Volume 98 - Orientation Issue

The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 Volume 98, Orientation

August 28, 2016

FordhamRam.com

You’re Visionary: Welcome Class Of 2020 Football Kicks Off Season

By JACK MCLOONE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Faculty Memorial Hall now hosts a venue called Salt and Sesame, a bagel shop replacing Zime. Aramark replaced Sub Connection in Queen’s Court with A Crust Above a similar sub shop.

In Dagger John’s, Mein Bowl, an Asian-fusion food location, has been replaced with Chopsticks.

Franchises such as the “We Proudly Brew” Starbucks and Jamba Juice in Dagger John’s will remain the same, but under a franchise with Aramark. The same applies to Cosi in Campbell Hall.

Additionally, there will be mo-

Fordham Football may have a new face, but things should stay relatively the same in the 2016 season.

The biggest news in football this offseason was the departure of head coach Joe Moorhead to Penn State to become their offensive coordinator.

Rather than look for outside help, offensive coordinator Andrew Breiner was promoted to the head coaching gig.

Outside of losing Moorhead, the Rams last a few cogs on both sides of the ball to graduation. Offensive lineman Garrick Mayweather Jr. will be sorely be missed, as his skill is evident in the fact that he seems to be making a good case for his inclusion on the roster of the Kansas City Chiefs. On the other side of the ball, Stephen Hodge was a force at linebacker, seemingly involved in every stop made by the Rams.

Despite losing these key players the Rams still seem poised to return to the FCS playoffs once again, and possibly get themselves back on top of the Patriot League, which they last won in 2014, after coming up just short in 2015.

The Rams are returning the majority of their starters at the offensive skill positions. Senior quarterback Kevin Anderson was one of the most prolific passers in the FCS last season, finishing seventh in the league

SEE UPDATES, PAGE 2

SEE FALL, PAGE 10

ANDREA GARCIA/THE FORDHAM RAM

Aramark Introduces Changes to Food Venues

By THERESA SCHLIEP NEWS EDITOR

Freshmen will not be the only students familiarizing themselves with the specifics of Fordham University upon arrival. Upperclassmen will also acclimate to a changed food landscape as Aramark debuts its changes to the food establishments on campus.

Aramark Corporation, the new food services provider taking over for Sodexo, has given a “facelift” to the dining and retail places on campus, according to Dining Services Contract Liaison, Deming Yaun at Fordham University.

“There are no dramatic changes,” said Yaun in a phone interview with The Fordham Ram. “There is a facelift and different management.”

Yaun cited changes made to places such as The Grille in O’Hare Hall, now called Urban Kitchen, the most popular eatery on campus aside from The Marketplace.

While the food, beverages and retail provided will remain essentially the same, there are some layout changes. These include the replacement of inside seating for a standup community table.

Yaun said at the close of last

year, the Marketplace was averaging 18,526 guests a week and the Grille was averaging 16,147 per week.

Yaun said the Fordham community can expect more prominent changes to the Marketplace in the coming years, as dining services and Aramark make plans for renovation to the Marketplace.

Renovations to the old bookstore, located on McGinley First, should be completed by the conclusion of the Fall 2016 semester, said Yaun. It will be used for additional seating for the Marketplace and potentially for hosting events.

Looking for Adventure? Check Out These Favorite Places Fort Tyron Park

Grand Central Terminal

Put on a pair of comfortable shoes and take a hike up to the indescribable views of the Hudson River, Palisades and George Washington Bridge seen from Fort Tryon Park. Nestled at the top of the Park is The Cloisters, the annexed sister of The Metropolitan Museum, which holds some of the most well preserved medieval art and architecture in existence. The historic park is one of New York City’s best kept secrets -- far enough from midtown to ward off herds of tourists -- so as an official New Yorker, make it a point to get the complete New York City experience.

— Laura Sanicola

Is it lame to pick a train terminal as my favorite place in New York City? I would argue yes, but there isn’t one time that I am not struck with complete awe as I walk into Grand Central’s main concourse. Growing up in New Jersey, I always came into the city through Penn Station – a dull, depressing landmark – so the idea that a train station can be anything but a nightmare is completely foreign. Grand Central is a lavish, sprawling labyrinth, even more beautiful inside than out. It’s almost a sin to not gaze up at the unbelievably high green ceiling and become mesmerized by the astrological symbols. Looking upward, you might even begin to forget that you have a train to catch.

— Michael Byrne

The Highline Fond of renovated mass transit? Like to go for long and elevated walks? Look no further than The Highline, a park built on a historic freight rail line. The contrast between the cityscape and the gardens that adorn this reminder of America’s industry is unparalleled in New York City, outside of its many parks. Its gardens, art exhibits and views of the city’s architecture are best enjoyed in the spring, when New Yorkers shed their oversized parkas and look towards the outdoors.

— Theresa Schliep

Chelsea Piers Coined ‘New York’s Ultimate Playground,’ Chelsea Piers is the perfect place to spend a rainy day. Located on the West Side in Manhattan, this enormous indoor sports complex is home to a health club, spa and multiple sports leagues. From batting cages and bowling to rock climbing and ice skating, you can unleash every angle of your athleticism all under one roof. For recreational sports in the city, the prices here are reasonable. And if you find yourself

coming down from an Olympic-based high like myself, look no further than the Beginner Gymnastics class where, unlike in Rio, experience is not necessary.

— Bailey Hosfelt

Fifth Avenue Retail therapy is a very real thing, especially when executed on one of the most glamorous streets in the world. Saks Fifth Avenue is not exactly college-budget friendly, but at Christmastime, it would be difficult to find somewhere more beautifully decorated.

There is something inexplicably soothing about looking at gorgeous things without even spending the money to own them. Fifth Avenue also houses several New York City treasures, like The New York Public Library, Rockefeller Center and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. So grab a coffee, have breakfast at Tiffany’s and take a slow stroll down a stunning street to enjoy the ‘je ne sais quoi’ of New York City .

— Elizabeth Smislova

Hell’s Kitchen Part of the reason Hell’s Kitchen is so great is it’s prime location. Right underneath the Fordham Lincoln Center campus, Hell’s Kitchen

is just a Ram Van drive away. The West Side neighborhood offers some of the best and cheapest eateries in Manhattan, including a diverse array of restaurants that will tempt any picky eater. I would personally recommend trying some of the Thai or Vietnamese restaurants nearby. You can also see famous late night comedy shows like “The Daily Show” and “The Nightly Show”, although you probably won’t see Matt Murdock flipping around in his red suit any time soon.

— Kristen Santer

Times Square People watching in Duff y Square, fooling around in the mega-sized Forever 21 and attending a Broadway show are some quintessential New York experiences that everyone should have, even if you think you’re too cool because you live here now. Within those few blocks, you can view one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, hear a dozen languages and see literally a million people, which perfectly exemplifies the incredible intersectionality that is New York. It’s crowded, dirty and loud, but it’s the most vibrant and vital part of the city — without Times Square, New York wouldn’t be the amazing city that it is.

— Cate Carrejo

ORIENTATION

Page 2

Dear Freshmen: A Letter From the Editor

By LAURA SANICOLA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Welcome to campus. By now you have probably settled into your converted triples, taken a shower with sandals on and listened to many speeches from campus authority figures on your time at Fordham. As the campus newspaper editor, I am privileged to be one of the people that gets to greet you in your first weeks here, and as a senior, I can, hopefully, provide some insight on what to expect on campus.

A lot of people are going to tell you that the next four years will be the greatest years of your life, that this campus is magical (and a little haunted) and your memories will last you a lifetime. I do not know if those will be universally truths for your entire class, though I hope that is the case.

What I know is that life is definitely going to happen to you here. You are going to make a lot of friends and keep a few of them for a lifetime. You

are going to take some classes that challenge and inspire you and some that crush your soul. What you do, what you learn and how much you get out of college will truly depend on what you put into it.

Even the of best plans for the next four years can get derailed, so be flexible. I came to Fordham as a pre-law psychology major and joined the student newspaper in hopes that I would make friends. Now I am a journalist.

That kind of stuff is going to happen.

Fear not, this is totally fine.

It is also very easy to treat your degree like a business transaction in this day and age, paid for by a daunting amount of student loan debt. When you spend as much money to attend college as you probably are, I am not surprised if you feel like just by participating, attending classes and taking exams and writing papers you receive in return a degree you can one day trade in for your first job. I challenge you to abandon that over simplified mindset on higher education. You

can do anything, go anywhere and learn from everyone. No one has ever had more resources to create or study than you do right now. This freedom comes along once in a lifetime. Your time is now.

Lastly, do not be afraid to care – about people, about classes, about your job or your sport. Read about something that you think is important or interesting. Join something that makes you feel useful and purposed. Make friends with people that challenge your mindset and worldview. It’s okay to be a different person than you were in high school. Your only job right now is to figure out what is important to you, and what you want out of your life and your school. It’s an awesome job.

The class of 2020 has a voice, and I am excited to hear what you all have to say.

Sincerely, Laura Sanicola Editor in Chief, Volume 98 The Fordham Ram

August 28, 2016

Dining Establishments Changed Food Services Staff Largely Retained FROM UPDATES, PAGE 1

bile ordering in Urban Kitchen and the bar in Dagger John’s. Yaun said it will be online within the next few weeks.

The university released a Request for Proposals in December 2015. Aramark Corporation won the bid and began its transition this past summer.

During the transition, concerns were voiced by the Fordham community, specifically social-justice oriented groups such as Fordham Students United, that food services employees would not maintain their employment or lose contract stipulations like seniority, summer pay and health care.

Vice President for Corporate Communications at Aramark Karen Cutler said in an email that their employment retention rate was over 95 percent. 12 employees chose not to apply and two did not

pass the screening test.

All of the employees who maintained their positions with food services were hired with their rank, seniority, salaries and health benefits preserved, according to Cutler.

Sandy Pope, president of the Teamsters 818 union representing Fordham’s food services employees, verified the status of the food services workers in a phone interview. “[Aramark] stuck to the letter and we have signed off with a final agreement,” said Pope. She said that this was largely in part due to the Fordham community’s outpouring of support for the food services workers.

“We have to thank the students, faculty and administration that supported us,” said Pope. “We wouldn’t have this amount of cooperation without their support.”

United Student Government Welcome To The Class of 2020 Dear Class of 2020, Even though Fordham welcomes a new class each year, you all are in a unique position to be welcomed to Fordham as its 175th class. As Fordham celebrates its Dodransbicentennial (a word that you will soon be accustomed to hearing), we reflect on what has kept Fordham an esteemed university for many generations. As you are now part of the Fordham family, you too will carry on its traditions.

At its core, Fordham is rooted in Jesuit ideals: Men and Women for and with others: Being the Jesuit University of New York City, Fordham offers many opportunities to meet people with varying backgrounds, ideas, and opinions. We implore you to explore and treasure these differences as they help you appreciate perspectives that you may have not previously considered.

Cura personalis: care for the whole person, unity of heart, mind and soul. The Jesuit mission is beyond that of the simple intellect. Beyond education, Fordham cares about each student’s development in all aspects of life - moral, emotional and spiritual growth.

Fordham invites you to go beyond and embrace wisdom as you go through your four years.

Wednesday August 31

Magis: more or better. Seeking magis means striving to serve God and to serve others. Aim to be more magnanimous towards others. Adopt altruism as the good we do is the standard in how we should measure all our efforts. As a Fordham student and a global citizen, think of what you could do

Rams, marveling at a performance in Collins, or diligently working with your study group in Walsh Library, you are not alone in this swift journey. The word “Ramily” is not just a clever pun. It embodies the successes, experiences and challenges of Fordham students for the past 175 years, and will repre-

sent your class as well.

Welcome to the Ramily. Welcome to this treasured tradition.

Welcome home.

Sincerely, Daniel Stroie, Executive President Elisha Simon, Executive Vice President

ANDREA GARCIA/THE FORHDAM RAM

United States President and Vice President Daniel Stroie and Elijah Simon, respectively, seen here at the US debates hosted during the Spring 2016 semester.

This Week at Fordham

Thursday September 1

Fall Club Fair

Welcome Week Speaker

Eddie’s Parade, 3 p.m. — 5 p.m.

McGinley Ballroom 6 p.m. — 8 p.m.

The Office of Student Involvement will be hosting its annual Fall Club Fair on Eddie’s Parade. Clubs will showcase their organizations to both freshmen and upperclassmen.

for others.

These challenges may be intimidating or even insurmountable right now. However, you will quickly see that community is integral to the enrichment, development and furtherance of the Fordham tradition. Whether you are enthusiastically cheering on the

CAB will welcome Nyle DiMarco, an actor, model and activist as Fordham University’s welcome week speaker. DiMarco was the first deaf winner of America’s Next Top Model, and won season 22 of Dancing with the Stars.

Monday September 5

Tuesday September 6

Welcome Back Show

Comedy Show

Wicked Raffle

Rodrigue’s Coffee House 1 p.m. — 4 p.m.

Keating 1st 8 p.m. — 9 p.m.

Saturday September 3

Rodrigue’s will be the host of the welcome week bands. Headlining will be The Hotelier. Playing along them will be Fraternal Twin and the student opener, Drowsy Joy. The concert is open to all Fordham students with Fordham ID.

The comedian Kate Berlant will hold a standup show as a part of Campus Activities Board’s Welcome Week. Berlant appeared on the Comedy Central show The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail.

McGinley Ballroom 1 p.m. — 3p.m.

CAB will host a raffle for two free tickets to see Wicked on Broadway. Students with a Fordham ID will be given one free raffle ticket, and the winner will be chosen immediately after the event.

ORIENTATION

August 28, 2016

Page 3

What Is A Jesuit?

By CATE CARREJO FEATURES EDITOR

In case you have not noticed yet, Fordham is very proud of its Jesuit tradition.

The modern Jesuit order stands for educational excellence, intellectual integrity and compassionate service, which will all be hallmarks of your Fordham experience over the next four years. If you are only casually acquainted with the Jesuit order, you are going to learn a lot about it during your time at Fordham, but here is a crash course to catch you up to speed before you start.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, whose statue you can admire just behind the Canisius House in the center of campus, founded the Society of Jesus in August 1534. He began his world-changing order of priests with just six students.

These six students were dedicated to poverty, chastity and conversion of non-Christians. The order was officially sanctioned by Pope Paul II in 1540, and for the last 500 years the Jesuits have been a strong presence in the Catholic Church.

Jesuits were dispatched all over the world to spread the message of Catholicism, bringing European educational standards with them. According to NPR, Jesuits were teaching at nearly 700 colleges and 235 seminaries around the world by the middle of the 18th century. Jesuits are still known the world over as rigorous and exceptional educators, with more than 300 colleges and universities worldwide and 28 in the United States.

Fordham’s Jesuit tradition began in 1846, five years after the

SAM ZIMITS FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

ZACHARY MIKLOS/THE FORDHAM RAM

FORDHAM RAM ARCHIVES

FORDHAM RAM ARCHIVES

Fordham’s Jesuit tradition started in 1846, when the school’s founder Archbishop John Hughes sold the college to Jesuit priests. Fordham is one of 28 exceptional Jesuit universities throughout the United States.

school actually opened. The school, which was called St. John’s College at the time, was originally founded by Archbishop Joseph Hughes in 1841. He then sold the school to the Jesuits for $40,000, about $1,000,000 today.

Although Hughes relinquished control of the university to the Jesuits, he still holds a presence at Fordham — his statue sits across from the building that bears his name.

Today, there are approximately 20,000 Jesuits working in over

100 countries, and the order is still influential in changing the modern Church. Jesuits have been among those to most ardently push the Church towards more progressive, liberation theology, connecting the “men and women for others” philosophy to social, economic and political activism.

Leading the charge for progressive change in the Church is Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope in the Church’s 2000-year history.

Papa Francesco has created significant controversy over his accep-

tance of those most marginalized within the Catholic community, including homosexual people, sex workers and the poor, but he has also established himself as a man of the people and reinvigorated a generation of young Catholics whose liberal ideals clashed with the conservatism of the modern Church. Pope Francis is a reminder of the timelessness of the Jesuit order — even half a millennium after its founding, it is still breaking barriers and changing the world.

Now that you are beginning your career at Fordham, you are an extension of the Jesuit order.

Living up to the 500-year Jesuit tradition of education, service and compassion is now your responsibility as a Fordham student.

Learning the history behind these ideals will provide a richer and more inspiring context for your Fordham experience because only with these virtues can you go forth and set the world on fire.

15 Ways To Fight Off The Freshman 15

By THERESA SCHLIEP NEWS EDITOR

1. Do not fear classes in Faculty Memorial Hall when your dorm is across campus. That extra cardio, while sometimes inconvenient when you miss all of your alarms and have to rush to class, can never hurt.

2. Think of the cafeteria as “all you can eat within reason” instead of “all you can eat.” It is very easy to go up for seconds, thirds and fourths, but listen to your stomach.

3. Go to the gym. Going to Fordham will be one of the only times, if not the only time, you have access to a free gym membership. If weightlifting and the treadmill are exhausting just to think about, attend the many gym classes our fitness center offers.

4. Walk to the D train and the 4 train, instead of deferring to Metro North. Metro North is tempting due to its proximity to campus, but this is its only convenience. Enjoy the walk along East Fordham Road and rest easy knowing you got some cardio in your day.

5. Treat yourself on Arthur Avenue. Following a stringent diet often proves ineffective. Instead, treat yourself to some of the finest

FORDHAM RAM ARCHIVES

Staying active, eating well and exploring the outdoors will help you keep the infamous Freshman 15 at bay.

dining in New York City. Whether it is a Penne Vodka slice from Nike’s or a cannoli from Gino’s Pastry Shop, enjoy your treats — in moderation!

6. Take advantage of the kitchens in your dorm. Prepared foods can be caloric traps; instead, opt for making your own with friends.

Get some ingredients from Ford-

ham’s farm fresh exchange or Arthur Ave. and make it a social event!

7. Try to avoid places you know will tempt you. It is hard to ignore the pretzel bites and lemonade combo from Auntie Anne’s. Go to places with healthier options, and avoid the temptation all together.

8. Opt for healthier meal

swipes. Urban Kitchen’s chicken tenders and fries is fried goodness but the salads are a much more nutritious choice.

9. Convenience is not always healthy. Whether it is a farther walk or a arduously prepared meal, more often than not choosing the difficult option is more beneficial for you.

10. Sleep, sleep, sleep! Prioritize your health before your academics. When it is 4 a.m. and that project is still not completed, go to sleep. Your body will thank you.

11. Find workout partners. Exercising is a lot easier when you both give and receive encouragement.

12. Utilize the Botanical Gardens for running. Fordham University students get free admission into these lush and unparalleled gardens, so enjoy the sights knowing you are taking care of yourself.

13. Allow yourself to relax.

Whether that means taking a walk in Central Park or watching some episodes of your favorite Netflix show, allocate time for yourself.

If you are having trouble relaxing and are overwhelmed by stress, go to the school’s health center and speak with a professional.

14. Find activities you enjoy.

Exercising is easier when you are not forcing yourself to run on the elliptical and instead finding things you enjoy, like going for walks in the Bronx Zoo. 15. Eat that slice of pizza! This is your youth and you should enjoy it. Practice moderation, and hopefully everything should work out.

ORIENTATION

Page 4

August 28, 2016

The Best Of Off-Campus Eats

By BAILEY HOSFELT CULTURE EDITOR

Whether you live to eat and snap aerial photos of each plate along the way or simply eat to live, food is an undeniably important part of the average day to day.

As fresh-faced college students, leaving the nest of home-cooked meals and consistency is a hard pill to swallow. For all those times the cafeteria will just not cut it, here is a list of off-campus eats to feed your cravings: Pugsley Pizza 590 East 191st St. When I think about pizza, Pugsley’s is the opposite of an afterthought. Sure, the decision to get a freshly-made slice is, more often than not, done on your way back from a night out with friends. But the inevitability that you will find yourself there is what makes Pugsley’s a true namesake. Friday’s party might stop at 3 a.m., but this pizzeria is open until 5 a.m..

If you want to taste true happiness, order a chicken roll or the penne vodka pizza. I promise you will not be disappointed. Between the signature-covered walls and sporadic serenades played on a saxophone or trumpet, the ambience at Pugsley’s is unexplainable.

“Love is it” at this neighborhood favorite and there is no denying that.

Best Deli 536 East Fordham Rd. With a name claiming to be the “Best,” this neighborhood deli has no choice but to follow through for Fordham students. And follow

through it does. Best Deli combines convenience with quality in order to give people exactly what they want.

As a freshman who lived dangerously close to Sub Connection during the Sodexo days, I ate one too many poorly-made bacon, egg and cheeses. Eventually, the stomach aches sent me over the edge and outside of the gates. So whether you need a better breakfast sandwich or a late-night bite, stop by Best Deli to satisfy the craving. In addition to made-toorder meals, the deli also stocks its shelves with all the essentials.

If you are in need of conditioner and ice cream, Best Deli is a onestop shop.

Tino’s Delicatessen 2410 Arthur Ave. During my first few days on campus, I learned what was important and worth remembering.

The lists were long and the topics varied, but Tino’s Delicatessen was a major point of discussion.

The name came up everywhere from New Student Orientation small group circles on Eddie’s to advising meetings in Faculty Memorial Hall. After my first few weeks, I decided to check out Tino’s for myself. Saying that I was impressed is an understatement.

Tino’s ability to provide fresh ingredients and make your order in a timely manner is incredible. I highly recommend creating your own sandwich. After a handful of visits, I perfected my personalized order: a version of old reliable consists of a chicken cutlet, mozzarella, tomato and prosciutto. You cannot let your time at

Fordham pass without a visit to Tino’s.

Dominick’s Restaurant 2335 Arthur Ave. Many students consider Michelangelo’s their first choice in the real Little Italy on Arthur Ave., but Dominick’s does something special for me. Although it is a longer walk from Fordham, the authenticity makes up for the distance. There are no menus at this old school style restaurant. Your waiter will provide you with a list of daily specials and recommendations.

While the atmosphere of the restaurant is cozy, I have never found myself uncomfortable seated in close proximity to other patrons whether my party was big or small. The portions are filling and the quality is consistent. A few of my favorites are the shrimp oreganatti, eggplant parmesan and chicken marsala. You will want to stop by an ATM before because Dominick’s is a cash only establishment.

Estrellita’s 2328 Arthur Ave. Estrellita’s is the best Mexican cuisine you can get close to campus, hands down. It tends to be crowded during peak hours, but the food will make up for the wait.

As soon as you sit down, order sangria and guacamole without the slightest stutter. The combination is a classic.

When it comes to the menu, Estrellita’s has all of the offerings you would expect. I have had everything from tacos to enchiladas to fajitas and experimented with a variety of meat and vegetable fillings. You name it, and they can put it on your plate. All entrees come with a side of rice and beans, so make sure to arrive with an empty stomach. Sombreros off to the clean plate club.

M & G Restaurant 2390 Arthur Ave. M & G is my go-to spot for weekend breakfast. There are two locations on Arthur Ave., one adjacent to Mugz’s and the other near the 187th intersection. While the 189th location is newer (and clos-

ANDREA GARCIA/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Tino’s Delicastessen is a Fordham favorite for deliciously-made sandwiches.

er), the quality of the food is on par with its elder location.

My order depends on the hour I decide to dine. If it is mid-morning, I always choose the chocolate chip pancakes to give my body a muchneeded Sunday sugar rush. Later in the day, I go with the BLT and a side of fries. Every no nonsense diner does justice to this three ingredient sandwich, and the cooks at M & G are no exception. With friendly staff and the right amount of greasy grub, M & G can do no wrong.

Prince Coffee House 2306 Arthur Ave. When the lighting in the library becomes too harsh for the latest study session, take a trip to Prince Coffee House for a change of pace.

This location is complete with the vintage charm akin to a Manhattan-based cafe boasting high quality brew, but the prices here cannot be beat. When it comes to my beverage of choice, I alternate between the iced coffee and green tea, which are $3 and $1.50 respectively. For a sweet snack, I recommend ordering the poppy seed cake or a Prince Bomb. The latter looks like a donut hole, but the cafe’s Turkish take on an American treat does wonders for your taste buds.

Seating is plentiful whether you want to take your visit outdoors, indoors or downstairs. During the warmer months, the sun doors are open and allow for natural light to

shine into the space. Whenever I have writer’s block, I make sure to head to the lower level which tends to be on the secluded side.

On your way out, remember to look up because the chandelier made of tin cups on the ceiling is something serious.

Burger Lodge 657 E 189th St. Burger Lodge, the brainchild of Fordham’s own Ferso Ismail, brings comfort food and cheap prices together just a four-minute walk from campus. The restaurant opened in Spring 2016 and has been satisfying the burger cravings of Fordham students since.

I typically alternate between the Lodge Blue and the Am-Mex, which are both equally amazing. One of my fellow editors has raved about the mac & cheese burger multiple times, but I have yet to try this creation.

There is a $10 minimum for cards, and a small burger and fries will ring up just under the mark. If carrying cash is not your thing, splurge for a milkshake. As a member of our Ramily you will receive a 10 percent discount.

To stay updated on all things yummy in New York City, make sure to follow @fordhamfoodie, @spoon_fordham and @new_ fork_city, three Instagram accounts that I hold dear to my heart (and stomach). Eat up, Rams.

COURTESY OF EMMA NANAMAKER

With a 10 percent discount as your incentive, grab a bite at Burger Lodge.

COURTESY OF EMMA NANAMAKER

The tin cup chandelier sets a peaceful ambiance at Prince Coffee House.

ANDREA GARCIA/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Pugsley’s is the perfect place to end a night out with friends surrounded by slices of vodka penne pizza.

ORIENTATION

August 28, 2016

Page 5

Fifty Signs That You’re A Freshman

By LAURA SANICOLA EDITOR IN CHIEF

As you walk around campus, buzzed on your newfound independence and freedom, we hope you feel a strong sense of belonging here at Fordham. Starting college can be exciting, overwhelming and a little scary, and some days you may feel it is painstakingly obvious that you are new to the school. Here are some things that prove you are unmistakably a freshman: 1. You’re wearing your ID and room key lanyard around your neck.

2. You’ve asked someone how to get to Keating Hall.

3. You call Eddie’s “Edward’s Parade.”

4. You toss around a Frisbee on Eddie’s because that’s what the people on the cover of the college brochure were doing.

5. You were lured by free food at the club fair and now you are on the email list for almost every club on campus.

6. You complain about how often your parents text you or send you care packages.

7. You still talk about your SAT scores and the colleges you almost went to.

8. You begin all conversations with “So, what’s your major?”

9. You wake up more than an hour before your first class starts.

10. You dress up for all of your classes.

11. You’re done with classes before the rest of campus wakes up.

12. You’ve raised your hand and asked your professor if you could use the bathroom.

13. You picked up The Paper thinking it was the school newspaper.

14. You don’t know what Sodexo is but from the way upperclassmen talk about it, you’re thankful for that.

FORDHAM RAM ARCHIVES

15. Communal bathrooms.

16. You forgot to bring shower sandals to college.

17. You don’t know where to buy shower shoes around campus.

18. You don’t know how to get to Manhattan.

19. You’ve walked past the D train entrance and panicked at not being able to find it.

20. You Instagram pictures of campus using phrases like “New York is my campus, Fordham is my school.”

21. You plan to join all the clubs you were in back in high school.

22. You are a little hurt that people are unimpressed when you say you are from Long Island or New Jersey.

23. You bought a t-shirt or hat from Pugsley’s Pizza.

24. You wear clubbing clothes to the local bars.

25. You’re looking for your future Ram husband or wife at Mugz.

26. You added everyone you’ve met so far on Facebook.

27. You are still pre-med.

28. You registered for the pre-law seminar.

29. You eat 90 percent of your meals at the cafeteria.

30. You eat 100 percent of your meals on campus.

31. You expected a cockroach to climb out of your first hot meal.

32. You have class on Wednesday.

33. You don’t know what or where Dagger John’s is.

34. You have gotten lost on your way to Starbucks.

35. You and your roommate both

brought mini-fridges on move-in day.

36. You return home almost every weekend if you live in the tri-state area.

37. You do your laundry once a week but have yet to change your sheets.

38. You purchased all of your textbooks at the school bookstore.

39. It took you an hour to get to Faculty Memorial Hall for the first time, and the second time.

40. You brought way too much stuff to fit in an 11x17 foot dorm room.

41. You and your friends huddle outside of Loschert Hall at 4 a.m.

42. You try to convince yourself that living with two other people in bunk beds is pretty exciting.

43. You are alarmed by the Public Safety Alerts in your inbox.

44. You travel in packs of 10 or more. Everywhere.

45. You don’t know what a Jesuit is or what the word means in its native language.

46. You went to President’s Ball.

47. You have literally begged people not to “FUEM” you.

48. You can’t keep track of which bars are open and which aren’t.

49. You brought lots of sweats with your high school logo and graduation year to college and wear them around campus (bonus points if it’s a Chaminade sweatshirt.)

50. Upperclassmen may condescend to you, but you know it’s because they’re jealous that you have four more years.

Top 10 Places on Campus You Probably Don’t Know About

By TARA MARTINELLI COPY CHIEF

What is it that we all miss the most about our hometowns? Of course everyone loves their own beds and home-cooked meals, but we know that it is more than that.

We love knowing exactly where to go to get the best slice of pizza around, the places we can gaze at stars without getting kicked out and the diner we have been going to on Sunday mornings with our parents for as long as we remember. Here are the top 10 places on campus that will help make Rose Hill a second hometown.

1. The basement of Keating: Whether you need to grab some last minute coffee before class or have a quiet place to cram before an exam, the basement of Keating is a great place to go. While you are there, you can check out many pieces of original artwork created by Fordham students.

2. Dagger John’s: Sometimes I want a place to do my homework that is a little louder than the library. A place where I can sip on my Jamba Juice and people watch while I try to make sense of Descartes’ argument for the existence of God.

FORDHAM RAM ARCHIVES

Arriving at your residence hall is one of many events during your first year. The next step is getting into a good routine.

This place is Dagger John’s.

3. IT: The most terrifying feeling in the world is when you are trying to finish off a research paper and your laptop crashes. Thankfully, we have an amazing IT team that is available by phone or you can visit their office on the second floor of

McGinley.

4. The Saint Ignatius of Loyola Room: If you are looking for a cozy place to have a club meeting or somewhere to host a little study session, this is a great spot. It is attached to our beautiful University Church and has all of the furniture

and decorations to make you feel like you are chilling at grandma’s house.

5. The Reference Room: This is a part of the library that everyone usually walks right by but it has a great collegiate vibe. It is a place that you will feel good about being in

while you study for countless hours.

6. Courtyard behind O’Hare Hall: This is a great place to have a little picnic with some friends or stretch after a long run in the Botanical Gardens. It is never crowded and a beautiful place where you will always find peace and quiet.

7. The Trading Room: This location is by no means a secret but not everyone knows that if there are not any classes going on, the room is open to all! The double monitors can be a lifesaver.

8. The Spin Room: You do not have to wait for a spin class to enjoy the spinning room in our Ram Fit Center. Those spin classes can be hard to get into sometimes so grab a few friends, and make your own!

9. Media Lab: This spot in Faculty Memorial Hall can satisfy all of your last minute, poor planning and printing needs.

10. Career Center: Now of course everyone knows that Fordham has a career center but oftentimes, it goes unnoticed by freshman. Do not let this happen! Get into the career center so you can get the most out of your limited time at Fordham.

Hopefully these locations on campus will help make Ramtown feel like your new hometown!

ORIENTATION

Page 6

August 28, 2016

Ten Must-Do’s For Your Freshman Year

By Cailin McKenna STAFF WRITER

1.

Explore your neighborhood New York is my campus, Fordham is my school. As you will quickly discover, the Big Apple has a lot to offer! Before venturing out and exploring the other four boroughs, take some time to discover your home for the next four years — the Bronx! Go for a stroll down Arthur Avenue and munch on some delicious Italian treats. Spend an afternoon in the Bronx Zoo or grab some friends and go for a walk through the fall leaves in the New York Botanical Gardens.

2.

Get involved

There are so many clubs at Fordham, ranging from dance troupes to literary publications to community service. It is a great way to meet people who share your interests and passions. Do not be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone and try something new.

Check out the fall club fair on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 3 p.m. on Edward’s Parade to learn more about getting involved on and off campus!

3.

Attend a program in your residence hall/commuter student lounge If you are living on campus, check out one of the programs, put on in your residence hall. Your Residential Life staff works hard to put together programs so make it a habit to attend them. You will even get to know the people you will be sharing a bathroom with for the next year a little better.

If you are a commuter student,

ANDREA GARCIA/THE FORDHAM RAM

Freshmen can explore the Bronx area and take a peaceful stroll in the New York Botanical Gardens, where Fordham students are admitted for free.

visit the commuter student lounge in the basement of McGinley to find out about upcoming social events. Or get involved with the annual Commuter Student Week planning.

4.

Connect roommate(s)

with

your

Living with a complete stranger (or strangers) may seem daunting at first but you will soon find that your roommate(s) will be some of your first friends at Fordham. The first few weeks will be a whirlwind so as you start to break off and form your own group of friends be sure to include your roommate(s).

And even when things are not always smooth, it is important to be open and communicate with your roommate(s) in order to resolve conflicts. Do not avoid confrontation since you will have to live together for the whole year.

5.

Take advantage of the resources available to you Do not let your first semester pass without a visit to Walsh Family Library. Knowing your way around the stacks and onl ine databases will come in handy over the next four years when you are cramming during finals week to get a paper done.

6.

Introduce yourself to your professors Make the most of Fordham’s small class sizes and get to know your professors or teachers’ assistants. Introduce yourself after class or stop by a professor’s office hours. This is a great opportunity to build connections for future mentorships or internships.

7.

Attend a Fordham athletic event Show your Fordham pride by

How To Turn Your New Roommate Into Your Best Friend For Life

By MIKE BYRNE NEWS EDITOR

Getting to know your new roommate can be a daunting task.

What if you say something that offends them? What if you are inconsiderate? What if you accidentally sleepwalk and crawl into bed with them?

It is usually a nice gesture to offer your roommate some of your food. I would recommend you leave some of your food out so that your roommate can take a bite if they want. Leave it out for a while because you do not know when they will get hungry and you want them to always have the option. Also, do not mention that the food is for them. That makes it seem like you are forcing them to eat it and they might feel undue pressure to eat it. You do not want to create that tension. It is even better if the food is extra potent so they can identify the scent. Try it with Chinese food or any fishbased meal.

Music is one of the things that connects all of us humans. A great way to show your roommate who you truly are is to play some of your favorite tunes. Do it when you know they are already in the concentrating zone — so they will be prepared to really absorb what you are showing them — like when they’re studying.

It is extremely rude to create bad vibes between you and you are roommate. If they do something bothersome, just do not even mention it. Just bottle up whatever anger or resentment you feel towards them. That way they won’t know how many times you dream of them in horrible pain.

It is nice to introduce your roommate to some of the people that you have met at school. Invite the people you have met around campus to your dorm so your roommate can get to know them. Invite as many people as you know. It does not matter that your dorm is the size of a closet.

Packing in everyone like sardines

will only enhance the experience.

Your roommate will appreciate you even more.

You and your roommate should be as close as siblings. And what

cheering on your fellow Rams at a sporting event. Do not miss out on the chance to watch this year’s Crusader Cup as the Fordham Rams take on Holy Cross at Yankee Stadium on Nov. 12!

8.

Plan ahead

So you have just moved in to your freshman dorm, but it’s never too late to start planning out exactly how you want the next four years to go. If you are undecided, try taking a variety of courses to see what peaks your interest. Attend a job, internship or study abroad fair so you know what opportunities will be available to you in the future and what you will need to do to take advantage of these opportunities.

own. That does not mean you can forget all about them because chances are they are bragging all about you back home. So give your parents something to brag about by calling them every now and then. You can fill them in on what class you are taking and what you are doing in your free time. It may even lead to fewer questions at Thanksgiving dinner.

10.

Challenge yourself

After you say goodbye to your parents on move-in day, you may finally feel like you are on your

For many, it is your first time away from home, but you will find that over the next four years Fordham will become a second home. This is the time to step out of your comfort zone. Whether you join an intramural sports team or a club you never thought you would, the next four years are entirely what you make them. So stay open-minded and challenge yourself to try new things. I promise that you will not regret it. Welcome to Fordham, Class of 2020!

do siblings do? They share things.

Feel free to take or use whatever your roommate has lying around.

You two need to be building a strong, lasting bond, and the only way to do that is to wear their jeans and use up all of their pens.

If you follow these tips there

should be no reason that you and your roommate do not become absolute best friends by the end of the year. If they do not want to speak to you or return your texts over the summer or during the next semester it is probably because they are still processing your amazing friendship.

9.

Call your parents

THE FORDHAM RAM ARCHIVES

Loschert Hall, one of Fordham’s freshmen dorms, may be the place where you begin a friendship that will last a lifetime.

ORIENTATION

August 28, 2016

Page 7

Apps and Websites to Help You Rock the School Year

By KRISTEN SANTER OPINION EDITOR

Let’s face it, everybody is on their laptops and phones all of the time. At least now you can get ready for the school year with these app and websites. All of the following are free, so there is no excuse to not download or use them.

Quizlet One of the fundamental basics. A lot of you probably used the digital flashcard website in high school, but those of you who did not should start now. A lot of the core classes cover your basic humanities and sciences, and Quizlet is there to help you get through all those biology terms.

It also comes as an app, so you can study for your tests on a subway ride home. Some contest that writing on flashcards helps them remember the terms better, but if you feel like saving money, paper and an awful hand cramp, Quizlet is your way to go.

Bibme Again, like Quizlet, many of you probably used Bibme during high school. Professors are a bit more stringent than your high school teachers when it comes to citations, so Bibme will become your best friend. Once arriving at the website, you simply pick your style guide and fill in the information of your source. Some sources can be filled in automatically if they are available in the search option. It is also quick and easy if you find yourself waiting until the

last minute to finish your paper, and there will definitely be times like that.

Qup A perfect app for parties or hanging out in your dorm with friends. If one of you has a Spotify Premium account, you can create playlists to which all of your friends can contribute. The person with the Spotify Premium account simply creates a playlist, and your friends can connect to the playlist via bluetooth and then add as many songs as they want.

That way the one person with bad

music taste will never be stuck with all the song choices.

Venmo At the beginning of the year, you will find yourself going out with a bunch of different people.

Money is always a tricky situation to navigate and you do not want to be that friend that never pays anything back. Venmo is a great app that allows you to transfer money to different people, even if they have accounts in different banks. So the next time someone buys you a slice of Pugsley’s after a long night, you can easily pay

them back.

gawking at the map on the subway wall like a tourist.

NYC Subway Everyone needs to get a subway app once you move to Fordham, since the Metro North is too expensive and only provides limited service. Any sort of subway app will do, but NYC Subway is one of the best. It helps you figure out your route from your door to your destination. The app also lets you know the service status of all the trains and has a handy map that you can view without service.

That way you can sneakily figure out where you are going without

Polish My Writing Type in this website and you will be directed to a writing checker.

Viewing spelling, style and grammar, Polish My Writing offers suggestions and ways to improve your writing, as well as double checking any mistakes you might have made. You will encounter a lot of writing heavy classes during your core curriculum, and if you do not consider writing your strong suit, Polish My Writing can help make a big difference.

Not a Major Deal: Why You Shouldn’t Sweat Declaring Your Major

By MARGARITA ARTOGLOU OPINION EDITOR

If you are a freshman, you probably spent the past summer telling people which university you are attending (“No, not Florida”) and how excited you are to finally be done with high school.

You probably also had to field the “What’s your major?” what seemed like a thousand times, particularly if you are coming in undeclared. While your wellmeaning family members and friends were not trying to stress you out, picking a major can be a huge source of anxiety for new college students, especially when it seems like everyone around you has their entire career planned out.

Choosing a major should not be cause for panic. First of all, you have time. Fordham does not require you to declare a major until the second semester of your sophomore year, which allows you ample opportunity to take a variety of classes and partake in campus activities to discover what you might be interested in. If you have some sort of idea about what you want to major in, it would be a good idea to join some related clubs or activities. Fordham has so many organizations and publications that span many differ-

FORDHAM RAM ARCHIVES

ent interests, including science, business and the liberal arts. And of course, if you think that journalism might be your thing, the Fordham Ram is always looking for contributors! Club fairs are held at the beginning of each semester and are the perfect opportunity to explore the many options available to you on and off campus.

However, even if you have ab-

solutely no clue what you are interested in, Fordham’s core curriculum does a good job of introducing students to several different areas of study. If you take a class you really love at some point this year, you might want to sign up for another offered by the same department. The classes you truly enjoy are the ones that will point you in the right direction when it comes to figuring out your major.

A lot of the stress that goes into choosing a major is related to a different, larger choice. Many students believe that when you choose a major, you choose a career path for life. I think that this could not be further from the truth.

First, many students end up in professional fields that were not directly related to their major.

The U.S. Bureau of the Census

reported that only 27.3 percent of college graduates in the workforce were working at jobs related to their degrees.

Second, on average, people change careers three times over their lifetimes, according to New York University. It is totally normal to have a change of heart about your career — even people who begin college knowing what major they would like to declare will probably change their major or their career field at some point. So you should not feel like you will be shackled to whatever choice you ultimately end up making.

If you are interested in a certain field, but think that there are no jobs hiring in that field, do not despair. You might want to do a little research, though. Each department can offer you information about internships and jobs that their students and graduates end up pursuing — and of course, you can do some research on your own. You might be surprised at all the wide variety of careers and jobs afforded by a particular degree.

So if you have been feeling really nervous about declaring, take a deep breath. You still have plenty of time and opportunities to discover your passion.

ORIENTATION

Page 8

August 28, 2016

The Best Places to Shop In The Fordham Area

By ELIZABETH SMISLOVA CULTURE EDITOR

The Best Off-Campus Deli: Simon’s Deli: Simon’s is one of the closest food places off-campus that offers a multitude of options on the health spectrum. Its salad bar is stocked with enough choices to make a pile of lettuce surprisingly delicious and filling. The subs, milkshakes and breakfast sandwiches are amazing, especially because Simon’s delivers. There is nothing better than getting a bacon-egg-and-cheese with a coffee without going outside.

Best Coffee and Dessert: Morrone Pastry Shop & Café: Morrone is the epitome of an Italian pastry shop, with a case of treats that takes over the café. The cappuccinos are perfect, and there is no wrong choice when picking a dessert. The boxes of assorted cookies are also a crowd-pleaser, either for something at Fordham or when brought home on break.

Best Shopping: T.J. Maxx: There are not a lot of shopping options around Fordham, but T.J. Maxx has a little bit of everything, and at a great price. It is a great op-

tion for dorm supplies you forgot to pack, but beware: a 10-minute shopping trip can easily turn into two hours. This is partially due long lines, but mostly credited to the abundance of things you did not know you needed.

American Eagle / Gap: Up Fordham Road, on the way to the subway, there are a few chain stores, like American Eagle and The Gap, that can provide convenient retail therapy without breaking the bank.

Best Buy: Located at the corner of East Fordham Road and Webster Avenue across the street from the Metro North towards the subway, Best Buy is great for any technology you might need. It is nearby and has good prices for things like printers and laptops.

Best of Food Shopping: Modern Market: Located about three blocks down Arthur Avenue from East Fordham Road, Modern Market satisfies most food shopping needs. Do note that it does not have a lot of personal care items, so it is best to go the drugstores off campus for things like shampoo and deodorant.

ANDREA GARCIA/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham’s location in the Bronx offers a wide variety of shops without the train ride to Manhattan.

Arthur Avenue Market: Located about four blocks down Arthur Avenue, the Arthur Avenue Market is a large space with virtually everything you could want: a small café with pastries, a butcher, a place that sells amazing pizza and pasta, Italian food products, fruits and vegetables and the infamous Beer Hall bar. The Market has a genuine

Italian feel that promises great food.

Best Drugstores: Walgreen’s: Walgreen’s is across from the Metro North stop, so it is a convenient place to get almost anything you would need ASAP. During the holidays it is full of fun and festive things to make your dorm feel like

home. The pharmacy is also useful to pick up medicine sent from home.

Rite Aid: Rite Aid has everything Walgreen’s does, but on the other side of campus. It is all the way down Arthur Avenue, and can be less crowded and cleaner than Walgreen’s.

Editors’ Picks: Clubs To Join (Other Than The Ram) patchers.

-Kristen Santer Global Outreach When you become a member of a Global Outreach, or GO!, team, you become a member of a family. You get the opportunity to travel to a new place and understand a community that is potentially very different from the one in which you grew up.

Last semester, my team and I traveled to New Orleans, where we stayed at a healing and housing center for HIV-positive individuals and learned about their experiences, as well as the culture of the city as a whole. Global Outreach teaches you to fundraise and plan.

It also teaches you to build a community and live in the moment, something that can be difficult to do during the stressfulness of the semester.

-Margarita Artoglou

ANDREA GARCIA/THE FORDHAM RAM

The mutlitude of clubs at Fordham ensure that there is always something exciting happening on campus.

WAC Bingo WAC Bingo is a fun and slightly silly Sunday night ritual that helps get you ready for the upcoming month of school. Campus Activity’s Board’s Weekend Activities Committee throws a school-wide bingo game in Keating First with prizes ranging from bookstore fare to gift cards for Arthur Avenue restaurants.

It is fun to play to win (although I never seem to), but the

atmosphere is so light and joyful that you will have a good time either way. Get a consistent group together once a month for Sunday night dinners, Game of Thrones and WAC Bingo, and it will quickly become one of your favorite college traditions.

-Cate Carrejo Ram Van Driver If you find yourself low on cash, becoming a Ram Van driver is the

way to go. Assuming that you have a clean driving record and are decent behind the wheel, driving a Ram Van is effortless. Being able to drive a 14-passenger van in New York City is also a great skill to have, and it is the highest-paid student job offered on campus.

You also get some awesome perks to boot: not only do you get free Ram Van rides whenever you want, you also make good friends with the other drivers and dis-

Residence Halls Association Residence Halls Association, or RHA, is the student governmental body representing residents living in on-campus housing. RHA serves as a legitimate way to not only cultivate a sense of community in the dorm rooms, but also express concerns, grievances and the like to administration regarding on-campus housing. Through RHA, each dorm’s board holds programs and fundraisers and, in doing so, encourages friendships throughout the residence halls.

It is a spectacular way to form friendships and connections that can help with one’s social and professional life.

-Theresa Schliep

React to Film Do you like watching thoughtprovoking documentaries while eating snacks and discussing your thoughts with fellow students? If the answer is yes, React to Film is the club for you. Fordham’s chapter of this nationwide nonprofit shows free films to students and faculty four times throughout the school year.

Last year’s titles ranged from The Hunting Ground to 3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets. Every screening promotes audience members to recognize social injustices throughout the world and spark change through conversation and civic engagement. Get a group of friends together to experience all that this impactful organization has to offer.

-Bailey Hosfelt WFUV (Audio Dept.)

When I came to Fordham, I knew the university was home to one of the best radio stations in the entire city, WFUV. I was obsessed with the station’s music programs in high school and joined the audio engineering department as soon as possible in my freshman year.

It is an amazing way to learn the technical aspect of music production and watch live performances of the bands that come into the station such as Mumford and Sons or Father John Misty. There are so many different departments to work in at WFUV. The audio engineering department has taught me so much about an underappreciated aspect of creating music.

-Mike Byrne

ADVERTISEMENT

August 28, 2016

FREE Microsoft Office 365 Online for Students

Page 9

IT Support Resources IT Team Back-to-School Support fordham.edu/STS

Watch TV with Philo and HBO GO!

Microsoft Imagine g Academy y Tech Help Tab My.Fordham.edu

Remote Printing On Campus Resident Technology Consultants fordham.edu/RTC

Google Consumer Apps @FordhamRTC Fordham Resident Technology Consultants

Help Wanted! Work for Fordham IT

IT Customer Care fordham.edu/HelpIT

fordham.edu/ITJobOpportunities

@FordhamIT itnews.blog.fordham.edu

fordhamram.com

ORIENTATION

Page 10

August 28, 2016

Soccer, Cross Country Highlight Fall Season

FROM PAGE 1, FALL

Football Fordham Football may have a new face, but things should stay relatively the same in the 2016 season.

The biggest news in football this offseason was the departure of head coach Joe Moorhead to Penn State to become their offensive coordinator. Rather than look for outside help, offensive coordinator Andrew Breiner was promoted to the head coaching gig.

Outside of losing Moorhead, the Rams last a few cogs on both sides of the ball to graduation. Offensive lineman Garrick Mayweather Jr. will be sorely be missed, as his skill is evident in the fact that he seems to be making a good case for his inclusion on the roster of the Kansas City Chiefs. On the other side of the ball, Stephen Hodge was a force at linebacker, seemingly involved in every stop made by the Rams.

Despite losing these key players the Rams still seem poised to return to the FCS playoffs once again, and possibly get themselves back on top of the Patriot League, which they last won in 2014, after coming up just short in 2015.

The Rams are returning the majority of their starters at the offensive skill positions. Senior quarterback Kevin Anderson was one of the most prolific passers in the FCS last season, finishing seventh in the league in passing yards with 3183 yards and third in passing touchdowns with 32 – the latter of which led the Patriot League. Junior running back Chase Edmonds finished the season fourth in the FCS Offensive Player of the Year voting, and was named preseason Patriot League offensive player of the year this offseason and an FCS preseason All-American. Both were named to the FCS National Player of the Year Trophy Watch List. In fact, Fordham was one of only two players with multiple members on the watch list, joining defending champ North Dakota State.

The Rams are also returning their top four pass catchers in graduate student tight end Phazan Odom, sophomore wideouts Corey Caddle and Austin Longi, and senior Robbie Cantelli.

While the Rams lost their two leading tacklers in Hodge and JQ Bowers, junior linebacker Niko Thorpe (third in tackles with 78) and senior linebacker George Dawson (fourth, 65) will serve as the anchors of the defense. On the defensive line, the Rams will turn to senior defensive lineman Manny Adeyeye for both his skill – he had 33 tackles including six for a loss last season – and leadership on that side of the ball.

The Rams start their season on the road against their lone FBS opponent, the United States Naval Academy. The Rams open their season at home on September 10th against Elizabeth City State University, with Homecoming the following weekend against UPenn. Fordham’s first Patriot League game will be at home on October 8th against Lafayette. Their biggest game of the season, the Ram-Crusader Cup at Yankee Stadium against Holy

Cross, is on November 12th.

— Jack McLoone

Women’s Soccer

The Fordham women’s soccer team will be out for revenge this season. A year ago, the Rams made it to the final game of the Atlantic 10 Championship, but they lost to the Duquesne Dukes, who scored in the 77th minute to take a lead they would not relinquish.

Their keeper, Vanessa Perdomo, had eight saves, denying Fordham of what would have been an unexpected conference title.

While the Rams would love to build on that success and win this year, it will not be an easy task.

The top two in points from last year’s team, Jessica Widmann and Kristina Maksuti, are absent from this year’s roster.

“Losing Jess and Tina, not only as players, but leaders, certainly is impactful,” said head coach Jessica Clinton. “As stats show, they were our leading goal scorers; however, we have a great group of returning players and new first-years stepping up and playing a terrific role already.”

The top returner is junior midfielder Carlie Wagner, who made three goals and three assists last season. Senior forward Nicol Natale also scored multiple goals in 2015.

The team’s chances will be bolstered by a strong recruiting class — it includes Shannon Burns, Morgan Busacca, Brittany DeBole, Kelly LaMorte, Juliana Mascelli, Amanda Miller and Margaret Roughley. Every one of these players earned numerous accolades on the high school level, with Busacca, a midfielder and defender, earning All-American honors last year. They will be joined by sophomore midfielder Clara Gastaldi, a transfer from the University of Georgia.

Clinton identified Busacca, Mascelli, Miller and Roughley as freshmen who will see immediate playing time this season. The Rams also have a quality goalkeeper in senior Megan Fitzgerald and will get strong leadership from senior tri-captains Nicole Bates, Ally Doyle and Turner Block. Despite being hit hard by the departure of last year’s class, this is a team with some upside.

With a pair of games in Chicago last week, Fordham’s season has already started. The Rams will play their first home game on Sunday, Sept. 4 against the Manhattan Lady Jaspers.

— Sam Belden

Men’s Soccer

The 2016 Men’s Soccer team will look to build on their successes from last season. The Rams compiled a record of 7-8-4 on the year, going 4-3-1 in conference.

They made a splash in the postseason by making it to the semifinals of the Atlantic-10 Tournament before losing to Virginia Commonwealth University in heartbreaking fashion by a score of 1-0.

ANDREA GARCIA/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham Football’s season will get underway on September.

Head coach Jim McElderry was pleased with his team’s postseason run, saying, “Last year it took a while to get going, but eventually our guys played very well and were disappointed to fall short of the A-10 Championship match.”

The young Rams have a lot to look forward to this season. They are returning four All-Conference players. Sophomore midfielder Janos Loebe, who was named the A-10 Rookie of the Year and First Team All A-10 last season, will look to take the Rams into the future alongside his brother, junior midfielder Jannik, who earned Second Team All A-10 honors himself. Junior defender Matthew Lewis also earned Second Team All A-10 honors for his role in helping the Rams pitch seven shutouts on the year. “Matt Lewis, Jannike Loebe and Janos Loebe are key to our success,” McElderry said. “Along with those three, we have two seniors in Ole Sandness and Andy Hickey who provide great leadership and game experience.”

The men will play four home and four away games as part of their non-conference schedule, which will culminate in a game against rival Columbia University on Jack Coffey Field on Sept. 23.

The Rams will then play their in-conference schedule with the hope of outdoing their 2015 season. They will take the home field on Sept. 2 against Quinnipiac.

Conference play begins Oct. 1 as the Rams take on the George Washington Colonials in Washington, D.C. McElderry is not worried about his team losing focus and looking too far ahead on the schedule, saying “Our current junior and senior classes have experienced an A-10 Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, so they are aware of the level needed to be successful. I am confident this group will take one game at a time.”

— Pat Costello

Cross Country

Head Coach Tom Dewey is entering his 36th year at Fordham, and will attempt to lead his team to bigger and better places than last season.

Last season Dewey saw the men’s team win its fifth Metropolitan Championship in the last eight years, with the women’s team finished with the silver medal for the second year in a row as well. Standout performers for both teams included junior Thomas Slattery, who came in fourth with a time of 26:45.9, and junior Stephanie Leo, who came in 10th with a time of 19:31.2.

Slattery went on to earn All Atlantic 10 honors at the A-10 Championships with a career best time of 24:56.2, 20 seconds faster than his previous time. Slattery and Leo will look to lead their teams during the upcoming season, which will prove to be a tough one.

The Rams open their season with the Fordham Fiasco/Ed Joyce Memorial on Sept. 10, an event that the men’s team won last year, while the women’s team came in second. The team will then have two away meets before the Metropolitan Championships will take place on Oct. 7 at Van Cortlandt Park. The final home race of the year, the ECAC/IC4A Championships, will take place on Nov. 19. The NCAA Championships will be taking place at the same time for any Ram that qualifies. With the team shaping up to be better than last year, nothing is too far out of reach.

— Pat Costello

Volleyball

The Volleyball team struggled last season accumulating an 8-23 record, 2-12 in the Atlantic 10.

While most programs would consider that a down season, the Rams actually are beginning to look up, with their record last season coming in the shadow of a 3-25 record the season before.

Head coach Gini Ullery is attempting to right the ship, and has put numerous key pieces in place

in an attempt to do so. The Rams roster is full of young talent, mixed in with some veteran players, who should all be able to get the team back on track. “We are hungry.

We are willing to do whatever we need to as a unit to make our mark this season,” Ullery said. “We are working towards our goals daily and the team is well aware it takes focus and inner drive every single time we step in the gym to help us accomplish what we want this season.”

Sophomore Natalie Martinez is the Ram to watch in 2016. As a freshman, Martinez speared in all 31 matches, leading the Rams in service aces with 45. Following her breakout season Martinez competed across Europe with the USA Athletes International team.

The 10 player team competed against teams from Germany, Austria and Italy. Martinez will look to carry her success from last season over to this year, and lead the Rams towards double digit wins for the first time since 2013. “[She] was our lead attacker last season and she has become a more versatile player. She is smarter and with her experience last season it should help her create opportunities for the team.”

The ladies will play four tournaments, as well as a few matches before conference play begins.

The first in-conference match will take place on Sept 23 against LaSalle at 7 p.m.

— Pat Costello

Water Polo

Fordham Men’s Water Polo will come into 2016 looking to build upon an overall solid 2015 season.

In 2015, the Rams went 20-15, and ended the season with a ninth place finish at the CWPA Championship.

The Rams lost ten players to graduation, which makes 2016 a rebuilding year. The Rams lost some major goal scoring, including Andrew Gonzalez (second in goals with 45), Patrick Lenihan (third, 43) and Bobby Wurtz and Patrick Reyes (tied for fifth, 30).

Having lost so many seniors, finding new leadership is going to be a focal point for the Rams.

“Our captains, [senior] RJ Simmons and [junior] Ethan Vandeventer are talented players and team leaders in and out of the water,” said head coach Bill Harris.

“Both were strong contributors last season and will help us regroup as the team has seven new additions.”

Simmons was the leading scorer for Fordham last season, leading the team in goals and assists with 61 and 47, respectively. “RJ Simmons is a standout for our squad on both offense and defense,” said Harris. “He will get special attention from our competition.”

It will be a tough road for the Rams, especially due to a schedule Coach Harris describes as having “no soft games”, but Harris has his steady hands on the reigns of a young Fordham team that still has plenty of talent, new and old.

— Jack McLoone

SPORTS

August 28, 2016

Page 11

Spring Squads Point to a Promising Future FROM PAGE 12, SPRING

Neubauer was the orchestrater of Fordham’s quick rebuild. His aggressive style of defense was often the source of the Rams’ success, but when it was not carried out successfully, they faltered.

While Neubauer was a vital part to the 2015-16 success, the onus was obviously on the players, and they stepped up in a major way. Seniors Mandell Thomas and Ryan Rhoomes were forces for the Rams. Rhoomes led the way with 14.6 points per game and 9.7 rebounds and Mandell Thomas averaged 12.3 points and led the A-10 in steals per game. However, they are off to France and Estonia, respectively, to play pro ball.

That leads the Rams in the hands of rising sophomore Joseph Chartouny and rising senior Antwoine Anderson. Chartouny was named A-10 Rookie of the Year after averaging 11.3 points per game. He also led the entire A-10 in assists per game with 6.1. Anderson was a sparkplug for the Rams, most evident in his Sportscenter Top 10 play that gave the Rams a victory in their final game of the season against University of Rhode Island.

After falling to the Richmond Spiders for the third time that season in the A-10 Championship tournament, the Rams played in the Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament. The Rams lost in the first round to Boston University.

Fordham ended the season with a 17-14 record, including 14-5 at home.

— Jack McLoone

Women’s Basketball While it failed to recapture its A-10 Tournament-winning form from recent years, the Fordham women’s basketball team had some success last season. Led by head coach Stephanie Gaitley, the team held its own against a strong slate of competitors and won a postseason game before falling to third-seeded Duquesne in the conference quarterfinals.

The Rams went 8-8 against A-10 opponents, with a 14-17 overall record. Things were going well enough at the start of conference play, but they dropped three of their last four to fall to the sixth seed heading into the tournament. A season-ending injury to sophomore forward G’mrice Davis dealt a big blow to Gaitley’s rotation down the stretch.

Still, there were definite highlights during the campaign. On February 3, Fordham knocked off George Washington, the eventual A-10 champions, in a thrilling game in the Rose Hill Gym. Junior forward Danielle Burns dropped 31 points to carry her team to the victory. One month later, the Rams outlasted a surprisingly tough Massachusetts squad in the first round of the A-10 Tournament, winning 73-62 in overtime.

Senior forward Samantha Clark was the team’s leader. The New Jersey native averaged career highs across the board and led the team in minutes, points, rebounds, blocks and steals, good enough to earn Second Team All-Atlantic 10 and A-10 All-Defensive Team honors.

After Clark, the scoring load was evenly distributed among the rest of the starting lineup. Burns, Davis and junior guard Hannah Missry all averaged between 9.5 and 10 points per game, with Burns reaching double digits in 10 consecutive games to close out the season. In addition, freshman guard Lauren Holden averaged over six points per game and gained valuable experience as a floor general in her first year at the collegiate level.

With much of last year’s starting lineup returning to Rose Hill this season, as well as the longawaited addition of transfers Tiffany Suarez and Nicole Floyd, the future looks bright for this Fordham team. It will return to action this fall in hopes of bringing the A-10 title back to Rose Hill.

— Sam Belden

Swimming The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams dove into the 2015-2016 season knowing they had some of the best swimmers in the conference. On the men’s side, senior Steve Sholdra had a season to be remembered.

He finished his Fordham career in style, earning team MVP honors. Sholdra earned the recognition through his dominance throughout the season, which culminated in a stellar performance at the A-10 Championships. Sholdra won the 400m individual medley with a time of 3:51.75 and the 200m butterfly with a time of 1:47.10. Both times were Fordham records, with the 200m-butterfly time being an Atlantic 10 record as well. He also came in third in the 500m freestyle, securing the bronze with a school-record time of 4:26.20. For his unbelievable performance, Sholdra was named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team.

Not to be outdone, junior Megan Polaha had an impressive season of her own. Polaha also won team MVP, while earning three All-Atlantic 10 nods at the A-10 Championships. She won the 200m IM with a time of 2:00.85 and the 200 butterfly in 1:58.46, setting school records in both events and an A-10 record in the 200m butterfly. Polaha also set the school record in the 400m IM with a time of 4:16.55, which garnered her Second Team All A-10 honors.

The aquatic Rams will look to piggyback on the success of last year in their upcoming season.

— Pat Costello

Tennis Men’s Tennis came into its

THE RAM ARCHIVES

The outdoor track squad posted a number of quality finishes last spring.

2015-2016 season seeking major improvement over their previous season, where they went just 3-13. They certainly accomplished it, winning 10 of their final 11 matches en route to a 14-7 record before falling in the first round of the A-10 Championship tournament to Saint Joseph’s University.

The Rams had six 10-game winners, including a 12-game winner in then-sophomore Joseph Kavaloski. Another standout was then-freshman Victor Li, a two-time A-10 Rookie of the Week, who compiled a 10-3 record, primarily in second singles.

Fordham dominated most of its matches wins down the stretch, including a 7-0 victory over Drew University, 6-1 over Rider, 7-0 over University of Hartford, 6-1 over St. Francis Brooklyn and 7-1 over Rockland.

Fordham entered the A-10 Championship tournament as the 11th seed. They fell 4-0 to the St. Joseph’s Hawks, though three Rams players were up in their singles matches when the Hawks pushed the Rams past the point of no return.

Overall, the Rams season can be marked as a success, and with strong contributions from Li, Kavaloski and then-juniors Tomas Cosmai and Nick Borak, can look towards similar success next spring.

Meanwhile, Fordham Women’s Tennis continued its run of double-digit wins under head coach Bette-Ann Speliotis Liguori. It was Speliotis Liguori’s fifth season as Rams head coach, all of which have seen the Rams win at least 10 matches. This season, the Rams went 12-7, including a five-match winning-streak from February 28 to March 22.

Then-junior Destiny Grunin was named team MVP after amassing a 16-8 singles record, along with a 15-14 doubles record. However, even more impressive may have been the play of classmate Mayu Sato. Her 21-7 singles record and 23-7 doubles record, the majority of which for both came in the first position, led the Rams. She was 8-2 in tournament singles matches as well.

Then-junior Hannah Drayton had her most success in doubles, where she was usually paired

with Sato in first doubles. The pair had a 10-3 record together.

She was also 12-10 in singles play.

Despite the strong showing in the regular season, the Rams were unable to keep up their success in the Atlantic 10 Championship tournament. They entered as the eight seed, but they fell to nine seed Dayton 4-3 in the first round.

— Jack McLoone .

Track (Outdoor) The men’s and women’s track teams generated a large amount of success last season. Sophomore Brian Cook and graduate student Jonathan Annelli led the way on the men’s side, qualifying for the 3000m steeplechase at the NCAA Regionals. Cook took 35th place while Annelli came in just behind at 38th. Earlier in the season Annelli turned in the second fastest 3000m steeplechase time in school history, running it in a blistering 8:58.8, 16 seconds off of the Pat Lavery’s school record of 8:42.9 set in 1989.

Two weeks before his run at the NCAA Regionals, Cook took third at the IC4A Championship, running a season best of 8:52.11 and taking the second place record away from his teammate.

Both men also received Academic All-American honors from the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association.

The women’s team showed great promise as well. The 4x800 relay team of sophomore Merissa Wright, senior Danielle Rowe, junior Shanna Heaney and freshman Kate McCormack showed off their skills at the Penn Relays, turning in their season best time of 9:00.80. The time they turned in was 15 seconds faster than their previous season best, and earned them a sixth place finish overall.

The men and women’s teams will look to build upon their success going into next season.

— Pat Costello

Rowing Fordham Rowing celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2015, and the team performed admirably throughout its centennial.

The first Varsity 8 started the spring season strong by winning the petite final at the San Diego

Crew Classic by just 0.3 seconds.

They finished in the top three in their next two races as well, the Knecht Cup Regatta and the Kerr Cup. The Rams then went to the Atlantic 10 Championship, were they placed third, matching their best all-time finish at the championship.

Fordham Rowing was not done yet, however. They went on to the Dad Vail Regatta, where the Varsity 8 finished fourth and just missed out on third by less than 0.3 of a second.

Their final meet of the season was at the IRA National Championship Regatta. Their only entered boat was the lightweight 4, which came in second in the petite final.

Three Rams were named to All-Conference teams at the end of the season. Then-seniors Fiona Murtagh and Ashley Hawkesworth were named First Team All-Conference, and then-junior Maura O’Donnell was named to the Second Team.

— Jack McLoone

Golf The Fordham golf team enjoyed a strong spring campaign.

Led by sophomores Matt Schiller and Joseph Trim, the Rams won their first event in nearly four years at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of the Lehigh Valley Collegiate Invitational back in April. Less than a month later, the team notched a fifth-place finish at the A-10 Championship.

Trim, now a junior, thinks that the team’s recent success can be a big factor in its performance this fall. “Golf is a game of confidence, and knowing we can play well is imperative to actually playing well and posting good scores,” he said. “We hope to build off of that and continue forward with the season we had last year.”

Schiller and Trim will be joined by seniors Oscar Cabanas, Fernando Morett and Hugh Lagrotteria; junior James Mongey and sophomores Tommy Hayes, Josh Madarang, Kyle Morris and Zach Watterson. The team’s first event of the season, the Ryan Lee Memorial Tournament, kicks off on Sept. 12.

— Sam Belden

SPORTS

Page 12

August 28, 2016

The Fordham Ram

A Look Back at Varsity Spring Sports Baseball

The 2016 season was a good one for Fordham Baseball. While the Rams fell short of their ultimate goal of winning the conference championship, they did manage to qualify for the Atlantic 10 Tournament for the third straight year. Playing in front of a hometown crowd, they bested the Saint Louis Billikens in a slugfest in the first round before dropping consecutive games on the second day, including a heartbreaker against Saint Joseph’s, to finish the season.

The Rams’ biggest contributor was probably graduate student Ryan McNally, who enjoyed a spectacular season in his final year of eligibility.

The outfielder hit 11 home runs — seven more than anyone else on the team — and led the team in RBIs, runs scored, total bases and slugging percentage. He also stole 15 bases in 23 attempts, making him a danger on the basepaths as well as at the plate.

Other important offensive pieces included senior second baseman Joey Runco and junior outfielder Mark Donadio. Runco delivered in his final season as a Fordham Ram, batting .278 and stealing 20 bases.

He hit .417 with five runs scored and a pair of doubles at the A-10 Tournament, good for an All-Championship designation. Donadio led the team with a .306 average and knocked in 34 runs, earning Second Team All A-10 honors.

The Fordham pitchers were also a big reason for the team’s success.

Sophomore Ben Greenberg missed some time due to injury but was effective when available, posting a 2.83 ERA in 57.1 innings. Junior Kirk Haynes Jr. also delivered some highlights, earning A-10 Pitcher of the Week honors on two occasions

and tying a school record with 30 consecutive scoreless innings. In addition, a pair of Fordham hurlers were selected in the MLB draft in June — junior Greg Weissert was chosen by the New York Yankees in the 18th round, while senior Joseph Serrapica was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 24th round.

While the Rams’ core players rose to the occasion, some of the team’s younger pieces also excelled in the spotlight. Notably, catcher Justin Bardwell and pitcher Reiss Knehr were named to the A-10 All-Rookie Team, giving Fordham plenty of hope for the future.

While the Rams failed to seal the deal with a conference title, they once again gained valuable postseason experience. With a few breaks, this team could be a favorite to win it all in 2017.

— Sam Belden

Softball

The softball team entered the 2016 season with high hopes and even

Compiled by The Ram’s Sports Editors higher expectations. The Rams were in pursuit of their fourth straight Atlantic 10 title, and their fifth in six years. Under the tutelage of head coach Bridget Orchard, the Rams were able to go 39-21 during the regular season, posting an unbelievable 15-2 record at home. The women were able to carry their momentum into the postseason and went 4-1, including a 5-1 win over Saint Joseph’s to win the A-10 Championship.

The plethora of key players returning to the field helped the Rams tremendously on their path to success. Graduate pitcher Rachel Gillen returned to the circle and effortlessly compiled a 3.67 ERA over 177 innings. Gillen made her presence felt throughout the majority of the season, evidenced by the 17 complete games she tossed for the year. The other primary pitcher for the Rams,

junior Lauren Quense, returned with her best season on the rubber to date, during which she collected 17 wins in 40 appearances with a 3.32 ERA. The surprise star of the circle was junior Lindsay Mayer, who stepped up during the tail end of the season after Gillen went down with a thumb injury. Mayer impressed by winning in each of her six appearances, posting a 3.42 ERA with 42 strikeouts. While her ability in the circle was incredible, it was Mayer’s hitting that set her apart from the rest of the league. She hit an incredible .343, fourth highest on the team, with four home runs and 43 RBIs. Her incredible play earned her A-10 Player of the Year accolades.

While the pitchers were stupendous for the Rams, it is the batters who have to score the runs, a task which they were more than capable of handling. Five separate Rams hit over .300 for the year, including a mammoth .361 from sophomore Madison Shaw. Shaw also bashed 10 home runs and amassed a .646 slug-

By ANTHONY PUCIK, DREW CASEY, & SAM BELDEN SPORTS EDITOR

RAM ARCHIVES

ging percentage, the ninth highest in program history. Her monumental season earned her a First Team All-Conference spot in just her second season with the Rams. Junior Sydney Canessa also earned AllConference honors, posting a .346 batting average with 11 home runs.

Freshman infielder Jessica Hughes garnered A-10 Rookie of the year honors after stealing a Fordham record of 36 bases, as well as hitting .352 for the year. The Rams will look to match their successes from last year once spring comes around.

— Pat Costello

Men’s Basketball

More often than not, a sub-.500 record in conference play is a negative for a sports program. For Fordham Men’s Basketball, however, it was a sign that new head coach Jeff Neubauer was already making significant improvements to a Rams squad that went 4-14 in Atlantic 10 play in the 2014-15 season under Tom Pecora.

While the Rams lost Neubauer’s first game as head coach, an away game at University of Texas at Arlington, they showed that they were not to be messed with at home.

Fordham won its next nine games, all at home, including blowouts of rivals Manhattan College (87-64) and St. John’s University (73-57).

The Rams scuffled a bit in the difficult A-10. In conference, six of Fordham’s losses in conference play came against teams that qualified for either the NCAA Tournament (Saint Joseph’s, Dayton and Virginia Commonwealth) or the National Invitational Tournament (St. Bonaventure, Davidson and George Washington), as they lost twice to St. Joe’s.

Women’s basketball finished last season with a 14-17 overall record.

SEE PAGE 11, SPRING

Forget Grades, You Want the Shirt: Your Guide to Intramurals

By MIKE CAVANAUGH FORMER ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Whether you are a former high school athlete with the urge to continue competing, or you have little-tono athletic experience, the intramural sports program should be on your Fordham to-do list. I can honestly tell you that, outside of intramurals, there is nowhere else that you can have an inordinate amount of fun losing 8-0 with your ragtag team of friends who have no experience in the sport for which you registered.

The intramural program here at Fordham is divided into three seasons which has its own set of sports.

During the fall, students are given the opportunity to form teams with their friends and compete in soccer, flag football, softball and kickball.

These sports are all co-ed, though in the past the intramural soccer program has offered men’s league games, which flag football currently does. Of these sports, soccer, softball and kickball are typically offered again during the spring season.

During the winter intramural season, a new set of sports are offered to This article previously appeared in last year’s orientation issue.

students: basketball (both co-rec and men’s league, the latter of which is divided into the A and B league), volleyball and dodgeball. While basketball and volleyball tend to be numerically more popular, few things compare to the excitement of hurling rubber projectiles at other students while necessarily exchanging Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story references.

As the individual who usually organizes the intramural teams within my group of friends, I will help you out by letting you know now that it will be exceedingly difficult to actually put together a team, even more so the first time around. Like most schools, Fordham’s intramural program recently began to use IMLeagues, the intramural sport website, as its electronic medium. If you are the lucky individual organizing your team, you will need to make sure that all of your teammates not only register on IMLeagues, but that they also join the team that you will have to create within the Fordham University Intramural page. Author’s note: the name of your team is the most important thing about intramural sports. You can be the worst team on the field/court/pitch, but if you have a great team name, you will win the respect of the teams who domi-

nate you. There is also a deadline for these sign-up processes, so annoy your friends as much as possible via facebook and text, or in person, until your roster is locked in — after that, all you have to do is wait for the season’s game schedule to be released.

There is admittedly one downside to the intramural program, and that lies in the time of the games. By sheer luck of the draw, your team, should you manage to put one together,

will be scheduled to play some time between 7 p.m and 11 p.m. This will inevitably lead to one or more of your teammates being unable to attend at least one of your scheduled games because of class, homework or because they already fell asleep, so be sure to have some substitutes on your roster. That being said, that one hour each weeknight that you spend with your friends can very easily end up being the highlight of your week, so

do not let the late games scare you away from participating.

When all is said and done, I cannot recommend intramural sports enough — they are an all-too-necessary break from the monotony of a rigorous week of school. But even more than that, they are also another way to build on friendships early on in your freshman year, and that is something that you cannot take for granted.

KATE DOHENY/THE FORDHAM RAM

Intramurals are a great way to have fun and get some excerise while scratching that competitive itch.