. The police academy and graduate school are two very different institutions. While a professor may hypothetically be adept in using a gun, this does not necessarily mean that they know how to use a firearm to prevent a catastrophe such as a mass shooting. Trump, along with many other Republicans in favor of arming teachers, would argue that states would train teachers to defend their students with a gun. This, however, is both a waste of time and money. Instead of spending tax dollars and forcing educators to harness yet another responsibility, why not hire armed security guards who

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Arming teachers with guns will not prevent further school shootings, only removing guns from harmful individuals will.

are already trained in using artillery bombs to defend others? In a Feb. 22 meeting with state and local officials in Florida, President Donald Trump asserted that, “the level of violence in video games is really shaping young people’s thoughts.” He went on to likewise criticize violent movies for influencing the minds of American adolescents. Essentially, Trump believes that juvenile exposure to violence in our culture has a direct impact in bringing individuals to carry out mass shootings. Trump’s claims are not necessarily erroneous. They

do, however, seem to contradict his idea of arming teachers. If students go to school with the knowledge that their teachers are militarized, they will likely become more open to obtaining guns of their own. At a young age, students are heavily influenced by their culture. Adding guns to schools would simply make their culture a more violent one. Furthermore, it is important to note that with more guns in schools, unstable students would have a greater chance of acquiring a firearm. If a teacher’s gun gets into the wrong hands, America could see more young lives ended as

Disagree with our opinions? Send your thoughts to fordhamramopinions@gmail.com

a result of a school shooting. Allowing more people to carry firearms in the U.S. seems like a thoughtless way of diminishing gun violence in our country. To combat mass shootings, we must work to take guns away from people who are unfit to own them. We must not, alternately, risk putting firearms in the hands of individuals who could potentially be devious. Because the majority of educators have spoken out against the president’s recent intentions, Trump should recognize that giving guns to governesses is a flawed principle.

March 7, 2018

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March 7, 2018

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Recycle The Ram

March 7, 2018

Softball Goes Three-forFive at Diamond 9 By BRENDAN O’CONNELL STAFF WRITER

Fordham Softball took part in five games in this past weekend’s Diamond 9 Citrus Classic II in Orlando, Florida, coming away with three victories in the process. Both of their Friday matchups ended in six innings, as they defeated Ball State 11-3 and fell to NR/ RV Notre Dame 8-0. In an unexpected triumph over Ball State, freshman Paige Rauch tossed a complete game, surrendering just three runs on five hits over six innings and racking up six strikeouts and three hit-batters. After both teams rallied for three runs in the fouth inning, Rauch did her part at the plate, as well, sending a solo home run flying out to right center field. Sophomore Skylar Johnston also had a stellar day swinging the bat, amassing three RBIs, a double and a homer of her own. In their game with Notre Dame later that afternoon, Fordham collected only two hits - a single from junior Chelsea Skrepenak and double from Rauch - in a shutout loss. Senior Lauren Quense, now 0-6 on the mound this season, took the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits. The Lady Rams split their two Saturday contests as well, toppling Robert Morris 9-6 and suffering a 1-0 loss at the hands of Troy. In a back-and-forth affair with Robert Morris, Fordham allowed six runs in the top of the fifth inning before eventually rallying for six of their own en route to victory.

It took a string of good plate appearances for the Rams to execute their comeback, including a sacrifice fly from Rauch, fielder’s choice from Johnston and singles from senior Madi Shaw and freshman Rachel Hubertus, as well as an error from the Colonials’ infield. Rauch earned the W in relief of sophomore starter Madie Aughinbaugh. When the Rams played Troy, they out-hit their opponents 6-3, but the Trojans tallied the lone run of the day in the fifth inning off starter Rauch. The Rams’ bats stayed quiet in key moments, fanning 10 times. To close out the tournament, Fordham managed a 7-2 victory over NR/RV Florida International. In the final game of the weekend, Fordham pulled off a win against FIU that took a team effort. Shaw provided her second home run of the year, while Johnston and Aughinbaugh added two RBIs apiece. Rauch gave up two runs on four hits, compiling five strikeouts and five walks. This coming weekend, Fordham – now 4-11 overall – is slated to face Samford and #13 Alabama twice each, as well as Boston College once in the Easton Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. After this tournament, the Rams will head to Hempstead, New York for a Tuesday afternoon contest with Hofstra before returning to the Rose Hill campus and Bahoshy Field for the Fordham Tournament the weekend of March 16th-18th, where they will host UMass Lowell, Holy Cross, Seton Hall and Detroit Mercy.

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Fordham Softball is 3-2 to start its young season.

SPORTS

Page 23

Baseball Starts By Winning Two Out of Three

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

The Fordham men’s baseball team is off to a roaring start this season.

By JACK McLOONE SPORTS EDITOR

Coming into the 2018 season, there were two main questions for Fordham Baseball: how will senior pitcher Ben Greenberg do after missing an entire season due to an injury, and will the bats show up after having one of the worst offenses in Division I last season? In the first half of Fordham’s doubleheader at James Madison on Saturday, the answers to both those questions were positive. Thanks to the atrocious weather on Friday, the Rams and Dukes were forced into a doubleheader. Despite not having planned out his pitching staff for two games in one day, head coach Kevin Leighton was not concerned. “It can throw a wrinkle in the plans for the starting pitcher, but it definitely isn’t a major issue,” he said. “You have to be able to adapt and adjust, because things happen.” Greenberg started game one, and looked just as good as he did as a part of the Rams’ combined one-hitter against USF two weeks ago. Through the first five innings, Greenberg allowed only three baserunners, and just one of those was a hit. However, the Rams were also stymied themselves until breaking through in the top of the sixth. After beating out an infield single, sophomore Alvin Melendez took second on a passed ball and then stole third, allowing him to score on a groundout by junior Justin Bardwell. Greenberg went one-two-three in the bottom of the sixth, his final inning. “His first game back, he struggled finding the zone early but was able to battle through,” said Leighton of Greenberg. “Since then, he’s been in the zone with all of his pitches, and has given us tremendous outings.”

Fordham had only three hits heading into the sixth. By the end, they had 11. The Rams added three more runs in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of a hit batter, an error, a wild pitch and a walk to make it 4-0 through six and a half. Junior pitcher Anthony DiMeglio came in and gave up one run in the seventh and two in the eighth to send the game to the ninth as a one-run game, 4-3. However, sophomore Billy Godrick hit his third homer of the season, a solo shot, to give the Rams an insurance run. Melendez, who came in to close, didn’t need it, as he set down the Dukes in order to complete the game one win. The Rams collected 11 hits in the 5-3 win, but managed to top it in their second game. It was a quiet start, and the Dukes were actually leading junior starting pitcher Reiss Knehr and the Rams 3-1 through three innings. And then the top of the fourth happened. It’s hard to encapsulate just how many things went wrong here for James Madison. The Dukes had two outs with a runner on first after Bardwell tried to score from third on an infield grounder. Then: single, two RBI double, throwing error, walk, pitching change, hit by pitch, RBI walk, RBI single, three RBI single, single, error that scored a run and a wild pitch that scored a run. I’ll give you a second to do the math. Yup, a nine-run fourth inning. The Rams never looked back, coasting to a 14-6 win. They collected 12 hits. “Winning the doubleheader definitely feels good and it is something we can build on,” said Leighton. “We did a lot of things really well in both games, but we also have some things that we need to clean up.” They once again topped their hit total by one in the rubber game

on Sunday with 13, but this time James Madison came alive too. With the Rams up 5-2 in the bottom of the seventh, freshman Matt Mikulski, who has been stellar so far this season, relieved sophomore Brian Weissert. He experienced all the bumps of a freshman season in just a third of an inning of work. After getting a fly out to start the inning, he hit the next batter, gave up a single, walked the bases loaded and then hit another batter to force in a run and end his day. He wasn’t off the hook, however, as all three of those baserunners came around to score as well. “It was frustrating to lose Sunday’s game but it wasn’t entirely on the pitching,” said Leighton. “We had opportunities to end the inning and/or limit their runs but we didn’t get it done.” Specifically, with two outs and the game scored at five in the same inning, a wild pitch allowed the runners to move up. However, an errant throw by Bardwell allowed two more runs to be scored, giving the Dukes the 7-5 lead that they never relinquished. The Rams added one back, but lost 7-6. Fordham now sits at 5-4-1 overall, with their road trips to warmer climates over as the calendar turns to March. The weather in the Northeast has been finicky lately, so the odds that it stays cold for a while are pretty high. Leighton isn’t too worried. “I think the cold is harder on the people watching the games! We are used to the colder weather, and, although I’m sure our guys would prefer warmer weather, we can’t control that,” said Leighton. “We just need to be relentless and play with energy no matter what the temperature is.” The Rams will travel to Coppin State in Baltimore for a threegame series starting this Friday, March 9.

SPORTS

Page 24

After Hot Start, Women’s Tennis Cools Down to End February

March 7, 2018

Men’s Tennis Gets Swept By St. John’s

By CHARLIE MAISANO

By ALEXANDRIA SEDLAK

After starting the season off with a three-game winning streak, the Fordham women’s tennis team has cooled down as of late. The Rams hit a rough patch in February, as they lost three games in a row against Saint John’s on Feb. 16, Army on Feb. 23 and Drexel on Feb. 28. During the three-game losing streak, the Rams went 6-12 in their singles matches and 1-5 in their doubles matches. The team struggled to get into a rhythm, and the momentum established from their winning streak was stalled. In the Saint John’s game, junior Carina Ma lost her first match of the season against Red Strom sophomore Jessica Livianu. Ma also fell in her doubles match with senior Estelle Wong against Red Storm seniors Jaide Collins and Zofia Stanisz, 6-2. They weren’t the only ones to lose in their doubles matches, as all three doubles teams were defeated by the score of 6-2. In the Army game, Ma and Wong once again struggled and were unable to rebound from their doubles loss against Saint John’s. They lost 6-4 in a hard fought battle to Army’s Ana Joyner and Melanie Allen. Even though they weren’t successful in their doubles match, they were the only Rams to win their singles matches. Ma beat junior Melanie Allen 6-1, 7-5 and Wong bested junior Genevieve McCormick in two sets, 6-4, 7-6. The last game of the three-game losing streak was a game to forget for the entire team. The Rams could only muster one singles win from sophomore Maia Balce in the 5-1 defeat to Drexel University. It was the first time all season that the Rams didn’t have enough points to play doubles matches. Head coach Bette-Ann Liguori thought there were multiple reasons for her team’s recent struggles. “I believe the reason for some of our recent losses has been the number of matches our opponents played compared to us. St. John’s was not a bad loss, because their level was higher than ours but Army was disappointing. They have their own indoor courts and played 10 matches to our four,” said Liguori. “Another factor is our doubles play. If our first doubles

The men’s tennis team played their only match of the weekend against St. John’s University this past Sunday, losing 0-7. It might have been a loss for the Rams this weekend, but that doesn’t mean they will stop working hard. It’s been a good season for the team so far, and they want to come back after this match stronger than before. Captain Harris Durkovic expresses this sentiment, saying, “We’ve been playing well so far throughout the season, beating teams like UConn last week. We want to continue to increase our match toughness.” St. John’s won two out of the three doubles matches. Freshman Lutwin de Macar and sophomore Fabian Mauritzson dropped their set 1-6 in the first doubles position. For second doubles, sophomores Finn Kemper and Jeremy Chung were down 5-6 when the match was left unfinished. In the third doubles position, freshman Max Green and sophomore Allen Thornes lost their set 4-6. The singles matches, though featuring some close contests, took a similar turn. In the first singles position, de Macar lost with a score of 2-6, 1-6. In the second singles

MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER

STAFF WRITER

EMILY SAYEGH/THE FORDHAM RAM

The Rams lost their last three games, winning less than half of their individual matches.

won against Army, then Gianna would have played a full 3rd set and I believe she would have won and ultimately the match 4-3. Drexel was 9 and 2 going into our match and had plenty of momentum and confidence.” The one bright spot for the Rams during their losing streak was the emergence of Maia Balce. Balce won her singles match against Saint John’s senior Jaide Collins in commanding fashion, 6-0, 6-4. At Drexel, she mounted a come back after dropping the first set to Dragons senior Clary Rodriguez-Cruz. She ultimately picked up the victory in three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Liguori is proud of Balce’s growth and believes her future at Rose Hill is bright. “I am very impressed with Maia’s game and I contribute it to her work ethic. She is very focused in practice and works hard at her conditioning off the court, which helps in keeping her injury free,” said Liguori. “Maia had a great freshman year by making second team honors at the conference, but I believe the best is yet to come.” The Rams returned home on March 2 and played their first A-10 contest of the year against the Saint Louis Billikens. Motivated to end the losing skid, the Rams came out and had a dominant performance against the Billikens. They won all three doubles matches in one set, and they were victorious in five of the six singles contests to defeat Saint Louis 6-1. “We needed to play solid doubles to take some pressure off of our singles and that led to the win,” Ligouri said. To round out the five game stretch, the Rams didn’t have to travel far on

Saturday, March 3 to face LIU Brooklyn. The fatigue of playing in back-toback days was evident in Brooklyn, as the Rams were completely shut out by the Blackbirds, 6-0. Ma and Wong did win their doubles match against Jessica Brzozowska and Sasha Bollweg, 6-3. However, the Blackbirds won the other two doubles matches to take the doubles point and then won all of the singles matches. Liguori thought the game could have been closer and one aspect of the team’s performance needed work- the doubles play. “Against LIU, the doubles point was the determining factor. We lost the doubles point and then quickly lost three singles. We played a clinch format, so play stopped after the fourth point. Carina had split sets, Maia was about to win in straight sets and Gianna won the first set, when we had to stop. They could have won their matches, if we continued and it would have been a close 4-3 loss,” said Liguori. The Rams will hit the road again this week when they face Temple University on Friday March 9 at 12 p.m. It will be the first time the two teams play each other in four years, with Temple picking up the 5-2 victory on April 9, 2014. With their record now at 4-4, the Rams already have matched the amount of losses they had total last year only eight games into this season. The road to the A-10 Tournament will only get more challenging as the season rolls on. To make sure they will be ready for Orlando, the Rams will have to continue to dig deep and grind through the early season struggles.

position, Green dropped his match 2-6, 2-6. The third singles match, played by Mauritzson, went to St. John’s with a score of 6-4, 6-1. In the fourth singles position, Kemper fought a long three-set match, coming back after the first set, but ultimately fell with a score of 3-6, 7-5, 7-10. For fifth singles, Thornes lost his match with a score of 6-7, 1-6. Finally, in the sixth singles position, freshman Alex Makatsaria lost his match 4-6, 0-6. Overall, the actual points in the games were close, and Durkovic commented, “It really came down to a few points here and there that fundamentally decided the match.” The Rams had a long Sunday night playing at their home courts in Harrison. Though it was a loss, the Rams are going to continue practicing and come back strong. “We now have some time to work on some things, since our next match is in over two weeks. We are looking forward to going outdoors in a few weeks,” said Durkovic. The Fordham team plays next on March 21 against Rider University in New Jersey. This match is followed by others on March 23 against Yeshiva University, March 24 against Saint Peter’s University and March 25 against Quinnipiac University.

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

The Rams lost 0-7 to St. John’s this weekend.

Slattery Breaks Record, Team Ends Indoor at ECAC/IC4As By EMMANUEL BERBARI ASSISTANT SPOTRS EDITOR

Fordham Track and Field wrapped up the indoor portion of its season this past weekend, as both men’s and women’s teams competed in the 2018 ECAC/IC4A Championship at Boston University. The event’s magnitude did not stop the team leaders from going about their business as usual. Senior Thomas Slattery certainly took it as another day in the office, even as he left yet another permanent mark on the program. Finishing the 5,000-meter run in a first-place and school-record 14:00.03, surpassing Kevin Giannetti’s record set back in 1985, Slattery set the tone for the Rams, who used Saturday’s stellar performances to their advantage and finished 11th overall with 22 points. “I didn’t want to think about it too much, purely because it can become a distraction,” said Slattery. “Rather, I just focused on racing and stay-

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Thomas Slattery closed the indoor season with a bang, breaking 28-year old Fordham record in the 5,000 meter.

ing with the front pack which broke away on a fast pace.” Slattery wasn’t the only Ram to impress in the 5,000-meter, as sophomore Ryan Kutch registered a third-place finish in 14:17.49. Fordham also had its fair share of success in the relays, as freshmen Antony Misko, Arthur Gooden Jr.,

Kyle Mack and senior Louis Santelli finished fifth in the 4x400 (3:15.50), good enough for its best time of the season. “I was satisfied with how people stepped up when we needed them too,” said Slattery. “Our relays, both on the men’s and women’s team, came through in a big way.”

On Sunday, Santelli crossed the 1,000-meter run in a fourth-place time of 2:28.02, Slattery completed the 3,000-meter run in an eighthplace time of 8:14.69 and the 4x400 relay group finished 10th in 3:18.11. “I was a bit too confident coming into the indoor season,” said Slattery, who made headlines with an

outstanding cross country campaign in the fall. “Unfortunately, I thought fast times would come easy, which is never the case.” The women did not accomplish as much as they would have hoped, tying for 30th with six points. That said, they did notch a couple of notable efforts, including a thirdplace finish in Sunday’s final 4x800 relay (8:58.04), with juniors Kate McCormack, Aidan Moroz and Leah Hickey and senior Merissa Wright leading the charge, and junior Laurel Fisher’s 19th-best mark in the mile run (5:01.60). The Rams will have the better part of the next month off; they will not be back in action until the Raleigh Relays on March 30 in North Carolina, the official start of the outdoor season. “There were a couple of performances which will hopefully prove to be learning experiences for outdoor,” said Slattery. “It’s important to realize how much of a grind racing is, and sometimes you get complacent.”

SPORTS

March 7, 2018

Alvin Halimwidjaya

Kobe 1, Jordan 0

I don’t particularly love the Oscars. They have much fewer performances than the Grammys, and though I like Steve Harvey-esque moments as much as the next person, I’m not usually a big fan of sitting through three hours of award announcements and speeches. However, the one thing I was very excited about this year was “Dear Basketball,” the adaptation of Lakers star Kobe Bryant’s poem announcing his retirement, won Best Animated Short. Think about that for a second: Kobe Bryant won an Academy Award. There were certainly incredibly important social issues that were addressed and emphasized during the 90th Oscars, such as gender equality and action against the appalling culture of sexual misconduct Hollywood has bred. However, Kobe’s win was a rare instance in which sports and film crossed over on one of the biggest national stages of the year. People might say that the Academy was pandering to a larger audience, while others might point to its context and nostalgia as its winning characteristics instead of the animation itself. Those are valid points, and I’m not going to say that they were not factors in Kobe’s Oscar nod. However, I’m going to go ahead and say this unprecedented event of an athlete-made nominee winning one of the most prestigious fine arts awards is, in simpler terms, absolutely bonkers. Imagine if Troy Bolton was a person of color and was, you know, real. Imagine if a jock showed up and snatched first place at a talent show. The fact is that while film can imitate sports and result in classics like Rocky or documentaries like Icarus, which exposed the recent Russian doping scandal and won Best Documentary Feature Sunday night, having athletes cross over into film is a very different experience. The fact that we look to Space Jam, Trainwreck and Peyton Manning’s State Farm commercials as great examples of the limited range most athletes have in the arts. After winning the award, Bryant said the experience was better than winning a championship, stating that when he started to express interest in writing, people told him, “That’s cute. You’ll be depressed when your career’s over. To be here now and have this sense of validation, this is crazy, man.” The fact that the same guy who dropped 81 points on the Toronto Raptors won an Oscar for a poem he wrote speaks to the importance of stepping outside one’s comfort zone and cultivating every skill you have. “Dear Basketball” might not be at the forefront of the collective social consciousness, much less a nominee most people were rooting for; however, I think that Bryant’s win is a reminder that we often place athletes in a euro-stepping, touchdown-catching box, and it’s good to remember that these public figures and role models are capable of more than just jumping out of the gym. Kobe said it best in his acceptance speech as he casually deadpanned, “I mean, as basketball players, we are really supposed to shut up and dribble. But I am glad we do a little bit more than that.”

Page 25

Warriors GM Bob Myers Stands Tall in Small NBA World

Peter Valentino

By ALVIN HALIMWIDJAYA

Checking in on the NHL Central

“[The] NBA sounds big; it’s not big. It’s politics, entertainment; it’s all small. It’s not huge.” For such a small world, the people in it are giants, and 6’7” Bob Myers is no different. The 42-year-old general manager of the Golden State Warriors came to the Fordham Lincoln Center Law School on Tuesday, Feb. 27 to talk to students about the path he’s taken to leading the front office of the best team in the NBA. Myers credited law school as a key factor to his success, recalling the traumatic experience of his bar exam and encouraging everyone in the room to go to law school, regardless of their career path. He also took the time to emphasize the importance of hard work and sticking to one career path, despite the long wait that might be in store. “So people would say I want to get involved with teams; go work in something in you want for 14 years that’s tangential to what you want to do and see what happens,” said Myers. “See how many people will stick with that… My point is it’s a very hard thing to get into. Probably the most important thing is you need to be ready when that opportunity comes.” Myers told his audience that their desire, work ethic and network are essential to success because it can come from so many different paths. He used his friend Neil Olshey, who went from playing lacrosse at Le Moynes to becoming an actor in LA and a bouncer in New York as an example. Now he’s the general manager for the Portland Trailblazers after working in the Los Angeles Clippers front office. Myers started out working for sports agent Arm Tellem in a very limited capacity. He began as an intern after graduating from UCLA while going to night classes at Loyola Law School. Myers became vice president of SFX Sports in 2000 and remained an agent for a list of players including Brandon Roy and Tyreke Evans. In April 2011, he became the assistant general manager for the Warriors and was promoted to general manager before the 2012-2013 season. Coinciding with one of the best stretches of success the NBA has ever seen. When asked about the incredible players and staff assembled to win two championships and boast a 73-win season, Myers pointed to the importance of finding competitive people with the right mindset. Despite being difficult to deal with, he said that he would consistently hire people who hate to lose. “If I give you guys a job and some team of five had won 10 in a row I’d want that team to feel not like, ‘Hey, we won 10 in a row we’re good. We don’t need to do anything.’ I want that team to go, ‘Let’s win every effing game we can because we don’t want to lose. And we’re going up against a team that hasn’t won a game at all. So what? Let’s just beat them too.’” As the Warriors have stepped into the national spotlight, their

After the trade deadline, the Central Division will come to an interesting finish. Nashville: After the Predators’ impossible run to the cup final last year, the team has managed to put itself in position for the President’s trophy and home field throughout the playoff. Bringing back much of the same roster as last year, the team traded for Letestu, Bollig and Ryan Hartman to officially “go for it.” And the Predators just might do it too. They know what it takes and have the leadership, since they brought back old captain Mike Fisher. They may be having a parade in Tennessee come June this year. Winnipeg: It is about time that this team played up to its expectation. The Jets are another one of the NHL’s surprise teams this year, however, looking at their roster, they look like just late bloomers. Patrick Laine and Blake Wheeler are studs, and Winnipeg just added another one in Paul Stastny. The last time the team was in the playoffs was 2015, and the one thing that I remember was how loud that place was. Expect it to be the same way this April. They are going to be fun to watch. Dallas: Probably the most underachieving team in hockey is back playing up to expectations. The Stars incredible offense with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin will most likely end up in a playoff spot, but will have to play better to compete with Nashville and Winnipeg. Much like the Atlantic, Dallas is the Maple Leafs of the Central. I think Dallas has a decent chance of coming out of the Central in the playoffs, and with Bishop, they have a better chance. However, I will need to see more for them to be considered serious contenders. Minnesota: This team is annoying. You know it isn’t good, you know it is an out in the playoffs, but the Wild are still there. They’re still in the thick of it, but with how stacked the West is, I can’t see them making it in. All they got was Mike Reilly at the deadline, and they have Mr. Exit himself in Bruce Boudreau. They should start to sell if they could. St. Louis: What the Wild should do, the Blues are starting to do. Selling Stastny to their in conference rival is indicative of the direction of the team. The injuries drowned out their fast start, but the front office is smart enough to know when to start over. They can still make a wild card, but they aren’t going anywhere. Colorado: I’m proud of this team. They proved that they’re not as bad as they were last year with their run at the wild card this team. Mackinnon is back to playing like first overall draft pick form and overall the team isn’t heinously underperforming. I don’t know if they are good enough to make the playoffs, but they should be proud that they aren’t as historically bad as they were last year. Chicago: As much as collective hockey fans are probably happy that the Blackhawks are terrible, they probably will be back in it next year. The loss of Panarin clearly has hurt them this year, and that first round pick they got for Hartman should be able to aid in a quick retooling. With Kane and Toews, they probably should be able to compete next year, but the team still does have things to fix.

STAFF WRITER

COURTESY OF FORDHAM LAW VIA TWITTER

Reporter Alvin Halimwidjaya interviews Bob Myers at Fordham Law School.

critics have been coming out of the woodwork and more and more pressure has been placed on the Warriors, which Myers recognizes. Consequently, he highlighted the importance of building the team up with people who can take accountability, “lose gracefully and fail eloquently.” “Picture being at work and somebody sends you a text message and says, ‘Did you see what they said about you today?’ When I try to construct a team, I want to know who you are in your worst moment because when you win, everybody’s in a good mood, it’s easy. The most revealing moment for me about our players was when we lost because you learn so much more from failure than success. And so when we lost in Game 7 of the Finals, they did react to losing in such a good way where nobody blamed each other. Nobody blamed anybody else. They took the responsibility for themselves. That allowed me to believe that it was the right group of guys and that we could go forward with them.” Despite the success he’s experienced through the organization, Myers is a firm believer in doing what you love, and it’s clear that his love is for basketball. A wellpublicized basketball junkie, he spearheads staff pickup games both within and between organizations. The most interesting competition the Warriors staff has taken on has been the ongoing six-year annual series against the San Quentin State Prison inmates. But for Myers, it’s extended to beyond just basketball. “Playing basketball in St. Quentin is a different experience… Some of us have better chances than others. I had a better chance than the guys in San Quentin to make it in life. Had I been born into what they were born, I could’ve easily been in San Quentin. And I think I realize it’s humbling in that these guys have probably made one or two mistakes in their life, maybe some bad ones. But what led them to those mistakes and how they ended up making those mistakes is a story that often doesn’t get told.” Myers went on to say that the experience humanized his perception of the prison population, as well as informed him on prison reform. “And they’re good at basketball, too,” he added. “It’s hard to play there.” Myers also fielded a few more present questions on his role in the organization and the current state of the Warriors. He talked

about the importance of simultaneously looking at the game in front of them and the draft and free agency two or three years into the future, and the difficulty of constantly gunning for a championship year in and year out. Myers also acknowledged the difficulty of being the general manager of a sports team, saying that “the hardest thing to do is manage human beings.” He brought up examples that illustrate the importance of cultivating substantial relationships with each of his players, from talking to Draymond Green about his multiple technical fouls to risk of bringing in alleged troublemakers like Javale McGee and Nick Young; in the latter cases, Myers believes that the positive culture they’ve created within the Warriors organization will affect anyone and build them up, saying that, “we believe that the rising tide lifts all boats.” Despite the range of different questions he got, Myers constantly reminded everyone to not get wrapped up in a career and build up a personal life, pointing to his wife and two daughters as his most important priorities. Myers has proven himself to be one of the best GMs in the league and his approach to every other aspect of his life is the same way he leads an NBA front office. When someone asked about how the Warriors managed to flip a relatively measly $3.5 million for an All-Rookie candidate in big man Jordan Bell, Myers preached the same philosophy he had been the entire one hour and fifteen minutes. While the Warriors worked on their end to secure a draft pick Myers was talking to Jordan Bell’s agent, who happened to be Arn Tellem’s son. “I used to work out Michael Tellem when he was four years old shooting baskets and it was just I was going to law school in UCLA and my boss said will you work out my kid in the driveway: that’s Michael Tellem, Jordan Bell’s agent. That’s my point. Whatever you’re doing now matters. Every single thing you do, every single person you meet, matters. I promise. There are people that you will work for that will work for you as crazy as that will be. There are people that may be firing you in ten years they’re going to call you and say, ‘Can you give me a referral?’ That’s life. That is how small it gets.”

Page 26

Usain Bolt Trades in Spikes for Boots By ANDREW POSADAS STAFF WRITER

Last Sunday, the “fastest man in the world” took to Twitter with a special announcement. In the video that Usain Bolt posted, he proclaimed to have signed for a soccer team, with more details to come. This past Tuesday, the eight-time Olympic gold medalist in track gave everyone the inside scoop. On June 10, the world will witness the debut of Bolt on the soccer pitch…well, kind of. This debut won’t be at the professional level. The 31-year-old Jamaican track legend recently made public his participation in a charity football match at Old Trafford stadium. Old Trafford is home to England’s Manchester United, Bolt’s favorite team. The charity event, known as Soccer Aid for UNICEF, has long been a yearly tradition, as it was originally called the England vs Soccer Aid World XI charity match. Previous participants include soccer legends Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane. The match has also showcased the talents of famous celebrities, such as actors Will Ferrell and renowned chef Gordon Ramsay. This soccer event, established by English singer Robbie Williams, has taken place every two years since its inception in 2006. The buzz for this year’s match is nothing short of massive for soccer fans around the world; UNICEF UK has promoted Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2018 to be “bigger and better than ever.” With Usain Bolt being named captain of the ROW (Rest of the World) squad, the anticipation is certainly warranted. The full lineups for both the England and ROW squads have yet to be released, but rumors are swirling that famous soccer players and celebrities will be announced in the coming weeks leading up to this star-studded event. All of the proceeds from the event

will help to raise funds for UNICEF’s work protecting children in the UK and around the world. As of today, 24 million pounds has been raised over the past 12 years, which equates to more than 33 million dollars. Upon kickoff, the world’s eyes will be on Usain Bolt. Bolt has consistently been adamant on his potential as a professional footballer. As a huge fan of Manchester United, he claims he has a chance at playing in the English Premier League. His claims may not be so far-fetched, given his past training with Bundesliga superpower Borussia Dortmund. In an interview with ESPN last year, Bolt confirmed his desire to become a soccer player. Bolt said, “with training, I could be good. I want to play but it has to be in the top league. I’m not content to be average.” Bolt also added the chance to play for his favorite team, Manchester United, would “be a massive deal.” At the end of the day, we need to be realistic. Given his age, the notion that a top league in Europe would sign a 31-year old with no previous soccer experience is preposterous. Never fear, there is hope for the world record holder in the 100m and 200m…here in the States. Let us not forget Usain Bolt’s staunch support for David Beckham’s pursuit of an MLS team in Miami. Bolt said, “On a serious note, though, if you need a striker, I’m the guy. If you need goals, I’m the guy. I got you.” Could this charity match be Bolt’s audition for Beckham and Miami FC? Better yet, is this Bolt’s “trial run” in his journey to play soccer? We shall find out on June 10. We’ve seen him electrify us on the track, but the question remains: can Bolt put the ball in the back of the net?

SPORTS

March 7, 2018

By JIMMY SULLIVAN

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The NCAA’s men’s college basketball tournament starts next week. As it stands right now, the FBI should be everyone’s favorite to cut down the nets. Last week, Yahoo! Sports reported that the FBI had obtained financial documents from former NBA agent Andy Miller that implicated approximately 20 collegiate programs and roughly 25 current and former players in a “pay-for-play” scheme to ensure that programs could lock up elite players. Notable players named in the documents include Michigan State’s Miles Bridges, Alabama’s Collin Sexton, Duke’s Wendell Carter, Kentucky’s Kevin Knox and Dennis Smith, Jr., who played last season at NC State before being selected ninth in this past year’s NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Keep in mind that the FBI made several arrests last September in relation to this same scandal, and Louisville head coach Rick Pitino was let go by the university soon after. At the time, it was reported that an assistant coach had requested that fivestar recruit Brian Bowen sign with the Cardinals with the incentive of a cool $100,000 bonus, by way of an Adidas executive. The day after Yahoo!’s report, ESPN reported that Arizona head coach Sean Miller was caught on an FBI wiretap discussing a payment, also of $100,000, to DeAndre Ayton, a star center in the 2017 recruiting class. Ayton is currently a freshman at Arizona and could possibly be the first overall pick in June’s NBA Draft. Although the NCAA deserves to be a laughingstock and its president, Mark Emmert, has earned his reputation as a human punchline, are we jumping to a conclusion on this story too quickly? These reports (if true, of course) are glaring because the NCAA proudly insists that players are not paid and goes to great lengths to protect the so-called “amateurism” of its organization. Just in the past year alone, the NCAA has ruled a player ineligible for monetizing his personal YouTube channel and suspended five Richmond University baseball players for the dastardly crime of playing fantasy football. And yet, somehow, some way, these infractions were more important than the underthe-table deals that were purportedly

going on behind the association’s back. Whoops. Even though Miller did not coach his team for the first two games after the ESPN story broke, he gave a press conference on Thursday in which he vehemently denied ever discussing or carrying out a payment to any player, let alone Ayton. When Miller’s press conference was announced, many assumed that Miller would be stepping down from his position or that the school would announce his firing. Neither one of those two things happened, and Miller even went into detail about one situation in which someone approached him about paying a player and he refused to do so. It is important to recall that Emanuel “Book” Richardson, one of Miller’s former assistant coaches, was charged by the FBI in its initial September sting on bribery, fraud and corruption charges, a rare college basketball triple play. So, to recap: a major media outlet publishes a damning report about an authority figure, said authority figure denies that report and basically shouts “fake news” from his pulpit and the public decides who they want to believe regardless of the facts of the story. Stop me if you’ve seen this before. I am inclined to believe ESPN’s report except for one – actually, two – issues. Both of these problems come in the form of seemingly minor retractions the company has issued in the past few days. The first is that ESPN changed its report to state that Miller was caught on the FBI wiretap discussing Ayton’s payment plan in 2016, not 2017. Then, the Worldwide Leader changed that date back to 2017, the original year they reported Miller was caught in the act of discussing the payment with Christian Dawkins, one of NBA agent Andy Miller’s assistants.

Here is where the problem comes in: Ayton committed to Arizona on September 6, 2016. In an article published after Miller’s Thursday press conference, ESPN announced, unsurprisingly, that they were standing by their reporting on this story. If they are, then they are saying that Miller discussed compensation on the wiretap after Ayton committed to the school, which is certainly possible, but less plausible than Miller discussing a payment plan to ensure Ayton attended Arizona in the first place. After Miller’s press conference, I saw many tweets saying that the conservation he denied really did happen. Naturally, all of these tweets came from people who weren’t in the room for that discussion, don’t own a copy of the wiretap and haven’t actually heard its contents. But why would that stop anyone? Sadly, many people have decided for themselves what happened between Miller and the agent. Their opinion of the issue was dictated by whether or not they were on the NCAA’s side or that of ESPN’s reporting, not the facts of the story. I would typically side with ESPN because the NCAA, is up there with FIFA and United States Gymnastics, as one of the most corrupt sport organizations in the world right now. But I also believe that Miller wouldn’t defend himself that vehemently and confidently if he didn’t sincerely believe in his own innocence. I also think many citizens have decided who they side with, regardless of what really happened. Sean Miller is digging in to defend himself against ESPN. ESPN is standing by their reporting. The stakes could not be higher for both. Get your popcorn ready, but don’t decide who to believe until you know what the facts are.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Arizona head coach Sean Miller was allegedy recorded on an FBI wiretap.

Varsity Calendar HOME AWAY

Men’s Basketball

Women’s Tennis

Baseball

Softball

Thursday Mar. 8

Friday Mar. 9

Saturday Mar. 10

Sunday Mar. 11

Monday Mar. 12

Tuesday Mar. 13

Wednesday Mar. 14

Atlantic 10 Championships (TBD) Temple 12 p.m.

Coppin State Coppin State 11 a.m. / 2p.m. 1 p.m. Samford/ #13 Alabama #13 Alabama 4 p.m. 11 a.m/ 6 p.m.

Samford 11 a.m.

Wagner 3 p.m.

Hofstra 3 p.m.

SPORTS

March 7, 2018

The Jets and Giants are both in terrific spots this year to take a superstar in the upcoming 2018 NFL draft. After a 5-11 record last season the Jets have the sixth overall pick in the draft, and with a 3-13 record, the Giants have the second overall pick in the draft. Both teams are in desperate need of major improvements on both sides of the ball. The Jets could make multiple moves. They do need a quarterback, but they can address the defense with either a safety or cornerback. The Jets drafted Jamal Adams last season in the first round, but after a couple of shakeups with former draft picks Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg, the Jets might want to turn to another quarterback, since Josh McCown might not return. If they don’t, they could always re-sign McCown or another free agent quarterback. The one name that has been on every mock draft is Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman winner Baker Mayfield. Others include Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, Mason Rudolph and Sam Darnold. They could always trade up if they also need to get someone they have their eyes on. They could throw a wrench in this plan if reports of their desire to throw every cent they have at Kirk Cousins are true. If they want to go the defense route, defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, Denzel Ward, Josh Jackson or Derwin James are all possibilities. However, the Jets haven't had a ton of success drafting defensive backs, most notably Dee Milliner. For the Giants, having the number two pick is a little easier, but the decision is much harder. Who knows how many years your franchise quarterback in Eli Manning has? Do you take a quarterback now and have him be a backup, or do you wait and have Eli run this Giants team for a few more years? The Giants have one of the worst running games in the NFL, and with explosive Penn State running back and New York native Saquon Barkley right there, they just have to watch out for the Browns in taking him number one overall. Unfortunately, Barkley was a Jets fan. It is also possible the Giants avoid a running back in the first round, looking at recent lateround success like Alvin Kamara and Kareem Hunt as examples of late-round value. Maybe Big Blue will let Fordham's own Chase Edmonds stay in New York City. There have also been rumors that the Giants should trade down, possibly with the Jets, Vikings or Broncos, teams that really need a quarterback or running back. Quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen, both superstars with great arms who could work wonders with Odell Beckham and Brandon Marshall, have been linked with the Giants. So what path do these two teams take to get back to where they want to be? Free agency, the draft, or trades? The Big Apple needs a good draft to get both teams back to a state of relevancy and host another football-related parade sooner rather than later.

Liam McKeone

Varsity Scores & Stats

Anthony Cardone

Jets and Giants NFL Draft

Page 27

Women's Basketball Fordham Saint Joseph's

Men's Track ECAC/IC4A Championship

49 52

Softball Florida Int. Fordham

2 7

Robert Morris Fordham

6 9

Women's Track ECAC/IC4A Championship

Troy Fordham

1 0

4x800 Relay (FOR) 3rd - 8:58.04

Notre Dame Fordham

8 0

Baseball Fordham LIU Brooklyn

3 2

James Madison Fordham

7 6

James Madison Fordham

6 14

5000m run (FOR) Slattery 1st - 14:00.03 (FOR) Kutch 3rd - 14:17.49

A-10 Quarterfinals - Richmond, VA

(FOR) Davis: 13 Pts, 18 Rebs (FOR) Cavanaugh: 17 Pts, 8 Rebs, 3 Asts Men's Basketball Fordham 58 VCU 73 (FOR) Chartounty: 16 Pts, 8 Rebs (FOR) Tavares: 13 Pts, 3 Rebs Fordham (14) vs. GW (11)

Men's Tennis Fordham St. John's

0 7

Women's Tennis LIU Brooklyn Fordham

4 0

Fordham Saint Louis

6 1

A-10 Championship First Round

8:30 p.m. EST Capital One Arena Washington, DC Winner plays No. 6 Saint Louis

Athletes of the Week Thomas Slattery

G'mrice Davis

Senior

Men's Track

Women's Basketball

Slattery makes another appearance as one of Fordham's two most outstanding athletes, and rightfully so. The senior distance runner made school history in the 5,000-meter run at the ECAC/IC4A Championship, crossing in 14:00.03 at Boston University's Track & Tennis Center.

While the team came up short in the A-10 Quarterfinals this past Friday in Richmond, senior forward G'mrice Davis left everything out on the floor. Playing in 37 minutes, the nation's second-leading rebounder tallied 13 points and 18 rebounds in a disheartening loss to sixth-seeded SJU.

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

News & Notes • Edmonds Impresses at NFL Combine

Campus football legend Chase Edmonds, FCRH ‘18, took a strong step forward in his NFL pursuit. At the combine this past Friday, he stood atop the charts in both the three-cone drill (6.79) and 20-yard shuttle (4.07). Edmonds had a less-than-ideal senior season, as his performance was subdued by four games riding the pine due to injury. With that said, his professional candidacy will be judged by his 5,862 career rushing yards and 74 total touchdowns, both of which made Patriot League history. This performance just further proves that he can play with the big boys.

• Kutch Earns Academic Honors The A-10 Conference recently recognized

Track and Field individuals who have excelled not only in competition but in the classroom. Sophomore Ryan Kutch was among those who made the cut. With a 3.0 GPA cutoff (on a 4.0 scale), he accumulated a 3.31 mark. Combine that with his outstanding performance in the winter, which included First Team All-Atlantic 10 recognition at the A-10 Championship and dual event scoring at Metros, and it is safe to say that Kutch has a bright future in the maroon and white.

• Two WBB Players Achieve All-Conference

Women’s Basketball had much to be celebrated on Thursday morning, and not because of its stellar regular season. Two pieces of the team’s core, senior G’mrice Davis and freshman Bre Cavanaugh, earned All-Conference recognition for their efforts in helping the Rams to the A-10 Quarterfinals and a likely WNIT bid. Davis became the first A-10 Defensive Player of the Year in school history, while Cavanaugh took home All-Conference Second Team and All-Rookie accolades. Davis anchored Fordham's top-20 scoring defense, while Cavanaugh became just the sixth player to record multiple 30-point performances in a single campaign.

• Chartouny Named to AllDefensive Team Men's Basketball's Joe Chartouny was

awarded for his stellar defensive regular season, as he was given a spot on the Atlantic 10 All-Defensive team. The junior guard currently averages 3.32 steals per game, which leads the nation, and ranks third on Fordham's all-time steals list, compiling 243 throughout his impressive career. -Compiled by Emmanuel Berbari

A Clash of Kings Ah, the Sacramento Kings. They’re the perennial screw-up of the NBA family, somehow falling flat on their faces year after year, despite trying their very best to crawl out of the space they’ve inhabited at the bottom of the standings for 15 years now. It seemed their ineptitude peaked when they traded the only true star they’ve had since the pairing of Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic in the early 2000s: DeMarcus Cousins for Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway and two 2017 draft picks. At the time, it seemed like a classic Kings mistake, that they had again been fleeced for the guy who was supposed to be their franchise savior. Add in the extensive promises general manager Vlad Divac made about not trading Cousins in the weeks leading up to the trade and it seemed like the “dumpster fire” status quo would prevail in Sac-Town. Flash forward a year later, and things look…. not as bad? Is it possible? Do Kings fans have something to look forward to besides another year of missed draft picks and poor freeagent signings? Well, they just might. The Kings’ front office continued to baffle everyone with their free agent signings over last summer, picking up three motivated vets in George Hill, Zach Randolph and Vince Carter. Their veteran presence is important for a roster as young as Sacramento’s. But they were taking valuable playing time away from their top prospects, most notably DeAaron Fox, selected fifth overall in last year’s draft. Fortunately for Kings fans, the front office finally came to their senses and traded away Hill while giving more playing time overall to their young guys all over the roster. They have fully committed to tanking for a top pick in this year’s draft, which is their only path to relevance, especially since their pick in 2019 belongs to the Celtics (unless it ends up being the No. 1 overall pick). For the last month and a half of basketball, the progression of the young players is the only aspect of the team worth watching for Kings fans. So far, the results have been encouraging. Fox still can’t shoot threes all too well, but he’s been putting his athleticism to good use on defense and is a force in transition thanks to his blinding speed. Hield, the prize haul from the Cousins trade, hasn’t been the second coming of Steph Curry as Divac claimed, but he’s been able to space the floor by shooting over 40% from three all year, and has occasionally flashed the natural scoring ability that made him the sixth overall pick in the 2016 draft. The real prize of the season thus far, however, has been the rise of Bogdan Bogdanovic. Besides having an awesome name, the Serbian shooting guard has been showcasing an efficient and effective offensive game since the All-Star break, as he’s been granted the keys to the offensive with Hill gone and Fox continuing to struggle with his jumper. At 25, he’s a bit older than Hield and a lot older than Fox, but he’s a polished offensive role player with the potential to become a great scorer in the league. It has been a long dark age for Kings fans, but with the development coming this year and a (hopefully) topfive pick in a loaded draft this offseason, they might finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

SPORTS

Page 28

March 7, 2018

The Fordham Ram

Season Ends in Heartbreaking Fashion For Women’s Basketball By JACK McLOONE SPORTS EDITOR

St. Joe’s is a recurring nightmare for Fordham Women’s Basketball. After missing out on a first-round bye thanks to a last-second bucket from the Hawks in the final game of the regular season, the Rams’ Atlantic 10 Championship quarterfinal matchup was more of the same. With 16 seconds left and the Rams down two, 48-46, freshman guard Bre Cavanaugh received the inbound pass about 30 feet from the basket. Knowing a foul would be coming, Cavanaugh threw the ball towards the basket to earn three free throws on a shot that had no chance of going in; it was simply a heads-up play for the freshman. Head coach Stephanie Gaitley said they were aware of the foul possibility and suggested that Cavanaugh try to draw the free throws. With a chance to take a onepoint lead if she hit all three, Cavanaugh hit only two of the free throws, tying the game at 48. Once again, St. Joe’s would have the ball in a tie game with the shot clock turned off. Last time, the Hawks were able to get the ball to their best player down low, Cynthia Woods, who

laid it in for the winning bucket. This time, the Rams did all they could to prevent that and succeeded, switching to a zone. When the ball got into Woods’ hands, she was double-teamed at the top of the key. However, she was able to get a pass into the corner to Sarah Veilleux, who hit a three over a late-collapsing Cavanaugh with 0.2 seconds remaining. “We went zone the last play and wanted their best player to be a passer,” said Gaitley. “We made them make their first three of the game.” The Rams did the best they could defensively, but there is nothing you can do when a team makes a three after missing its first eight. The ensuing inbounds Hail Mary pass was caught at half court by St. Joe’s. The defense from the Rams’ first round dismantling of Rhode Island carried over to the first quarter, with the Hawks scoring just six points to Fordham’s 13. The second quarter saw a little bit of a slide, but the halftime score was 24-16 in the Rams’ favor. But fatigue, either from the game or just from a season with a thin bench full of freshmen, set in

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

G’mrice Davis, above, rises for a layup. The Rams’ season ended on Friday with a loss to St. Joseph’s.

in the second half. After holding the Hawks under 27 percent from the floor in the first half, they allowed over 46 percent in the second. The Rams also got into deep foul trouble in the second half, with senior forward G’mrice Davis ending the game with four and freshman forward Johanna Klug with five. “Our foul trouble played a key role in the second half defensively,” Gaitley said, which was clear, especially on the interior. Woods

scored 14 of her 18 points in the second half, all on the inside. 30 of the Hawks’ points were scored in the paint. Davis finished with yet another double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing a game-high 18 rebounds. Cavanaugh led the Rams with 17 points. The Rams finish the season 22-9 on the backs of Davis and the freshmen, particularly Cavanaugh. “I feel we overachieved and got a ton out of this group and I am confident that we will be one of

the few teams playing post season and will make the most out of this opportunity,” said Gaitley. For a freshmen-heavy team facing the toughest out-of-conference schedule Gaitley has ever faced, calling this team “overachievers” feels like an understatement. Despite the early exit, the Rams’ season should not yet be finished. Both the Championship Tournament and WNIT will announce their selected fields on Monday, March 12.

Men’s Basketball Continues Its Losing Stretch

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

Will Tavares, above, attempts a layup. Fordham men’s basketball has not won a game since Feb. 10.

By ALVIN HALIMWIDJAYA STAFF EDITOR

Fordham Men’s Basketball came into this past week having won its last game on Feb. 10; unfortunately, that did not change. The Rams’ dry spell continued as they dropped games to George Washington and VCU to end their regular season. Coming into their matchup against George Washington on Wednesday, Feb. 28, Fordham had built up a losing streak of four games. Their last loss came against La Salle, with head coach Jeff Neubauer pointing to swingman B.J. Johnson as a key factor in the Explorers’ victory.

“B.J. Johnson is as talented as anyone in our conference,” Neubauer said. “He’s had a really impressive year average, almost 21 points per game, and some of the shots he did make were tough ones; they were ones where we had a hand in his face. He also really competed well on the glass and gave his team extra opportunities. There were a couple shots in the first half where we just got confused and he got wide-open shots, so those are the ones that are disappointing. But he did show what type of player he is, going 8-11 [from the field] tonight, and he’s done that against a lot of teams.” Against George Washington,

the Rams fell the same way, dropping the contest 72-56, courtesy of forward Yuta Watanabe’s careerhigh 31 points. Junior forward Prokop Slanina led the Rams’ offense with 19 points and seven rebounds, while junior guard Joseph Chartouny and senior guard Will Tavares chipped in with 11 and 10 points respectively. After Watanabe scored 11 points to push the Colonials to a 15-4 lead 5:40 into the first half, Fordham managed to cut the deficit down to five points, as a Slanina three-pointer brought the score to 23-18 with 7:36 remaining in the first half. However, a 13-2 run from George Washington gave them a commanding 36-

20 lead with 4:20 before halftime, and they didn’t give the Rams any chances to threaten for the rest of the game. Fordham moved on to its regular season home finale and held Senior Night at the Rose Hill Gym on Saturday, Mar. 3 against VCU. The team tried to see it as just another game, with Neubauer stating that, “Our mentality was we were playing the game to win the game… the message was we were trying to compete.” However, Fordham came up short once again in a 83-58 loss in a battle of the Rams. While Chartouny, Slanina and Tavares headed up the scoring once again with 16, 14 and 13 points, respectively, the damage to Fordham was done by VCU forward Justin Tillman, who dropped 18 points and nabbed 13 rebounds. “Tillman is a sensational player, and when I look at VCU’s team, I really see guys that have improved,” Neubauer said. “So you can start with Tillman, who improved drastically from last year to this year. He’s just ferocious. He doesn’t stop, and his skill level has obviously increased.” Tillman’s most meaningful contribution came in the form of his aggression; his style put Slanina in foul trouble, as the Czech forward only played 21 minutes and ended up fouling out. With injuries to sophomore forward Chuba Ohams and junior forward Jessie Bunting, Slanina has been pushed into a much larger role at the center position over the season, and Tillman took advantage of Fordham’s limited options. “Prokop’s actually done a terrific job here over the past 20-some-

thing games where he’s been the only center of avoiding fouling out,” Neubauer said. “Obviously, with Justin Tillman in there, it changes things. He’s so aggressive. He gets tangled up, so Prokop did pick up two [fouls] really quickly in the first half, and those two ending up dooming us, but with them attacking the [paint] so often, it’s just really hard to stay out of foul trouble… this is not an excuse, it’s a compliment to Justin Tillman, but when we don’t have Prokop on the court, it really affects us. And I’m talking about both ends of the court. Chris Downing did do a really good job, especially in the first half tonight. But we’ve seen this happen in a couple of games early in the year, where we do lose Prokop to fouls in the second half, and it’s hard to put up a fight.” Fordham jumped out to a quick 10-3 lead with just over 15 minutes left in the game, but after VCU tied it up for a second time with 9:33 remaining in the contest, the opposing Rams broke the 15-15 deadlock with a 16-4 burst. Fordham ended up chipping the lead back down to 38-27 at halftime, but would get no closer than 10 points in the second half. In response to a Tavares basket cutting the Fordham deficit to 48-38, VCU swung back with an 11-0 to grab a 59-38 advantage with just under 12 minutes left and essentially put the game away. Fordham’s next game is an A-10 tournament matchup. They face George Washington for the second time in two weeks on Wednesday, Mar. 7 at the Capital One Center in Washington, D.C. at 8:30 p.m.