Volume 106 Issue 9

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake

Rattles the Northeast

By NORA MALONE

On Friday, April 5, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit the East Coast with its epicenter in New Jersey. The Fordham University community experienced shaking throughout both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses.

At Rose Hill, the William Spain Seismic Observatory monitors seismic activity in the region. The observatory has been monitoring seismic activity for almost 100 years.

“It can detect large earthquakes from around the globe, and we routinely see those events on our instruments,” said Professor Stephen Holler of the physics department. “The event on Friday was not a major earthquake, but it did release enough energy to rattle the area and produce some structural damage close to the epicenter.”

No major damage was reported in the New York City area. Public Safety updated the community at 4 p.m. via email addressing any potential damage to the campus.

“No members of the community

“Eclipsemania” Takes Over Rose Hill and Lincoln Center Campuses

By CRISTINA STEFANIZZI

Fordham University students at both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses stopped in time on Monday, April 8, to witness the solar eclipse that passed across North America.

Edward’s Parade at Rose Hill was filled with hundreds of students and faculty watching the partial eclipse that passed over New York just after 3 p.m. Students at Lincoln Center sprawled out in the plaza to watch the event in Manhattan.

The Fordham Ram Fordham Updates Opposite Gender Guest Policy

Prior to the event, Fordham Public Safety gave out eclipse glasses to students to safely watch the phenomenon and emailed safety tips to students, including to use ISOcertified solar glasses, to not look directly at the sun during the event and to wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.

“I was worried for my safety, I didn’t know what was safe to look at since there was a lot of discussion about using the glasses and if you didn’t it could ruin your eyesight,”

By CRISTINA STEFANIZZI ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Fordham University’s Office of Residential Life announced an official change to the university’s guest policy on the Rose Hill Campus, now allowing students to have overnight guests of the opposite gender.

In an email sent by Vice President for Student Affairs Michele Burris and Assistant

Starting next year, the yearly student activites fee will be $230, a $95 increase.

Student Activities Fee Referendum Passes

By CRISTINA STEFANIZZI ASST. NEWS EDITOR

approval rate, raising the SAF for the 2024-25 academic year by $95.

The referendum, which began on March 4, was put into place due to a lack of funding for on-campus clubs and organizations for events and activities. The referendum

Members of the Fordham University community celebrated the achievements of Fordham Founder’s Scholarship recipients, and the generosity of their benefactors, at the university’s annual Founder’s Dinner. The March 18 event at the Hell’s Kitchen Glasshouse, overlooking the Hudson River and Intrepid Museums, marked the 22nd consecutive fundraiser Students are now

was one of the most voted-on causes USG has held in Fordham history, with 15% of the student body casting votes over the two-week period. The announcement of its passing follows Fordham’s announcement of a 4.4% tuition increase to food and housing

Vice President and Dean of Students Christopher Rodgers, students were informed that beginning on April 5, “Rose Hill resident students will be able to secure overnight guest passes for guests regardless of gender and provided they have prior consent of roommates.” This announcement follows the premature announcement of the policy released to residents following winter break in January.

The change was made to the policy “after a semester of consultation with elected student leaders and the student body via the Student Life Council,” said Burris and Rodgers’ email.

“I have a girlfriend, so I appreciate the change in guest pass policy,” said Brady Kitterick, FCRH ’27.

The Lincoln Center campus will not be adopting the new guest pass policy, however. Sara

Fordham Holds 22nd Annual Founder’s Dinner Fundraiser

By ALEXANDER HOM STAFF WRITER

for which donors have contributed to the Fordham Founder’s Undergraduate Scholarship Fund. This year’s supporters raised over $2.5 million for 48 Fordham Founder’s Scholars, living up to the dinner’s 2024 theme of “Transforming Our World.” “This is a spectacular event because it encourages so much money to go towards scholarships for students,” said President Tania Tetlow, who

On Tuesday, April 2 the United Student Government (USG) at Fordham University Rose Hill announced that the Student Activities Fee (SAF) Referendum passed with a 95% SEE

SEE FEE, PAGE 5

COURTESY OF MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM

BRIEFS

March 31

Off Campus

6:30 p.m.

On Sunday, a student called Public Safety stating that they fainted off campus and requested a ride back to campus. The supervisor responded. The student said they smoked marijuana and felt dizzy. A good samaritan called 911 and an FDNY ambulance responded. After being evaluated the student was able to refuse recieving further medical treatment.

March 31

Arthur Avenue

11:40 p.m.

On Sunday, there was a smoke alarm at an off campus residence on Arthur Ave. The supervisor and FDNY responded. The investigation revealed an odor of smoke on the second floor. The supervisor ventilated the area and reset the alarm panel.

April 4

Arthur Avenue

7:30 p.m.

On Thursday, a student reported that, while walking on Arthur Avenue and 189 Street, a male drove up on the sidewalk on a scooter and stole the student’s cell phone. The supervisor responded and requested the NYPD. The NYPD located a suspect, and the student identified the suspect as the offender.

April 6

Arthur Avenue

6:15 pm

On Saturday, there was a smoke alarm at an off campus residence on Arthur Ave. The supervisor and FDNY responded. The investigation revealed a student cooking triggered the alarm. The supervisor ventilated the area and reset the alarm panel.

FDM Raises $76,437 for Childhood Cancer

By NORA MALONE NEWS EDITOR

On Sunday, April 7, Fordham Dance Marathon (FDM) sponsored RamFest x Keating Steps, their largest and final event of the semester, revealing their fundraising efforts totaled $76,437 this year.

FDM collaborated with United Student Government (USG) and a variety of performing groups to fundraise for The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, which is the largest provider of financial assistance for childhood cancer in the country. Joe McDonough, the B+ Foundation’s founder, spoke to attendees.

In previous years, RamFest did not exist. It was called “dayof” and was often held near Lombardi Field house.

“This year, Emily and I decided we wanted to rebrand ‘day-of’ and moved it outdoors to Eddie’s in hopes of attracting more of the general student population, and we renamed it ‘Ramfest,’” said FDM co-president Nicole Rio, FCRH ’25. “We have the opportunity to collaborate with USG

to also put on Keating Steps at the event, so we had their performances as well! The process has been lengthy yet rewarding.”

The event had games, food from local businesses and a silent disco. There were performances from the Ramblers, the B-Sides, the Hot Notes, Fordham Falak, Expressions and Candela Latina.

“We were invited to perform at Fordham Dance Marathon’s RamFest and were immediately excited to participate in this event with such an important cause of supporting the B+ foundation for pediatric cancer,” said Sláinte Presidents Allie Small, FCRH, ’24 and Bridget Keary, FCRH ’24.

“There is something very special about Fordham events that feature all of the performing groups on campus, and we love any opportunity to watch and support other groups as they support us.”

Sláinte, Fordham’s Irish dance team, performed two numbers, “Lord of the Dance” from Michael Flatley’s show “Lord of the Dance” and a routine to “Houdini” by Dua Lipa, choreographed by Sláinte member Andy Meeker, FCRH ’25.

Last year, FDM raised over $130,000 for the B+ Foundation. Last spring, they officially separated from the Fordham Rose Hill Association (RHA) and spent the year trying to gain club status.

“A lot of our efforts this year have been spent getting donations to run events since we have not had a budget, so, unfortunately, not all of our attention has been able to go toward fundraising efforts,” said Rio. “While we may not finish the year raising as much as we did last year, we are very proud of staying afloat without club status and having been able to receive as many donations as we did to put on all of the events that FDM usually does with its usual budget.”

FDM began in 2014 to fulfill a RHA philanthropy requirement and has partnered with performing groups many times over the past decade.

“We hadn’t performed for FDM since I joined the B-Sides, so when they reached out, I thought it would be a great opportunity,” said Laura Pereira,

This Week at Fordham

Wednesday April 10

Financial Aid Webinar

Zoom 7-8 p.m.

Fordham Financial Services is hosting a webinar informational session to review steps for financial aid renewal as a continuing student. The webinar link was emailed to students.

Thursday April 11

Drag at Rod’s Coffee House

Rodrigue’s Coffee House 8 p.m.

Rodrigue’s Coffee House is hosting a drag show with performances and Q & As. Tickets are free but are available on a first come, first served basis in lieu of capacity concerns.

Friday April 12

Come on Down to the Farm

Collins Auditorium 8 p.m.

The Mimes and Mummers are taking to the stage in their production of “Animal Farm” this weekend. Tickets are $10 all weekend with performances Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday April 13

Hey, Batter Batter!

Bahoshy Field 12 p.m.

Support Fordham Softball in a three game home series this weekend against the Dayton University Flyers. First pitch is at 12 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday on Bahoshy Field.

FCRH ’25 and B-Sides president. “I grew up singing for assisted living homes with a performance group, so performing for an important cause is a large part of my experience, and it’s something I wanted the group to be a part of. I think more than just singing a cappella, it is important to do what we do for a good reason.”

The B-Sides performed two songs, “Many the Miles” by Sara Bareilles and “Ain’t No Mountain” by Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye.

Any student can get involved with FDM by creating a fundraising page, which allows them to send out pre-made texts, emails and social media posts to potential donors.

“[Interested students] can email fdm@fordham.edu to express their interest and be placed on the board,” said Rio. “Fordham Dance Marathon also offers community service opportunities. FDM holds many events throughout the semester, and by simply attending, each student is making a difference!”

Monday April 15

CSA Commuter Week

Various Locations

Various Times

The Commuting Students Association (CSA) is hosting events for commuter week. There are numerous events with details posted on CSA’s Instagram page @fordhamcsa.

COURTESY OF JESSICA NOCE FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Members of Fordham Dance Marathon unveil their total amount of money raised on Keating steps at their annual RamFest event.

Poetic Justice Institute Hosts Books and Brunch

By ADITHI VIMALANATHAN ASST. NEWS EDITOR

On Sunday, April 8, the Poetic Justice Institute hosted “Books and Brunch: A Reading Party,” an event for Fordham University undergraduates and English students to read and brunch together in the style of a reading party. The event hosted roughly 20 attendees and was held at Lincoln Center. It was largely organized by Sarah Gambito, co-director of the Poetic Justice Institute and director of creative writing at Fordham.

The Poetic Justice Institute was founded in 1992 at Fordham’s Lincoln Center, initially as Poets Out Loud, which hosted and continues to host speaker series with renowned artists such as Gwendolyn Brooks and Elizabeth Alexander. Their inspiration for a reading party came from the New York Times article “It’s My Party and I’ll Read If I Want To,” which details the Reading Rhythms series at FourFiveSix bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Attendees at FourFiveSix committed an hour to reading their books before discussing them with others in attendance.

“I was talking to Yev [Gelman], my assistant, and we were really thinking about how do we think

By MICHAEL DUKE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business (GSB) sent a group of students in a global immersion course to Rwanda in East Africa over spring break to promote entrepreneurship in the country and assist local entrepreneurs and businesses.

The class, “Global Immersion: Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Rwanda,” is taught by professor and Director of Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation Concentrations Dennis Hanno. It allowed 12 students the opportunity to spend time in Rwanda from March 2029. The group visited local businesses and landmarks in Rwanda to examine the impact of Rwanda’s history, politics, culture and economy on its entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The course paired businesses and entrepreneurs in Rwanda with Fordham students while allowing them to learn more about their assigned businesses and startups. The group also provided insights on day-to-day challenges while targeting specific problems that the businesses currently struggle with.

Since the Rwandan genocide in 1994 took the lives of nearly 1 million Rwandans, the country’s population has made significant strides to improve the country’s quality of life and improve other aspects of day-to-day life such as economic reconstruction. Economic reconstruction was one element of the course’s purpose, as much of the course-

about where students are at right now, what they might need, what does it mean to hold space right now – late in the spring semester,” explained Gambito.

“I was reading about all these reading parties, and I just loved the idea of reading being a celebration. Of looking at reading both solitary but communal and bringing people together, students together, with the books that they love and they’re choosing.”

The Poetic Justice Institute hosted the event in Lincoln Center, a large meeting room filled with several tables, each adorned with a floral garland. A beach scene was projected onto the back wall. Light bossa nova filled the air as participants filed in with tickets in hand, wrote on name tags and began to take their seats. Filling most of the left wall was a large brunch spread of frittatas, pancakes and breakfast burritos.

“I heard about this event from my poetry professor, Sarah Gambito.” explained Joy Tessalee, FCLC ’24. “Why did I decide to attend?... Books? Brunch? I was sold.”

Attendees took their seats and began to speak with others at their table. Many were English

majors themselves, and many were also invited through English classes they were currently taking. Books — ranging from “Carrie” by Stephen King to “Devotions” by Mary Oliver — were laid on the table, subjects of brief show and tell over eggs and bacon. After a while, Gambito directed attendees to put their forks down and begin their first reading period.

After a short period of silent reading, Gambito encouraged attendees to find someone in the room they hadn’t met before. Yev Gelman, a Poetic Justice Institute fellow, then provided a prompt for discussion. The once-silent room grew with conversation that had to be reined in in order to begin a second reading period.

“I think that the reflection was really important to me,” said Gambito. “I wanted people to recognize this was really special. You stepped away from your outside life and you walked with each other into your books and towards each other.”

In these breaks for conversation, books, faces and stories came to light. Books in attendance included “Tom Lake” by Ann Pritchett, “The Atlas Six” by Olive Blake and “All About Love” by bell hooks. During

breaks, many students ventured to the back where they could get a Polaroid picture taken with a multicolored light — a small keepsake to remember their afternoon.

“I bought Mary Oliver’s Devotions. Mary Oliver once wrote “Sometimes I need / only to stand / wherever I am / to be blessed.” I was so blessed to stand among a room of creatives and lovers of literature. That was probably my favorite part. (Although the tiny bottles of tabasco were a close second)” reflected Tessalee.

Gabelli Students Visit Rwanda

work was spent preparing for the group’s time in Rwanda. From culture and politics to traditions and economics in the country, the group traveled to Rwanda after spending months learning about the country’s history and current state.

However, the most significant portion of the class centered on analyzing the challenges facing Rwanda’s startups, focusing on developing innovative solutions while adding lasting value to businesses.

When on the ground in Rwanda, the group engaged in several meetings with their assigned entrepreneurs and hosted in-depth conversations about business operations in Rwanda, specific targets and goals that the businesses have and also began to assemble suggestions for a final proposal that each group will deliver to their consulting clients in late April.

Philip Zghaib, GSB ’26, reflected on his time in Rwanda, saying, “The excitement was palpable for the potential of Rwanda to be a hub for something much bigger than itself, and that came through clearly in the ideas and energy we received.”

Before being paired with students, entrepreneurs in Rwanda submitted applications to be part of the Fordham Innovation Consulting Experience and outlined specifics about their business type and the goals they hope to achieve. After being accepted, students in the class were then assigned

Going forward, Gambito hopes to expand these events as recurring spaces for students to engage in.

“It’s all about relationship building. My hope is that students begin to realize that the English Department is attuned to them and these are events they’ll want to go to.”

The Poetic Justice Institute hosts a variety of conversations on current poetic issues and keynote speakers. A list of upcoming offerings can be found on the Poetic Justice Institute’s website.

to their entrepreneurs.

The businesses ranged from Afrikabal, a fintech and agritech startup whose purpose is to address food insecurity and enrich farmers in Rwanda, to another business named Flove. This Rwanda-based lifestyle brand employs teenage mothers in Rwanda to craft eco-conscious handbags. Along with the 12 students who went on the trip, the group was led by Hanno, the Dean of International Student Support and Global Initiatives

Beatriz Picard and Assistant Dean of Global Initiatives and Partnerships Hanaa Fawzy.

Outside of their consulting engagements in Rwanda, students also had the opportunity to immerse themselves further in Rwanda’s culture and experience all the country offers. On one of the trip’s excursions, students spent an entire day on a safari at Akagera National Park Safari. Students

also visited two major entrepreneurship hubs: Norrsken House Kigali and Westerwelle Startup Haus Kigali.

Additionally, the group visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where an estimated 250,000 victims of the Rwandan genocide are buried, and visited the African Leadership University (ALU) where students engaged in the very first ALU-Fordham Entrepreneurship Symposium.

Danielle Zhong, GSB ’26 spoke about her time in Rwanda with the group. “My experience in Rwanda was eyeopening and insightful. As a class, we did some preparation in understanding the political and social landscape of Rwanda, but visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial and reading the personal narratives from Rwanda’s past political strife and violence made the country’s past even more difficult to digest.”

“A memorable experience

was after the memorial when we were commuting in our bus to the newly-built BK Arena, which was an architectural feat that encapsulated how far Rwanda has come since the genocide,” said Zhong.

Although this was the first group of Fordham students that Hanno led on a trip, he has previously hosted a number of trips through his tenure in higher education, having previously been the provost and dean at Babson College and a professor and administrator at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Hanno is also the founder and president of IDEA4AFRICA, where, since 2000, he has taken hundreds of college and university students, alumni, staff and professors to subSaharan Africa to teach entrepreneurship to high school students, community members and small business owners.

COURTESY OF MICHAEL DUKE FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Gabelli students, led by Professor Dennis Hanno, visited Rwanda over spring break.

COURTESY OF JOY TESSALEE FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

English students at Fordham attended “Books and Brunch: A Reading Party.”

Fordham Campus Experiences Shakes

were injured, and there was no damage to any of Fordham’s campuses,” Public Safety said in their statement.

Students shared that they had various reactions to the earthquake.

“I woke up to my bed shaking and immediately called out for my roommate to make sure I wasn’t imagining things. At first I thought it was sleep paralysis, my next thought being that the wind had gotten so strong again that it was shaking the building of O’Hare,” said Sophie Maselli, FCRH ’26. “I was concerned, curious as to what the protocol for an earthquake was and slightly dismayed that it took the school over two hours to put out a public safety announcement.”

Like many New York City residents, some students said that they did not notice the quake.

“I was in a car, I didn’t even notice it,” said Cadence Wahl, FCRH ’26.

Delaney Gouvia, FCRH ’27 was unaware that there was an earthquake: “I was on the second floor of McShane and the only reason I knew it happened was because people were texting me about it.”

There were several aftershocks throughout the rest of the day and, according to seismologists, they could continue for up to a week.

“It was reported that the quake was felt as far north as Boston. This is due to the type

of rock which underlies the region. This dense, interconnected rock provides an effective medium to transmit seismic waves over large distances,” said Holler. “The ground has settled down, but aftershocks may continue for some time. The largest aftershock occurred around 6 p.m. Friday evening and was measured as a magnitude 3.8. This is 10 times less intense than the initial quake.”

There was another earthquake earlier this year in January with an epicenter in Astoria, Queens; it had a 1.7 magnitude. Last week was the biggest magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in the NYC area since 1884.

Tremors were felt throughout the city and the surrounding area.

Recipients and Donors to Foundry Scholarship Celebrate

marked her second Founder’s Dinner attendance. “Events like these remind our Fordham alumni and top supporters of the joys of paying their opportunities forward.”

“Fordham students know how to work hard and play hard,” said emcee and NBC 4 NY’s Lauren Scala, FCRH ’04. She introduced 2024 Fordham Founder’s Scholar Speaker Benjamin Coco, FCRH ’23 and ’24, whose speech was inspired by 2023 Founder’s Awardee Thomas Lamberti, FCRH ’52. Coco gratefully addressed the attendees on behalf of his fellow Founder’s Scholarship recipients. “Just as you have transformed our worlds, we are ready to go out and transform this world, for the better, for the magis,” he closed, noting the relentless Jesuit pursuit of excellence.

Coco detailed the opportunities that the Founder’s Scholarship created for him, referencing his ability to avoid student debt while conducting fifth-year research across universities, developing a new Quantum Computing course and fostering connections through Campus Ministry. Dr. Joan Cavanagh, Campus Ministry’s senior director for spirituality and solidarity, later said, “It’s very exciting that this brings together the whole Ramily of families, students, alums and benefactors that give Fordham so much energy.” Career Center Director Annette McLaughlin concurred that she finds the pupils motivational. “I’m always very amazed at and

inspired by what our students accomplish,” McLaughlin said. “They’re what keeps me going at work.”

The dinner also honored the 2024 Fordham Founder’s Award recipients John L. Lumelleau, FCRH ’74, Loretta Franklin Lumelleau, Robert J. O’Shea, GSB ’87, and Michele K. O’Shea, FCRH ’88, who collectively addressed the audience sampling their grilled peach salads and braised short ribs. As with all prior Founder’s Awardees, the quartet were selected in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the university and their exceptional achievements in their professional careers. “Fordham has always been there in my life. I grew up in its shadow,” said John L. Lumelleau, who has contributed to Fordham’s athletic programs, namely football and the Student Emergency Fund. Since 2018, he has served on Fordham’s Board of Trustees. “Fordham has always done impressive work helping to educate those with fewer opportunities than others. We come here tonight with purpose. There is more to be done and there is always more to come. The Rams of yesterday stand with the Rams of today and look forward to the Rams of tomorrow.”

Director Michael Gatto of the O’Shea Center for Credit Analysis and Investment introduced his longtime friend Robert O’Shea, who donated the eponymous establishment. Gatto feigned being the real Founder’s Award recipient to many laughs before

introducing the O’Sheas. “Fordham students don’t make excuses of the obstacles they have to overcome. They have the will to run through a brick wall to get the job done,” Gatto said, citing the Rams’ culture of respect and compassion as traits exemplified by the O’Sheas. “We have deep gratitude for being given the opportunity to go to Fordham,” said O’Shea, on behalf of his wife and himself. “Tonight is about scholarships. As you all know, scholarships provide the opportunity for students to receive a Fordham education. We are all here, united by the desire to help Fordham students have the opportunity to receive an outstanding education.” O’Shea, who was a Trustee Board member from 2006-12, and has supported Career Services, track and field and other athletics teams, shared his own Fordham beginnings. He thanked his former track and field coach Tom Dewey, who was in attendance and had given O’Shea the scholarship that enabled his family to send him to Fordham. O’Shea also highlighted the track and field athletes who made room in their dorm for him to move in with them. “Talk about being ‘men in the service of these others,’” he joked. In attendance were three of those teammates who O’Shea moved in with. “Rob was a smart guy with common sense — we had a lot of fun and good times,” said Kevin Kelly, FCRH ’84, at the end of the night. “To be back to acknowledge his accomplishments and commitment to Fordham, it’s been great,” said

Colonel Christopher Weimar, FCRH ’85. “It’s kind of like the movie reel has been fast-forwarded — this brings back memories of when we were together. We saw this amazing individual when he was a freshman and competitor, and look what he’s accomplished. We feel really proud to still be a part of that and his friends along the way.” Tim Marshall, FCRH ’86, added, “Good guy then. Good guy now.”

Lori Cruz Doty is a Fordham parent and is in her first year as a Fordham Trustee. “I wanted to give my kids a bigger experience than I had. I told them, ‘go far away, you can always come home’ but now they found a new home at Fordham.” She emphasized the importance of giving back so other students can have the same chance. Junior Scholars Dillon Delatorre, GSB ’25, and Michael Bello, GSB ’25, enjoyed the event. “I’m excited about the food,” said Delatorre, “but I’m so thankful to be a scholar. It means the world. They’ve granted me access to new areas of mine and

changed it for the best.” Bello added, “I’m grateful to be here and meet the donors who’ve supported me and to engage with Founders who’re sponsoring my education and financing factors that’d otherwise deter me from being a student.”

“Tonight meant the world to my family and I. Fordham has a special place in our hearts,” O’Shea said at the dinner’s afterparty. “Fordham truly is the university offering opportunities to change the world. Michele and I have felt that from our time there over 40 years ago. We love the saying, ‘Go forth and set the world on fire.’ So to all our beneficiaries, do that in the best ways.”

“In the hearts of so many young people is a burning fire of ambition that is stoked by the dream of success and making the most in their lives,” Coco wrote to donors before the dinner. “By making higher education opportunities more accessible to more Fordham students, you are turning people’s life stories from ‘could’ve been, would’ve been and should’ve been’ to stories of will.”

Students, faculty and alumni

Students View Solar Eclipse

said Hannah Crocker, FCRH ’26. Some professors opted to let classes out early or even cancel lessons in order to catch a glimpse of the event.

“My professor let us out of class early so I watched the eclipse on Eddie’s with my friends,” said Bridget Godfrey, FCRH ’27. “I was in class when the eclipse was at its peak and you could hear people cheering.”

The path of totality crossed

Buffalo, N.Y., and surrounding New York cities such as Rochester and Syracuse, which are around five to seven hours north of Fordham’s campuses. Some schools across New York state canceled classes or dismissed early in order for students to witness the historic event in person.

“I saw a lot of the Fordham student body on Eddies, it made me really proud to be a Fordham student and see how engaged everyone was,” said Jacob

Wolfer, FCRH ’26.

The last eclipse visible in New York was Aug. 21, 2017. The next total solar eclipse in North America will be visible in Alaska in 2033, with a total solar eclipse not visible again from the contiguous U.S. until 2044 with totality occurring over North Dakota and Montana, according to CNN. The next total solar eclipse with a coast-tocoast path will occur in 2045.

the event.

FROM ECLIPSE, PAGE 1

Students flocked to Edward’s Parade to watch the eclipse.

COURTESY OF SOFIA DONOHUE/THE FORDHAM RAM

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

attended

COURTESY OF BENJAMIN COCO FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Rose Hill Campus Allows Opposite Gender Guests

FROM GUESTS, PAGE 1

Sullivan, FCRH ’27, said, “I don't think that makes sense because if Fordham is a unified school, why wouldn’t both campuses have the same policy?”

In addition to the policy change, Residential Life is requiring that roommates consent to opposite-gender guests via email to ensure that all members of a room are comfortable with the guest spending the night.

“The idea is nice, but the email is really excessive,” said Marlena

for the 2024-25 academic year.

Over the past few years, USG found an apparent need to increase the fee. “With the increasing cost of goods due to inflation along with an overall increase in student involvement and clubs on campus, the budget committee has been struggling to fully fund all the clubs at Rose Hill for quite some time now,” said Reese McDonnell, GSB ’26, USG budget committee vice chair. “The Student Activity Fee has not been changed in 11 years, and for all of

Wrabley, FCRH ’27.

“I think that [the emailing] allows roommates to have that boundary so there’s no misconduct,” said Cadence Wahl, FCRH ’26.

Other Jesuit colleges and universities across the country have varying policies regarding overnight guests. Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles allows residents to have overnight guests of any gender with roommate approval, similar to Fordham’s newly updated policy. However, Boston College

in Chestnut Hills, Mass., does not allow for guests of a different gender to spend the night.

Over the years, many students have expressed a need for Fordham to update the policy to reflect modern perceptions towards oppositegender relationships. “I think it’s silly that it’s taken this long and that there have been so many rules against us,” said Aaron Dressler, FCRH ’27. “I feel like you should be able to just talk it out with your roommate and not have to send an email to have a guest approved.”

The new policy will allow more

siblings, family members, friends and potential Rams to spend the night on Rose Hill’s campus, experiencing the true Fordham campus experience.

“The process of consultation made clear that obvious and wellknown workarounds to the longstanding restriction on guest passes had rendered the original policy ineffective and that it affected students in ways that were not equitable, including the unintended effect of encouraging overnight guests with no discussion among those assigned together in

Student Activites Fee Increased

my time on the budget committee, I have seen a need to increase the amount of funding for clubs.”

Over those 11 years, USG had only attempted to change the fee once during 2023. However, it failed due to the vote being held through an online voting system.

“It [the 2023 referendum] received around 400 votes. About 70% of those 400 voted ‘yes,’ but the USG bylaws read that a referendum, if done electronically, must reach 15% of the student population (around 960 students).

We realized that running the

election electronically had actually hurt the campaign while it was being run last spring,” said Lucas Hjertberg, FCRH ’26, USG budget committee chair.

The student activity fee will be increased from $135 to $230 at the start of the fall semester. According to USG’s Instagram account, the increase translates to a $400,000 increase for USG-sponsored student clubs and organizations beginning in the 2024-25 academic year.

Students have mixed opinions on the increase. “We pay

so much money to this school, we just got a tuition increase, why are we increasing the activities fee, especially if a lot of the money is going to clubs I’m not involved in?” said Brandon Cordy, FCRH ’27.

“I think with the 4.4% tuition increase, adding an extra fee is just a little bit excessive right now,” said Lauren Rocco, FCRH ’27. “I need to start going to these events to get my money’s worth then,” added Jada Feldman, FCRH ’27.

Some students are excited at the prospect of clubs getting more funding for events, allowing them

housing,” said the statement. “I feel very fondly towards the change in policy, I think it’s a great improvement in dorm life,” said Wahl. “It allows people to be more honest with each other and not feel like they can’t live in their own space freely.”

The process to get an overnight pass for a guest remains the same, just adding on the need to get roommate approval through their residence hall’s resident director. Guests without an overnight pass must be signed out of residence halls by 3:30 a.m.

to host more activities on campus. “With how expensive going to Fordham is, $95 more dollars just feels like another drop in the bucket,” said Cameron Kelly, FCRH ’27. “I’m a pretty involved person on campus, so I feel like I will get my utility out of it.”

Hjertberg added, “Compared to the back-to-back 6% and 4.4% percent tuition increases, this $95 will directly impact the student experience. It is a tangible change that us at USG are beyond excited to see happen here on campus.”

Fordham Celebrates 25 Years of Fordham/Ailey Program

By JULIANNA MORALES FEATURES EDITOR

The Ailey/Fordham Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program in dance is hosting the “Celebrating 25 Years” Dance Benefit Concert at the Ailey Citigroup Theater at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 15. The event is open to alumni, staff, students, family and the public and will begin with a cocktail reception. The performances will follow, beginning at 7 p.m.

Fordham News wrote that in its 25 years, the Ailey/Fordham BFA program has produced hundreds of professional dancers, teachers, lawyers and nonprofit leaders. Both of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Co-Directors Melanie Person and Dr. Robert Clark of The Ailey School and Fordham University, respectively, stated that numerous students from the program have gained a level of fame in their career after the program.

When the program began in 1998, it was the only BFA in dance in the country. According to the program’s website, the students in the program are considered full-time students at both institutions. The BFA is a four-year degree which combines dance and liberal arts education while providing access to two renowned institutions.

“We’ve had dancers who have been in very famous shows, like in the original cast of ‘The Lion King,’ we’ve had dancers like Ally Love who danced professionally and now is doing a Netflix show with dancers, stuff like that,” Clark explained. “You have dancers like

Courtney Spears who danced with the Premiere Company but then, you know, she went on Princess Grace, she’d been considered Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30 – Art & Style’.”

Person shared a similar sentiment, stating, “The students from the program go on, at least on the dance side, to the top dance companies in the world.” However, professional dancers differ significantly in terms of salary compared to other professional athletes, as it does not pay particularly well. Person stated that the liberal arts education that students in the Ailey/Fordham program receive increases their opportunities for second jobs or sources of income that they may need compared to studying at an observatory. Clark also acknowledged that, even with a successful dance career, it is common to pursue a second career because of the young retirement age of dancers.

In order to get into the Ailey/Fordham BFA program, students must complete two separate applications. They must complete the Common App Fordham application as well as The Ailey School application. Person explained that these two applications are reviewed individually by each school to determine if they would admit them. Once this is done, Person sends the students that she would admit to Ailey to Fordham Admissions, and they find the students that both schools would accept to admit to the program.

Those enrolled in the Ailey/

Fordham BFA are given very busy schedules in order to complete the course requirements for both their dance studies and liberal arts studies. “They usually take two or three dance classes a day at Ailey, their liberal arts course at Fordham, they have rehearsals at night in addition to their dance classes and take dance academic courses,” explained Person. Clark commented on the potential tight fit of the schedules, mentioning that students are often running to change from their dance clothes and get back to Fordham for their other classes.

Both Clark and Person stated that one of the biggest changes in the program throughout its years has been the number of students in the program that choose to pursue a double major. “50% of students are completing a double major at Fordham in addition to the liberal arts course included in their BFA,” Clark stated. He explained that the dance students offer a lot to Fordham, noting that to dance at the level required at Ailey alongside academic work requires a high degree of organization and intelligence that contributes greatly to Fordham.

Clark also explained that the program has continued to become more and more competitive, saying that each year the number of applicants increases although only about 30 students are accepted a year. The students in recent years have also shown increasing focus on their

academic aspirations as opposed to being more directed at solely dance like in the program’s early years.

Clark explained that both Fordham President Tania Tetlow and Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president emeritus, have spoken of those in the Ailey program as Fordham’s top athletes. Despite this, they are not offered the same opportunities to athletic scholarships as those in more traditional college sports.

Clark stated that the Ailey/ Fordham program is working to improve the tracking a nd

honoring of alumni successes outside of the dance world, with many having become successful lawyers, doctors and more to further demonstrate the academic achievements of the students graduating the programs.

Clark and Person encourage students from both Fordham campuses to attend the performances of the Ailey/Fordham program, such as the Benefit Concert. Clark explained that students often have access to more affordable rush-tickets the night before the performance they wish to see as well, making the shows more accessible.

Prospective students must apply to Fordham as well as Ailey.

Never able to call myself a staunch morning person, most days of the week I give myself a hefty head start on my day by rolling out of bed a solid 15 to 20 minutes before my classes start. Largely occurring after long nights of work or roommate conversations, my method of maximizing time spent asleep has helped me perfect the ultimate condensed morning routine. With a playlist in tow, I use each song as a timer for a task — teeth are brushed to “Cinderella” by Remi Wolf, clothes then changed to the tune of “Who Are You Now” by Madison Cunningham, all followed by a final speed to the door in step with “Skate” by Silk Sonic.

All this, however, has been transformed this semester by the entrance of the humble yet mighty Ram Van. Now that I have a 10 a.m. Lincoln Center class this semester, my Tuesday and Friday mornings instead are now begun by a calming — dare I say, even spiritual — commute, traversing the Hudson against the golden meld of sunrise and stickly, yet-to-sprawl foliage. Though you might get a Ram Van driver with exceptionally unpleasant DJ-ing skills (shout out to the driver who began my morning with “Junkie’s Promise” by Sonic Youth), for the most part, these

early drives soothe with the rush of tires and mellow music filtering through speakers.

In fact, I enjoy this commute and the sense of calm that it gives me before the rush of classes so much so that I’ll often take the Ram Van at 6 a.m. or 7 a.m to study or read in solitude before my class. The only remotely reasonable explanation I can think of is that it reminds me a lot of my morning commutes growing up. Public transport has long been a keystone of my childhood in Jersey City, N.J. It’s especially important for many residents who live in an unofficial custody agreement between Jersey City and New York. Many Jerseyans — including my mother and I — have jobs or school across the river, spending most of their day in New York before coming home.

Something of a seasoned resident, I’ve moved thrice within Jersey City, each time to a new neighborhood. When my mother and I first moved in from Queens, we took up a small studio downtown — a single room of an apartment within walking distance from my public elementary school and the local Newport Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) station that shuttled her off to work in the World Trade Center every morning

and evening. Next came another studio, more midtown and slightly larger than the last, now with my father in tow. It was exactly in between the Grove Street PATH station and my new private Catholic middle school and, again, was within walking distance.

Come high school, we finally moved into a house of our own. The closest PATH station, Journal Square, was now a bus ride away and transported my mother and myself when I began high school in Manhattan’s West Village. As a first-year in high school, I began to feel a strong discontent with home. Bumped around from one neighborhood to another, school to school, it felt tough to locate myself in the fabric of any community. Reluctant to even call it home, I looked forward to college as a ticket out to anywhere else — England, California, Massachusetts. Not even the brand new setting of the West Village was able to keep me from looking for a way out.

On my morning commute into Manhattan with my best friend from middle school, we both ran into other people who were also traveling to New York from New Jersey. After a couple of awkward smiles and waves, we eventually got to talking to two other girls commuting

from Bayonne after noticing a Harry Potter keychain on their bookbags. As we began to get to know each other, commutes became something to look forward to in the morning. By the time senior year rolled around, the four of us were coordinating the trains and specific train cars we were taking in the morning on our way to school. As I continued to venture further into Manhattan and further into high school, I fell in love with other people who, too, knew the inner workings of living in a city, who understood what it is to live in too-cramped apartments without having cars and the strange camaraderie of getting to places in packed cars full of strangers.

Passage, in short, became place. And with it all came a sense of home. I soon found myself echoing pride when Saint Peter’s University made it to March Madness my senior year of high school, shutting down on-campus Jersey slander at college, and itching to go home at the end of a semester — all from finally letting myself have a place to be from. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to shake the sense of calm and belonging that comes from a morning commute, whether Ram Van, PATH Train or subway, and I’m all the more grateful for it.

Reproductive Rights Are On The Ballot

Election years are times when Americans self-reflect and ask themselves necessary questions about important issues. One of the most crucial questions this year is on the future of reproductive rights in our nation. Women around the country, who make up half of our nation, are impacted daily by the recent actions of conservative politicians and judges. Two core pillars of reproductive rights have been directly threatened in the past two years: abortion and in vitro fertilization (IVF) access. When we go to the polls this November, the protection of reproductive rights must be of the utmost concern for all voters.

The right to choose was once a protected right in the United States. In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in Roe v. Wade that women had a constitutional right to receive an abortion. Justice Harry Blackmun’s opinion stated that there was an implied right to privacy within the 14th Amendment, which protected women’s right to choose to receive an abortion. However, this right was overturned nearly two years ago in Dobbs v. Jackson. The majority opinion in this case stated that since there was no mention of abortion in the Constitution, it was not protected. And just like that, the right to choose was gone.

Since then, about two dozen states have banned abortion. Many conservative politicians have cheered this on. Some Republican politicians like Senator Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) have openly supported the idea of a national abortion ban after 15 weeks. After several months of speculation, former President Donald Trump released a video on Monday clarifying his abortion policy. In the video, he “proudly” claimed responsibility for the ending of Roe v. Wade and thanked each of the Supreme Court Justices who overturned the law by name. He also endorsed the current status quo of abortion in America, with abortion access being up to the states. Trump seems to think it is fair for a woman’s right to choose to be dependent on her zip code. It’s not. While there can be debates on abortion as a concept, the decision to make that choice should be made by the woman herself. Dobbs v. Jackson robbed millions of women from making that choice.

In the states where abortion is banned, there can be life-threatening consequences for women when a pregnancy goes wrong and their right to terminate is stripped. Texas currently bans all abortions except in “life-threatening” conditions that would lead to death or “impairment of a

major bodily function.” Last year, Kate Cox became pregnant with a fetus that had a life-threatening condition and argued that delivering it would threaten her life. However, the Texas Supreme Court would not allow her to receive one, forcing her to travel to New Mexico. Since then, Texas has been criticized for not having clear guidelines on what medical exceptions to their abortion ban are. Medical guidelines should be a priority, but they’re an afterthought in Texas.

The attacks on the right to choose have now been joined by attempts to ban access to IVF treatments. IVF is a medical procedure to help couples who are having issues conceiving get pregnant. IVF is safe and allowed 1 million babies to be born in America between 1987 and 2015. There was chaos in Alabama earlier this year when its Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos used in IVF treatments are considered children under state law. Immediately, IVF providers across the state had to halt services, upending many Alabamians’ pregnancy plans. After a mass outcry, the state passed a law to protect these clinics from legal action. Despite that, the Mobile Infirmary has decided to end IVF at the end of 2024 due to litigation fears. States like Alabama seem to make these

decisions without much foresight into their consequences. Blocking access to IVF makes it harder for women to conceive, and the fact that it was restricted in the first place demonstrates the current deterioration of reproductive rights.

Conservative politicians and judges are making huge decisions about reproductive rights but not thinking too hard about the consequences. Why did Texas lawmakers leave medical exceptions so vague in Texas? Why can IVF clinics in Alabama be targeted by an old law? Because reproductive rights and their impacts on women are not a priority to conservatives. But, the uncomfortable truth for conservatives is a majority of Americans support abortion access. An Associated Press poll from 2023 found 64% of Americans believe abortion should be legal. Even the video Trump released this week is an acknowledgment that restricting reproductive rights is a toxic issue for Republicans. But hoping things do not worsen is a flawed strategy. The only way to effectively protect these rights is to vote for candidates who fully support them. This November, vote to reverse the current attack on reproductive rights so America can move towards a better direction.

What Do Rises in Abortion Rates Truly Mean?

By ABIGAIL ADAMS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Abortion rates are on the rise in the United States. There were over a million abortions in the United States in 2023. Many progressives have suggested that this rise shows that abortion bans are ineffective and that the American public increasingly views abortion as a total right. However, when considering the unequal health care system and inadequate policies, it is clear that the rise in abortion rates are evidence that America has failed women.

The rise in abortion rates serves as evidence that women’s health has been neglected for far too long and that American society has failed to properly meet the needs of women. I believe that expanding abortion rates is a symptom of the epidemic of mistreatment of women in the health care system. The American medical system still subconsciously labels women as experiencing “female hysteria,” brushing away women’s concerns as side issues. This causes a lack of intentional focus on developing precise healthcare options for women. I have frequently visited the doctor’s office with pain, just for them to disregard my concerns and tell me to deal with it. Many women express similar experiences of their health concerns being neglected by doctors.

Women are commonly prescribed birth control for any issue they experience: acne, irregular periods, weight loss,

etc. There is a cultural expectation that when a girl reaches the age of 12, she ought to go on birth control. This catch-all is not empowering. Why can’t women have precise care for their health concerns? The system-wide minimization of women’s health concerns has made abortion appear as a “positive good” in society.

Any display of the negative impacts of abortion on women is immediately disregarded. Recently, I attended a lecture on the scientific and philosophical natures of abortion in which the speaker proclaimed abortion as safe and effective. It is the typical belief of young women that abortion is a safe option in the case of an unwanted pregnancy.

With the increase of chemical abortions to over 63% of American abortions, these “safe abortions” are anything but safe. Symptoms can sometimes include hemorrhaging. Moreover, the increasing access to chemical abortion due to the FDA’s 2021 and 2023 expansion to telemedicine appointments and online abortion purchases may enable traffickers and abusive partners to force their female partners to have an abortion.

This is not empowering. Women, again, are left in the dust. Why are doctors not providing women care that enables them to choose to have their child, rather than feeling succumbed to abortion? The simple answer is money and power. Pregnancy

complications can be treated in a variety of ways that are not abortion. Ectopic pregnancies are not elective abortions. Moreover, abortions can be dangerous physically, and especially mentally. If the healthcare industry provided adequate medical care to women, rather than solely the scapegoat of abortion, women would be empowered to make informed decisions regarding their health.

Limited healthcare support is not the only way our society has failed women.

Governmental and organizational policy continue to fall short of supporting women comprehensively. Thus, abortion is considered the financially safe option for women.

Unpaid maternity leave is the norm across the country. The average length of paid and unpaid maternity leave is 10 weeks. About one in four women return to work after two months. Women who have recently switched employers or work for small firms do not even qualify under the mandated 12-week, job-protected maternity leave standard in the country. These horrifying policies continue, but the simple fact is that women are neglected, manifesting in dangerous societal views on womanhood.

Abortion enables the government to decrease its focus on providing support for a woman in her pregnancy and in the raising of her child. Abortion rates are rising as America has failed to support underprivileged women

to choose life. Federal and state governments continuously deny expanding welfare opportunities in ways that would benefit women. Every state should mandate sales tax exemptions on baby and maternity goods, expand paid maternity leave and enforce proper child support.

Americans are under a false impression about the gains to truly support women in which situations such as this have happened. Pregnancy help centers, which transform the lives of women by providing them with financial, emotional and physical support, are often labeled as “coercive.” This language misguides women into thinking abortion is their only option. My time volunteering with my hometown’s pregnancy help center showed me the proper care women are owed. Women were met as their whole person, not merely reduced to the various social categories of their lives. I experienced this transformation everyday:

as I spoke to one woman in my broken Spanish, I saw a woman empowered to care for both herself and her child. She left the pregnancy center not only with diapers and maternity clothes, but with a heart on fire and confidence in herself.

To live in the right relationship with all people, as justice entails, means supporting them toward greater fulfillment. Rather than stalemate at our current inadequacy, our country must aim to progress to make life the easiest choice. As a pro-life feminist woman, I am confident there is a future in which society truly supports women to choose life. In achieving this, we will begin to actually respect women as equal in our society, and not subject them to the harm of abortion.

Conscience vs. Care: Supreme Court Hears Abortion Pill Case

By LINDSEY OSIT CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Based on Tuesday’s evaluation of an abortion pill case, the Supreme Court seems likely to reject a push to curb the distribution of the drug mifepristone. In the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (AHM), physicians and organizations that are anti-abortion challenged the FDA’s approval of the medication. The majority of the judges were skeptical of the plaintiff’s argument, which couldn’t seem to prove that the approval harmed them. If the court makes its final decision in accordance with the recent discussion, the nation will take a step, however small, in the right direction for preserving reproductive rights. The AHM, however, takes a dangerous stance — one that challenges the authority of the FDA, the third article of the Constitution and the responsibilities of healthcare professionals.

Only two judges, conservatives Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr., favored

limits on the pill’s distribution. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch argued that allowing the case to persist could stand as “a prime example of turning what could be a small lawsuit into a nationwide legislative assembly on an FDA rule or any other federal government action.” The FDA, composed of scientists and medical professionals, has been established as the authority responsible for the approval and distribution of drugs. This task is so far past the court’s area of expertise. If the judiciary oversteps that role, it could have severe ramifications on the FDA’s legitimacy.

The FDA originally approved mifepristone in 2000, then expanded access to the pill in 2016 and 2021 by allowing doctors to prescribe it through telemedicine and send the pill by mail. In an era of severe reproductive rights restrictions, having access to mifepristone upholds, to an extent, women’s bodily autonomy. In states with abortion bans that don’t distinguish between surgical

abortion and medication, women can’t even obtain access to the pill. But for those who can, rescinding that opportunity would be a severe and dangerous restriction, considering mifepristone was used in over 63% of all abortions last year.

Even when disregarding the merits of the case and the dangers that a decision could pose on reproductive rights, most judges acknowledged the sheer dubiety of the plaintiff’s claim. According to Article III, a litigant must have suffered an “actual or imminent injury” to press charges. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court asked whether any doctors involved could actually prove the FDA’s approval of mifepristone harmed them. None could.

The doctors represented by the Alliance focused on hypothetical scenarios, such as, “What if a woman has taken mifepristone and comes in facing dangerous, life-threatening side effects, and I am obligated to treat her, in conflict with my conscience?” But the doctors didn’t have any concrete instances of this situation or

something like it happening.

A doctor’s responsibility is to provide care aside from any personal opinions. Say a patient comes in on their deathbed, suffering from a drug overdose. Should a doctor be able to refuse to treat them, acting in accordance with their views on drug use?

In fact, physicians are already protected from being forced to perform or assist in procedures contrary to their religious beliefs or moral convictions. These conscience rights, clearly indicated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, do not surpass the foundational duty of care, shown in how the doctor will need to make other accommodations by referring the patient elsewhere if they refuse to perform a service.

The case argued by the AHS does not involve requiring doctors to perform any sort of abortion procedure. These doctors are afraid of tending to those who might have complications from the abortion pill, such as hemorrhaging or intensive bleeding. Is a

woman unworthy of medical attention because her complication resulted from taking an abortion pill? These doctors might believe so, but that doesn’t make it right to refuse to provide that care, a responsibility presumed by their occupation. Doctors have the right to the conscience clause, but it does not transcend the patient’s right to receive care. The Alliance’s inability to present concrete instances of injury was evidence of the fact that there are hardly any. Scientific studies show that medication complications from abortion pills are extremely rare — only 0.4% of patients who use mifepristone face complications. Let’s just hope that for the few individuals who do face difficulties with the medication, their doctors aren’t horribly conscience-stricken about tending to them.

Abigail Adams, FCRH ’26, is a double major in mathematics/ economics and political science from Alexandria, Va.

Crisis pregnancy centers offer counseling and resources for pregnant women.

We Should All Be Worried About “Christian Conservatism”

By KATHRYN-ALEXANDRA ROSSI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The presence of religion in American politics, particularly within the conservative faction, is nothing new. Religion and public policy have historically been intertwined. The history here is rather peculiar: many of the first colonies were founded by religious exiles, like the pilgrim colony in Plymouth, Mass., and many of the settlers ended up on this continent in the 17th century as religious zealotry gripped Europe with its bloody hands. The United States has, from the very beginning, maintained itself as a place in which Christianity, in its varied forms, can flourish without discrimination.

This says nothing about the modern religious bloc — most vocally, evangelical Christians — that has, with its full weight, thrown itself behind former President Donald Trump. The reasoning behind this, at least superficially, is quite intuitive: a conservative bloc supports the conservative candidate. However, when taken into context with the racism that flourishes within these movements and the embrace of religion, we see that this is far more than just a conservative movement — it is a reactionary one. Trump is an integral part of it, certainly, but he is merely its face. It’s

By ELEANOR SMITH ASST. OPINION EDITOR

If you’ve ever had a look around the Fordham classrooms, you may have noticed just how many students have MacBooks. In fact, if you’re reading this article online, odds are you’re reading it on a MacBook. I think it’s safe to say that the overwhelming majority of Fordham students own a Mac, but if you’re a PC user like myself, I see you and respect your choice to opt out.

Speaking from personal experience, Mac users will often ask PC users why they chose a PC. Answers range from “It was cheaper” (to which the Mac user will often say “But the Mac is better and easier to use”) to “It’s a better computer” (to which the Mac user will say “No, it’s not”). I initially got a PC for college because they were much cheaper and I thought they were better computers than Macs, but after I had to replace my first PC because it mysteriously started refusing to connect to WiFi, stumping both Fordham IT and Best Buy customer service, I honestly am not so sure. Maybe I just picked the wrong PC.

That’s the thing about PCs. There are many brands that

not Trump that we should be concerned about, but the bloc itself.

We must remember here that religious settlements in the United States by immigrants were precisely that: religious settlements of foreigners. They displaced and violently committed genocide against Indigenous peoples. Their justification for the displacement was purportedly God-given, that God had delivered this “uninhabited” land to the religious to conquer and make their own. Even after this “salvation,” the white savior maintained the top position as the “pure.” In the minds of many in the evangelical bloc, Christianity is the identity of whiteness just as much as whiteness is an identity of Christianity, and they are inseparable. It ought not to be surprising that while the unifying demographic of the Trump bloc is evangelical, it is also overwhelmingly white.

As Trump embraces more evangelical support, I am reminded of what had occurred between Paul Atreides and the Fremen in Frank Herbert’s “Dune.” Paul, an outsider to the Fremen, “embraces” the way of the native people of Arrakis, who have claimed Paul as their Messiah. The Fremen myth of the Mahdi — who they refer to as the “Lisan Al-Gaib,” or “the voice from the outer world” — is an outsider who will unite the

Fremen under religion. The name “Lisan al-Gaib” begins as a prophecy and, after Paul’s arrival, it becomes a rallying cry. Even the most respected leaders, untouchable and incorrigible in their acumen, become blind followers of this outsider and throw their lives away without thought. In the same vein, within the evangelical bloc, the name, Donald Trump, has become slowly equated to the divine name of Jesus Christ. Even more telling is the veneration of Jan. 6 within these circles as a sort of “holy war” held by this bloc in the same esteem as the Crusades.

To ignore the racist aspirations of many within this evangelist bloc would be absurd, and the acknowledgment of the historical reality is precisely why this unity between a religious bloc and a conservative bloc is dangerous. Conservatism in the United States has always meant oppression — whether it is BIPOC, women, queer people, the disabled, immigrants, the poor and so on. However, the sentiments resulting from this oppression are easily countered by swaying minds and interacting with people — conservatism is premised on improper “data,” which points to an inferiority of the oppressed. However, data pointing to conservative conclusions has always proven to be incorrect. Scientific racism is not

at all scientific and is entirely racist; queerphobia and ableism are based solely on negative perceptions of people; and the “science” of women’s inferiority is pure misogyny. The involvement of religion, particularly the blind faith evangelical Christianity, changes this entire calculus. Scientific reality means nothing when it confronts blind faith. What the enmeshment of Christianity with conservatism means is that all of their beliefs are not beliefs based on empirical reality but instead a circular logic of faith in belief and belief in faith, an explanation that underlines the group’s wholesale rejection of science. With this, both the boot of oppression and the armor of privilege find their substance in

The Age Old Question: Mac or PC?

manufacture them, so when buying a PC the customer has hundreds of options. On top of that, PCs are more customizable than Macs are.

Many Mac users like that they do not have to customize their laptop or install additional software to make it more secure, but it is possible to build a PC that is more reliable and secure than a Mac. However, this does take work, while a Mac comes all setup and secure.

Diehard PC users like this flexibility, as it allows them to customize their computer to suit their specific needs.

Programmers seem to be split on the issue of Mac vs. PC, but gamers prefer PCs because they use the Windows operating system, which supports more applications than MacOS.

When I asked one of my friends if there was anything I should include in this article, she said, “Talk about how Macs are prettier.”

While PCs, on the Windows operating system, are more customizable and support a greater number of programs than MacOS does, Macs are more intuitive to use and have better graphic design. Also, I have found it impossible to find a case for my PC (an HP Envy in Natural Silver,

in case you were wondering) that doesn’t look like one of those Otterbox cases that your parents make you get after you break your first phone. When I see people with beautiful Mac cases, I can’t help but think, “You don’t know how good you have it,” except chances are they do know how good they have it, and they won’t hesitate to let you know once they find out you have a PC. Yes, I know my laptop is not equipped Apple Photos, nor does it have iMessage. Sometimes this frustrates me, but do you really need to be able to text from your laptop? Texting from your laptop is not actually different from texting from your phone, and I think that Mac users who do so during class need to come to terms with that. It’s still disrespectful. One thing that I do wish my PC was capable of is AirDrop, but there are alternatives that are PC (and Android) compatible. At least my computer has a USB port, unlike the more recent Macs, and a fan, unlike the MacBook Air. Also, it has a touchscreen and the hinge has 360 degrees of motion, so I can open my computer as far as I want and turn the laptop into a tablet. A Mac could never,

the same breath.

I suspect, but hope I am sorely incorrect, that the implications of the religious reaction when this group attains power is an oppression that finds its basis in blind belief; an oppression whose entire justification is that the beliefs dictate that it be done. It will mark the inception of an ethnostate, not unlike those that presently exist and ally with the United States. Like those that do so already, it will wield their state power, with the justifier of religion, to do inconceivable harm. They have said themselves that they will do so.

Kathryn-Alexandra Rossi, FCRH ’27,isaphilosophyandeconomics doublemajorfromArlington,Va.

probably because Apple is trying to get users to buy an iPad as well.

So, are Macs or PCs better? I’m no tech expert, but it seems like the answer depends on what you are looking for in a computer. If you are somebody who wants a customizable laptop that starts at a much lower price point, a PC is for you. If you want a laptop that pairs easily with an iPhone and don’t mind paying a premium cost for a more intuitive and aesthetic interface, the Mac is

for you, as long as you don’t mind the lack of a USB port. I am sticking to my pro-PC guns — partially because I’m not going to buy a third computer, partially because I’m kind of oppositional and partially because it doesn’t really matter what laptop I use. All I do on my laptop is use applications like Chrome and Spotify.

Eleanor Smith, FCRH ’26, is a history and American studies major from St. Louis, Mo.

The ties between Donald Trump and the evangelical bloc are worrying. COURTESY OF THE FORDHAM RAM

The U.S. Must Adopt a “War Footing” Against Climate Change

By ANDREW MCDONALD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The summer of 2023 has witnessed record-breaking heat waves, wildfires and floods worldwide; this summer will likely see another “recordbreaking summer.” Almost all serious Americans understand the urgent need for bold action on climate change. As the largest industrial force on the planet, the U.S. military is a significant contributor to the climate crisis, but as it exists, it’s one of the only forces on the planet with the industrial and organizational might to adequately fight against this crisis.

America has a long history of using the term “war” as an analogy for certain public policy initiatives. The famous examples of the “wars” on drugs and poverty both consume large amounts of public funds, but for the sake of our planet and national security, the “war on climate change” must resemble its namesake as a “war.” If we are serious about averting the terrible effects of climate change yet to come, the U.S. must mobilize more of its vast resources. For example, the Department of Defense (DOD) is the largest government agency that has the capacity and the funds to accelerate the transition to a clean energy future and help avert catastrophe. As warned by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres in response to the latest IPCC report, “This report must sound a death knell for coal and fossil fuels before they destroy our planet.”

The DOD is the largest institutional consumer of energy in the world. The military’s reliance on fossil fuels not only contributes to global carbon emissions but also poses significant operational challenges and risks to the United States.

In 2015, the Pentagon reported that climate change could exacerbate global instability, poverty and conflict, thereby threatening U.S. national security interests. Despite recent efforts to improve energy efficiency and adopt renewable energy sources, the military’s carbon footprint remains substantial, with emissions stemming from energy-intensive activities, worldwide installations and extensive supply chains.

As Politico reported, “Though its energy consumption has been declining for years, the DOD is still by far the largest energy user in the federal government.”

The U.S. military’s unparalleled budget, scale and its near monopoly on American STEM innovation makes it uniquely positioned to accelerate the transition to clean energy. Historically, military investments have kickstarted new and novel technologies, from solar power and computers to the internet.

As Nick Loris of the typically conservative and anti-green Heritage Foundation points out, “If the green technologies are cheaper and enhance mission capabilities, all the better.” By prioritizing energy efficiency and renewable power on its bases, the military can not only reduce its carbon footprint but

also enhance its resilience and operational readiness. Procurement of electric vehicles by the DOD could help drive down costs and scale up the American electric vehicle industry. The military and the federal government’s vast real estate holdings also present opportunities for renewable energy development and grid modernization. With strong leadership and coordination, the Pentagon can leverage its absurd resources and purchasing power to catalyze market shifts and technological breakthroughs in the clean energy sector, benefiting both national security and the global fight against climate change. Reiterating the title of this article, to truly address and minimize the real and tangible effects the climate crisis will bring, the U.S. must treat the crisis with the urgency of a military threat. By declaring a “war on climate change” and mobilizing resources on a scale not seen since World War II, the government could rapidly accelerate research, development and deployment of clean energy technologies and infrastructure. As journalist Tyler Cowen says in The New York Times, “War brings an urgency that governments otherwise fail to summon. For instance, the Manhattan Project took six years to produce a working atomic bomb, starting from virtually nothing, and at its peak, consumed 0.4 percent of American economic output. It is hard to imagine a comparably speedy and decisive achievement these days.”

A wartime approach would require strong leadership, focus and coordination across government agencies. “My advice is to drive it at the highest level possible,” says Ben Steinberg of Venn Strategies, “and have the [White House Office of Management and Budget] extremely involved in purchasing things... That’s with things like electric vehicles, clustering how you purchase renewable energy so multiple bases can go into a deal together and costs can come down.” By harnessing the full power of the federal government, including the DOD, the U.S. can lead a global mobilization to avert climate catastrophe and the untold human suffering that will and is coming with it.

Implementing this “war on climate change” will not be without challenges. The military’s procurement processes are notoriously slow, and many green technologies are not yet mature enough for battlefield use. The historically entrenched interests in the fossil fuel industry and Congress can and will resist a rapid transition. However, these obstacles can be overcome with clear targets, adequate resourcing and process reforms. I spoke to representatives of Fordham Students For Environmental Action and Justice where they argued, “The United States as a whole needs to change how it approaches the climate crisis, transitioning towards an overall lower dependency on fossil fuels through subsidized renewable R&D programs,

implementing less car-dependent infrastructure and exploring ways to combat overconsumption habits.” By being realistic about the grave threat we face, and by setting ambitious goals, investing in innovation and coordinating the private sector, the Federal Government can better lead this climate war effort.

The climate crisis demands bold, immediate action on a scale commensurate with the threat it poses to our planet and national security. Climate change is and will continue to be a bigger threat to the U.S. than any other nation or military force on Earth. We must declare war on the threat of climate change and on those that facilitate it. Fully mobilizing its unrivaled resources and capabilities, the U.S. military, with the consent of the government, can and must lead the charge in the transition to a clean energy future to avert this crisis. As U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warns, “If we combine forces now, we can avert climate catastrophe. But, as today’s report makes clear, there is no time for delay and no room for excuses.” The time for half-measures is over — we must act now.

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

High-Flyers to High Anxiety: Everyone is at Fault

By HANNAH BORING PRODUCTION EDITOR

Sitting in our weekly budget meeting before spring break, we joked about the plane mishaps, exchanging quips of “good luck” and various levels of concern, all knowing the majority of us would be boarding a plane within the week. It was about as serious as college students could muster on this final push before our planned trips — with as little seriousness as possible.

This was, in part, due to social media’s combination of concern and comedy regarding the Boeing 737 MAX debacle. The growing fear branched past the waves of turbulence to worries over a window or a door or, God forbid, an engine falling off the plane, forcing us into a rapid descent from the sky to the ground or ocean, whichever was under us to break our fall. Feeds were filled with videos of people on planes or on the ground, commenting on the rapidly rising hysteria surrounding the Boeing airplane “crisis.”

This trend started after Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Jan. 5, 2024, made headlines when a door plug covering an unused emergency exit door blew out, leaving a gaping hole in the fuselage of the aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX 9. This occurred early into the flight from Portland, Ore., to Ontario, Calif., which departed at 4:52 p.m. and made its emergency landing back in Portland at 5:27 p.m. Thankfully, none of the 171 passengers or six crew members were injured, but videos from the flight showed dangling oxygen masks as the sky was visible from much more than just the usual tiny window.

While this dramatic of a malfunction does not happen often, issues regarding the maintenance of an aircraft do occur. Former Chairman of

National Transportation Safety Board Robert Sumwalt commented on this, saying that these are not systemic problems, but rather issues that happen occasionally but often don’t get reported in the media.

For instance, it was reported that United Airlines had eight incidents within a two-week period this past March: a lost tire, two hydraulic leaks, a hydraulic system issue, a maintenance issue, a missing external panel, a plane veering off the runway and a plastic wrap ingested and burned inside a plane engine. Out of these eight incidents, only five were on Boeing planes, and just three of those five were variations of the Boeing 737. Looking at usual media trends, the only one that might reach national headlines would be the one that veered off of the runway. Unfortunately, these incidents can happen on any plane, on any airline, at any time.

This isn’t the first time Boeing was in hot water regarding the 737 MAX. In January 2021, The Boeing Company reached a $2.5 billion legal settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), resolving criminal charges that Boeing conspired to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This stemmed from FAA Aircraft Evaluation Group’s (AEG) look into the Boeing 737 MAX following two fatal crashes of the aircraft which resulted in the deaths of 346 passengers: October 2018’s Lion Air Flight 610 and March 2019’s Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. According to a DOJ press release from Jan. 7, 2021, Boeing admitted in court documents that they “deceived the FAA AEG about an important aircraft part called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) that impacted the flight control system of the Boeing 737 MAX,” causing a

key document published by the FAA AEG to lack information about MCAS.

While many understand that there is a lot that goes into getting a plane ready to fly, the process itself is relatively unknown to the general public. Boeing gets many parts of their aircraft from outside suppliers, most often from Spirit AeroSystems for the Boeing 737 MAX, alongside other suppliers. (Note: this is not the same Spirit as Spirit Airlines.)

At the Boeing factory, the plane is put together — electrical and hydraulic subsystems, wings and tail, landing gear and flight controls, engines, et cetera. The planes are sent out for testing by both Boeing and the airline company the plane will eventually be sent to. Once approved, the airplane is sent to the airline customer, ready to enter their ranks with overbooked tickets and probably a screaming child on board.

Jumping back to the Alaska Airlines debacle, it seems as though a lot went wrong in the production of this specific Boeing 737 MAX 9. Spirit AeroSystems built both the fuselage and the door plug that blew off the airplane mid-flight. However, when this specific door plug arrived at Boeing’s factory, it was found to have damaged and improperly installed rivets. Boeing removed the door plug for maintenance, but when reinstalled, at least three of the four plugs were not put back in place. Alaska Airlines apparently did not catch on to this mistake, as the aircraft was sent to fly and, well, you know what happened.

David P. Burns, acting assistant attorney general of the DOJ’s criminal division at the time of the $2.5 billion settlement, said the two Boeing employees being centered in the charges “chose the path of profit over candor” when they

concealed information regarding the 737 MAX. Boeing whistleblower John Barnett, who was found dead on March 9, said something similar when he claimed that “under-pressure workers had been deliberately fitting sub-standard parts to aircraft on the production line.”

According to the BBC, Barnett “had become concerned that the push to get new aircraft built meant the assembly process was rushed and safety was compromised, something the company denied.”

This is a classic case of quantity over quality, profit over safety, and it’s a tragedy that we continue to deal with internal issues such as this, especially when it can have serious, detrimental impacts on everyone involved. Boeing has shown that they would rather sell halfdecent planes than delay their release in order to ensure the safety of the aircraft.

However, it is not completely correct to place all of the blame on Boeing. Once the aircraft reaches the airlines, it is up to the airlines to perform routine maintenance. In fact, Boeing does not technically have any role in the routine aircraft maintenance performed by the airlines.

When it comes to the Alaska Airlines incident, every single player involved is responsible. Spirit AeroSystems should have ensured that the fuselage and the door plug were made correctly. Boeing should have ensured that the door plug was fixed and put back into the fuselage properly, with the correct bolts attached. Alaska Airlines should have ensured that the aircraft was in perfect shape with all its working parts before sending people into the air.

The FAA oversees aircraft maintenance programs in the United States. However, the actual maintenance programs

Student Views | Mega-Break

are the airline’s responsibility, and the airlines have to ensure that maintenance is done properly. Therefore, airlines should be doing more to ensure their routine maintenance checks actually serve a purpose, not just check a box. By investing in worthwhile routine maintenance, problems can be spotted before they become larger issues that would result in grounding the aircraft, or worse.

I have rarely feared for my life when flying. Sure, a little turbulence can make anyone jumpy, but overall, I had faith and trust in the aircraft. But that was before it became a publicized race to make the best new plane with the most space, the fastest speeds and the cheapest costs. Now, I think about plane crashes. I worry about the safety of my loved ones who fly often for work, whether they’re in the cockpit or a passenger seat. I get anxious on takeoff and landing, saying a quick prayer that the plane can withstand. The little girl who loved being in the right seat of her family’s old Cessna has been replaced with a woman who has seen too many news articles about the corruption and carelessness of manufacturers and airlines.

Profit can no longer be put over safety. Boeing, its suppliers and all of the airlines need to place the safety of their passengers and crew over their desperate need to increase their executives’ bank accounts. If the rising media attention has told us anything, it’s that it will get much harder for these companies to brush their mistakes under the rug.

Hannah

How Did You Like the Extra-Long Break?

“I definitely enjoyed the longer break. While I had to stay on campus for track and field, it was nice to have time to spend with my teammates without having to worry about my academic responsibilities. Ultimately, the longer break helped us grow closer as a team.”

“The longer break gave people the opportunity to do more than they would normally be able to do. I think that’s really valuable. Sometimes the normal spring break and Easter break weekend split up doesn’t provide enough opportunity for some students to be able to do that.”

“The longer break was so nice! I loved that I got the chance to go on a cruise with my family and spend the extra time with them.”

“I enjoyed the longer break as I was able to travel and see some family in addition to still feeling like I had a lot of time at home to hang out and take a break from school. This year I feel more focused and energized to finish the semester strong!”

“I definitely enjoyed the longer break this year! Home for me is Oklahoma, and in the past when the break was split up, I was not able to be home for Easter. It was such a treat this year to get to spend more time with family and friends with the longer break!”

KEVIN CALLAGHAN GSB ’26

KENDRA KLEINTOP FCRH ’24

ANGELINA LAYDEN GSB ’26

JESSICA NOCE FCRH ’25

CATHERINE FLORES GSB ’25

Boring, FCRH ’25, is an English major from Annapolis, Md.

Fordham Embraces The Warmth

By RACHEL WANAGOSIT CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A new season is awakening on Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus. Flowers are blooming and the birds are chirping. It’s the season of rebirth. As a nature enthusiast, I had to immediately capture the flowers that started to blossom in mid-March on camera. The warmer weather, flowers and lively critters have pulled me out of my seasonal depression.

One of my favorite things that I’ve noticed is the birds continue to chirp no matter the hour. Recently, I was walking back from the library around midnight and heard chirps on the way back and it just made me smile. This week, whenever I took a moment to just be, I’d hear the birds chirping and it would trigger a smile and thoughts of a fresh start.

There’s a few things I’d recommend to fully enjoy the start of spring at Fordham. Instead of looking down at any screen while you walk to class, take a look at the beautiful flowers blooming on the trees and in the ground. There are many trees by a majority of the dorms and outside of McShane too. Even consider taking out your headphones to listen to the therapeutic sounds of nature. I love the walkway of different colored flowers leading up to

By ISABELLA DEROSA ASST. CULTURE EDITOR

I’m not exactly sure what the target audience for “Stand By Me” is. A group of small-town 12-year-old boys in Oregon in 1959 set out on a mission to find a dead body. By that description, this may sound like a horror movie. But it is far less the end goal that matters here and more the journey along the way. In my opinion, “Stand By Me” is the definition of the coming-of-age genre. Four kids are on an adventure, each facing their problems and having some sort of revelation that redefines the values they hold of themselves and their friendships.

I imagine this movie was made for the dads of the ’80s, something relatable to reminisce on their boyhood. I don’t think the producers would have guessed that a group of young girls about that same age in 2017 would have this be the movie of choice at sleepovers.

I saw “Stand By Me” for the first time when I was in middle school when my best friends were going through an “I wish I was born in the ’80s” phase (courtesy of “Stranger Things”). Our Gen X parents, who had the times of their lives in this era, were entirely too eager to fuel our fascination and

the fountain by Dealy Hall. As soon as I noticed those pops of color after coming back from break, I was instantly excited. The benches by the fountain are a relaxing spot to sit and read.

Are your Keating classrooms feeling a bit stuffy? Head outside to Keating’s steps for a beautiful view of Edward’s Parade and some fresh air after class. The temperatures are still on the cooler side of what’s to come, but still enjoyable, especially to cool down after a workout. As it gets warmer we all know Eddie’s is going to fill up quickly and sometimes it’s better to just sit on some sort of concrete (like Keating’s steps) rather than grass.

Another place I love on those warm days is Martyrs’ Lawn. Grab a picnic blanket, sit on a sweater or, if you’re feeling down to earth, just lay on the grass. The perfect drink to pair this activity with is the clementine juice from Cosi — it’s a close walk from the lawn. The juice is sweet so it may help to dilute it, but it’s extremely tasty and refreshing. I don’t mean to rain on Edward’s Parade again, it’s beautiful and all, but sometimes the sheer amount of people out there can be overwhelming. You never know if a volleyball is going to hit you on the head as you try to relax.

Martyrs’ Lawn is a more peaceful and less crowded option. However, it is still a good idea to stay somewhat alert because there will likely be a sport going on there as well. Speaking of sports, a perfect spring activity is being active outside. Didn’t bring a ball from home? You can borrow a ball or equipment from the Lombardi Fieldhouse in exchange for your Fordham ID.

Another good spot is the New York Botanical Gardens (NYBG) which is right across the street from campus on the side close to O’Hare Hall. You can spend a good afternoon here with friends or even by yourself. I like to go here on Sundays as a study break when I’m going to be doing work all day. It’s an easy way to get some steps when I know I’m going to be sitting most of the day. The NYBG are currently displaying a seasonal exhibit, “The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion,” where you can witness the perfectly curated floral designs by some of New York’s rising stars. It opened on Feb. 17 and closes on April 22.

All these activities are wonderful, but can be immediately worsened for those of us with seasonal allergies. I’m not a doctor and cannot provide medical advice but, for those who need it, I encourage you to take your

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allergy medicine and keep some tissues on hand because it will be a tough season ahead of us. A sunny afternoon outside relaxing can sound very appealing — until you realize you have watery eyes and cannot breathe through your congested nose. A good tip is to be aware of your allergies, check an allergy tracker or pollen count and pick your outdoor days wisely. Sometimes it’s just realizing you shouldn’t be under a tree that is raining pollen, as pretty and aesthetic as it may feel. Another downside of spring is some of the heavy rain that occurs. It was so windy and stormy last week, a tree fell over. I am glad I am not that

tree. It’s all part of the process of April’s showers to bring May’s flowers though, right?

As much as I love spring, if I had to choose a favorite season it would be fall. This is due to its beautiful fall colors without the burden of allergies, for me at least. It’s definitely a lovehate relationship with spring. I’d encourage you all to take all the precautions as you can when it comes to allergies so you can enjoy spring for all of the beauty and joy it brings. To those who don’t suffer from allergies: I envy you. To end on a positive note, I’m so excited to see Fordham’s campus in full bloom. May each bird chirp remind us of the goodness that’s to come.

“Stand By Me” Speaks to Generations

introduce us to just about every ’80s movie worth watching. I even remember us making the completely rational decision to abandon our phones for walkietalkies. However, this ended quickly when we discovered only two of us were within the distance to actually use them.

It was at one of our typical sleepovers, where we would eat too much candy and be up the whole night talking about the extremely important and philosophical topics that trouble middle school girls. “Stand By Me” was the movie we put on to commence this Friday night and then quickly became a featured movie on many Fridays afterward.

The movie is narrated through the protagonist, Gordy, an adult writer telling the story of him and his three friends, Vern, Teddy and Chris, walking along train tracks in search of the body of a missing boy from their town with hopes of getting credit for his discovery. Each character embodied a typical kid stereotype. Gordy was the smart and quiet one. Vern was the clumsy, bashful one. Teddy was the comedian with a rebellious spirit. And Chris was the misunderstood and protective leader. As they

walk along the tracks, they run into several interesting scenarios, from unconventional campfire stories to swimming in leech-infested rivers. Each debacle they run into brings out both the humor and drama in this story.

It was the comedy that is incorporated into “Stand By Me” that caught my initial attention. This is shown mainly through the way the four boys interacted with each other, which is not far from the way my friends and I interacted with each other or the way any close-knit group of friends interacted, for that matter. Of course, we were a group of girls, and at no point were we on the hunt to find a dead body. But that didn’t stop us from giving someone a

light punch on the arm for flinching, telling each other that a joke was so funny we forgot to laugh, or reciting many other quotes we gathered from that movie.

As a kid, the drama and hardship in “Stand By Me” was always an afterthought. Even well into high school, I was a little surprised to see it featured in the show “Euphoria” with such a solemn tone. Now, after rewatching “Stand By Me” yet again, this time halfway through college, I can safely say that this movie is one that will leave you in tears.

The beauty of “Stand By Me” is how it can grow with the viewer. The humor and innocence of friendship among kids and the way life can take unexpected turns can be relatable to anyone at every

age. “Stand By Me” is one of those movies that never gets old and comes with a new surprise and deeper layer of meaning with each watch. It is a story about the way life can change and how things that seem so important at one point in time could become a distant memory. It beautifully depicts the importance of friendship and is a reminder to enjoy the life you live in the moment.

If you only know the phrase “Stand By Me” as a song by Ben E. King, then I implore you to make an addition to your next movie night (though I have to add, the song is great, too). I am normally not dramatic enough to call a movie life-changing, but I would say that “Stand By Me” has the potential to alter your perspective.

COURTESY OF MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM Flocking to Eddie’s is the best way to celebrate the warm weather.

Adrianne Lenker’s “Bright Future” Lights Up the Indie Scene

By ALLISON SCHNEIDER MANAGING EDITOR

Adrianne Lenker is a special artist. A long-time contributor to the contemporary indie scene, Lenker has been releasing music as a solo artist and band member since as early as 2014. Her newest album, “Bright Future,” comes after the remarkably successful Grammy-nominated album “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You” from her band, Big Thief.

Released on March 22, “Bright Future” was recorded “straight to tape,” with minimal edits. This recording process is a favorite of Lenker’s and allows her to experiment more creatively with her sound. Each recording and each performance is a little different. I was lucky enough to experience firsthand the power that their musical freedom can have when I saw Big Thief play live in Indianapolis last summer. The performed songs varied differently from their recorded versions and videos of other nights of the tour.

The acoustic, almost off-thecuff sound of “Bright Future” lends an intuitive, flexible feel to the entire album, especially as Lenker’s vocals freely emphasize the most emotional lyrics. Each song on the album sounds like something sung around the campfire on a late summer night: folksy and intimate. Lenker’s raw vocals and vulnerable lyrics play up this

intimacy, especially in songs like “Evol,” “Vampire Empire” and “Free Treasure.”

The album opens with the song “Real House,” a sixminute instrumental track with lyrics that sound more like spoken word poetry than song lyrics. Incredibly sad, “Real House” prepares the listener for the deeply emotional album ahead, although it felt in some ways too raw to start the album with. It is not a song you can listen to every day and may have been better placed at the end of the album as a vulnerable conclusion to an emotionally rich body of work.

The second song on “Bright Future” is probably the best. Called “Sadness As A Gift,” the 2024 single stands out as one of the singer’s greatest vocal performances with relatable lyrics, and a catchy folk tune to back them up. Along with “Sadness As A Gift,” the songs “No Machine,” “Cell Phone Says” and another original single, “Fool,” made it into my list of favorites from the album. The lyrics of these songs felt unique, but relatable, which is a key aspect of Lenker’s writing style.

On the opposite side, my least favorites included the opener, “Real House,” another single, “Ruined” and Lenker’s solo version of Big Thief’s “Vampire Empire.” After hearing Big Thief’s much fuller version, it was difficult to listen to Lenker’s

stripped-down folk-heavy rendition without pining for a bit more oomph.

For new listeners, Lenker’s intuitive performance is perfect for a sad springtime listen. But for long-time fans of Lenker, “Bright Future” is a more-thanwelcome addition to the singer’s

discography. For songs that scream “classic Adrianne,” fans should listen to “Already Lost,” “Cell Phone Says” and “Free Treasure.” For some more experimental sounds, listen to “Real House” and “Ruined.”

If the “Bright Future” release

still isn’t enough Lenker for you, you’re in luck. The artist also recently released a sixsong collection exclusively on Bandcamp. The E.P. is called “i won’t let go of your hand” and all proceeds from the album’s sales go to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.

Lenker smoothly lays out an indie sound in her newest album and supports the causes she’s passionate about.

Women Are the Centerpiece on Eldridge Street

By ONJALI GOMEZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Sunday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. you can visit the Museum at Eldridge Street and see the exhibit titled: “28 Remarkable Women…and One Scoundrel.” The 29 different pieces of art all create a bigger picture regarding the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911. I had the opportunity to discuss different aspects of this exhibit with artist Adrienne Ottenberg, communications and special grant project manager Amanda Gordon and curator Nancy Johnson.

Adrienne Ottenberg created pictures of 28 women using maps of the streets of New York. She said that her process starts with place and location. It led to her inspiration, curiosity, exploration, research, drawing, painting, creating maps and then scanning her drawings and finding images on her computer. She would work in Adobe Illustrator to alter and layer the images to create these portraits. Her art is based on location, memory and history. She knew the locations of the Triangle Shirtwaist

factories and, when deciding which women to create with these maps on silk and cotton banners, she picked the women of the Lower East Side.

She chose to print on fabric rather than creating framed works on paper since hanging fabric has a light and ephemeral quality. The artist also stated, “Unless we know our past, and appreciate the effort it took to create the protections we enjoy today, what these women created will only be ephemeral as well.” The exhibition is set in the museum’s gallery and historic sanctuary. She feels the location enhances the viewer’s experience and engagement with her artwork and the stories of these women. She hopes that visitors will feel a connection to at least one of the remarkable women, and be able to identify with them. She wants viewers to feel a “connection through time and place and back again to themselves today.” There are a variety of women in the show from different ethnicities and backgrounds. I found it very interesting that Ottenberg incorporated not only wellknown women but women

people have never heard of and someone she found by word of mouth.

“We are still dealing with issues of women’s rights, human rights, health, education and a culture that lets women and their accomplishments be forgotten or belittled. I believe we have a lot to celebrate in these remarkable women, and hope others will want to remember and honor and celebrate them as well,” Ottenberg once said.

Nancy Johnson, the curator of the exhibit, eloquently shared her perspective on the significance of the showcase. She stated, “Historically, women artists have often been overlooked, despite the undeniable value and importance of their work. Their contributions stand on equal ground with those of men and deserve commensurate recognition.” Her insight underscores the importance of featuring a female artist in this exhibition. Johnson also emphasized the rich potential for visitors to glean insights from the exhibit. She stated,“At the museum, we chronicle the narratives of the immigrants who united to construct the Eldridge

Street Synagogue, as well as those who inhabited its vibrant Lower East Side surroundings. This exhibition, however, shifts our focus to the remarkable achievements of women whose impact has left an enduring legacy.” Incorporating these stories was a deliberate choice in the curation process, reflecting the curator’s recognition of the pivotal role women played during that time and in that locale, demonstrating their boldness and capacity for effecting lasting change.

The communications and special grant project manager, Amanda Gordon, gave me some insight into how the exhibit successfully engaged with diverse communities. This exhibit has been seen by visitors from 90 countries and all 50 states. To extend

the reach of the exhibit beyond its physical location, visitors “can follow a self-guided tour through the Bloomberg Connects app, which facilitates a more personalized, in-depth experience of the space both in-person and beyond the Museum’s walls.” In March, the museum hosted a panel discussion and concert commemorating the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, a pivotal moment in New York’s labor history. Moderated by Rose Imperato, Vice President of the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition, the discussion featured artist Ottenberg alongside esteemed historians and coalition members Andi Sosin and Kevin Baker. The event was not only informative but emotionally resonant, invoking the spirit of solidarity and remembrance.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

The downtown museum artistically pays tribute to the 1911 tragedy.

Why New Jersey Is The Bagel Capital

By LIBBY FRUMENTO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When walking into a bagel shop, many people do not know what they should expect for their money. To the oblivious consumer, most bagels are equivalent. A chewy ball of dough with a hole in the center. How can you mess it up? Fortunately enough for me, I’ve lived in the two states that claim they have the “best” bagels — New York and New Jersey.

I am here to tell you that New Jersey bagels take the crown.

New York City often boasts about being the bagel epicenter of the country, and the New York pride is real. These debates spark intensity among two states that are in a rivalry for the highest quality food. The Garden State wins by a landslide when it comes to pure bagel bliss.

Now, New York City should not necessarily be ashamed of its bagel production, as I have tasted much worse. But with one taste of a New Jersey bagel, New Yorkers would be humbled, to say the least. Let’s start off with the basics: the dough. New York City claims that their pristine water is the holy grail of their dough, yet New Jersey bagels share the same water source. And the bagel dough concocted in New Jersey is top-notch. The foundation of making the finest bagel around lies in the people who are a part of the process. New York

City has a lot of pride in its cuisine, yet New Jersey residents get down to business when it comes to bagels. The vivacious nature of the staff in each bagel shop has an honor to defend and are eager to receive feedback from the people. They know that a bagel isn’t just a ball of dough, but the key to starting your day off right. Nothing is as sad as building up excitement in the morning, preparing yourself to have a delicious bagel and being let down (which can happen if you indulge in a NYC bagel).

While New York bagels have a consistent recipe for their dough, it lacks the uniqueness New Jersey bagels have. While New York City has traditions in its recipes, New Jersey has versatility. Are you feeling a sweet raspberry-flavored bagel? Or maybe you have a savory craving that can only be fulfilled by an aromatic garlic poppy seed bagel. Each Garden State bagel shop has its own unique recipe for a chewy, delightful dough with a golden crispy exterior. Although every bagel tastes a little different, every bagel tops NYC in flavor and texture. Nothing can compare to the fluffy yet chewy texture of a New Jersey bagel.

We’ve set the groundwork for exactly why New Jersey wins the award for supreme bagels, but where exactly can you get this amazing breakfast food? Although every bagel

tasted has a great chance of winning you over, there are a few bagel shops that come to mind. Located next to my hometown in Randolph, N.J., Alfa Bagels is ranked #3 in New Jersey’s 44 greatest bagel shops. Each bagel has a golden exterior with a dense and delectable interior. I can confidently say, they are the best bagels I have ever tasted. My favorite is their sausage egg and cheese on an everything bagel. If

you are down the shore and looking for a great bagel shop, “The Bagel Shack” in Beach Haven is the way to go.

If you’re a risk taker and looking for more variety in your bagel, go to “The Bagel Station” in Sparta for their famous blueberry-flavored bagel. The fierce competition over who has the best bagels around is simple when it comes to facts. New Jersey has everything there is to offer in a bagel. People from

New York can try to defend their honor, but in the end, the Garden State will always take the crown. From the mindfully crafted dough to the unique flavors, there will always be a bagel shop in New Jersey that fits your taste buds. If you don’t believe me, experience the difference for yourself. Once you taste the deliciousness of a supreme New Jersey bagel you will never look back.

Study Abroad | London

How To Be A Tour Guide

By GRACE GALBREATH ASST. NEWS EDITOR EMERITUS

The time difference from London to Philadelphia is five hours. To put that in perspective, when it is morning in London, the city of Philadelphia is asleep. On the contrary, when it is time for dinner in Philadelphia, it is time for bed in London. The difference is only a few hours, but the change seems substantial when trying to find a time to call family and friends. The reality is a serious game of phone tag.

Two Sundays ago, I spent my evening on the phone with my mom, while I sat on the abandoned (and partially stacked) picnic tables of a nearby restaurant that had long since closed for the night. The restaurant was closed because it was nearing 11:30 p.m. (which is only 6:30 p.m. in Philadelphia).

So far, I have conquered the time change. In celebration, and despite many missed calls and several accidentally unanswered texts, I welcomed an influx of visitors to England last weekend. Finally, a week without any timezone math!

My week began with the Ram’s Editor-in-Chief Sofia Donohue visiting. Although she did not spend much time in London, it was great to see Donohue, even for a brief amount of time.

Then came England’s own Evan McManus. It was great to catch up with McManus at a pub. After spending time in England, I can assure you that his British accent is very accurate.

The week was a bit of a Rambearables reunion, although we missed our dear friend down under, Matt Colucci. (Colucci is studying in Australia — talk about time differences!)

By the end of the week, I welcomed my third group of visitors (and most anticipated): my family. As the Galbreaths touched down in London, so began the start of my short career as a tour guide. Having only spent a little over three months in the city, I was not the most knowledgeable guide, but I did my best.

We hit all the major spots: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Tower of London and Kensington Palace. We even

embarked on a double-decker bus tour along the River Thames. We also visited several pubs and my parents quickly fell in love with London’s pub scene. Who wouldn’t?

Of all of London’s neighborhoods, the fan favorite was Notting Hill. My sister loved the colorful houses and bustling streets. My parents, who are both huge fans of the Julia Roberts film, were excited to stroll the streets once walked by Anna Scott and to visit William Thacker’s infamous Travel Book Store. Even my brother loved the markets and shops sprinkled throughout the residential neighborhood.

To be a good tour guide, it is important to keep a positive attitude and be patient, even when things are not going smoothly. My family asked lots of questions (some of which I knew the answer to, but most I did not). We also had our fair share of difficulties over the weekend. On Easter Sunday, we stumbled into a church that delivered the entirety of the service in Italian. I should probably mention that no one in my family

speaks Italian. It was a bit confusing, but we prevailed! It was nice to spend my Sunday talking with my mom face-to-face. Instead of calling, we were able to sit at the restaurant together (on unstacked picnic tables)!

My week as a tour guide

came to an end all too soon, and now I am back to worrying about time zones. Don’t worry though, I think the time difference is making me smarter. I have gotten really good at subtracting five from any number less than 12.

Frumento dives into why she believes New Jersey bagels are superior to New York’s.

Galbreath dives into all the guests she entertained

COURTESY OF CLAIRE KRIEGER/THE FORDHAM RAM

By LUSA HOLMSTROM STAFF WRITER

How close is your phone to you right now? Are you reading this article on it? Do you ever find yourself worrying about your technology habits? You aren’t alone — according to a survey conducted in 2023 by Reviews.org, more than 56.9% of Americans admit to feeling addicted to their phones.

In our world of rapidly evolving technology, engaging with electronics is becoming more and more inevitable. College students are especially prone to overuse issues due to the increased need for technology. At Fordham University, we need technology for everything on campus, from booking library study rooms to making reservations on the Ram Van, as well as approving Duopush

Putting Your Phone Down In 2024

notifications on our phones.

Even in times when we may want to leave behind this extra appendage, we are forcibly connected at the hip to the newest iPhone or folding Samsung. For example, QR-code menus are becoming commonplace in most restaurants, leaving customers to hunch over their phones, zooming in, fighting against screen orientation locks and tables with slow internet. In the same Review.org study, 75% of Americans responded affirmatively when asked if they felt uneasy leaving their phones at home, which is an increasingly prevalent issue while most major services are becoming reliant on client smartphones.

While some of this comes down to a matter of convenience such as using your

smartphone as a morning alarm, many phone’s functions open doors to new levels of co-dependency with technology. When used as an alarm clock, your phone becomes the first thing you touch in the morning, whether intentionally or not. As an iPhone user specifically, I am aware of the features on Apple devices that draw users in. The hottest smartphone fad now: tracking. There is a tracker for everything now. We started with steps per day and moved on to sleep trackers. iPhones have the option to measure screen time, though for some, it only encourages obsessive behaviors. Now, nearly every app you download offers some sort of tracking capability. Some track how many times you pick up your phone (How many of those pick-ups were to check your pick-up tracker?). Others like Spotify tracks annual minutes listened, Goodreads counts books read, Letterboxd manages movies watched and Strava logs miles ran. Do we track these things because we truly need to, or because we want others to know we read four books last June, thought “Saltburn” deserved 3.5 stars and ran three miles faster than they did? This excessive bookkeeping does more than

keep us posted, too. I am always looking for ways to reduce my phone to only its most basic functions. In 2022, I deleted my Instagram and other social media from my phone when I felt like the noise was too loud. I periodically comb through my app library and delete ones that aren’t necessary. My friends (and the New York Times app) have become my news sources — though sometimes I hear about pop culture news and peer drama months later after everyone realizes they forgot to tell me so-and-so started a podcast and what’s-his-name dropped out of school. Not only has this improved my productivity, but it has also diminished the endless streams of information I find both unhelpful and overwhelming.

Author

Jonathan Haidt

who co-wrote the book “The Coddling of the American Mind,” taught a new class at New York University called “Flourishing.” In a conversation with the New York Times last month, Haidt shared that he considers smartphone usage in children and adolescents the “great rewiring of childhood” and used his class to help students interpret the tech world we live in. He encouraged his students to turn off notifica

a $100 flip phone in an effort to “correct course with the existing tech that already felt out of [her] control.” She chronicled her trials and tribulations in an article on her experience after citing her relationship with her smartphone as her “biggest regret of 2023.” Though a switch like this is unattainable for the average person, there are ways to wean yourself off of complete reliance on, or addiction to, modern technology. While it has its benefits like staying in touch, quick access to news and immediate entertainment, it can also be overwhelming and the cause of doom-scrolling and negative impacts on mental health.

Another option: go retro. Wear a watch on your wrist instead of relying on your phone for the time, especially when the notifications and news on the lock screen can catch your attention and distract you from your originally simple goal. Consider a physical alarm clock. Putting your phone further away from you at night can have many positive effects: it can discourage you from using your phone immediately before bed and allow you to avoid picking it up and scrolling through endless messages and feeds as your morning routine. While there is nothing we can do to completely eradicate phone usage

FORDHAM UNIVERSITY

Holmstrom examines people’s relationships with their phones.

Katherine Zaino, GSB ’27

First-Year Balances Education and Content Creation

By JULIANNA MORALES FEATURES EDITOR

Katherine Zaino, GSB ’27, is from Glastonbury, Conn., and studying marketing. She is one of the founders of GirlyMag, an upcoming magazine on girlhood she is starting with friends. She is also a TikToker, having accumulated a following of over 520,000 on the app.

Zaino explained that her social media success came to her by accident. She started off spam posting about her favorite musical artists, Taylor Swift, One Direction and Olivia Rodrigo, on what she believed to be a private account only available to her friends. That is until the day one of such videos received 15,000 views, leading Zaino to discover her videos were public. This didn’t deter her from posting content as she would have for her friends. Eventually, 15,000 views turned into 500,000 and her following began to consistently grow.

As her account grew, Zaino fell more in love with what she was doing and the connections she was able to form. Zaino stated that, at this point, her goal is to create a positive space on her social media platform and continue to create connections and bonds. “My main thing that I love about social media in general is being able to connect with people with similar interests to me,” Zaino commented.

She also explained that she has met so many people because of her social media

account. It is generally easy to talk to these people because of the shared interests they know they have because of the account. Zaino explained that she met one of her best friends after he came up to her at orientation to say he recognized her from TikTok. However, school isn’t the only instance when social media has provided Zaino the opportunity to connect with more people.

“One of my favorite things ever is going to events,” Zaino exclaimed. She mentioned that since gaining a social media following, she has been able to attend and take part in numerous things that otherwise would be unavailable, such as working with brands she loves like Princess Polly and American Eagle, and attending the “The Summer I Turned Pretty” season two premiere. However, working with these major brands and attending events does keep Zaino busy. “It’s really difficult,” she stated when asked how she balances both. “Fordham [University], especially Gabelli, is so much work. I’m currently taking six classes and it is a lot, but I just try to keep up with both things and balance them out.” Zaino explains that she keeps her studies especially interesting and comprehensible by applying information learned in class to her social media and vice versa.

Zaino explains that despite how busy she is balancing her schoolwork and content creation, her education is a priority and it was important to her that she pursues higher

education despite working in social media already. In addition to studying at Fordham, Zaino and two of her close friends are looking to start a club on campus.

The club revolves around the idea for a magazine called GirlyMag which focuses on the experiences of girls and women, especially women in academics and business. The group has already made an Instagram account (@girlymagg) which they will use when the club gets going. Zaino explained that they will pursue creating a website for the magazine regardless of whether or not they gain club status, but the goal is to be able to provide the community of the club on campus.

Zaino stated that the idea for the club sparked organically between her and friends during a conversation they had over brunch. She explained that they were discussing experiences they had in classes or activities and how they affected them. “We’re talking about how sometimes we feel dumb, like how people perceive us in our groups as dumb because we’re girls.” Zaino is unsure if they will create a print component of their magazine for campus if they become a club, stating that they are focusing on the online component, but she would love to make a physical magazine.

The magazine will include stories and experiences, recommendations, upcoming female shows, reviews and more relating to the experience of girlhood. Zaino states that she

has never been able to take part in non-academic writing like this and is excited to learn and develop her voice through the magazine. She explains that her goal for the magazine is to create a community: “I really hope that we can just create a safe space to share their stories and also a fun space for people to go to and feel

comfort.” Zaino explained that they want people of all gender identification to be a part of the conversations covered and share different perspectives.

Zaino can be found on numerous platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok and also YouTube. To follow the development of GirlyMag, you can follow the magazine’s Instagram (@girlymagg).

By GRACE GALBREATH

ACROSS

1. Eaten between meals, sometimes ruins an appetite for dinner

6. HDMI, USB

7. Most important aspect of a chef’s uniform

8. Tidy and orderly

DOWN

1. Function of a printer

2. Back of the neck

3. First word in a magician’s classic catch phrase

4. Blood ____, accumulation of platelets held in place by a fibrin

5. Ryan Gosling's best-played role (Arguably)

Instructions

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

COURTESY OF KATHERINE ZAINO FOR THE FORDHAM RAM Zaino remains strong and focused despite pressure from content creation.

By BEN OPPENHEIMER

Although we emerged from one pandemic, it seems we have entered a new one. Here’s what Diana Goode, executive director of the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, said in an article for Time a few months ago: “I look at the legalization of gambling like I look at the opioid crisis.”

And calling it a crisis certainly fits the bill. According to a metaanalysis conducted by professors at the University of Buffalo, one out of 10 college students is a pathological gambler. And while gambling has always existed in American society, it has now exploded in popularity because it is so easily accessible through various apps on smartphones. However, it wasn’t always that way. Even a decade ago, seeing an advertisement for sports gambling would’ve been unheard of. Yet, in the past five years, all major sports leagues have suddenly seemed to embrace the ascending phenomenon. Whenever I grab the remote and turn on the Knicks

The Tragic Rise of Sports Gambling in the U.S.

game on MSG Network nowadays, I am bombarded with ads from DraftKings during commercial breaks, and there are even dedicated segments where on-air hosts affiliated with the network openly promote gambling and discuss betting lines for various games across the association.

So, what was the turning point? How did sports gambling occupy the hearts and minds of so many young people across the country? The obvious and most simple answer is money. Signed into law in 1992, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992, or the Bradley Act, essentially banned sports gambling across the whole country, with the exception of a few states. But, there was a Supreme Court ruling in May 2018 on the case Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association that made a landmark decision on the legality of sports betting throughout the United States. The Supreme Court ruled that PASPA was unconstitutional and conflicted with the 10th Amendment. Shortly after, New Jersey, Delaware and

Athletes of the Week

numerous other states quickly moved to legalize sports betting, and many states followed suit. Now, in 2024, 38 states and Washington D.C. have legalized sports gambling in some form, with 29 states allowing wagering online and more surely soon to follow. According to the website known as LegalSportsBetting.com, in the six years since the Supreme Court ruling in 2018, regulated sportsbooks have made over $300 billion from sports betting while paying state and local governments over $2 billion.

One can make the point that it would be delusional to ban sports betting at this point. The statistics show that the “genie is out of the bottle,” so to speak, and there is no putting it back inside. In other words, there is too much revenue at stake for leagues, as well as state and local governments, to reverse course. But, still, I ask readers to hear my grievances and consider the corrosive effects that sports betting is having on not only young fans but athletes themselves.

It was once commonplace to watch a sports game as a fan, simply for the joy of loving the game. It was that way for me especially, as I had the privilege of growing up watching David

Wright in his prime on the Mets or Carmelo Anthony’s stint with the Knicks. Fans, especially young fans, formed a special connection with these athletes. I still watch Knicks and Mets games as a fan today. But it seems that many nowadays will even root against their own team, hoping they hit on their parlay instead. What was once the wholesome joy of watching a walk-off home run or a game-winning three-pointer is now riddled with the anger that a certain player did not finish with a stat line that a better wanted them to end with. I have heard my roommates screaming at the players on television, locked into a game that they normally would have no interest in, all because they had hundreds of dollars on the line. Not only is that intense pressure addictive and unhealthy, but it sucks the joy out of watching a tight game simply because of the great basketball, baseball, etc. played. Is this really the path that sports fans want to follow?

When a fan misses their parlay, far too often have there been instances of verbal online abuse towards players and coaches as well. In the NBA, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff revealed during

a press conference last month that he and his family received threats from gamblers last season. He said, “They got my telephone number and were sending me crazy messages about where I live and my kids and all that stuff.” Thankfully, Bickerstaff alerted security, and they located the anonymous gambler. He then went on to lament about the negative impact of sports betting on the NBA, saying: “It brings added pressure. It brings a distraction to the game that can be difficult for players, coaches, referees, everybody that’s involved in it.”

As professional athletes who are already under an immense amount of pressure playing on the biggest stage, how can anyone think it’s morally acceptable to put these players under more pressure?

Have we forgotten that athletes are not merely chess pieces we see on a screen or from the stands but actual human beings?

I can agree with Bickerstaff’s sentiment. But we should go further as a nation. We owe it to ourselves, the players, coaches and everyone involved with sports nationwide to limit sports gambling. What happened to the game we all love?

The next time you want to place a parlay on a couple of games, don’t.

After a miserable start to their season, Fordham Baseball has begun to right the ship, playing about .500 ball over the past month and change. A large part of this turnaround has been the offensive production off the bat of Daniel Bucciero, the sophomore having gone on a tear at the plate as of late. Across his last 11 games, Bucciero has not only seen his batting average hover around an extremely solid .270 mark, but he has also slugged three home runs and four doubles, drawn five walks and stolen an additional five bags.

Breaking a school record is hard enough, but breaking one in three consecutive weeks is an almost herculean feat. Nevertheless, freshman pole vaulter Michaela Gier did just that for the Fordham Track and Field team over the course of the past month, breaking the school record in women’s pole vault in three consecutive meets. It all began at the Rider 5-Way Invitational, where she would break the old school record in the event, one that was actually her own, by recording an astounding mark of 10’ 6” in the event. She would then only build upon and increase this record in subsequent weekends, bumping it up to 10’ 10” at the Ramapo Invitational and to 11’ 3 ¾” at the Metropolitan Championship.

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

Sacred Heart 3 p.m.

George Mason

Richmond

11 a.m.

Abarta Coca-Cola Invitational

Daniel Bucciero Sophomore Baseball

Michaela Gier Freshman Women’s Track and Field

Too many people are willing to roll the dice nowadays.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Large sports betting companies have taken a foothold in the industry, further spreading addiction.

Women’s Tennis Riding Electric 7-Match Win Streak

By JOE HENRY STAFF WRITER

35-5. That’s the overall point differential for the Fordham Women’s Tennis squad in their past seven matches. The team entered its March 13 match against Queens College with a 4-5 record; four weeks later, the club stands at 11-5 on the back of a seven-match hot streak.

As students traveled home for spring break, the Rams flew to Texas to embark on a four-game stint against some of the nation’s southernmost collegiate clubs.

First up, Fordham visited Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, earning a commanding 6-1 win against the Southland conference Cardinals. The Rams, who have been off-and-on in doubles, won every match in the category, highlighted by a 6-2 win at #3 from graduate student Franny Shea and freshman Julianne Nguyen. Fordham was equally dominant in singles play, where Shea, graduate student Raffaela Alhach, senior Rose Hu and freshmen Anlin Xie and Cindy Zhou all picked up wins.

From there, the club traveled east to Louisiana for a match against Loyola University New Orleans, the first of a threematch stretch in the Bayou. The 4-4 Wolf Pack proved no match to their Jesuit university counterpart, as the Rams cruised to a 7-0 sweep. The Rams collected another doubles point with strong performances at #1 and #2 from the tandems of

By NOAH HOFFMAN ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Men’s Tennis enjoyed a successful spring break. The team first traveled to Orlando, Fla., to compete at the USTA National Campus over the break before returning home to New York, dominating the competition in both states with three wins.

The Rams began their trip in convincing fashion with a shutout win over Union College.

Fordham started by sweeping all three doubles matches to take the doubles point. In the first doubles, the duo of senior Giorgio Soemarno and graduate student Nick Mueller overmatched Unions’ Ben Jacobs and Dimitris Binopoulos 8-0. The win was followed by a more competitive battle from sophomore Dhillon Virdee-Oakley and senior Nicholas Kanazirev, beating out the Chargers’ Austin Gregory and Keita Fukushima 8-5. The Rams completed the doubles sweep when senior Bingru Cheng and sophomore partner Stefan Stojanovic defeated Seth Prusko

senior Eleni Fasoula/Hu and Nguyen/Shea, respectively. In first through fifth singles, the Rams were relentless, earning points in straight sets. The only match that needed three sets was sixth singles, where Nguyen once again rose to the occasion to put away Avery Frierson in an 11-9 bridge set.

From there, the Rams shipped off to Baton Rouge, La., for a tilt versus Southern University. The Rams swept again, this time 4-0, leaving three singles matches unfinished. In the matches that did wrap, the Rams were dominant. Graduate transfer Camila Baeza picked up her first win of the spring at third doubles, teaming up with fellow graduate student Demi Jhaveri for a nail-biting 7-6 (7-4) victory. Otherwise, Sofie Siem got her first action of the trip at fifth singles, where the Norwegian sophomore overwhelmed her opposition, 6-4, 6-0.

Siem continued her dominance against Nicholls State University the next day, going 6-2, 6-2, for a straight-set win at sixth singles. Like all who came before them, the Colonels were trounced by the Rams — the final score was, once again, 4-0. At #2 doubles, Fasoula and Hu continued to demonstrate their chemistry with a 6-4 win. For Fasoula, it was the second consecutive match in which the senior won at both doubles and singles. Meanwhile, Nguyen stayed blistering hot, besting Constanza Cruz, 7-5,

6-1. Nguyen was honored for her stellar play on April 3, being named Atlantic 10 conference freshman of the week — over the four-match period, Nguyen went undefeated, 2-0 in singles and 3-0 in doubles.

The Rams returned home this past Friday to face their A-10 rival University of Richmond, who rode into the match with a 6-6 record. At first and third doubles, Alhach/Xie (6-3) and Nguyen/Shea (6-3) earned the Rams the match’s initial point. The Spiders were unable to crawl back from an early deficit, though, losing three out of four singles matches. Alhach, Xie and Zhou each put together two-set sweeps to earn the Rams their seventh consecutive win in their fourth win in as many matches against A-10 foes.

On Saturday, the team was honored with rings for their A-10 Conference Championship in 2023 at the USTA National Tennis Center in Queens, N.Y.

“These rings will bond everyone on this team forever,” head coach Michael Sowter said of the historic Rams team.

The team has just two weeks until the A-10 tournament kicks off on April 24, where Sowter and company will look to add another championship to Fordham’s already impressive resume. Before then, the squad will celebrate its graduating class on Senior Day against St. Thomas Aquinas College on April 13 before traveling to the northeast for a match against Umass Amherst.

Men’s Track and Field Metropolitan Championship

-Compiled by Griffin Stevenson

News & Notes

Ainhoa Martin Competes at NCAA Championships

Junior swimmer Ainhoa Martin certainly had a season to remember, becoming arguably the most dominant swimmer in the entire Atlantic 10 Conference over the course of the past few months. As a result of this, she earned the right to compete in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship at the University of Georgia a few weeks ago, joining a small field of the nation’s best swimmers in the hopes of laying claim to a national title. While there, although she did not win any medals, Martin nonetheless showed out from the Rams in both the 200 individual medley and the 200 breaststroke, registering very impressive times that cemented her right to compete alongside the nation’s best.

Men’s Tennis Sweeps Over The Break

and Daniel Saxe 8-3.

In singles, the Rams began the duels with three more sweeps. Mueller started on the right foot, winning in straight sets, first 6-2, before closing out with a tie-breaking 7-6 victory over Jacobs. Soemarno continued the dominance, winning in straight sets with a score of 6-3 and another tie-breaking 7-6 win, outlasting Binopoulos. Kanazirev concluded the stretch of sweeps with a 6-4 and 7-5 defeat of Fukushima.

In the fourth match, VirdeeOakley had competition but still completed the job. He won the first set over Saxe by a score of 6-4 before falling in the second 1-6. In the rubber match, Virdee-Oakley claimed victory with a 6-3 win. This match was followed by two more two-set sweeps from Chen and Stojanovic over Prusko and Ton.

Chen won 6-2 and 6-1, the most dominant performance for the Rams, while Stojanovic finished off the sweep with 6-3 and 6-2 wins.

Fordham concluded their Florida trip facing off against

DePauw University on a warm, windy day.

The Rams again started the day taking the doubles point, this time winning two out of three matches. Soemarno and Mueller got Fordham going by defeating DePauw’s Ryan McCook and Chase Hutchinson 8-3. Kanazirev and Virdee-Oakley kept the momentum going and secured the point with an 8-6 victory over Wils Warren and Teagen Crow. Mascone and Stojanovic lost a hard-fought battle to Sela and Anderson 6-8 in the final doubles match.

Mueller and Samuele Pia squared off for the first singles match, with Mueller losing the first set, 4-6, but prevailed in the final two sets, 6-3 and 6-2, to win the first singles point. Depauw got on the board in second singles when Finley Buelte swept Nicholas Kanazirev 6-4 and 6-1 to cut the Rams lead in half. Fordham bounced back in the third match when Virdee-Oakley beat McCook in consecutive sets, each by an impressive score of 6-2.

Now, with a 3-1 lead, Mascone clinched the win with two 6-3 wins against Jake Louiselle. With Fordham’s victory inevitable, they split the final two matches to win 5-2 and go home to the Bronx with two wins in Florida.

On a three-game win streak dating back to the previous week, the Rams looked to make it four wins in a row facing Manhattanville College back at home on the Hawthorn-Rooney Courts.

As with the previous competitions, Fordham once again began the day with a doubles point win. This time, the duo of Soemarno and Virdee-Oakley defeated Weston Goodwin and James Hourihan 8-2. Mueller and Kanazirev follow up the win by clinching the doubles point with an 8-3 victory of their own versus Derwin Guzman and Shiel Loganadan. Mascone and freshman Christian Ramos completed the sweep in the final match, winning easily 8-1 over Griffin Forberg and Christian Hunter-Crump. In the singles matches, the Rams

overmatched the Valiants en route to another sweep. Mueller started the scoring with a sweep of his own, beating Hourihan 6-0 in both sets. Soemarno continued the winning ways against Goodwin in another two-set sweep, the first 6-1 before finishing with a 6-0 battle. Virdee-Oakley followed up with a straight-set victory of his own over Loganadan, both by the score of 6-1 to secure the Fordham win. Moscone, Stojanovic and Ramos all ended the day with wins of their own to complete the sweep.

The Rams were scheduled to play Sacred Heart University the following day, but poor weather postponed the match.

Overall, it was an incredible stretch for Fordham to push their win streak to a total of four and their record to 5-7. They look to continue their success at home on April 10 against Queens College before traveling to Richmond, Va., where they will have two weekend matches against George Mason University and on the road at the University of Richmond.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Women’s Tennis has been on a tear since the break, cementing themselves as a formidable A-10 team.

Softball Wins Back-to-Back A-10 Series

By LOU ORLANDO ASST. SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS

The 2024 Fordham Softball season has been inconsistent.

Before the break, they took two of three games against the University of Rhode Island team before a huge comeback victory over the Iona College squad.

Winning four of their last five, the Rams had a chance to keep doing just that with a three-game set against a struggling University of Massachusetts.

However, as our sports editor Jonah Ring poetically wrote three weeks ago, “the games are won on the field, not in the record column.”

The Minutewomen snatched the series thanks to lategame heroics during Friday’s doubleheader.

A Fordham six-spot in the top of the fifth gave the Rams a late two-run lead, thanks to three-run blasts from sophomore Nicki Sudall and junior Sydney Wells. UMass responded immediately with an RBI single and a go-ahead grand slam. They closed out the 13-10 victory in the seventh.

Game two was equally as exciting tied after 5-5 seven for bonus softball. Freshman Mikayla Swan doubled in a run to give the Rams a 6-5 lead, but once again, UMass would get the last laugh. In her fourth inning of work, Bailey Enoch could not close it out, surrendering a gametying home run before the Minutewomen walked it off on a passed ball.

Fordham salvaged the final game, tallying 12 runs on 14 hits behind a complete game, three ER performance from graduate student Devon Miller. The Fordham offense had no problem getting going, scoring 26 runs over the three-

game set. Unfortunately, the pitching faltered, as Miller, Enoch and sophomore Holly Beeman failed to shut down a struggling UMass lineup.

Following a 20-0 rout to #12 ranked University of Missouri, the Rams looked to get right with a three-game Easter weekend series against George Mason University.

After a 2-0 loss in game one, Fordham took the backend of the Friday doubleheader and Saturday’s rubber match, getting back above .500 in conference play with a 5-4 record. Their pitching enjoyed an emphatic bounce back, limiting the Explorers to four runs over three games.

Miller returned to her ace-like form, allowing just two earned runs over 13 innings in two starts and matching a season-high of nine strikeouts in the rubber match. Beeman snapped a stretch of poor outings with a brilliant complete-game one - run gem as the Rams mercyruled George Mason 10-1 in five innings. At the plate, Wells stayed hot, knocking in four runs over the weekend and belting her Atlantic 10-leading ninth homer of the season.

A Wednesday matchup

against St. John’s University was canceled due to the violent east coast storm, giving Fordham six days of rest before a crucial conference home matchup against George Washington University. The Revolutionaries entered with an A-10-leading .302 batting average, with seven different players hitting over .300 and six with an OPS over .800 on the season.

Once again, the Rams dominated in the circle, completely shutting down the potent GW offense as they came away with a statement three-game sweep.

Fordham took a 2-0 lead in Game 1 on a 2-run double from Wells. With Miller cruising, it seemed like that would be all they’d need. Miller quickly recorded the first two outs in the top of the fifth, but GW shifted momentum, back-toback hits to plate one run. They evened up the game on the bases, swiping third and scoring on an errant throw by Wells. Fordham answered in the bottom half of the inning as graduate student Gianna Sarlo’s bloop double led the way to a sac-fly from Enoch. The Revolutionaries made the Rams sweat out the seventh. With runners on first

and second and two outs, a single scored one with another close behind, but sophomore Neleh Nogay gunned out the potential game-tying run with a rocket of a throw from left field, sealing the 3-2 win.

The GW bats put up a fight but were held in check by Miller, who threw a whopping 141 pitches while allowing only one earned run in her complete game effort. The Revolutionaries would be much less active in game two, as Beeman blanked them in her second complete-game shutout of the season. Two runs on RBI knocks from Wells and Enoch were all that was needed as the Rams rode the 1-2 punch of Miller and Beeman to two hard-fought wins.

After consecutive closelycontest nailbiters, Fordham opted for a less stressful game to close out the series, defeating the Revolutionaries 11-2 in five innings by way of the run rule. Miller earned her second complete game of the weekend, but the bottom of the lineup was the biggest standout. A two-hit, three RBI day from senior Bella Ayala headlined the 6-7-8-9 part of the lineup that knocked in nine of the team’s 11 runs, with each batter posting at least two RBIs.

The two teams entered play with identical 5-4 conference records, but it was Fordham that came away looking like the sharper team, enjoying consistently great pitching as well as fantastic play in the field.

The last two weekends should give fans justified hope that the Rams are turning the page on inconsistency and trading it in for sustained high-level play. Even though it’s a month away, Fordham can start to dream about what a 1-2 combo of Miller and

Beeman in the circle will look like come A-10 Championship time.

Miller returned to form after posting a 5.17 ERA last season, reclaiming her position as the staff’s ace with a team-leading 2.99 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 110 innings pitched. Miller has thrown a complete game in each of her last five starts, pitching to a 1.40 ERA in her last four while striking out 23 batters. Beeman has endured ups and downs in her sophomore campaign following a historic freshman season where she led the A-10 with a 1.47 ERA. She’s pitched to a 4.43 ERA so far this year, but it’s now two in a row brilliant outings, allowing just one earned run over her last 12 innings. If Beeman stays on track, Fordham could be looking at the best starting rotation in the entire conference.

Meanwhile, on the offensive end, the Rams boast a prime candidate for A-10 Player of the Year in Wells. Leading the conference with nine home runs and 41 RBIs, good for 27th in all of collegiate softball, to pair with a .330 average and 1.158 OPS, Wells hasn’t shown any signs of slowing as she continues to mash at the plate.

With the three-game sweep, the Rams improved to 17-19-1 overall and 8-4 in conference play, tied with the University of Dayton for third in the A-10. As fate would have it, that’s who the Rams have next up, hosting the Flyers this weekend after a Wednesday game against the U.S. Military Academy West Point. With a 3.19 staff ERA that ranks second in the conference, it will be another big test and a chance for another potential statement from a Fordham team that has won five of their last six games.

New York Mets Season Preview: “Fun And Frisky”

By COLIN LOUGHRAN STAFF WRITER

The year 2023 was anything but ideal for the New York Metropolitans. After losing ace Jacob DeGrom and acquiring starters Justin Verlander and Kodai Senga in the offseason, the New York Mets struggled with injuries and inconsistency to start the year. Before the trade deadline, they offloaded Verlander and starter Max Scherzer for prospects and parted ways with role players like outfielders Tommy Pham and Mark Canha.

The flurry of moves signaled a rebuild. Young players like star catcher Francisco Alvarez and infielders Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio and Brett Baty received ample playing time down the stretch as the Mets drifted to a 75-87 record failing to reach the postseason.

Buck Showalter’s tenure as manager ended once the season concluded, setting the stage for

a 2024 squad that could be “fun and frisky” under first-year skipper Carlos Mendoza. New York’s lineup will maintain most of its core pieces. First baseman Pete Alonso, shortstop Francisco Lindor, outfielders Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte and utility man Jeff McNeil will be joined by newly acquired designated hitter J.D. Martinez, who inked a one-year $12 million contract. These seasoned bats will have to be aided by younger contributors such as Alvarez (who slugged 25 home runs last year) and Brett Baty. Vientos will start the year in the minor leagues, and Mauricio will likely be out for the season due to a knee injury he suffered while playing in the Dominican Winter League. As a result, most of the Mets’ offensive burden will be on their veterans’ shoulders. New York will need to be better at the plate than they were a

season ago. In 2023, they were below league average in terms of on-base percentage, slugging percentage and walks.

The Mets’ starting rotation will be working from a deficit to start the season. Senga is working his way back from some shoulder discomfort that shut down the second-year starter last month, placing him on the injured list to start the season. He was efficient last year, posting a 12-7 record with a 2.98 ERA and a 10.9 SO9. The Mets do not know when he’ll be ready to return to the mound and, as a result, New York’s rotation will need to receive some surprise performances.

Jose Quintana will lead the rotation for the Mets this season after earning a 3.57 ERA last season across 75.2 innings. Newly acquired starters Luis Severino and Sean Manaea will ideally benefit from a change of scenery. Severino ended last season with a 6.65 ERA, clearly

losing his confidence. Severino was once considered one of the Yankees’ more reliable pitchers, but 2023 marked the end of his time in the “Booogie Down Bronx.”

Manaea’s recent track record is equally complicated. He has struggled to put together a truly stellar season, but after implementing a sweeper last year, he worked his way to a 4.44 ERA and 3.90 FIP with the San Francisco Giants.

Lesser known arms, Adrian Houser and Tylor Megill, will man the back end of the Mets’ rotation to start the season and try to prove that they deserve a permanent spot in Flushing. A sturdy bullpen goes a long way, and the Mets will finally get premier closer Edwin Diaz back in 2024 after he missed all of last season due to a torn patellar tendon. The 30-yearold compiled 32 saves and a career-best 1.31 ERA in 2022. He’ll try to return to form and take on high-leverage innings.

Other bullpen pieces, such as Adam Ottavino, Brooks Raley and Drew Smith will return. It will be a particularly important year for Smith, who surrendered seven home runs last year and pitched to an unimpressive 4.15 ERA.

New additions like Jake Diekman and Jorge Lopez will join the, hoping to lock down time in the middle innings. The 2024 Mets are intriguing, although it is doubtful that fans will see the prospects the team received in exchange for Scherzer or Verlander last summer. Luisangel Acuna, Ryan Clifford along with other reinforcements are on the way but are still developing and finding where they fit defensively.

New York should be as advertised this season: a work in progress. The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies may both battle for the NL East crown, but the Mets could be a Wild Card team.

Softball swept George Washington over the break. COURTESY OF CRISTINA STEFANIZZI/THE FORDHAM RAM

By NOAH HOFFMAN ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

With the MLB season starting in Seoul, South Korea, the sports world was shocked after Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter and friend, Ippie Mizuhara, was fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers for “massive theft.”

The given reason for the firing of Mizuhara was that Ohtani claimed that the interpreter stole money to cover a gambling debt that amounted to $4.5 million.

Ohtani’s lawyers accused him after the public learned that Ohtani’s name was in connection with a federal investigation regarding alleged illegal booker Mathew Bowyer. The association prompted MLB to open an investigation into the scandal as well.

Mizuhara had been Ohtani’s personal interpreter since the Japanese star signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017. During his time with the Angels, the two appeared to have formed a close friendship. Mizuhara even resigned from his position so as to continue working with Ohtani during the 2021-22 MLB lockout. He would not have been allowed to continue working with him due to restrictions placed on organizations affiliating with players during the work stoppage. After Ohtani signed his record-breaking 10-year $700 million contract with the Dodgers, the largest in sports history, Mizuhara followed him.

Overtime: A Shohei Saga

Originally, in a 90-minute interview with Tisha Thompson of ESPN, Mizuhara explained that Ohtani agreed to bail him out of his debt by wiring the funds. Once the news broke, Mizuhara ultimately walked back his statement and said that Ohtani did not know of the debts or the addiction.

Ohtain also recently declared he “never bet on baseball or any other sports, or have never asked somebody to do on my behalf and I have never went through a bookmaker to bet on sports.”

Nevertheless, the scandal is already leading to negative headlines with a federal investigation along with MLB’s own already underway. Therefore, more should be revealed soon as to why an interpreter had access to Ohtani’s bank account

and was able to allegedly transfer so much money to pay a bookie.

Whatever the outcome of the investigations may be, it is certainly not good for baseball in any way and is concerning for sports as a whole. For years, fans have worried about any association with athletes and gambling, especially with baseball and its dark betting history.

Unfortunately, although baseball is “America’s favorite pastime,” it is certainly not America’s current favorite sport. Even with the new rule changes that were supposed to attract more fans, attendance per game in 2023 could not crack 30,000. Along with this, the viewership of the sports marquee event, the World Series, went back down in 2023 to just over 9 million viewers per game. The drop comes after

two years of an average of close to 12 million viewers but nowhere near the regular 20-plus million the sport attracted from 1973 to 2004, with some years reaching well into the 30 and 40 million range.

The fall classic and baseball as a whole are unable to compete with the likes of football, which averaged over 18 million per game in 2023, along with 123 million viewers watching the Super Bowl, the most-watched program in U.S. television history. It is virtually impossible for baseball to reach these numbers in the United States, but if the current stacked Dodgers team can get over the hump and back into the World Series, fans from all over the world are going to tune in to see Ohtani on the big stage.

With all this being said, the

game of baseball just cannot afford any speculation around its biggest star and face of the game. With Ohtani’s two-way ability and national and international appeal, he is the type of player who can counteract the downward trend in popularity more than anybody else. The phenom is already being dubbed as the greatest player of all time by some, and he isn’t even halfway done with his career.

He is not only most baseball fan’s favorite and most popular player, but he is also some player’s favorite as well. Each year, Ohtani’s jersey is number one on best-selling lists, and there is no sign of that trend stopping as long as he remains in the game. His name in association with anything negative is the absolute last thing that baseball needs.

Ohtani and baseball are swimming in dangerous waters, regardless of the outcome of the investigations. If he is convicted of any wrongdoing and the worst that people fear is true, then Ohtani’s name could be said in the same sentence Pete Rose and those involved in The Black Sox Scandal who violated the integrity of the game. If Ohtani is indeed telling the truth and he did nothing wrong, there will be those who say baseball swept something under the rug and do not believe the result.

Either way, baseball is sure to be in for a saga, with any conclusion looking bleak for the sport. In the end, baseball needs Ohtani more than Ohtani needs baseball.

Track and Field Stays Busy Over Break

By MARY HAWTHORN PHOTO EDITOR

Spring break was certainly anything but relaxing for the men and women of the Fordham track and field team as they competed in four meets across only three weeks. Despite this, the Rams enjoyed their best stretch of performances in a long time. This run of great success all began at the Rider 5-Way Invitational: a smaller meet held at Rider University. The women’s team kicked everything off by impressively registering a total team score of 104 points, good enough for third at the meet. A large portion of these points would come from their two event wins, with senior Clodagh McGroary winning the 3000-meter steeplechase on the back of her excellent time of 12:04.36, and freshman Brenna Sears likewise toppling her event’s field, the 800-meter dash, with her own respective strong time of 2:20.91. Moreover, the women’s team was also able to lay claim to silver in a couple of events, as freshman Megan McCann finished just behind Sears in the 800-meter dash, while freshman Meredith Gotzman ran herself into second place in the 1500-meter run with an impressive time of 4:45.81. Finally of note for the women’s team was freshman Michaela Gier’s performance in the pole vault, as she was once again able to break her own school record by completing a personal best attempt of 10’ 6” — a mark good enough for fourth on the day.

Looking first at the men’s team’s performance at Rider, while they did fare worse than the women, coming in fourth place with 67 total

points, they nonetheless had some strong showings. Freshman Dakota Strains, for one, was able to claim gold with his brilliant time in the 200-meter dash (22.94 seconds), sophomore Matt Nurse finishing just behind him in second with his own stellar time of 23.06 seconds. Additionally, sophomore Darren Croke (8:49.86) and freshman Jack Boerger (8:51.65) also dominated an event as a duo, finishing second and third, respectively, in the 3000-meter run. Finally, freshman DaRon Elam was able to claim silver in the men’s high jump with his impressive mark of 6’ ¾”.

After this brief stint at Rider University, the team then split the following weekend, one larger group traveling to Princeton University for the Sam Howell Invitational while the other went to compete in the Ramapo College Invitational.

Looking first at the former of these two meets, Fordam enjoyed a rather significant amount of success while competing at Princeton, a number of Rams having extremely strong showings on the day.

On the field side of things, a pair of Rams managed to register top-five finishes in their respective events: senior Eric Galante and his third-place finish in the men’s long jump (22’ 10½”) and Elam with his fifth-place finish in the men’s high jump (6’ 2¾”).

On the track side, the Rams’ strongest showing came in the women’s 100-meter dash, with senior Skylar Harris claiming bronze with her blistering time of 12.27 seconds. Fordham also showed out in the unseeded iteration of the 800-meter run, as sophomores Trevor Rinn, Croke and Yariv Simhony all registered

top-10 finishes, Rinn being the highest finisher of the group with his bronze-medal worthy time of 1:56.02. The Rams were likewise able to exercise some measure of team dominance in the men’s 5000-meter run: graduate student Colin Flood finished in sixth behind his time of 14:24.49, senior Steven Zucca finished just behind him in eighth with his respective mark of 14:26.63 and junior Rodolfo Sanchez rounded out the pack with his 12thplace worthy time of 14:29.39.

In terms of the performances of those sent to the Ramapo Invitational, they too made their presence felt despite being few in numbers, laying claim to a slew of medals across several events. For starters, Gier continued to roll by winning the seeded iteration of the women’s pole vault, propelling herself to the top of the field by again breaking her own school record, this time recording a phenomenal mark of 10’ 10”. The Rams would also claim the top spot in the women’s high jump, as sophomore Leia Ruvo’s mark of 5’ 5” was more than enough for gold. Finishing just behind her in the event was not only fellow sophomore Zoe Arakelian, whose mark of 5’ 1¾” was good enough for bronze, but also junior Anya Alfonsetti Terry, with her fourth-place worthy mark of 4’ 11 ¾”. Finally, also of note for Fordham was the team’s performance in the women’s 1500-meter run, as the Rams accounted for a whopping 50 percent of the event’s topsix: McGroary won the event, sophomore Alexis Smith ran herself into fourth place with a strong time of 5:02.81 and freshman Grace Kenny propelled herself into sixth on the back of her mark of 5:04.04.

Finally, last but not least for Fordham Track and Field in this gauntlet run of theirs was one of their most highly anticipated meets of the year: the Metropolitan Championships. While there, both the men’s and women’s teams again absolutely showed out for Fordham, the Rams effectively claiming the Big Apple as their own.

First, on the men’s side of things, the Rams would finish second out of 14 eligible teams behind an impressive team score of 134.5 points — a large portion of this total coming from the Rams’ astounding six event wins on the day: Boerger’s rout in the 3000-meter steeplechase, Flood’s win in the 1500-meter run (an event where the Rams would almost sweep the podium), Simhony’s victory in the 800-meter run (an event where Fordham would successfully sweep the entirety of the field’s topfive), Strain’s win in the 200-meter dash, freshman Tadael Mihret’s victory in the 5000-meter run and the team of Strain, Galante, Nurse and sophomore Liam “Li” Volz’s victory in the 4x100 relay. However, impressive as this

performance was from the men, the women once again were the more dominant team, winning the whole meet with an astounding total team score of 173 points. Like the men, they too would win a slew of events with Michaela Gier’s recordbreaking victory in pole vault (she registered a new school-best mark of 11’ 3 ¾”), Leia Ruvo’s win in the long jump and the team’s two relay victories in the 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay. Aside from these victories, the women would also lay claim to a plethora of silver and bronze medals, the Rams coming in second in eight separate events and third in three separate events.

Yet, after all this, the Rams are not done with their travels, with the team’s schedule in the immediate future being anything but relaxing. Thus, the men and women of Fordham Track and Field will just have to take things in a day-byday and meet-by-meet manner, especially considering the fact that the team’s next meet this coming weekend is going to be none other than the competitive Larry Ellis Invitational at Princeton University.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Dodgers’ two-way superstar Ohtani has found himself in hot water recently, becoming embroiled in a betting scandal.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Track and field had a rather grueling slate over the break.

By NOAH HOFFMAN ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

While many were off enjoying spring break, Fordham’s baseball team had a busy stretch of eight games, ending in Dayton, Ohio, before returning to the Bronx for three more.

The Rams began by hosting Hofstra University on Wednesday, March 20. Fordham struck first, scoring one in the first inning. Senior Nico Boza doubled the lead with a solo shot in the second. The Rams doubled the lead again in the third after sophomore Daniel Bucciero doubled, stole third and scored on an error, followed by a solo home run from sophomore Tommy McAndrews. In the fifth inning, Fordham added six more runs, the big blows coming on seniors Chris Genaro’s basesclearing triple and Ryan Thiesse’s RBI double.

After six shutout innings from Fordham’s pitching, Hofstra scored three in the seventh, one in the eighth and four in the ninth to make it a ballgame, but the Rams prevailed with the 10-8 win. Sophomore Aric Berg earned the win, pitching the first two innings and striking out three.

Following the win, Fordham had a three-game set with St. John’s University. The first of three was in Queens, where the Rams were shut out by a score of 9-0. Fordham had their fair share of opportunities, with eight hits and loading the bases more than once. However, they could not get that crucial knock to drive any in.

The second game was in the Bronx. It was a 0-0 pitcher’s duel through the first seven innings. In the eighth, freshman Matt Dieguez led off with a double and, three batters later, graduate student Andrew Kanellis drove him in with a single. Kanellis scored a batter later on a McAndrews double. St. John’s made it interesting in the ninth, scoring one and threatening

Baseball Starts Atlantic 10 Play

for more, but Berg shut the door on the game for the 2-1 win. Freshman Koen Smith pitched the first five scoreless innings before Berg came in for the final four and earned the win.

The Rams traveled back to Queens for the final game against St. John’s. The Red Storm got out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first, making it 4-0 by the fourth. In the fifth inning, graduate student Steve Luttazi put Fordham on the board with a solo shot. St. John’s retaliated with four more runs before Fordham tacked on one more in the ninth to end the game at 8-2.

The Rams next traveled to Long Island for a single-game series against Stony Brook University. The Seawolves took a 3-0 lead with runs in the first, second and fifth. In the seventh inning, graduate student Henry Pelinksi’s RBI single would cut Stony Brook’s lead to two. The Seawolves answered with two of their own in the bottom of the inning. A nine-run eighth inning for Stony Brook put the game out of reach. The Rams scored two in the ninth but lost 14-3.

Now on a two-game skid, the Rams began Atlantic 10 games by traveling to play the University of Dayton. In game one, the bats came out hot for the Rams, scoring three in the first. Bucciero started the inning with a double, followed by a Thiesse single and Kanellis drove them both in with a double.

Kanellis scored on junior T.J. Wachter’s double of his own to make it 3-0. Fordham extended their lead in the third with a tworun home run from McAndrews. In the fourth, Bucciero made it a 6-0 ballgame with an RBI single. Dayton scored two in the seventh before Fordham answered with two of their own in the eighth. The runs came on another Thiesse single and a Kanellis triple. The Rams put the game out of reach in the ninth with three more, winning 12-2.

More offense would follow in the

second game of the series. Lutazzi started the scoring with a solo shot to lead off the second inning. After the Flyers took the lead in the bottom of the frame, the Rams tied it up on another solo homer this time from Bucciero in the fifth. Dayton’s offense broke out for six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it an 8-2 game. The Rams would score one in the sixth and three in the seventh, but it wasn’t enough, falling 12-6.

In the series rubber match, Dayton started the scoring off right away, scoring one in the first inning. The score would remain 1-0 until the seventh. From then on, it was a back-and-forth game. A Kanellis single and Luttazi double were both driven in on a McAndrews double to give Fordham a 2-1 lead. The Flyers retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run homer. The lead didn’t last long as Bucciero’s tworun homer gave the Rams a 4-3 advantage. Dayton scored another in the bottom of the eighth to make it a 5-4 ballgame. With the Rams on the verge of losing the series, Genaro delivered in the ninth with a run-scoring single. After, bonus baseball was in store with a 10th inning. Unfortunately, the Flyers scored one in the ninth for the walk-off 6-5 win.

After this pivotal series win against Dayton, inclement weather would lead to the cancellation of a single home game scheduled against Monmouth University. Thus, the Rams would instead continue A-10 play with a threegame home series against the University of Richmond.

The Rams jumped out front in the first game with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first. The Spiders tied it up in the third and the score remained 1-1 until the sixth inning. In the sixth, Fordham’s offense broke out for three runs to take a 4-1 lead. Junior Cian Sahler and Pelinksi led the rally with RBI singles. Richmond cut the lead to

two in the eighth, but the Rams got the run right back in the bottom half of the inning on a McAndrews run-scoring double. Fordham held on in the ninth to secure the seriesopening 5-2 win. Senior Declan Lavelle threw 7.2 innings of work on the pitching side, striking out ten and only allowing two runs. Berg came on in relief for Lavelle and recorded the four-out save. The Rams continued firing on all cylinders with another all-around win in game number two. Fordham put the pressure on Richmond early, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first. Luttazi singled in the first run after the first three hitters loaded the bases, with the next three coming on a fielder’s choice, error and a groundout. A Kanellis RBI double in the second made it 5-0 Rams. The Spiders scored two in the third, but that’s the only damage they would do as Fordham’s pitching dominated from then on. The offense also continued to provide run support, scoring seven more times, one in

the third and the rest in the seventh. The Rams had a combined pitching effort using five pitchers and only allowing those two runs, with only one earned. Freshman Brixton Lofgren earned his first collegiate win for his three scoreless relief innings of work in the 12-2 win.

Richmond struck first in the series finale, scoring one in the third and leading 1-0 until the seventh. In the seventh, Bucciero hit a go-ahead two-run home run for a Rams 2-1 advantage. However, that would be all the offense for the Rams, and the Spiders came back, scoring two in the eighth and three in the ninth to win 6-2.

Unable to end on a high note, Fordham went 5-6 over their last 11 games. Their overall record now stands at 11-19 with a 3-3 conference record. Looking at what is forthcoming, the Rams are set to host one game against Columbia University on Wednesday, April 10, before resuming A-10 play via a weekend series at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

2024 New York Yankees Season Preview: “Told You So”

By COLIN LOUGHRAN STAFF WRITER

2023 was a disappointing year for the Pinstripes. The New York Yankees finished with an 82-80 record and failed to make the postseason for the first time since 2016 while wasting a Cy Young campaign from starting pitcher Gerrit Cole.

The Yankees’ lineup dealt with a multitude of injuries last season. Star outfielder Aaron Judge only played 106 games due to a toe injury that kept him sidelined for an extended period. Others, such as first baseman Anthony Rizzo and utility infielder DJ LeMahieu, also missed time. Even though rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe and second baseman Gelyber Torres each provided timely at-bats, they could not carry a struggling lineup or make up for a rotation that performed poorly outside of Cole.

2024 will require New York’s mainstays to rebound and their new additions to live up to expectations. If all goes according to plan, the Yankees could be in for a “told you so” sort of year.

Back in December, the Bronx Bombers traded for high-profile superstar outfielder Juan Soto.

The former National and Padre is undeniably one of baseball’s premier hitters and figures to boost the Yankees’ lineup immediately. Soto is coming off a season in which he ranked in the 100th percentile in walk percentage. His plate discipline will be important, and the 25-year-old’s ability to simply get on base could help set up sluggers like Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

The Yankees also notably added outfielders Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham. They acquired Verdugo in a trade with the Boston Red Sox, and while his skill set is not elite, he does possess a scrappy approach that could benefit a team that will need every win it can get.

Grisham came over in the Soto deal and, much like Verdugo, the Yankees expect him to bring highenergy play in the field and, at a minimum, intelligence at the plate.

Many of New York’s returning players will have a lot to prove after they holistically struggled last season, batting .227 as a team. Judge will be Judge, health permitting. But Rizzo, Stanton, LeMahieu and catcher Jose Trevino are all major question marks. Even a player like Torres, who was solid in 2023, has to show that last season was not a happy accident.

Youngsters like Volpe, utility man Oswaldo Cabrera and catcher Austin Wells will surely contribute, as will others like infielder Oswald Peraza and outfielders Jasson Dominguez and Everson Pereira when they inevitably either get healthy or receive big league plate appearances. However, expecting them to carry the offense would not be fair. The vets must prove they can still consistently produce at a high level.

The Yankees’ starting rotation will be working from a deficit to start the season. Cole will be out for an extended period as he deals with nerve inflammation in his right elbow. It is a huge loss for New York. The California native went 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA last year en route to winning his first Cy Young.

Cole’s initial absence will force other rotation members to find their comfort zone early in the season. New addition Marcus Stroman is coming off of a season in which he earned a 3.95 ERA but struggled in the second half of the season. Clarke Schmidt was decent but has only been a starter for one entire season. Additionally, Nestor Cortes and Carlos Rodon missed most of last season and were not supremely effective when

they pitched. Further, New York’s fifth starter to begin the year, Luis Gil, is largely unproven at the big league level.

The Bombers rotation clearly has talent, but consistency and availability will ultimately decide how well they fare.

The 2023 Yankees had the best bullpen ERA in baseball. As one of last year’s lone bright spots, it would be fair to assume that the pen will enjoy similar success this season. But after losing Michael King in the Soto deal and allowing Wandy Peralta to walk in free agency, New York’s bullpen may experience some turbulence.

Clay Holmes will return as the club’s closer, and the emergence of Ian Hamilton last year put him in line to be this season’s setup man. New additions like Caleb Ferguson and Victor Gonzalez must complement younger pieces such as Clayton Beeter and Ron Marinaccio, along with if general manager Brian Cashman has found more diamonds in the rough with Nick Burdi, Dennis Santana and Jake Cousins. New York has certainly put together solid bullpens in each of the past few seasons. While this season could present some initial challenges, they will likely be able

to put together another wholly serviceable campaign. They are already behind the eight-ball, with Jonathan Loaisiga having been announced as out for the season this past weekend.

On paper, the 2024 Yankees have a chance to make a postseason run as one of the AL East’s most feared teams. Doing so will require them to play with a chip on their shoulder. Such a mentality would serve them well against a hungry young Baltimore Orioles squad with sights on winning their second straight division crown. The lineup will undoubtedly need the vets to stay healthy and the younger members to experience encouraging stretches. New York’s rotation should have enough to survive Cole’s early absence, but they’ll have to receive consistent showings to properly set up a developing bullpen. Recent Bronx Bomber teams failed to meet expectations. It is fitting that this season’s reload will only be successful if they finally live up to their talent level. All signs look like they are trending in the right direction, starting the season off 9-2 with three series wins, but as everyone knows, it’s a long season, and only time will tell where they stand after 162 games.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS Baseball has gained a massive amount of momentum over the past few weeks.