Volume 101 Issue 22

The Fordham Ram Volume 101, Issue 22

Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 FordhamRam.com

December 4, 2019

Albania Earthquake Affects BX Community

Fordham Student Reflects on HK Protests

By TERESA SKURTAJ

By HELEN STEVENSON NEWS EDITOR

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Stevie Cortez, FCLC ’21, studied abroad in Hong Kong this semester through an exchange program with the City University of Hong Kong.

During her time there, between her international studies and political science classes, she became actively involved as a journalist and later a protestor in the fight for democracy.

Pro-democracy and anti-government protests in Hong Kong began in June after a controversial extradition bill that would have allowed extradition of fugitives to mainland China. Protestors argued it infringed on the rights of people in Hong Kong since the city has its own legal and political systems.

Cortez said she first heard of the protests in a mall by her Hong Kong dorm. She heard people in the mall chanting and handing out flyers, but had not yet met anyone who knew Cantonese yet so she did not know what was going on.

“I started to get involved after

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Albania in the early morning on Tuesday, Nov. 26, destroying buildings and trapping people in the rubble.

According to Albanian authorities, the aftermath left 51 people dead, over 2,000 injured and nearly 4,000 homeless — with the greatest damages seen in the areas of Durrës and Thumanë — making the earthquake one of the deadliest the country has felt since 1979.

With a large population of Albanian Americans residing in the Bronx, the red and black flag lined the streets — including Arthur Avenue — as an act of solidarity .

The same day, Fordham’s own Albanian Club hosted its annual “Albanian Night,” where Albanian American students on campus gathered to embrace their culture through food, music and dance. Yet this year, they did so in hopes of raising awareness about the recent earthquake.

Melisa Gjokaj, GSB ’22, treasurer of Fordham’s Albanian Club, said the club raised a little over $100 for those in need that night.

“If people of the Bronx are aware of the earthquake, it’s likely that more will donate (both Albanian and non-Albanian),” said Gjokaj.

“Our first donation during Albanian Night was actually from a non-Albanian, whom immediately took out her wallet once she was informed of what we were raising money for. If you live or go to the Bronx often, it’s likely that you will know Albanians and our culture, and many people love to learn more about it, as we’re a culture that’s really close and always supporting each other.”

Albanian American Marko Kepi, of the organization Albanian Roots, was a guest speaker at the Albanian Club’s event. After the earthquake hit, Kepi organized his own fund-

SEE HONG KONG, PAGE 3

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

CSA’s Thanks-Give-Away is an annual fundraiser that donates money and canned goods to Part of the Solution.

CSA Hosts 17th Annual ThanksGive-Away Fundraising Event

By SARAH HUFFMAN

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Commuting Students Association (CSA) hosted its 17th annual Thanks-Give-Away event on Thursday, Nov. 21. Admission for the event was five dollars or five food cans, and all proceeds were

donated to the nonprofit, Part of the Solution (POTS). This year’s theme was Cirque du CSA and featured Thanksgiving foods, performances from Fordham’s dance and a cappella groups and a variety of prizes.

Kaidya Adames, GSB ’20, president of CSA, said the purpose

of this fundraiser is to give back to the Bronx community and to bring the Fordham community together in celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Adames said the theme was inspired by the contemporary circus Cirque du Soleil and wanted SEE CSA, PAGE 6

Maurizio Gerbasi Styles the Bronx

By MAGGIE ROTHFUS COPY CHIEF

PIA FISCHETTI/THE FORDHAM RAM

Public Safety installed eight electric vehicle charging stations on Ramp 2A in the parking garage.

EV Charging Stations Promote Sustainability on RH Campus

By ERICA SCALISE PROJECTS EDITOR

As part of an effort to serve electric car users and promote sustainability, the Department of Public Safety and Facilities Management installed eight electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on Ramp 2A in

the university’s parking garage.

According to Michael McGinn, assistant operations manager of Public Safety, the university conducted research into how the chargers worked at other universities and looked into the leading manufacturer and world’s largest network of EV charging

stations, ChargePoint, before going through with the installation process.

“They’re up and running and so far everyone seems to be very happy with them,” said McGinn.

“There are eight chargers and four units in a great location at a pretty SEE EV, PAGE 6

Hair salons decorate streets, and each one must have a way to differentiate itself from others. Across from Modern Market on Arthur Avenue lies Antonio Hair Studio, formerly known as Anthony’s Unisex Salon. Six months ago, the shop found its new co-owner in stylist Maurizio Gerbasi, 65, who immigrated to the United States from Italy in 1978. Inside Antonio’s are newly renovated styling stations, and the center back wall dons a new, brightly colored poker painting featuring Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Elvis Presley.

“It brings a nice touch here,” says Gerbasi. “Most people love very fashionable people.”

On the Monday before Thanksgiving, Gerbasi talks holiday plans with an Italian-speaking client as he blow-dries her hair. Next to them stands a tall rack filled with Alfaparf Milano hair products on each shelf, fitting for a former technician of the company. According to Gerbasi, the shop uses SEE SALON, PAGE 3

SEE ALBANIA, PAGE 5

in this issue

Opinion

Page 9

"Ageism?" OK, Boomer

Sports Page 18 Women's Basketball Splits in Bahamas Culture

Page 14

Haitie Rainford: 1 of 22 Exchange Students

NEWS

Page 2

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS

Plant-Based Off-Campus Foods Increase Dunkin' Donuts Debuts Beyond Sausage

By ELIOT SCHIAPARELLI ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Nov. 21 Loschert Hall 9:30 a.m.

A fire alarm was activated in Loschert Hall by a burnt muffin in the kitchen. The FDNY and Public Safety responded. The building was evacuated. No one was harmed.

Nov. 22 Tierney Courtyard 3:35 p.m.

Residential Life contacted Public Safety over a marijuana odor coming from the courtyard between Tierney and O’Hare Hall. A guest of a student was smoking. The matter was ajudicated by the patrol leader.

Nov. 23 Finlay Hall 4:10 a.m.

A student in Finlay Hall was taking a shower when a towel accidentally fell, covering the drain and flooding the shower.

The water leaked to the 3rd floor, causing damage to the ceiling tiles in the room below.

Nov. 23 E. Fordham Road 3:12 a.m.

Public Safety recieved a call about a group of non-Fordham students got into a dispute with a group of Fordham students. A Fordham student was assaulted after the dispute, resulting in the arrest of one of the non-Fordham students.

Nov. 28 Off-Campus Apartment 5:45 a.m.

Public Safety was dispatched to an off-campus apartment where a student believed someone was in her apartment. Public Safety responded and determined no one was there. The front window of the apartment was open, and the Public Safety officers believe the student heard voices coming from the street.

— Compiled by Sarah Huffman

December 4, 2019

In 2018, Urban Kitchen introduced the Beyond Burger, a plant-based burger that was supposed to taste like real meat, and did away with their traditional veggie burger made of beans and grains. Around that time, the introduction of Beyond and Impossible meat sparked a debate in both the greater vegan and vegetarian communities, as well as at Fordham, over whether plant based alternatives need to actually taste like animal protein.

On campus, vegetarian and vegan Fordham students can get by with a little creativity, as one Fordham Ram writer explained last year. But what about off campus? What about those vegans and vegetarians without meal plans, or those who crave something a little greasier and less healthy?

Off campus, Fordham students have an ever-growing selection of plant-based options to satiate those fast food cravings. Recently, Dunkin’ Donuts introduced the Beyond Sausage served on an English muffin with egg and cheese. While this is vegetarian and not vegan, it’s a step toward a more plant-based diet and has less fat and sodium than Dunkin’s traditional sausage.

Dunkin’ Donuts is just the latest fast food restaurant to introduce Beyond or Impossible meat. White Castle started serving Impossible sliders last year, and Burger King started offering the Impossible Whopper, which gave them one of their best quarters in the past few years.

Impossible and Beyond meats are alternatives to the traditional veggie burger brands like MorningStar or Boca. They try to mimic the texture and taste of animal protein to cater to meateaters who may want to be more plant-based and plant-based individuals who still crave meat.

Nora Thomas, FCRH ’21, is a vegetarian, but she tries to cut out animal-based products when possible. She said when she tried the Beyond Sausage, she was not sure what to think.

“It feels too much like meat for a vegetarian,” said Thomas.

“It tastes good. I just don’t want meat. Same with the Impossible burger. I feel like these things are better marketed toward meateaters who want to be more en-

vironmentally friendly or health conscious.”

Thomas’ observation is exactly what Burger King found when it started offering its plant-based option. The company debuted the Impossible Whopper with the slogan “100% Whopper, 0% beef ” but found that 90% of those who ordered it in its test run ate meat. They also ran into an issue that many Fordham students said they run into when looking for meat alternatives just off campus: Meat alternatives are cooked on the same surface as meat, meaning they have some meat product residue on them.

One man in California even went as far as to sue Burger King over this, claiming it was not made clear when he ordered the Impossible Whopper that it was cooked on the same grill as beef and chicken products. The company responded by saying customers can ask specifically for a meat-free cooking style and ask for the mayonnaise to be left off the burger, making it totally vegan. For Fordham students, there is a Burger King near the D train stop on East Fordham Road.

Substitutions and changes to orders are a way of life for Fordham’s plant-based community.

Thomas pointed out that at Chipotle, one gets free guacamole on their burrito if they don’t order a plant- or animal-based protein.

So, even though Chipotle offers sofritas (tofu) she often just gets double beans so her order costs less. Thomas also said Sake II has a sweet potato tempura roll that is vegan, and she sometimes orders that when she wants a fried option.

Grace Janosik, GSB ’21, is a vegan and suggested the Impossible Sliders from White Castle (right across from Bathgate on East Fordham Road), although she said for the most part she eats hummus or falafel from Ram’s and Best Deli.

“I’ll get a vegan sandwich with falafel or like a bagel with hummus. Or I’ll go to Chipotle and get the tofu option,” said Janosik.

“I’m definitely satisfied with these options, but it would be good to have more variety so I don’t eat the same things all the time. Also, I think we are lacking in vegan desserts in the area, whereas downtown there are a lot of vegan bakeries.”

Pugsley’s can also be made vegan if one gets garlic knots sans

CAMRYN SCHUMACHER/THE FORDHAM RAM

A Beyond Sausage breakfast sandwich is now available at Dunkin’ Donuts

butter and cheese, and marinara for dipping sauce. For vegetarians who want to order from the delis, an egg and cheese is also a less expensive option.

Carsyn Fisher, FCRH ’21, said she took a picture of all the pescetarian options on the menu at Ram’s Deli over the summer.

There are about eight items on her list besides the different takes on an egg and cheese. As a pescetarian, Fisher has slightly more options than a vegetarian or vegan.

Only about half of the pescetarian menu items at Ram’s are vegetarian, and none are vegan without a change or substitution.

So far, Fischer recommends the Fizzy Lizzy and Nobil Wrap.

Many of Fordham’s vegetarians and vegans said they make the majority of their food in their on- and off-campus apartments.

Fisher estimated she makes 95% of what she eats and gets most of the rest at on-campus events that serve food.

Some Fordham students, however, want to be plant-based but either do not want to or do not feel they could cook for themselves. Sarah Kowaleski, FCRH ’21, has been trying to eat less meat but is hesitant to be fully vegetarian because she does not

like to cook and does not have the time. As an environmental science major, Kowalski said she recognizes the environmental impact of eating meat.

“Maybe if I had more plantbased options I could go totally vegetarian,” said Kowaleski. “I tried the Beyond Burger last year at Urban, but I didn’t like it, so I was hesitant to try the new Dunkin option. I’ve heard it’s good, though, and I’ve been eating at Healthy Fresh a lot recently and they have vegetarian stuff.”

Anita Gitta, FCRH ’21, is on the executive board for Students for Environmental Awareness and Justice (SEAJ). She said she is happy plant-based options are becoming more accessible and affordable.

“It’s great that plant-based options are popping up at fast food locations,” said Gitta. “Having the option available at an affordable price erases the idea that plant-based diets are only for people with high income. My hope is that as more people start embracing plant-based foods, the conversation of where our food comes from will become more mainstream, and thus restaurants will increase plant-based options and support local sustainable agriculture.”

This Week at Fordham Thursday Dec. 5

Thursday Dec. 5

Thursday Dec. 5

Friday Dec. 6

Sunday Dec. 8

Spoon University Bake Sale

Ampersand Pancake Sale

Ramblers Fall Concert

AMOM Annual Winter Ball

Fordham Choir Lessons and Carols

A Moment of Magic is hosting their second annual Winter Wonderland Ball as a fundraiser. Tickets are $15 for Fordham students and $20 for non-Fordham students. The event will feature a raffle, photo space and food. Attire is semi-formal/formal.

The Fordham University Women’s choir is celebrating the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols. The event will be at both Lincoln Center and Rose Hill on consecutive days. The event at Rose Hill is in the University Church.

McGinley lobby 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.

Rose Hill 7:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m.

Keating First 7:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m.

Spoon University is hosting a bake sale in McGinley featuring holiday themed treats. Spoon University is an online food publication where students can write recipes, food reviews and food-based news among other things.

Fordham’s literary magazine is delivering pancake around campus just in time for finals season. The event will help fundraise for their publication. Students can order a variety of pancake bases, from M&M to blueberry, and different toppings.

The Ramblers are hosting their fall a capella concert on Thursday evening with the theme Ramblers Got Talent. The free show will also feature the Satin Dolls and a comedian. The Ramblers will present songs they have worked on all year.

North Dining 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.

University Church 8:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.

NEWS

December 4, 2019

Page 3

Antonio Hair Studio Brings Style to Belmont Community FROM SALON, PAGE 1

these top-of-the-industry products almost exclusively because they contain linseed oil and no sulfates.

When someone steps into the salon, Gerbasi greets them by lifting up his baseball cap to reveal an electricblue tuft of hair, an uncommon sight on Arthur Avenue.

“You got to bleach it first, and then you put the dye,” he says from experience of being his own stylist.

His hair has undergone several changes, but the blue has stuck for the past five years, with the help of touch-ups every couple weeks.

Gerbasi has been a stylist ever since his brother introduced the profession to him about 40 years ago.

Since then, he has had several opportunities to work in fashion. After working in music and clubs upon his arrival in the U.S., his first hairdressing job was for a cover of GQ in 1983.

Later, he did before-and-after shots for makeover television shows, styled in Saks Fifth Avenue and worked Fashion Weeks in New York and Miami. Before moving to the Bronx, Gerbasi had his own salon in Manhattan. Both his Fashion Week and Manhattan experiences have given him celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Patricia Nixon as clients.

However, his clientele at Antonio Hair Studio may perhaps range the furthest in both demographics and geography. Both Fordham students and born-and-raised Bronx residents frequent the salon, in addition to travelers from Manhattan, Connecticut and Long Island. Despite keeping

JENNIFER HOANG/THE FORDHAM RAM

Maurizio Gerbasi has worked as a hair stylist for 40 years. Recently, Gerbasi took on Antonio Hair Studio.

some old customers, Gerbasi notices the difference between working in the Bronx versus downtown.

“You know, in New York, the people are more fashionable,” he said. “They come often to the hairdresser. … Now I moved up here. … It’s good to be here in the neighborhood, bring some fashion up here.”

Gerbasi has still been familiar with the Fordham area for the past few decades and has witnessed the changes around the neighborhood, including the increase of Fordham University students. Ultimately,

he finds the local community a source of art, in and out of the university.

“I think Fordham University makes the big difference here from then to now,” he states. “It becomes nice, artsy. … A lot of great artists came from this neighborhood. Lot of people came from here, so why not be here?”

Having cut and styled hair for many people on many occasions — from fashion events to weddings — Gerbasi can work on any type of hair and aims for inclusivity. While, according to him,

no hair salon is perfect, any good hairstylist will make the effort to satisfy clients.

“If you have no passion, it’s not for you — especially in this business,” said Gerbasi. “It’s a creative business, but also, it’s a responsibility.”

For Gerbasi, hair styling is an art to be taken seriously. He identifies himself as a stylist as opposed to a barber because of the fashion involved in the profession of the former. “Fashion,” to him, is to “make a person out of yourself,” and hair is the most important as-

pect.

“Fashion was always my thing. It didn’t matter if it was clothes.,” he said. “The fashion starts from the hair, from the hair to the shoes. …

You could have gorgeous hair, but maybe you’re just in jeans. Jeans are great.”

Gerbasi wants to warn those who seek fashion that it should not center around acquiring the highest-end clothing, such as Gucci. Especially for college students, having good hair and makeup paired with H&M clothing is just as good, according to him.

“To become a fashion slave is crazy,” he said. “I know people that just buy, buy, buy — then you’re a fashion slave. But I guess your hair, that’s where you start your look.”

Antonio Hair Studio offers 20% discounts for Fordham students and all Fordham employees, allowing for the Fordham community to engage both with fashion and local businesses.

In addition to that, Antonio’s offers coffee and, for customers 21 and over, champagne during their appointments in order to add to their experience. The salon is open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It offers services from barber cuts to balayages and keratin treatments. Gerbasi recommends beginning with a consultation to work toward the best hair outcome, and, to him, a simple approach is always best.

“That’s my philosophy: basic. Basic and pretty, and then you change it and do whatever you want to do.”

Stevie Cortez, FCLC ’21, Joins Fight for Democracy Documents Experience on Front Lines of Protests FROM HONG KONG, PAGE 1

that, because we had protests in our school who would camp out in the middle of the commons,” she said.

Although the protests began peacefully, the situation has become increasingly violent. Protestors have been subjected to tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets and armored vehicles. Cortez herself suffered minor injuries.

Cortez documented her experience around the city and throughout the process via social media. She was also assisted during the protests by a translator. Eventually she found herself on the front lines of the protest, equipped with full gear to avoid harm from the police.

On Nov. 17, Cortez was shot in the leg with a tear gas cylinder by Hong Kong police while documenting protests at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in the Hung Hom district.

Against her translator's advice, she traveled to the campus despite rising tension in the area.

“The police started firing, and I was standing by the press,” she said.

“We were far away. I got a video of it, actually, and you can hear the first shot and you hear it hit me. So then I took off.”

Cortez said the issue is, once a protest is occurring, you cannot exit the area until it is over. She had no way to get to a hospital, so she ran into an alleyway with her translator. A couple of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) came over to assist her when they saw her panicking, and they traveled together to a restaurant in the area.

“That’s what is so weird about Hong Kong,” she said. “You can have people getting shot on one block, and the next block people are eating dinner.”

She said despite the fact that most business owners in the city do not support these protests, the man who owned the restaurant brought her paper towels and ice.

The EMTs also helped her to bandage and take care of the wound, which she said swelled to look as if she had a second knee.

Eventually, traffic within the area resumed and she was able to get a cab. She said the recovery process has been painful and extensive.

“After I got shot, I was most concerned with if I could still walk and be involved,” she said. “It’s so easy to get swept into it because it is such a fight for justice.”

Despite being shot in the leg, she said the scariest moments were the times she was home safe and everything was quiet. What struck her most in these moments were the people she spoke to at the protest that day.

Cortez returned to her home in Texas on Nov. 20, but she said Hong Kong City University attempted to send her back before then; in fact it closed, but she did not want to leave. However, her visa was running out of time.

“They were trying to send me home for about two weeks before I left,” she said. “I’m pretty upset that I left, actually. I feel like I abandoned my friends.”

Now in Texas, Cortez said she

COURTESY OF STEVIE CORTEZ

Cortez became involved in pro-democracy protests while abroad at the City University of Hong Kong.

still wonders if those she met amidst the protests are safe. Still, she has no way of checking on them since many protesters take pains to remain anonymous to preserve their safety.

“I didn’t get any of their contact information to preserve anonymity,” she said. “These are people that I care about, even if I did not know them.”

Protestors are asking for five major demands: (1) Fully withdraw the extradition bill, (2) set up an independent inquiry to

probe police brutality, (3) withdraw a characterization of early protests as “riots,” (4) release those arrested at protests and (5) implement universal suffrage in Hong Kong.

Cortez said she believes all of these demands — with the exception of universal suffrage, which might require a longer process — should be simple to accomplish.

Although the extradition bill was withdrawn in September, Cortez said she does not think

the protests will stop until all of the demands are met.

“I know the young people, especially, won’t stop until they get what they want or they’re all arrested,” she said. “And I know China won’t stop.

It’s an unstoppable force meets and immovable object.”

Cortez asserted that protesters are fighting for a noble cause.

“This is a prime example for a battle that is good and evil,” she said.

“These people, all they want is to vote. All they want is to participate in governing their own lives.”

NEWS

Page 4

December 4, 2019

Research Spotlight

USG Column

Senior Studies Meghan Markle as a Feminist Researches for American Studies Major

By ELIOT SCHIAPARELLI

USG Reps Give Updates on Initiatives

By HASNA CERAN

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As an American studies major, Finley Peay, FCLC ’20, has a deadline at the end of the semester for her research project on Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, and the media’s portrayal of her feminism and race.

On Dec. 9, Peay will present her paper titled “This is What a Feminist Looks Like?: Meghan Markle and the Racial Politics of Popular Feminism” at the American studies research symposium in Walsh Library.

As an American studies major, Peay has been building up to writing her research paper for over a year. In her junior year, she submitted a research proposal as part of her “Approaches to American Studies” class.

That proposal was on the development of the Sunbelt and Evangelical politics, but while studying abroad in London she became fascinated with the role of a royalty and Meghan Markle.

When she arrived back at Fordham in New York, Peay honed her ideas from Europe in an academic study.

Peay’s paper has three parts: the history and application of the “tragic mulatto” archetype, popular and neoliberal feminism and an analysis of Meghan Markle’s treatment in those categories.

So far, Peay said she has found that the media portrays Markle as either a “tragic mulatto,” a role into which celebrities like Mariah Carey and Alica Keys have been forced in the past, or as a feminist.

“She’s been heralded as this

At USG’s meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21, a representative from Every Vote Counts (EVC), a “student-led, nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing voter turnout and expanding voter access nationwide,” according to the EVC website, discussed the group’s “Time Off To Vote” initiative. It seeks to convince schools and businesses around the country to grant time off to vote.

The Fordham EVC chapter is currently looking for the student government to provide signatures on a Student Body Letter that will be sent to companies. Due to an approved motion to table, USG will not be taking immediate action regarding this initiative.

Another public concern was brought to the attention of the USG

by Sen. Jhan Alex Chavez, GSB ’23.

He stated that there was an incident during the President’s Ball with a commuter student in Loyola Hall.

The student swiped into Loyola Hall in order to use the restroom and was addressed with hostility by a security guard. The incident has also been reported to the Office of Residential Life.

Sen. Carsyn Fisher, FCRH ’21, presented the first draft of the Fordham Land Acknowledgment statement. She stated that she was currently working on getting the acknowledgment posted on the Fordham website under the “Diversity at Fordham” page.

Sen. Arianna Chen, FCRH ’22, presented a proposal for a genderinclusive pronoun policy on class syllabi. The proposal would change the current opt-in gender-inclusive pronoun policy into one that would be a mandatory addition to syllabi.

Both proposals were unanimously approved, pending quorum.

Vice President of GSB Reilly Keane, GSB ’21, presented pending revisions to the GSB Dean’s Council bylaws.

Vice President of Finance and Budgets Elizabeth Bjorklund, FCRH ’21, presented the Budget Committee bylaws’ pending revisions, which seek to simplify fund allocations for clubs with changes such as the ability to change dates for an event after the date has already passed, the ability to reallocate money granted for another event and simplified requests for funds going to Fordham-approved vendors.

Both pending changes were unanimously approved.

During the cabinet reports, Vice President of Health and Security Emma Budd, FCRH ’20, spoke about the Calls for Justice initiative, which takes old phones and loads them with prepaid minutes to give to women in domestic violence shelters.

Students are highly encouraged to drop off old phones at their Residence Hall Office (RHO) between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. or at the Fordham IT customer care office from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, it is important that students log out of their iCloud accounts before donating any old iPhones.

Finally, the last Student Life Council meeting of the fall semester will be on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 2:30 p.m. in Bepler Commons.

COURTESY OF FINLEY PEAY

Finley Peay came up with the idea to write her research paper on Meghan Markle while studying abroad in London.

amazing feminist icon who joined the British royalty, but she goes around, gives speeches and says the words, but what is she actually doing to make change on that level, not just in her position as a royal but also before?” said Peay.

To study Markle, Peay has looked at articles in magazines such as Vogue and Elle as well

as watching a documentary that came out in October. To explore the themes and stereotypes Markle has been placed in, she has read books on the history of popular feminism. These resources led her to question how Markle’s identity is framed.

“How is she using her fame, as well as her intersectional position

PIA FISCHETTI/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Photo of the Week:

The Bronx Zoo is just down the street from Fordham. Students often visit the zoo, whether for class or for fun. Animals like this lemur are on display, as well as a holiday lights exhibit.

as a biracial woman, to appeal and more broadly cater to all of the races and all of the gender expressions and identities, to broaden feminism and make them feel more welcome in the movement?” said Peay.

In her presentation, Peay will explore these themes and then sit on a panel with other American studies major seniors who wrote about similar topics.

“You are accountable for questions that your moderator might ask you that might be outside of your research, and there’s only so many times you can say, ‘Oh, I don’t know but that’s a great question and I’ll look into it,’” said Peay.

She also said that having a class with 11 or 12 other American studies majors who are working toward research papers has been helpful. They point each other toward sources and ideas and have grown close with each other and their academic advisors.

“Get an advisor who will give you constructive criticism but also get another advisor who will give you unconditional support,” said Peay. “Also make sure it’s something that you’re passionate about before you start, otherwise you will be really exhausted with the project by the time you’re done.”

The American studies major advisor is Christopher Dietrich. Peay said while he does not teach her senior class, he often reads drafts of theses and papers.

“We all love Dietrich,” said Peay. “Almost to a point of idolatry. But we just really appreciate that he has been so genuinely supportive and genuinely excited about everyone’s thesis as well as offering his support and feedback and advice as we’ve been writing.”

NEWS

December 4, 2019

Page 5

Bronx Community Mourns Albanian Earthquake FROM ALBANIA, PAGE 1

raiser which raised close to $1 million in less than 24 hours.

Mark Gjonaj, New York City council member of the 13th Council District in the Bronx, held a fundraiser of his own, right before flying to Albania with engineers ready to help the cause.

“Whether you pray, whether you contribute financially, whether you give your time, whether you have a profession that can give back to our people in their greatest time of need,” Gjonaj said to the fundraiser attendees. “What you’re doing tonight, is going to make a difference in the lives of many — so they know they are not alone, that we have not forgotten them and that we all have a role to play.”

In Albania, rescue workers from neighboring countries including Greece, Kosovo and Italy, have come together to provide aid and relief for those who have lost their houses and loved ones as a result of this natural disaster.

A number of the families affected have been placed in camps, while others, because of the cold, have been sent to hotels willing and able to house the thousands displaced from their homes.

Pandeli Majko, the Albanian Minister for Diaspora, told the Ram that the first phase of the national crisis, which includes helping those in need, has been concluded with the help of exter-

nal emergency forces. One of the largest deployments came from Kosovo.

“The second phase is focusing on reconstruction — fixing the buildings that have been destroyed and evaluating the ones still standing to decide whether or not they meet requirements to withstand any future earthquakes to this magnitude,” he said.

Experts from outside the country have offered assistance in assessing the damages and helping map out the country’s next steps.

“This earthquake was a lesson for Albania,” Majko said.

Earthquakes are not uncommon in the area between the Eurasian and African plates. Just two months ago, the country was hit with a magnitude-5.6 earthquake. No fatalities were reported, yet many buildings were destroyed.

According to Majko, structural stability will be one of the government’s main priorities when moving forward during reconstruction.

With Albanian Independence Day on Nov. 28, many of the festivities throughout the country were canceled. Yet Albanian communities from around the world used the “flag” celebration to help raise money and awareness.

RACHEL GOW/THE FORDHAM RAM

Many storefronts and homes on Arthur Avenue displayed the Albanian flag following the earthquake.

Other supporters included Albanian American singers such as Bebe Rexha and Rita Ora, who is personally sponsoring families affected by the earthquake by rebuilding their homes. Those who have the

means to contribute financially have been able to send money through GoFundMe. Within three days since the earthquake, Albanian diaspora have raised over $13 million in aid.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi

Rama called on the international community for both financial and reconstruction help. Organizations such as UNICEF are accepting donations to those affected by the earthquake. To donate to the cause, visit UNICEF online.

Check out the

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Ramcast, the official

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NEWS

Page 6

December 4, 2019

Thanks-Give-Away Raises Funds and Food for POTS FROM CSA, PAGE 1

to focus the event on the entertainment.

Thanks-Give-Away included a hula hoop acrobat, a stilt walker, a bubble girl and other performances from the Hot Notes, Flava, B-Sides, Satin Dolls, Ramblers, Candela and the Elite Dance Squad.

CSA served traditional Thanks-

giving foods such as gravy, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, turkey and cornbread. They presented a custom t-shirt and gave away raffle prizes that were donated by different departments at Fordham. The prizes included Cirque du Soleil tickets, a yearlong parking pass for auction, Rockettes tickets, Six Flags tick-

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

Thanks-Give-Away saw a number of performances, including Hot Notes.

ets, Fordham merchandise, a lottery tree, dinners with deans and more.

“The event was very successful.

We raised $2,285.90 and 180 cans for the local food bank, Part of the Solution (POTS),” said Adames.

“Also, we had great attendance from students, faculty and guests such as family members of students.”

Guy Savino, GSB ’22, executive program coordinator, was involved with every aspect of the planning process, from choosing centerpieces to bringing in entertainment. He said the event was wonderful and went smoothly, with over 400 attendees throughout the night.

This year’s event included more entertainment than last year’s in terms of outside performing groups. Savino said they opted for more performance groups because there was not a suitable interactive activity that fit with the Cirque du Soleil theme.

CSA made more of an effort to integrate the Bronx and surrounding community by opening up the event to the public, such as family members of students, said Adames. They also invited a dance group from Washington Heights to perform.

The group raised about $1,000 more than last year and included a parking pass live auction at the event in an effort to increase fundraising, according to Adames.

“In the future, we would like to raise even more money than we did this year and in years past,” she said. “This year CSA created a Thanks-Give-Away committee in order to focus on the fundraising aspect of Thanks-Give-Away

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

CSA hosted its 17th annual Thanks-Give-Away fundraiser.

and to increase our donations for POTS. I am hopeful that in the future the amount raised will grow with the formation of this committee.”

Savino said he would like to meet the workers from POTS and invite them to Thanks-GiveAway.

“I believe that the organization we are holding this event for

should know how we are raising the money and be able to participate in such a great cause for the local community,” he said.

Savino said the event would not have been possible without the support and hard work from the Executive Board, the various Fordham departments and staff he contacted throughout the process and CSA’s advisor, Stephen Esposito.

Public Safety Installs Eight Electric Car Chargers Chargers Currently Only Available to Fordham Staff FROM EV, PAGE 1

low cost.”

The entire process, including obtaining a grant to cover their cost, took a couple of months according to McGinn. The university worked with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to manage the project.

McGinn said the chargers, which were installed by the university’s facilities management, are solely being used by faculty so far.

“We’ve had lots of positive feedback and have had about a dozen people register for them as of now,” he said.

Colleen Cochran, FCRH ’21, leader of the Climate Impact Initiative in the Fordham Social Innovation Collaboratory, said the installation is a step forward in cultivating a climate conscious culture at Fordham.

“They were working towards installing EV chargers last year, and it’s exciting to see it now fully implemented,” Cochran said. “For many people, a barrier to switching to an electric car is the accessibility of EV chargers. Having a charger on campus incentivizes members of the Fordham community to make the sustainable switch to an electric vehicle.”

Based on how other companies and universities use the chargers, McGinn said the university has

placed a four hour time limit per charging spots in order to maximize the number of charges it can provide daily. When a car is fully charged, a user gets a notification from the ChargePoint app indicating that the car is done charging, according to McGinn.

“They’re 25 cents per hour which covers the kilowatt hours that are needed to cover the university’s utility costs and also the administrative costs of the program, including the cloud services that ChargePoint charges the university yearly,” he said.

According to McGinn, EV charging stations usually run from 50 cents to a dollar per hour. He cited the chargers, along with Fordham’s recent installation of solar panels, as an effort by the university to show commitment to sustainable practices.

Gabby Perez, FCRH ’21, copresident of Students for Environmental Awareness and Justice (SEAJ), said she hopes the university would advertise its sustainability projects better so that the Fordham community could be better informed. She suggested the university should update information regarding sustainability on its website.

“I hope that having these EV chargers leads Fordham towards

PIA FISCHETTI/THE FORDHAM RAM

The eight new electric vehicle charging stations aim to promote sustainability on the Rose Hill campus.

switching out their own fossil-fuel-using cars (Public Safety Cars, Ram Vans) for electric vehicles sometime very soon so that Fordham’s own vehicles can use these new EV chargers,” said Perez.

McGinn said the university plans to analyze how it adjusts to

having the chargers for the next six months and take it from there.

Lily Round, FCRH ’20, copresident of SEAJ, said the university cannot stop here and explained further steps for the campus to be considered a sustainable one.

“It’s a good step, and electric cars are a good alternative to oil. However, we still need to move completely to renewables,” Round said. “I want to see the university move to 100% renewables and supply those charging stations from renewable energy sources.”

OPINION

December 4, 2019

Democratic Candidates Should Heed Obama’s Advice

By NOAH OSBORNE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The presidential election of 2020 is shaping up to be one of the most high-stakes elections in recent American history due in part to the stinging upset Democrats faced with the defeat of 2016 presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton.

With 2020 looming and the sea of possible contenders for the Democratic Party growing, voters undoubtably have many questions. Some questions regarding the platform of their potential candidates, while others regard what will come to define the 2020 election entirely: electability.

Former United States President Barack Obama issued a warning to Democratic hopefuls, arguing the case of electability and urging candidates to evade policies that veer “too far left.”

In a seemingly over-crowded

field of Democratic hopefuls, and having suffered the presidential loss of the decade, the Democratic Party needs all the advice it can get.

Obama’s use of the phrasing “too far left” is interesting for a plethora of reasons. After all, it is not a clandestine machination of the Democratic Party to want to nominate a candidate who is capable of defeating Trump and the Republican Party. Democratic candidates are looking to find the key to this victory in 2020.

Obama’s advice to these candidates vying for control of the polls is not advice on what should be done as a Democratic hopeful per se, but is more on how a successful Democratic campaign should be executed.

With such a statement, it becomes clear that Obama is addressing the elephant in the room regarding the 2020 primaries, and that’s electability: the ultimate

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Former President Barack Obama criticized the Democratic Party’s leftward shift.

factor that determines why one candidate deserves to serve in the Oval Office as compared to others.

Quite candidly, instead of politically brooding over why 2016 was such an off-the-rails moment for American politics, I believe that electability as a whole should take center stage regarding the Democratic Party, and their prospects of securing a victory in 2020.

I do not believe that now is an appropriate time in American history to campaign, excitedly, vowing to potential voters to make changes that just are not that simple to make.

As a result of this view, if Democrats want any hope of defeating Trump in 2020, it’s time that they adopt a more centrist approach.

Democratic hopefuls should be less focused on their vision for leftist “change” in America and more focused on governing with moderation.

To elaborate on this point, the 2016 election will forever be cemented in history as one of the most polarizing elections because it was clear that neither party adopted a centrist approach.

Hillary Clinton wanted to grant amnesty to undocumented immigrants by offering a path to citizenship into the U.S., while Donald Trump wanted to build a wall to stop the flow of undocumented immigrants. To put these ideas into perspective, one could argue that Clinton veered “too far left,” and Trump veered “too far right.”

Although Trump ultimately secured the victory, many American citizens are divided on their opinion on his presidency. The reason behind this would be that neither

candidate did enough to maintain a healthy balance for the country when running, and as a result of this, exacerbated the already apparent divide the country was experiencing.

If the Democrats want a victory, they cannot allow this to happen.

Instead of Bernie Sanders campaigning for his famous proposal of “healthcare for all,” he should divert his attention more towards refining the health care situation already in place. That way, it becomes more difficult for people to slander Sanders as “too leftist,” or even socialist.

As a potential voter, I believe that no matter how many candidates run on the Republican Party or Democratic Party, none of it will matter if the parties cannot transcend their veerings into too far left or too far right territories.

If they cannot do this, no matter if a Democrat or Republican is elected for president in 2020, there will always be a level of disdain resonating from American citizens because the presidentelect in their perspective, is emblematic of everything they voted against.

This is bound to indelibly scar many voters, and even discourage them from voting again. What is less likely to turn people away from voting is moderation. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were at a severe dearth in political moderation in their campaigns, and the result of this was an explosive election.

To minimize the probability of such an explosive election in 2020, Democratic candidates must take stock of their own party, and what put them in the challenging situ-

Page 7

ation they now face, instead of trivially vowing to be an undeniable successor to Donald Trump as if this was an episode of “Game of Thrones.”

In fact, comments like the one above serve as a harbinger that the Democratic Party was paying no credence to Obama’s warning of being “too far left,” and that is truly a disappointment.

If Democrats want to find the path to defeating Trump in 2020, they need to stop dwelling over the burned bridges of 2016 and start looking for the tools necessary to repair them. That starts with a new repertoire of tools.

Gone should be the days where Democratic hopefuls propose a cornucopia of changes that they cannot even fulfill. Gone should be the days where a Democratic candidate’s view for America is so radically different from their Republican counterparts.

Gone should be the days where the Democratic nominee, and the Republican nominee are so polarizing that they are classified by the American people as “too left” or “too right.”

And gone should be the uproar caused when a Democrat or Republican wins the election. All of this could easily be avoided if Democrats pay credence to Obama’s advice of “veering too far left.”

For the Democrats, this election season, the inspiration for change should not define a candidate’s credibility. For 2020, electability is credibility.

Noah Osborne, FCRH ’23, is a journalism major from Harlem, N.Y.

OPINION

Page 8

R

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

Website FordhamRam.com Email Address theram@fordham.edu

Editor in Chief Aislinn Keely Managing Editor Hannah Gonzalez Business Director Donald Dugan Operations Director Briana Scalia Editorial Director Lindsay Grippo Executive Editor Colette Nolan Copy Chiefs Vanessa DeJesus Maggie Rothfus News Editor Helen Stevenson Projects Editor Erica Scalise Assistant News Editors Eliot Schiaparelli Sarah Huffman Opinion Editors Briana Scalia Collin Bonnell Culture Editors Rachel Gow Kieran Press-Reynolds Sports Editor Jimmy Sullivan Assistant Sports Editors Andrew Posadas Dylan Balsamo Digital Producers Kristen Egan Katherine Morris Photo Editor Julia Comerford Assistant Photo Editor Hunter Benegas Visual Director Bojeung Leung Faculty Advisor Jessica Baldwin-Philippi Editorial Page Policy

The Fordham Ram’s editorial is se-

lected on a weekly basis and reflects the editorial board’s view on a campus issue.

Opinions Policy The Fordham Ram appreciates submissions to fordhamramopinions@gmail. com. Commentaries are printed on a space available basis. The Fordham Ram reserves the right to reject any submission for any reason, without notice. Submissions become the exclusive property of The Fordham Ram. The Fordham Ram reserves the right to edit any submissions. The opinions in The Fordham Ram’s editorials are those of the editorial board; those expressed in articles, letters, commentaries, cartoons or graphics are those of the individual author. No part of The Fordham Ram may be reproduced without written consent.

December 4, 2019

From the Desk | Aislinn Keely

The Thing We Do Together In university life, there are many online forms sent out by areas of the university which require you to respond to questions about your extracurricular life. Sometimes it’s to reserve room space, apply for a budget or give feedback about student experience.

They ask for the expected inputs — name of activity, its description, how long you have been involved, the type of work you do there, how many hours you spend doing that work.

These forms are very hard to fill out if you are a member of The Fordham Ram. I’m unsure what counts as an hour of work on the Ram. Do hours of anxious insomnia count? How about mundane emailing? A lot of the effort that happens here isn’t quantifiable, and yet it is in some ways.

I have spent 66 very late Tuesday nights (and very early Wednesday mornings) in McGinley basement. I have been assistant news editor, news editor and now editor in chief for 22 issues apiece. I don’t know how many articles I’ve written, but it’s probably an integer between 0 and 100.

The paper is usually 24 pages, although on more exciting weeks it’s 28 and quieter ones it’s 20. I’m not sure how to explain this in the forms.

Worse is describing what the Ram is. It’s a print newspaper, but it’s also a website, a business, a podcast, a video project, a historical record, a community service, a community nuisance, a club, a network and a family.

It is a thing we, as the Fordham community, do together.

When people ask me as a club leader to submit a list of club members, it’s always wrong. I submit the masthead, which you can see to the left of this

article if you are reading the print edition.

While I am infinitely grateful, touched, proud of and work closest with that list of people, it is not the club list of The Fordham Ram. It would have to include the copy editors, the writers, the photographers, those who tip us news, those who pose questions for us to investigate, those who comment for our coverage, the people we interview and the thousands who read it.

A newspaper is a living, breathing, constantly changing document contingent on its community. All of us do the news, I just edit it.

At times, that job has been tough.

Many parts of our university still lack the transparency I would like to see. Faculty Senate meetings are not on the record. The president of our university is only available for one interview each semester and does not otherwise comment for publication.

Some administrators cancel meetings continuously and fail to comment in time for publication even when given ample time. Some won’t speak at all.

The same goes for some students and student groups.

In an era marked by animosity toward the press and frustration towards journalists and outlets that fail to get it all right all the time, it’s important to recall that the news is a collaborative process. That means holding reporters and organizations accountable for their mistakes, including The Fordham Ram. It also means consuming content intentionally, asking nuanced questions and adding your voice to the record when your community asks it of you.

For every tough moment, there

have been so many that encouraged me. Doing the news is so much greater than producing a weekly printed paper. Working at the Ram has led me to thousands of insightful conversations, both on and off the record.

I have met so many people who care deeply and I have had a front row seat to change in our community. I have helped report and edit coverage on adjunct negotiations, Spring Weekends, debates, elections, protests, clerical abuse and reforms. I have shaped coverage that could help a grieving community in a small way.

I have watched the talented editors of Volume 101 grow into the capable leaders of the impending Volume 102.

It is hard to separate the joy in the work from the people you do it with.

Erin Shanahan, FCRH ’16, EIC emeritus of Volume 99, is the reason I’m at The Ram. There is still no one I’d rather have in a foxhole, a newsroom or a dreary basement than former Assistant News Editor Victor Ordonez, FCRH ’18.

Theresa Schliep, FCRH ’19, editor emeritus of Volume 100, taught me everything I know about the news and so much more about what it means to care about your community.

Managing Editor Hannah Gonzalez made every all-nighter bearable.

My parents read this newspaper every week, pushed me to do it better the following week and always provided a safe place to land in between.

The editors of Volume 101 are the most loyal, funny, hardworking group of adventurers I’ve encountered. You can teach anyone to write and edit, but you can’t teach them to care. I am so lucky to have worked with each and every one of you.

To throw out one more number, there have been 101 volumes of the Ram. Volume 101 was always destined to be something of a middle child, wedged between the jubilee of the centenarian volume and the excitement of an election year and new decade.

In this building year, we have sought to lay the groundwork for the coming questions of the new decade by trying to uncover concerns that will matter going forward and shedding light on pockets of hope and effort in the community.

We have started new projects and overhauled old ones, some you have hopefully seen and others you haven’t, including a few surprises that the coming volume will unveil, led by the incredibly capable, strong and caring Helen Stevenson, FCRH ’21.

This is my last article as a staff member of the Ram. My name won’t be on the masthead anymore, but I’ll still be a member.

I will be reading and engaging with this news, excited to see how future volumes codify what we as a community do together.

Editorial | Farewell

The Value in Being an Interim Volume Two thousand nineteen was always going to be an interim year for The Fordham Ram. Slated between Volume 100’s centennial celebrations and Volume 102’s election cycle, decade change and futuristic uncertainty, these past 22 issues have served as a link between the Ram’s notable past and its bustling future.

The staff of Volume 101 felt it important to ensure this bridge proved a sturdy one.

The past year at the Ram involved a lot of building. We made many things happen behind the scenes that readers might not have easily gauged just by looking at our pages.

The business team overhauled its structural procedures, streamlining its sales system and auditing advertisers. We ensured ethical business practices were a priority in the hopes of creating a sustainable, profitable and, perhaps one day, wholly independent future for

the Ram. The editorial staff pioneered efforts to adapt alongside an evolving media landscape, as well. We altered the way we utilize our website to edit and publish content more efficiently. We revamped our podcast, Ramcast, and created a monthly video concert series, Ramped Up, highlighting student musicians.

Yet, even with eyes facing eagerly forward, we made sure to keep some looking dutifully back.

Through every innovation, we nonetheless aimed to continue the Ram’s long-standing legacy of objective, fair and thorough reporting.

During such an in between space and time as was afforded to Volume 101, it felt important that we ask a great many questions while we had the chance to find some answers.

We dove deep into Fordham’s institutional frameworks and broke clerical abuse at the university.

We investigated Fordham’s unique role in President Donald

Trump’s sociopolitical narrative.

We updated students on the hot-button confusion surrounding 2019’s Spring Weekend performer.

We clarified some of Public Safety’s seemingly ambiguous procedures.

We came to truly understand what it meant to be woven into the fabric of a living, breathing community of individuals as we sought to report with care on the tragic loss of several of its members.

On the whole, all of our jobs here at the Ram consistently reminded us of their remarkable gravity.

Our work often proved to us that what we were participating in was bigger than us, that what we did each week deeply mattered.

Volume 101 began to ask questions that journalists to come will have to find the answers to, even as they tackle massive cultural developments unfolding in real time.

As our current election cycle advances, journalistic integrity may

again be threatened by disinformation campaigns and claims of fake news.

Volume 102 must face the impending and inevitable chaos of life, change and evolution, but during this past year, we hoped to have reinforced your confidence in the Ram’s ability to do so. We hope our actions have repeatedly proven our commitment to a greater journalistic purpose and an alignment with a collective democratic mission.

Volume 101 was an interim volume but by no means an insignificant one.

As the outgoing staff closes this year-long chapter of The Fordham Ram’s extraordinary life, we await the next one with much anticipation, hope and confidence.

We will look on fondly as our successors continue to remain curious, demand accountability and, overall, inform to the best of their ability. We believe they are capable of all that and more.

Send your ideas to fordhamramopinions@gmail.com

OPINION

December 4, 2019

Page 9

The Fordham Ram

“Ageism?” OK, Boomer

By BRIANA SCALIA OPINION EDITOR

Memetic slang or ageist slur?

“OK, boomer” has become the latest hot button topic, originally derived from a song and gaining popularity on the app TikTok. The phrase started as a placeholder response to older people, usually those that belong in the “baby boomer” generation, whose comments are deemed problematic by younger generations. Now the phrase has gained a comedic quality, usable as a response to anything said by someone over the age of about 45.

It’s a joke. At least, that’s what most people my age thought. Obviously other news outlets thought differently.

CBS has gone so far as to release an article claiming that the phrase can be considered “ageism” and “work discrimination” if used in the workplace.

Before I go off, I want to make it clear that there are many older people who understand the comedy behind the phrase and are not taking it as seriously as this vocal minority.

But to those claiming that “OK, Boomer” marks the start of a generational war? You obviously have not been paying attention.

Over the past decade, there have been more insulting articles about

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Similar to Abraham Simpson, many Baby Boomers have made it a point to complain about the innocuous phrase.

millennial and Gen-Z culture than I could hope to count.

Older people commonly insult those belonging to either of these generations, implying that they are lazy, that they are leeching off their parents, that they are killing [insert industry here], that they are too sensitive. The list goes on and on.

My generations (because yes, even though I don’t belong to the millennials I fully support all of them) are not lazy. Students work three times as hard nowadays to move half the distance in society, due to the highly competitive na-

ture of college admissions. S tudents today take on massive student debt in the hopes of making something of themselves, ambitiously promising themselves they will pay it off because they can and they will have to. Not to mention that many of them manage this while still working at some internship or part-time job.

My generations are very dependent on their parents. Do you know why? It’s because your generation ruined any chance we could have had at inheriting the rich economy you all were blessed with.

“We have suffered from the after

effects of the financial panic and the Great Recession, in a way even previous generations that graduated during recessions haven’t,” states Wall Street Journal columnist Joseph Sternberg. Maybe do some research on the reasoning behind the state of the economy before you mock your child for being under your insurance plan at the age of 25.

My generations are playing a part in killing many American industries, such as the diamond industry. Do you know why? It’s because they cannot afford diamond rings. They cannot afford a mort-

gage. They are barely scraping by.

See above for the reasons why.

Most importantly, my generations are sensitive. Millennials are commonly regarded as one of the most considerate generations. That is not to say that there are not millions of older people that are accepting of sexualities, of pronouns, of race and religion and everything in between, but my generations were the ones to make this acceptance commonplace. Being open minded is not the exception for younger people, it is the rule. So yes, we are more sensitive as a whole than the baby boomer generation, but I would not gloat about the fact that people my age are more known for their intolerance and prejudice.

The war between generations has not started, it has been ongoing. Boomers have put millennials and gen-z in a precarious position for the upcoming decades.

Whether the issue be the growing threat of climate change, the concern over social security or simply the feeling of not being taken seriously due to age, you have put my generations in this corner. It is only natural that we have the urge to defend ourselves.

And to those that don’t understand that? OK, Boomer.

Briana Scalia, FCRH ’20, is a journalism major from Long Island, N.Y.

NATO on the Brink

COURTESY OF FLICKR

French President Emmanuel Macron has promoted the European Defense Initiative as an alternative to NATO.

By COLLIN BONNELL OPINION EDITOR

As leaders of member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) prepare to gather in London this week, the alliance which has kept peace in Western Europe since its foundation in 1949 is becoming the subject of concern for its longterm viability and mission.

If the alliance fractures much further, the long-term stability of Europe may be under threat.

These concerns have increased in response to the actions of President Trump, who has derided NATO’s European member states for not contributing more to the groups funding.

The meeting will be happening while Congress debates impeachment, and it is suspected that Trump may attack

allies in an attempt to rally his base.

Concerns related to this caused NATO to shift the gathering from a “summit” to a “leaders meeting,” allowing for damage control if infighting occurs.

Trump has long criticized NATO’s European member states for not paying the pledged 2% of GDP, and his administration is now set to decrease the U.S.’s contribution to NATO’s collective budget as it pressures the bloc’s European member states to increase their own commitments. The U.S. had provided 22% of NATO’s funding, due to its large economy, but Trump has pledged to decrease this to 16%, citing anger over Germany’s 14.8% contribution, despite the much larger size of the overall American economy.

To help minimize the effect of this,

Canada and some of NATO’s European members have reluctantly agreed to increase their contributions.

Trump, who is very unpopular in the UK, has also delved into British politics by involving himself in the Brexit debate. The President has done this by criticizing British leaders, including Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Britain’s Conservative Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

Trump has said that Johnson should join Nigel Farage, the former leader of the UK Independence Party; he may also ask for NATO members to increase pressure on China in light of the Hong Kong protests, a demand which may exacerbate existing tensions concerning American unilateralism.

Tensions within NATO have also risen due to the recent actions of Re-

cep Erdogan, the president of Turkey.

Under Erdogan, Turkey, a NATO member and long-term American ally, has invaded Kurdish-controlled regions in northern Syria and built positive relations with Russia, causing concern among its traditional western allies. Turkey is also threatening to obstruct efforts to defend those NATO countries which border Russia unless NATO offers support for its attacks on the Kurds, who had previously allied with the US and NATO members in the fight against ISIS. French President Emmanuel Macron, an occasional critic of Trump, criticized Turkey’s President, Recep Erdogan, leading to Trump attacking Macron and praising Turkey’s role in NATO. Macron has also been a source of trouble for NATO, and recently criticized certain aspects of the NATO alliance, the foundation of the alliance which says an attack against one member is an attack against all.

In response to Trump’s presidency, Macron has insisted that NATO is no longer sufficient, and has supported the European Defense Initiative, a new group which performs much of the same tasks as NATO without American involvement. Macron’s statements drew criticism from German Prime Minister Angela Merkel, who defended the importance of NATO. Like Erdogan, Macron has also supported improving relations with Russia, and he has been notable as one of the few officials to support

forcing Britain to adhere to its deadlines for withdrawal from the EU rather than continue negotiations.

Macron also obstructed the effort to have North Macedonia and Albania join NATO, a decision which was criticized as endangering the expansion of democracy in the Balkans.

The first day of the meeting on Tuesday went poorly, as Trump criticized Macron’s statements on NATO and threatened to increase tariffs on French wine.

So far, the meeting seems set to worsen relations between NATO member states.

For the past 70 years, NATO has prevented war from breaking out in Western Europe. Its division and factionalism during recent years bodes poorly for its continued success.

While tensions like this are nothing new — France left NATO in 1966 over U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and did not return until 2009 — the degree to which the basic foundations of NATO are being challenged by its own members is troubling.

For now, it seems all we can do is wait and hope NATO’s current troubles subside before lasting damage is done to the alliance. If the bloc continues to shatter, the West may be in for a dramatic realignment of the diplomatic status quo which has kept peace and stability in Europe since the end of the Second World War.

Collin Bonnell, FCRH ’21, is a history major from Hingham, Mass.

Page 10

CULTURE

December 4, 2019

The Secret Life of Ram Van Drivers

By DANIEL MCBRIDE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

At the beginning of my freshman year, I was shocked to see students who were my age or just a few years older driving vans full of fragile humans through New York City traffic. Classes alone were stressful, but having a job that required students to battle NYC drivers for 13 hours every week seemed unmanageable.

I started driving for Ram Van my junior year in their “Early Arrival” training program. Forty students and I each took turns behind the wheels of the school’s big white

vans, while those who weren’t driving chatted in the back seats and shared the aux cord. After surviving the notorious parallel parking test, we celebrated with a Ram Van party. The week that I had originally dreaded turned out to be some weird Uber-esque version of summer camp.

Once the semester officially started and the older drivers returned, the Ram Van office became the headquarters for a club that paid you to be a member, like an anti-frat. We spent our afternoons complaining about a variety of inconveniences: those annoying

tablets that never work, getting assigned a van with a camera facing the driver, the new construction that narrowed the Henry Hudson Parkway into a single lane or that one passenger who demanded we turn off our “inappropriate” music.

This was our unique way of bonding that other students couldn’t understand. As a driver, I realized Ram Van was a much more complicated system than I had understood it to be as a passenger.

Stelanie Tripodis, FCRH ’20, who has been driving at Ram Van since her freshman year, spoke to the complicated logistics behind

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIEL MCBRIDE FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Seasoned Ram Van driver Daniel McBride, FCRH ‘20, writes about the complex logistics involved in the Ram Van system.

being a dispatcher, the person who reads the city’s traffic and notifies the drivers of the fastest route, which is constantly changing.

“We run ourselves like a business, it’s fast-paced and involves a lot of problem-solving,” she said.

“Crazy accidents happen, people get angry and expect you to be above the traffic.”

There are also the late-night shifts between Thursdays and Saturdays from midnight to 4 a.m., where party passengers who’ve had too much to drink can get motion sickness. “Someone will puke in a van at 3 a.m. and you have to go in and clean it up,” she said. The next time you take a van, remember to thank your driver.

Rain or shine, Ram Van operates every day the university is open.

Tripodis shared the harsh realities student employees face during the winter months.

“There was a crazy snowstorm last year and the roads weren’t salted,” she said. “We had vans literally parked and stuck in the roads throughout the whole entire city for eight hours.”

It was the student employees’ jobs that day to go out and get those vans, but they ended up getting stuck themselves. “We had to walk back to campus from wherever we were parked ... it was a big disaster,” she said.

Some snowy days were more difficult. Students had woken up for their morning shifts to drive to Lincoln Center through the snow, only to be told while on the road that the university had closed due

to extreme weather. Imagine being stuck in a van by yourself while your classmates enjoyed a snow day.

Despite the cold weather, the office can cultivate deeper bonds.

“A lot of people join Ram Van not only for money but for love,” Tripodis said. “A lot of people who met through Ram Van have ended up staying together and even getting married. It’s a strange inner circle.”

Ram Van drivers don’t just drive students in between Rose Hill and Lincoln Center: “Special runs” is Ram Van code for making a trip to an unusual destination.

One shift, I had to drive members of Public Safety, many of whom are retired NYPD officers, to a shooting range in Manhattan. Other special runs include driving golf carts on campus for the University’s Jubilee event, a two-day party for alumni. A more memorable shift was when I drove Fordham’s prestigious Board of Trustees to the Bronx Zoo. Or rather, I gripped the steering wheel while they shouted at me for going to the entrance where I was assigned to drop them off, not the entrance for their private event inside the Gorilla Room.

Ram Van drivers transport students, faculty, staff, alumni and prospective students all over the city.

We meet and speak with everyone.

Yes, even Father McShane rides the Ram Van. We are the face of the University, and I love being able to look at my school from behind the scenes. And the best part of this gig? Besides the fact that it’s the highest paying job on campus, drivers ride for free.

Exploring the Merits of Mindfulness

When it comes to mental health, there is one word that has found its way into almost every recent conversation: mindfulness.

It sounds simple enough, but this small practice has grown into a big movement that deserves attention.

It’s easy to wonder if mindfulness is just another passing trend that will leave as quickly as it arrived, but it is a concept with a history and an exciting future.

What is mindfulness exactly?

Mindfulness refers to a practice of self-observation, done without judgement, that seeks to promote a state of open awareness of the present moment. It means being aware of your surroundings and letting distractions pass without attention. While mindfulness can be highlighted through dedicated acts like yoga or meditation, it can also be a constant mindset that we apply in our daily lives.

Mindfulness originated long ago with the Buddhist tradition of sati, the first factor of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment. In fact, sati was first translated into English as “mindfulness” in 1881. Though mindfulness has recently been detached from its Buddhist roots, one of the most incredible examples of the power of mindfulness is found in the brains of long-term meditators, particularly Buddhist monks. Researchers have found that after practicing long-term meditation, the brain improves its memory, compassion, emotional control and creativity.

It is unlikely that the average person can achieve the same incredible results as those who practice mindfulness meditation on a long-term scale. However, everyone can benefit from the practice, even if it is a small change. Dan Harris, a journalist and correspon-

dent for ABC News, became an advocate for mindfulness meditation after suffering from a panic attack while on air. Harris’ story shows how mindfulness and meditation can be practically applied to the life of an everyday person. At first, Harris was very skeptical of the self-help advice he received, and he was not shy about sharing his honest feelings. However, he soon found that meditation worked wonders on his anxiety. He called his journey “10% Happier,” showing viewers that the goal should not be perfection, but improvement over time.

Mindfulness is not simply about meditation. Instead, meditation is just one way to dedicate time to mindfulness in a meaningful way. With all of the technology we have access to, we are constantly bombarded with stimuli. We always know what our friends are doing while they are doing it. We receive emails from work or school no matter how far away we are. We are constantly connected, and although this can be a good thing, too much removes us from the here and now. One glance at our phone and we are immersed in whatever is going on in the world of our screens.

It is more important than ever that we encourage and incorporate

mindfulness into our daily lives.

Psychology studies have noted that mindfulness can combat symptoms of depression and anxiety and even boost our immune system. Meditation and breathing exercises can ease the symptoms of a panic attack as well. By focusing on the present moment, we are more likely to treat ourselves with compassion and not feel like we are falling behind in the fastpaced world around us.

There is a multitude of resources available to make mindfulness apart of your life. Applications such as Calm and Headspace (which include extensive mindfulness meditation exercises for you to try) are available for download.

Additionally, Fordham University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) have their own application, called Stressbusters, that includes relaxing sounds and meditations to guide you in your mindfulness journey.

Mindfulness is often a series of daily decisions, choosing to remain in the present no matter what life throws at you. This does not mean neglecting the future.

Rather, it means paying attention to the task at hand. Whether that means putting your phone away during lunch with friends, avoiding distractions while studying

at the library or walking without headphones in.

Mindfulness allows us to be more present in our relationships, which is invaluable. It allows us to listen to others to improve understanding and promote empathy, which is more than important in today’s world. Mindfulness allows for more compassion towards ourselves. We are able to cut those mental spirals of self-doubt and self-criticism by grounding ourselves in the moment and thinking realistically, as best we can.

This information can be a lot to take in. And I am sure that you, just as I did once, find this to be an oversimplification of mental health. Mindfulness is far from a cure-all to life’s problems. However, the overall mindset can make a world of difference in handling the blows that life throws at us every day.

Taking things one step at a time is nothing new, but it might just change your life.

As this is my last article for my mental health column, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who was a part of Volume 101 for giving me this opportunity. I am incredibly appreciative of the help I have received and the ability to write these articles in the first place. Thank you.

CULTURE

December 4, 2019 Chrissy Teigen As a supermodel, author, TV host and iconic social media presence, Chrissy Teigen is much more than just the wife of Grammy-winning singer John Legend. Her candid and completely unfiltered social media posts are comedy gold and unlike those of any other celebrities.

Honest and open about even the most cringeworthy moments of her life, Teigen is relatable and real.

Beyoncé Arguably one of the most powerful women in modern history, Beyoncé represents strength, independence and feminism. Her music has empowered women everywhere and her fearless approach to life in general has inspired a genuine cult of personality. With an influence that transcends genre, her “Beyhive” worships her songs, speech and even silence.

Few can match Beyoncé’s cult following, as she is truly a fantasy woman who gives her followers hope that they can have it all.

Ellen DeGeneres Ellen DeGeneres’ lovable mix of humor and compassion has captured the hearts of millions. Most famous for hosting “The Ellen Show,” DeGeneres has used her platform to encourage kindness and bring awareness to profound social issues.

Over her show’s 16-year run, she has donated over $50 million to various charities and people in need. Asking her viewers to “be kind to one another,” Ellen has inspired people to make the world a better place.

Virgil Abloh Founder of Off-White and current artistic director of menswear for Louis Vuitton, Virgil Abloh is one of the most powerful and sought-after designers in the fashion industry. He made history as the first black man to debut a men’s wear line in Louis Vuitton’s 164-year history, and sparked an even greater buzz over his lack of formal fashion training and his suburban roots. He has single-handedly redefined our understanding of fashion as an artform and sparked a new wave of luxury-meets-streetwear fashion.

Page 11 Donald Trump Whether you love him or hate him, it is undeniable that Donald Trump rewrote the rules of politics when he was elected president in 2016. His unpredictability has thrilled some voters but worried others, as he has disrupted institutional norms. Despite the current impeachment inquiry and his unpresidential Twitter activity, Trump has taken a bold strategy to promote denuclearization of North Korea and has pushed for new trade agreements.

Malala Yousafzai In 2014, 17-year-old Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner ever. An advocate for women’s education rights, Malala rose to fame after being shot in the face by a Taliban gunman on her way to school in 2012. Her tragic story incited even stronger support for her cause and led to a United Nations campaign for the education of children worldwide and Pakistan’s Right to Education Bill.

Greta Thunberg Although Greta Thunberg is only 16 years old, she is already one of the most powerful climate change activists in the world. Inspiring millions to participate in climate strikes, the Swedish teenager raised awareness for climate science and galvanized support and activism in a manner few have been able to do successfully in the past. Resonating particularly with young people, Thunberg is responsible for the rise in girl eco-warriors in what has been affectionately coined “The Greta Effect.”

Nancy Pelosi

Simone Biles Even though Simone Biles is the most decorated American gymnast of all time, her impact goes far beyond her athletics. Biles has flexed her muscles outside the gym, speaking about her difficult childhood in foster care and has worked with organizations that support children. Her legacy in revolutionizing gymnastics is seen both in her creation of intricate new moves as well as her push for change in the USA Gymnastics organization.

The Royal Family From the matriarch Queen Elizabeth to the newest addition Archie, the British Royal Family has captivated Americans. Millions watched Prince William marry Kate Middelton in 2011 and Prince Harry wed Meghan Markle in 2018. Many anxiously follow them, awaiting their every move.

Praised by Hillary Clinton as the “driving force of the Democratic party,” Nancy Pelosi has made waves not only because she is the first female Speaker of the House but also for her involvement in important legislation. In her 16 years as Speaker, Pelosi led the Democratic party to pass the first major gun safety bill and voting rights legislation, and has pushed for affordable healthcare as well as accountability in the current administration.

REWIND THE 2010 s MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF THE DECADE WRITTEN BY ALEXANDRA LANGE; PHOTOS COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

Pope Francis Pope Francis has been a man of firsts: the first Jesuit Pope, the first Pope to choose the name Francis and the first Pope from the Americas.

Revolutionizing the papacy, Francis has strikingly departed from the conservative nature of the Catholic Church. He has criticized global leaders, opened the doors of the Church to those who have historically been excluded and championed environmental reform, indigenous rights and several other social justice issues.

Elon Musk Whether he’s working on electric vehicles for Tesla, sending rockets into space for SpaceX or revolutionizing the way we make payments for PayPal, Elon Musk is refashioning the world. The entrepreneur has already reshaped life as we know it and has plans to bring science-fiction fantasies to life.

With goals to build a supersonic rail system, improve A.I. and even colonize Mars, Musk’s influence will likely grow stronger in the coming years.

Taylor Swift Recently winning the award for Artist of the Decade at the AMA’s, Taylor Swift has a power over the music industry matched by few others. On the business side, Swift has stood up for fair compensation for artists’ streaming their work on Apple Music and Spotify and has fought back against her former record label’s refusal to let her perform her old music. On stage, the countryturned-pop superstar has an electrifying presence that makes “Swifties” believe in magic and love.

Bill Gates With a net worth of over $107 billion, Bill Gates is one of the world’s wealthiest people. While his impact in the past stemmed from his leadership of Microsoft, more recently, he has been influential through his charity work.

Through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, he has given away nearly $50 billion to various charities, focusing on public education, climate change, global health and poverty, inspiring others to do the same.

Lin-Manuel Miranda Since its premiere in 2015, “Hamilton” has been one of Broadway’s most coveted tickets. Lin-Manuel Miranda conceived, wrote and starred in this theatrical masterpiece that has been praised for embracing history, race, rhythm and soul. Also writing the music for “Moana” and starring in “Mary Poppins Returns,” the New Yorker has won numerous awards for his musical genius. Off the stage, though, Miranda has shined just as bright, particularly with his fundraising in support of Puerto Rico.

Kanye West Pop culture phenomenon Kanye West has been one of this decade’s most powerful trailblazers. As a musician, he has pushed the boundaries of hip-hop, creating new sounds with 808s and soulful samples as well as writing storytelling lyrics. As a fashion designer, West has created one of the hottest sneakers in the world and revitalized the Adidas brand with his Yeezy partnership. Politically, he is unafraid to speak his mind, forming a complicated and controversial friendship with President Donald Trump and being an integral component of pop culture’s relationship with politics.

Evan Spiegel Each day, over 200 million people use Snapchat, the pioneering app created by Evan Spiegel. Spiegel revolutionized the tech industry when he designed Snapchat. A visual, personal and ephemeral platform, Snapchat gives users the freedom to express their true personalities and embrace the emotive content. Without Spiegel’s vision, the world would be an entirely different place.

The Obamas As the first African American President of the United States, Barack Obama forever changed America’s political landscape.

His legacy as a politician can be seen through the legalization of same-sex marriage, Obamacare and the improvement of America’s image. His wife, Michelle, has been just as powerful in inciting change, focusing on healthy living and education. The Obamas have promoted a message of hope and change and have provided a strong example for leaders to follow.

The Kardashian/Jenners The youngest self-made billionaire, the world’s highest paid model and a criminal justice activist are not your typical reality TV characters. The Kardashians, never ones to blend in, have influenced fashion, body image, social media and even the vocabulary we use today.

Jeff Bezos Although Amazon was founded 25 years ago, the company has expanded its capabilities in recent years.

Led by the world’s richest person, Jeff Bezos, the online marketplace has disrupted the way people shop and has taken on traditional retailers.

Bezos has pushed the limits, leading the charge in smart home products with Alexa and expanding into entertainment with Prime Video.

FORDHAM LOOKS FORWARD

Page 12

December 4, 2019

ASILI Supports Black Students on Campus

By KRISTEN MCNERNEY STAFF WRITER

For the final issue of the volume, The Fordham Ram sat down with ASILI President Cameron DeChalus, FCRH ’20, to learn about the club’s goals of promoting diverse programming on campus, as well as its hopes for the future.

Kristen McNerney: What are you looking forward to this semester as a club?

Cameron DeChalus: This semester we are looking forward to engaging club members with new opportunities and ideas we have for the school year. We have been working with the Office of Multicultural Affairs to plan exciting events for next semester and can’t wait to share with the student body the list of events we have planned for Black History Month.

KM: Have there been any new changes from previous years?

CD: There haven’t been too many changes from last year. We used to have an e-board position as “Athletic Liaison,” but the club decided to remove the role due to its lack of responsibilities. We now have a “Social Media Coordinator” that helps with our marketing activity online and keeping our club members informed about club events and opportunities.

KM: What is the primary goal of ASILI, and why might Fordham students want to participate?

CD: The primary goal of ASILI is to serve as a resource for black students as they form their iden-

tities throughout their formative years at Fordham and assume the responsibilities for black students’ cultural and academic representations at Fordham. Fordham students might participate in order to learn more about the diverse black and African cultures within our student body as well as discuss pertinent issues that affect these communities.

KM: What are your relationships like with other Fordham clubs?

CD: ASILI has been able to establish and foster relationships with a range of clubs, whether they be political like College Democrats, cultural like El Grito or CASA or artistic like B-Sides and Satin Dolls. ASILI has utilized these relationships with other clubs to collaborate and promote for events.

KM: Do you engage with any organizations outside of Fordham?

CD: We have worked with organizations off-campus sporadically throughout our history, but it is an area in which we would like to improve to provide students the opportunity to become more involved with the larger Bronx community and black-serving organizations.

KM: What are your most popular events?

CD: Our most popular event is Taste the World, an annual event in which we celebrate the cultures and diversity that makeup our Fordham community through arts, dances, music and food. It is an excellent time for students to spend

time outside of the classroom to learn more about their peers and the wonderful multitude of cultures that exist at Fordham University. Another popular event is Black & Gold, in which we celebrate the club and introduce the new executive board for the upcoming school year. Students are able to dress up and congratulate the club and its members for all their hard work and success when hosting events and meetings. Additionally, each semester we try to have a speaker come to campus, and although these events can vary due to funding, they are also usually popular events amongst students and club members, too.

KM: How does ASILI promote the messages of diversity and inclusion?

CD:I think ASILI promotes the message of diversity and inclusion by creating an environment that shows there is a place for anyone and everyone within the Fordham community. Whether it be through our meetings, events or outside opportunities, ASILI strives to make every student and culture feel welcomed and celebrated for the ways they contribute to our community and improve our student body.

KM: Anything else you might want the Fordham community to know about?

CD: To always feel welcomed to attend our meetings our events.

The more people, the better!

Interview edited for space and clarity by Hannah Gonzalez. Spread designed by Jennifer Anh Hoang.

COURTESY OF ASILI FACEBOOK

ASILI hosts an annual fashion show featuring the work of black designers.

COURTESY OF THE RAM ARCHIVES

COURTESY OF ASILI FACEBOOK

COURTESY OF THE RAM ARCHIVES

ASILI has hosted a wide variety of panels and speakers, including the Being Black at Fordham panel (top), the Black History Month panel (bottom left) and speaker Angela Davis (bottom right).

December 4, 2019

FORDHAM LOOKS FORWARD

Page 13

JENNIFER HOANG/THE FORDHAM RAM

This past November, ASILI brought journalist and historian Jelani Cobb to Fordham to speak on race and injustice in America. Cobb drew parallels between historical racism and its modern manifestations.

JENNIFER HOANG/THE FORDHAM RAM

COURTESY OF THE RAM ARCHIVES

One of ASILI’s recent cultural events was the Taste the World event, a celebration of food and diversity at Fordham. At the event, student hip-hop group Flava performed for those in attendance (right).

COURTESY OF THE RAM ARCHIVES

ASILI members pose after the Being Black at Fordham panel, an annual discussion of the black student experience at Fordham, which encourages students to think critically about diversity on campus.

CULTURE Hattie Rainford: 1 of 22 Exchange Students England to Amsterdam to New York City December 4, 2019

Page 14

By NOELLE DE LEEUW CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When Hattie Rainford walks around the Rose Hill campus, she blends in perfectly. While her broken ankle doesn’t allow her to walk as effortlessly as those around her, as she emerges from the on-campus Starbucks with a coffee and her laptop, she looks just like the rest of us.

The look is deceiving, however.

When Rainford starts to speak, her Liverpool-born English accent gives her away immediately. Every year, Fordham welcomes a couple dozen exchange students from all over the world. As for the fall 2019 semester, there are 22 exchange students divided over both campuses. Rainford is one of them.

When talking with Rainford for longer, her Britishness seems more apparent with every sentence.

“I miss the tea me and my family drink,” she says. “We get our tea delivered in a basket ... I’m not even joking ... The tea-man comes to our house.”

Although she grew up in England, her home university is the University of Amsterdam (UvA), which makes her an international student currently studying abroad. It’s not as confusing as it sounds.

“I’m already at a home away from home,” Rainford says. “Now just times two.”

She majors in Literary Studies and Cultural Analysis, a major she describes as “very hippie-dippie.”

The Brit decided on studying in Amsterdam, rather than in her home country, because of the financial benefit. Tuition in England is more than five times as expensive as in the Netherlands, according to Rainford, so she packed her bags and moved to the Dutch capital. But why then, for somebody who chose her school based on the monetary gain, is she spending a semester in New York City, one of the most expensive cities in the world? Simple: “I met a boy,” she says.

So Rainford packed her bags once again and flew across the Atlantic. She now finds herself living in an apartment just off of the Rose Hill campus with her Bronx-born boyfriend, Chris. Even though she has lived in multiple European countries throughout her life, American college life is a whole new terrain.

One thing Rainford can’t wrap her head around at Fordham is the merchandise.

“This would just never happen at home,” she says. “If I wear an UvA-shirt at the UvA, I would get shamed to death.” She finds it mor-

tifying to promote her own school on its campus.

Now that she’s here, however, she’s happy to participate.

“But now I’ve got a Fordham Tshirt, and I’m going to wear that,” she says.

Rainford is certainly a fish out of water at times, but a happy one.

One of her Fordham friends took her to homecoming, which she enjoyed, though not without its share of confusion.

“Homecoming ... still don’t know what on earth that is about,” she says. “I came home, I guess?”

The American traditions and quirks take some getting used to.

Apart from that, Rainford considers her time at Fordham to be a valuable experience. One of her motivations behind choosing Fordham was the networking it would allow her to do. She saw an opportunity, and she took it.

“I think it’s a very American thing, to use your college as a credential,” she says. “The name is worth almost as much as the degree itself; I can say I went to Fordham, and that’s going to mean something to someone.”

Hattie realized that New York is where it’s happening, and she plans on returning to the Big Apple after graduating in Amsterdam. But while she’s here now, she takes advantage of her position.

“I’ve figured out it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” she says. “Networking is even more important here, and you can meet even more important people here.”

For her classes at Fordham, Rainford spends most of her time writing. She aims to write as a career, which is a departure from what she thought she would end up being: a theatre actress.

“I think I’ve sold my soul,” she says.

Many years of her adolescent life were spent in a small theater in England, both on and off stage.

She is trained in opera and musical theater and has been on-stage in a variety of productions. Even now, it’s hard to stop her from spending hours on end telling stories from her theatrical European years. But Rainford has moved on, and her ambition to lead a life on stage has turned into a range of anecdotal party material.

Rainford wants to write online media content and hopes to be able to write about the things she truly enjoys. She is currently practicing the latter at Fordham.

For one of her classes, Writing for Online Media, Rainford created a blog on “everything I would have done in New York, but with a broken ankle.” The name of the blog: “Cast Away. I love that I came up with that name. I am full

of puns.”

When Rainford talks about New York City in Fiction — her favorite class — and its teacher, her voice changes from her usual bantering Brit to something that tells you about how valuable the class has been to her.

“His name is Lowery McClendon,” she says. “Honestly, you should have interviewed him, I just want to be his best friend.”

Rainford harkened back to a time early in the semester, when her broken ankle still required her to walk on crutches. The elevators were broken, and she was physically unable to walk up the stairs to her class.

“He had moved the entire class downstairs for me, which was so nice,” she says. “I could still go to this lovely class.”

Rainford looks back on her semester at Fordham with gratitude and appreciation for the experience and the people she has met.

When asked how it feels to be one of just three UvA students to get accepted as an exchange student at Fordham, she loudly exclaims, “They let this idiot in? Ridiculous!”

Although her ankle may cause her to be a bit slow in pace, her wit is nothing but quick.

Get to know her over coffee — although she’ll probably have tea instead.

The Under 15 Club: Xi’an Famous Foods

By CHRIS CAPUANO COLUMNIST

The Receipt 1x Stewed Pork Hand-Ripped Noodles $9.37 Total (with tax) $10.20 The Review When I started this column, I knew that cheap eats could be had pretty much anywhere in New York City thanks to everyone’s friends, McDonald and Wendy. I also knew that writing a cheap eats column about multinational fast food chains could be, in a word, boring and in a few more words, uninspired, lazy, pointless and ridiculous. So, I made it a rule that I would not write about chain restaurants when I set out to find cheap eats in New York. I quickly came to question, however, what constitutes a chain restaurant.

Xi’an Famous Foods, for example, almost certainly fits the bill, with 15 locations decorating the streets of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.

However, there’s a definite distinction between an authentic Western Chinese restaurant chain that was started in 2005 and began as a 200 square foot basement stall in a Flushing, Queens shopping mall and a Taco Bell, right? (I’m going to assume the answer to this question is yes, so here’s my review of Xi’an — don’t expect a Taco Bell review any

time soon.)

The chain gets its name from the Chinese city of Xi’an, situated in northwestern China, though still rather far southeast from the coastal cities of Beijing and Shanghai. Xi’an has a cuisine shaped by its former location on the Silk Road, meaning it consists of a unique combination of Chinese and Middle Eastern foods and spices — cumin is especially prevalent. In the 15 years since its inception, Xi’an has become one of the most well-known Chinese spots in New York City, defined by ChefsFeed as “an NYC-based restaurant empire” and, as mentioned, now has 15 locations throughout the city.

Each location has a relatively similar menu, though there are some variations that might be worth looking at before going. The menu at the restaurant is also not too descriptive, so it might be worth it to check it out online before going regardless.

As for the menu itself, it consists mostly of the restaurant’s signature, hand-ripped noodles, which are uniquely wide and belt-like. They can be ordered with a variety of meats (or none) and spices — with lamb and pork making the most appearances on the menu — and can be had in soup or on a plate in a sort of stew. There are also four levels of heat that most dishes can be ordered with, ranging from No Spice to Extra Spicy.

There are “burgers” which consist of either lamb or pork on a flatbread bun, and a few other options, includ-

ing soups and dumplings.

After receiving and eating my food — I ordered the stewed pork noodles — I came to a new appreciation for dining with friends. There’s something special about sharing a delicious meal with people you appreciate. Food brings people together in a way not many other things can. Dining with small-stomached friends, however, is a joy that far surpasses just eating with friends in general. Hearing the question, “Do you want the rest of my food?” is one of life’s greatest pleasures, possibly second only to the subsequent eating of the food in question.

It was via this question that I tried Xi’an’s spicy cumin lamb handripped noodles, and without knocking the pork noodles that I ordered, I strongly recommend using this dish as a starting point for your foray into Xi’an. The blend of spices, along with the lamb and noodles, creates one of the most uniquely delicious meals I’ve eaten in New York. After eating them, it made perfect sense to me why Xi’an’s website has, in large letters, the statement, “NO, WE DO NOT FRANCHISE” front and center on its home page. If I had any business acumen whatsoever, opening my own location to make and sell those noodles would’ve been my second thought, the first being, “why have I not had this before?”

To make a long story short, Xi’an Famous Foods is no Taco Bell, and wouldn’t be even if it had thousands of locations.

COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

Xi’an has the accessibility of a fast food place with the quality of a storied restaurant.

December 4, 2019

CULTURE

Page 15

“Knives Out” Cuts Up the Competition

By GREG MYSOGLAND STAFF WRITER

Rian Johnson isn’t exactly known for humor. The anachronistic mix of noir tropes and a contemporary high school setting in “Brick” results in a few amusing moments, but it’s still a bleak film overall. You can probably count the number of laughs in “Looper” (still his best film) on one hand. The sad attempts at comedy in “Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi” are not just painfully unfunny, but also detract

from the story.

With the irreverent, self-aware murder mystery film “Knives Out,” however, Johnson proves that he is more than capable of producing competent humor and using it in ways that enhance the overall experience.

Not that “Knives Out” is truly a comedy, but its awareness and deconstruction of mystery and crime film tropes lends it a self-deprecating tone that draws more than a few good laughs, as do the intentionally cartoonish characterizations of

much of its cast.

The central mystery is the death of wealthy crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer).

While local policeman, Lieutenant Elliot (Lakeith Stanfield), believes it to be a clear suicide, private detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is convinced that Harlan was murdered, likely by one of the members of his dysfunctional family, played by a star-studded ensemble that includes Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Colette and Michael Shannon, among others. Blanc recruits

COURTESY OF TWITTER

“Knives Out” features a star-studded cast including Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Lakeith Stanfield, Toni Colette and more.

Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas), Harlan’s loyal and earnest nurse, to help weed through the lies and manipulations of the family to get to the truth.

Much like with “The Last Jedi,” writer-director Johnson is clearly determined to subvert and upend the expectations viewers have of the type of film they’re watching, but his efforts are much more successful here. Some of the biggest surprises in regard to the mystery actually come early in the film, with the second and third acts focusing more on how the characters react to these revelations.

There are, of course, still some last-minute surprises, but they’re maybe not as left-field as one might expect from this type of whodunit.

In choosing the guilty party, Johnson went with the choice that best suits the larger story he’s telling rather than whichever would offer the most shock value.

That larger story is, at its core, one about power, specifically the kind bestowed by wealth, and the greed and other emotions it stirs in people. The murder mystery is inherently tied to struggles between the members of the Thrombey family themselves and between the family and Marta that are stirred up

by Harlan’s death. Marta winds up as both protagonist and audiencesurrogate, simultaneously observing the dysfunction of the family and dealing with her own problems.

Many of the latter are related to her family’s status as undocument-

ed immigrants, a subplot that lends the film a welcome dose of realworld relevance. The unexpected political elements of “Knives Out” are not tacked on, but important as elements of Marta’s character arc and add to the decadence of the Thrombeys, all of whom (other than Harlan) are either xenophobic alt-right trolls or privileged, “fake” liberals.

While a lot of work goes into establishing the characters of the rest of the ensemble, the film belongs to de Armas, Craig and Evans. It’s a star-making role for the former, who makes Marta instantly compelling and appropriately unpredictable.

Craig hams it up in glorious fashion, with an utterly ridiculous Southern drawl making it impossible to tell if Blanc is an eccentric genius or a clueless goofball with delusions of grandeur. Evans clearly relishes the chance to break away from his Captain America image by playing Ransom Drysdale, whose own relatives describe him as the black sheep of the family. The bad boy vibe suits Evans just as well as the nice guy one, and he chews the scenery with a delightfully vicious performance.

Films like “Knives Out” come along much too rarely these days.

It’s a stylish, meaningful, funny and most importantly, immensely fun ride that keeps you guessing until the credits roll. It’s an absolute triumph for original filmmaking that proves Hollywood still has a few creative ideas up its sleeve. This is why we go to the movies.

“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” Radiates Joy

By MATT DILLON STAFF WRITER

Hollywood is digging up its old heroes — or at least reimagining their classic narratives. The science fiction, superhero and pulp icons of old are being reborn, even if only to get one last dollar out of them.

Thankfully, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” brings back a hero we really do need: Mister Rogers.

These days, it seems like empathy is a non-renewable resource and everyone has a bone to pick, but Mister Rogers reminds us that humans are fundamentally good.

The film fictionalizes the story behind an Esquire article written about Mister Rogers towards the end of his long career as host of the children’s show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” While liberties have been taken, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is a genuine narrative that remains true to Rogers’ values.

The film’s success hinges around the decision to cast Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers. The latter wasn’t just the host of an exceedingly important children’s show but a wholly unique public figure that always stayed true to his ideals. It’s hard to imagine anyone filling his shoes. Nonetheless, Tom Hanks manages to perfectly capture Rogers’ calm, loving wisdom.

“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” opens with a near perfect recreation of the show’s opening sequence. The body language, fake TV

static and miniature houses don’t do nearly as much to sell the scene as Hanks’ performance, though, replicating the warmness and understanding exclusive to “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” The same goes for the rest of the film.

Surprisingly, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” uses Rogers as a supporting character. Bitter journalist Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) is the star. The film is primarily driven by his struggles with parenthood, caused by both his newborn son and absent father. Mister Rogers ends up involved in this personal journey once Lloyd is assigned to interview him. His journalistic cynicism is

challenged by what seems to be the real deal.

I have conflicted feelings about where the filmmakers decided to put their focus. On one hand, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” isn’t just coasting on the reputation of a beloved celebrity. It’s hard not to respect the risks they take. The film ends up as a sort of metanarrative about how the values Rogers promoted affected his audience. However, making the film about his messages rather than the man himself contradicts one of the core themes of the story.

“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” correctly points out that

Rogers is a human being, and that’s what makes his boundless love so compelling. At the same time, he’s depicted as a guardian angel, periodically swooping in to save Lloyd from marital dysfunction and childhood trauma, all the while shrouded by a veil of mystery.

The film trips itself up in a few other places. Even if it’s rooted in real events, Lloyd’s story feels a little too Hollywood. He is a trope living in a world of tropes, and even with Rhys’ strong acting, it rings hollow compared to Hanks’ much more nuanced, believable take on Rogers.

The film mostly works, but it does get ahead of itself at times. Us-

ing miniatures styled off of those in “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” for most of the establishing shots is a genius move. It’s a clever visual motif reminding the audience that this is a story about Mister Rogers one way or another. Meanwhile, mixing the show’s imagery with Lloyd’s own life as his mental state worsens feels a little tacky.

Regardless, the film stays true to the messages of love and compassion that Fred Rogers spent his whole career teaching. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” reminds you that those things still matter, even for adults living in a world more complicated than the “Neighborhood.”

COURTESY OF TWITTER

The recent film “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” recreates Fred Rogers’ (best known as Mister Rogers) hit children’s television show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

CULTURE

Page 16

December 4, 2019

Editor’s Pick | Film

“20th Century Women” Depicts Complex Womanhood

By ERICA SCALISE PROJECTS EDITOR

At nighttime, when I’m finally cocooned between covers, laying beside a box of half-eaten biscotti and a book I will have inevitably promised and then failed to read (hello “A People’s History of the United States”), my mind wanders to the possibility of a movie.

It’s almost never at a reasonable hour and likely abandoned somewhere around the 20-minute mark for a fruitless attempt at some adequate shut-eye.

On occasion, a film dazzles apart from the rest, though, so much so that it’s worth the subsequent morning’s tired headache and inevitable midday crash on the FMH bathroom couch.

When I turned on Mike Mills’ “20th Century Women” after midnight on a Wednesday in early October, I must admit, I hardly knew what I was getting myself into.

The film is set in Santa Barbara in 1979 at the turn of a decade marked largely by sexual liberation, political uncertainty and the divisive punk scene.

It revolves around three twentieth-century women — Dorothea (Annette Bening), Abbie (Greta Gerwig) and Julie (Elle Fanning) — narrated from the point of view of Dorthea’s fifteen-year-old son, Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) who looks hauntingly similar to Timothée Chalamet.

The story tracks Jamie’s emergence into adolescence while simultaneously interweaving each

of the three women’s stories into a cohesive collection of archived vignettes and emotional insights into the inner workings of the female mind.

The all-encompassing counter culture on the cusp of something strange and new is unfamiliar to Dorthea, a single mother who, upon feeling out of touch in her mid-50s, solicits the help of two young women (Gerwig and Fanning) to help raise her son.

“Do you need a man to raise a man?” Dorthea questions to which she reluctantly declares, “I don’t think so.”

Mills, a graphic designer and music video creator first, for acts like Sonic Youth and Air, creates a snapshot in time of the passing of time itself in a story that feels just as much like an homage to mothers as it does a love letter to the time period’s art and media.

The film seamlessly interweaves a conglomerate of words and sounds from music from the female, British punk band, The Raincoats to quotes strewn straight from feminist author Susan Lydon’s “The Politics of Orgasm” and excerpts from Jimmy Carter’s all too relevant “Crisis of Confidence” speech.

One of the film’s most poignant moments comes out of a scene in which Jamie, upon garnering newfound knowledge about feminism, reads an essay to his mother entitled, “It Hurts to be Alive and Obsolete: The Aging Woman” in an attempt to convey an understanding of her that’s inevitably offensive.

“I don’t need a book to tell me who I am,” Dorthea declares, dampened.

Mills also plays with vintage photographs and archived footage to expand the narrative of each woman’s life and in doing so, their stories emerge, more vibrant and honest, providing a realistically unadulterated slice of life into the complexities of womanhood.

Weeks following my original viewing alone in my bedroom, my mother and I watched “20th Century Women” during a quick weekend trip she took to New York.

The film is, if anything, an insightful reminder into a forgotten truth; people live entire lives before they have children and women live entire lives before they

have children because women are people.

Disjointed at times and tastefully slow, this slice of life film flips conventional structure completely on its head, exchanging it for something so clever and unintentionally unique that I’m only left wishing I had both written it myself or could sleep in Mills’ brain, even if for just a snapshot in time.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

“20th Century Women” stars Greta Gerwig, Annette Bening, Ellie Fanning , Lucas Jade Zumann and Billy Crudup, pictured above.

Across 1. Surgery souvenir 5. “Good __ ___” 10. Infant 14. Tributary of the Seine River 15. Eel, at sushi bars 16. Hillside, in the Highlands 17. Reporter from “Parks and Recreation” 18. Scrap 20. Grading method 21. A high-stepping horse 23. Someone in a hurry 25. Hebrew calendar month 26. Former bank holding com,

abbr. pany acquired by Bank of America 27. Ballet performer 30. Had a very shiny nose 34. Frenzied 35. Top-selling Toyota 37. Dwarf from “The Hobbit”, brother of Dori and Nori ORI 38. Devices used for boiling wa ter 39. Temptress 40. Composer Novello 41. Eskimo knife 42. Celestial body 43. Chromosome carrier

44. Soft-drink giant 46. Airborne team member 48 Lee who created Spider-man 49. Ali____ (Chinese manufac turer website) 50. Corn unit 53. Lightning bolts, in Germany 57. “___ Maria” 58. Situated away from the point of origin 61. “_ __ _ Rock” (Simon & Garfunkel hit) 62. Former late-night talkshow host 64. Only NFL coach to have an undefeated season 65. Branch 66. Cupid, in Greece 67. River ducks 68. Places Down

ANSWERS TO ISSUE 21

1. Warren of the Oakland Raid ers 2. Actor prompter 3. Start of a spell 4. Southerners are stereotyped as 5. Stylish filmmaker 6. Growl 7. Annoy 8. Actress Julie from Norway 9. Causes rosy cheeks 10. Pellet for a toy gun 11. Pirate sound.

12. Hypebeast clothing compa ny, named “A Bathing Ape” 13. Age measurement

CREATED BY KEVIN DINEEN

19. Swell 22. The Browns, as denoted on a scoreboard 24. ___ Paulo, Brazil 26. NY baseball mascot 27. Modern type of handshake 28. Whac-_-____ 29. Still asleep 31. Cherished 32. Lying facedown 33. Employment decider 35. Athenian commander 36. Notoriously noxious de odorant 39. Andrea Bocelli, for one

40. Founder of the Jesuits 42. Properly credited 45. Nine-digit ID 46. “America’s Team” 47. ___-Wan Kenobi 49. NBA sport, abbr.

50. Salad green 51. Perpetually 52. Nevada city 54. Western author Grey 55 Put out 56 Scherzer, Soto, Strasburg 59 Feminine pronoun 60 Alabama 63 Operating system, abbr.

ANSWERS IONLINE

The Fordham Ram Crossword: This One Is Ruff

December 4, 2019

CULTURE

Page 17

“21 Bridges”: A Parable on Corrupt Police Officers

By ALEX DICKISON

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

You probably recognize the name “21 Bridges” from the 6’ by 3’ promotional posters they’ve managed to plaster up at every other D train stop. That’s not the only way it’s an especially New York film, though.

“21 Bridges” is a story about crooked and straight NYPD officers, and the fine line between the two — a hysterical parable of police morality condensed into the course of one long, improbably violent night.

The possible hero of the story is Andre Davis (Chadwick Boseman), an NYPD detective whose father, another cop, was murdered when he was a teenager, 19 years before the events of the movie.

We’re introduced to Andre while he’s in the process of being grilled by law enforcement internal affairs agents, inquiring after his justification in a recent on-duty shooting of a suspect of his (only the latest of eight such incidents). What’s also made clear is that he doesn’t regret a thing.

He has confidence in the authority of his gleaming badge and complete certainty in the necessity of his own actions as a warrior of justice — a cop with the sort of moral compass only a violent death in the family can bring about.

Soon the attention of the audience is directed to two masked criminals (Stephan James and Taylor Kitsch) jetting through the night. They end up on the empty, warehouse-choked docks of Brooklyn and are shown to be wielding submachine guns and

duffel bags, prepared for some big theft. It turns out to be a drug heist, except the plan goes wrong in two ways: the thieving duo, who were out to steal a shipment of 30 kilos of cocaine, find they’ve stumbled on 300 kilos.

Then, four cops come knocking.

But these guys aren’t knocking with their batons and pistols: they’ve got the “Jehovah’s Witness knock.” In other words, they’ve come to cut a dirty deal.

The scene erupts into something out of a war movie shootout, and soon it’s crooked cops versus confused robbers in a bullet-flying bloodbath. In the course of their escape, the crooks, who turn out to be Iraq veterans, murder seven police officers and leave an eighth hang-

ing by threads. They run a red light speeding over to Chinatown for a meet-up with their contractor and to ditch their damaged vehicle. Meanwhile, the police have already got a detective assigned to this ugly new case: Andre Davis.

Tipped off by a 911 call about a burning car in a downtown alleyway, Davis quickly realizes the two capermurderers are still within city limits.

With the backing of his new narcotics-agent partner Frankie (Sienna Miller) and the police commander of the half-murdered unit (J.K. Simmons), he manages to convince the FBI to institute a total lockdown of the island of Manhattan.

The commuter rails are kaput, the subways are looped, the tunnels are blocked and each and every one of

the 21 bridges that provide access to the borough are closed down from 1:00 to 5:00 a.. The hunt begins.

Director Brian Kirk periodically sweeps his camera over the hypermodern New York skyline with the arching perspective of a helicopter, capturing the long shadows cast by the tall buildings against a clouded sun, filming the garish city lights, projecting a murkiness and malaise into the movie picture that never really manages to be convincing with its idea of cozy 2019 New York City as somewhere as dark, sinister and crime-ridden as the 1970s Rotten Apple.

The audience’s suspension of disbelief is further called to work by the small army of police that Kirk deploys into lower Manhattan to

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Stephan James, Sienna Miller, Chadwick Boseman and Taylor Kitsch star in “21 Br idges,” which explores curropt cops.

hunt down the pair of crooks. Not to mention the fact that these criminals actually manage to evade the cops for a while, repeatedly running out of the gun sights of three dozen trained officers and a helicopter, staging wild escapes from unlikely hideouts (including a quasi-bunker in the Meatpacking district).

The movie introduces questions and themes about justice from the very first scene, where a preacher sermonizes to a young mourning Davis about the virtue of his slain father, but even these questions end up as more material for the violence.

The cops start shooting at each other over the crookedness and, thanks to the relative moral certainty with which Davis drives home his search for the truth about the cocaine theft gone wrong, the audience never sees any police officer doubt his or her own motives, be they honest or corrupt.

It turns out that the only character who recognizably questions himself at all is the younger and less vicious of the two thieves (Stephan James).

Nothing resembling what a police officer’s life looks like on a normal, routine day is ever shown, and so the question of what makes corruption so tempting in the first place is never answered with real force.

To what does that amount?

Watching the movie is hammily exciting in its bridge-blocking manhunt, distracting in its bullet-quick pace. And after you’re done, the whole thing’s forgettable enough that it won’t distract you for more than a minute when you sit down to study the rest of the night for finals.

Who’s That Kid? | It’s Annie Muscat, FCRH ’20!

Senior Seeks to Diversify Art History World

By BOJEUNG LEUNG VISUAL DIRECTOR

Annie Muscat, FCRH ’20, has used her time at Fordham to explore her love of art history, turning her passion from “something I was a little unsure could be an actual career path to what I see myself doing and working in.”

Coming to our interview after returning from a last-minute trip to Florence, Italy over Thanksgiving break, Muscat was very energetic and passionate when it came to talking about her love of trying to be a voice for those often overlooked in the world of museums and galleries.

“I want to disrupt this view that galleries and museums are filled with overwhelmingly white, cis, male and rich artists,” Muscat said.

“I would like there to be more of a place and recognition of the work that people of color, LGBTQ+ do and especially look at how museums can do activist art when they’re receiving corporate donations.”

She wants “museums to take a look at the history of how they were built.”

“You know from the very pretty and extravagant salons where rich people wore their corsets and drank from small cups of tea, and how that mentality has still

somewhat stuck in the world of art,” she said.

For Muscat, it’s critical that there needs to be less of a barrier of entry for not only artists who have been marginalized, but also the audiences of the art.

Muscat has been able to juggle three jobs between classes, including internships at the Whitney Museum and PEN America.

“My time at the Whitney really helped me see that this is the type of work that I want to do after graduation,” she said. “I was able to see first-hand how important curation is in showing activist art properly without bifurcating the intent of the artist,” she said.

Muscat sees her work for PEN America, while being mostly about literature and not art, as following in the same lines as her interests: “PEN America is a nonprofit that works at the intersection of literature and human rights: it’s mission is to unite writers both to connect them and give them access to a larger platform and also literary programs and awards.”

“I work on the global news outreach messages, which are the CNN Five News Stories You Need to Know notifications you’d get on your phone,” she said.

These are anything from messages about different Artists at Risk and how they, or their work, are

COURTESY OF ANNIE MUSCAT FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Annie Muscat, FCRH ’20, has interned at PEN America and the Whitney Museum, motivated by her love of art history.

at risk because of lack of artistic freedom.”

Muscat was recently part of a project between the art history and visual arts departments where she got to interview a senior about their thesis project focusing on trans portraiture.

“Getting to work with Caden and talk about his work and what it means for getting more representation was really great and gave me such an amazing hands-on ex-

perience for the type of work I want to get involved in,” she said.

Muscat believes that her classes have been great avenues for exploring different art and artists outside of the canon.

“My Contemporary Art in Exhibition and also Senior Seminar classes are two classes I think provided a hands-on approach and taught us things like how to present for a conference, and learn about different methodolo-

gies of research.”

Towards the end of our time together, Muscat said what she sees as crucial: “for me, I like to think about the Toni Morrison quote about how to give voice to others by lifting others up or something to that effect, and for me, that’s really important. To be able to use whatever amount of privilege that was given to me to be able to work in social justice and give people more of a voice.”

Page 18

CULTURE

December 4, 2019

“Frozen 2” Continues to Melt Everybody’s Heart

By TAYLOR MASCETTA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

It’s been nearly six years since Disney blockbuster “Frozen” introduced itself to the world, and its highly anticipated sequel was finally released on Nov. 22. While the first movie tied up its ending in a neat little bow, hunger for more sisterly adventures demanded a sequel from the franchise juggernaut. It seems the audience is satisfied: the film has broken a multitude of records and garnered over $700 million at the box office over its opening week.

The sequel explains the long unanswered question of where Elsa’s powers originated and why.

The film picks up three years after the events of “Frozen,” and Anna and Elsa are enjoying their newfound reality with open gates.

Elsa’s reign stays strong with Anna by her side, Olaf the Snowman has matured and is confronting life’s big questions, Sven still enjoys his carrots and Kristoff spends a majority of the film developing the best-possible proposal for Anna.

However, chance comes knocking when Elsa begins hearing a strange, mystical voice calling out to her from an enchanted forest just outside Arendelle’s walls. Suddenly, elemental hijinks ensue, leading to our heroes searching for answers beyond the kingdom’s borders.

First things first, the sequel admittedly does not live up to the original but serves as an excellent follow-up.

“Frozen 2” starts with an abundance of reintroductions but strengthens as the film continues. The plot may be predictable at parts but remains engaging and exciting throughout.

The side-plots, including Kristoff’s continuous proposal attempts and Olaf’s existential questions, add humor and personality to the tale without overshadowing the main story.

The sequel’s songs may not be as memorable as those from “Frozen,” but it would be nearly impossible to replicate the worldwide phenomenon of “Let it Go.” However, the movie’s title track “Into the Unknown,” sung by Idina Menzel, comes close. The mysterious voice belting vocals and the strength of Elsa’s notes remain catchy and magical as ever.

“When I Am Older” relates to adults everywhere, as Olaf hopes that life’s mysteries will eventually be answered with maturity (despite it not being this simple). Parents will also appreciate Kristoff’s 1980s-inspired love lament in “Lost in the Woods.”

Despite these humorous entries, “Frozen 2” still provides its own set of tearjerkers with “Show Yourself” and “The Next Right Thing,” sung

by Elsa and Anna respectively.

The film does have its own fair share of memorable quotes, but most of the humor comes from Olaf. His newfound knowledge and sudden realization that life is complicated proves to be a hilarious gag throughout the movie to which older viewers will definitely relate. The fire salamander Bruni, who serves as Elsa’s new animal companion, also brings a lot of laughs, thanks to his extreme cuteness level.

The animation, too, is especially impressive. The natural visuals of Arendelle, the Enchanted Forest and the mythical river of Ahtohallan look lively and very realistic. The animators managed to give a sense of char-

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Sisters Elsa and Anna returned to theaters on Nov. 22 with “Frozen 2,” featuring new adventures and magical moments.

acter to breezes, despite a limited amount of screentime.

The film, notably, lacks a villain.

There’s no scheming princes or two-faced dukes this time around — instead, the plot focuses on the relationships between the protagonists and how their characterization continues to develop throughout the movie. The characters do struggle against obstacles such as pesky wind spirits and lurking Earth giants, but there’s no evil deliberately working against them. The absence of an antagonist works in the film’s favor; the journey to answers does serve as a race against time but gives the audience the chance to grow closer to the heroes.

Take Elsa, for example. While “Frozen” mainly follows Anna’s quests, “Frozen 2” brings the snow queen to the forefront. Elsa spent the first movie fearing her magic but learns to accept herself near the end. Elsa may be more accepting of her magic in the sequel, but still

questions her place in the world. A scene nearing the climax, where Elsa discovers the source of the voice and finally fully embraces herself, is especially moving. Also, spoiler alert: future audiences can anticipate another “Let it Go”-esque dress change, and plenty of ice-magic shenanigans.

“Frozen 2” places its primary emphasis on the importance of family.

Anna and Elsa’s sisterly bond, similar to the previous installment, pushes the majority of the tale forward. In a way, their roles reverse themselves from the first film to the second.

While Elsa pursues the siren’s call, Anna desperately tries to protect her, but not for selfish reasons — she wants Elsa to stay safe. Nevertheless, Anna still supports her sister and vice versa. The strength of their bond helps develop both characters and proves to be especially inspiring to millions of young girls watching the film.

Kristoff’s arc throughout “Frozen

2” is also worth mentioning. While a majority of Disney princes’ intentions revolve around “saving” their princesses, Kristoff instead does whatever he can to support Anna and help her pursue her goals. He’s vulnerable and unafraid to express his feelings, especially in his solo “Lost in the Woods.” He shows young boys everywhere that these are normal feelings, and that it’s okay to express their true emotions, rather than being tough and manly at all times.

All in all, the main message of “Frozen 2” is that change is inevitable. Newfound experiences can be intimidating, but having a close relationship with family and friends will help push you through. Instead of rejecting or preventing change, embracing it will lead to self-growth.

“Frozen 2” separates itself from its predecessor and establishes its own tale of two sisters. It is a breath of fresh air in the ever-expanding “Frozen” franchise.

Creative Essay

Lonely Kitchens and Whispers of Home

By CAMERON PRICE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When I close my eyes, I am in my kitchen. I can feel the crisp air from the open windows on either side of the stove. I spy leaves rustling against the stone sidewalk, but otherwise the backyard is still, silent and serene. I gaze at the tiled mural of Positano, Italy on the backdrop of the stove where the brick used to be. I smell the last cup of Keurig-brewed coffee (definitely French Vanilla) and know without looking that it is politely requesting “More water, please.”

The sunflower-painted plates and bowls are in the drying rack, along with the ugly blue-green drinking cups that always remind me of Advil liquid gels. A single mason jar sits in the sink, a layer of pulp circling the bottom of the glass. Mom must have forgotten to buy the pulp-free Tropicana.

I admire my 230-pound Mastiff, sleepy and child-like, for teaching us all a lesson by not being self-conscious of his wrinkles and weight. He is nestled in his usual spot in front of the oven, a trail of slobber leading to the bathroom an obvious sign that he has just refreshed himself with toilet water.

The refrigerator, which many of my friends have described as the biggest fridge they’ve ever seen,

is bejeweled in newspaper clippings of the honor roll, my siblings’ names underlined in red ink. There are framed middle school pictures pinched between magnetic school stickers and the steel door, a progressive timeline of each of my siblings with braces, cringy hair bows and acne. Tacky magnets from crowded souvenir shops outline a disoriented map of our family vacations, and without having to lift the silly memorabilia from the refrigerator door, I know each is personalized with the year it was bought in black, fine-point Sharpie.

Dad is standing in front of the

stove, confidently flaunting the shredded, musty, dull gray Colgate University t-shirt he’s worn for as long as I can remember. Right on cue, my sister comments on his uncanny fashion choice, but I think to myself that Dad wouldn’t be Dad if he wasn’t concocting a new recipe dressed in what can only be described as the equivalent to a kid’s security blanket.

It is Sunday, which means Dad is making pasta. But it is not just pasta.

It is a savory, saucy, delectable creation that is never the same as last week’s and will certainly differ from the next. Bacon grease spouts from the stove, the stench of garlic salt

floods my nose. Endless boxes of Barilla pasta are stacked on the counter like a game of Tetris.

Andrea Bocelli’s voice serenades every room as Mom presses play on our ancient stereo. Every day of the week, Mom has to incessantly summon us to the dinner table. But on Sundays, we have been seated at the table, mouths watering, since Dad started cooking.

We sit down at the wood-stained kitchen island amidst growing piles of homework, bills, sticky notes and miscellaneous junk. In front of me rests three heaping spoonfuls of gemelli smothered in chunky tomatoes

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Cameron Price, FCRH ‘20, discusses a moment of intense homesicknesses for her family and homecooked meals.

and creamy sauce, neatly scooped into one of those sunflower-painted ceramic bowls. Dad, always a stickler for table manners, reminds us to place the napkins on our laps.

After a simultaneous eye roll, we comply, but know we’ll need the extra protection against the splatters of red-orange sauce that are attracted to our clothes like magnets. Between slurps and chews, we compare the stresses of sixth grade with the gossip of high school, the scandals from the country club with the rumors from the law firm.

When I open my eyes, I am in a kitchen. It is lit by harsh, fluorescent lighting, it smells of day-old coffee and it is scattered with used paper plates and Oreo cookie crumbs. I glare out the window at the apartment buildings beyond the train tracks.

I miss the trees. I see the lonely Fordham Ram magnet on the miniature refrigerator out of the corner of my eye. I miss Positano. I hear planes roar overhead, I am startled by sirens on the street below, and the smells from across the hall. I miss the sound of Andrea Bocelli’s voice.

I look down at my sad attempt at a recreation of Dad’s special sauce and wipe a tear from my cheek. I check my calendar for the fifth time today, wishing time would move a little faster. I sigh, but I dig in.

CULTURE Edgar Santana Encapsulates The Bronx

December 4, 2019

By SARA TSUGRANIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Meet Edgar Santana, a Bronx photographer whose photographs capture daily life in the borough, and a lot of cars. His photos are on display on his Instagram page @esantana as well as @everydaybronx and @carsofthebronx, which have become more like community pages.

Santana has worked for an early intervention program that services children with special needs for the past sixteen years, which keeps him on the streets daily and allows him to explore and photograph the different parts of the Bronx. The Fordham Ram sat down with Santana to get more insight into his work.

Q: Which artist did you admire as a young artist andwhy?

A: I was always a fan of Keith Haring. I loved his street art. When I was younger I felt like his art was very cartoony and being a young kid I loved that style of work. As I got older and started to appreciate art as well as photography, he was definitely one that inspired me.

Q: How did you choose street photography as your genre?

A: I’ve always been into photog-

raphy. When I was younger I always used to carry a disposable camera with me and just capture moments with friends hanging out, things like that ... But not until about five, six years ago is when I solely concentrated on the Bronx.

I try and focus solely on positivity of everyday life so people that live in the borough can appreciate where they live, and people that don’t live in the borough can appreciate what the last true borough looks like.

Q: Of all the pictures you have taken, which is your favorite? Why? A: There’s two of mine that always stand out. One of them was I believe about four years ago, it’s an older woman smoking a cigar in the street.

She was waiting for the bus, it was a really cold day ... I just stopped and I had to ask if I was able to take a picture of her. And she put the cigar in her mouth and the picture came out incredible.

The picture was actually chosen to be hanging in the 149th, Third Avenue shopping district for a while ... but unfortunately someone stole it ... I’m assuming somebody likes it so much that they wanted it for themselves.

The second picture of mine that is a very close second is a photo of a clas-

EDGAR SANTANA/THE FORDHAM RAM

Edgar Santana posts pictures of cars on his instagram @carsofthebronx.

sic car. It’s a Volkswagen Beetle ... and there’s two young kids that are working underneath the car and all you see is the Beetle and then four legs hanging out from under the bottom. It’s a really cool picture ... it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass.

Q: What do you think is the biggest misconception about the Bronx?

A: That it’s horrible ... which is not true. There’s good and bad everywhere ... The Bronx never really gets the respect that it deserves ... the Bronx isn’t just about the zoo and Yankees and Botanical Gardens. The Bronx is the home of hip-hop. The Bronx is the home of the real Little Italy, Arthur Avenue, which I’m sure you’ve been to plenty of times being a Fordham U student. City Island! ... the Bronx is beautiful ... That’s something I’m proud to showcase in my photography, but also proud to be a part of.

Regarding the @everydaybronx and @carsofthebronx Instagram communities and Santana’s 718 campaign, Santana told me: I have so many people that let’s say have lived here ten, twenty years ago and they follow my feed and they’ll reach out to me [and say] ... “I want to thank you for posting this because I grew up in that area and it’s changed so much but it brings back so many memories” or “thank you for posting that car because my dad had that and he used to drive us every Sunday to City Island to eat shrimp.”... I want to bring the nostalgia back to people who used to live here or people who do live here and don’t appreciate their own neighborhood.

This past summer I actually had a huge billboard in the Bronx. I was part of an AT&T campaign called “It’s a 718 thing.”...It was a scene from Orchard Beach with a Puerto Rican flag.

It’s so Bronx...and I got so much love for that.

Q: Regarding that photo of Orchard Beach, and other photographs you take in the Bronx, what

Page 19

EDGAR SANTANA/THE FORDHAM RAM

Bronx photographer Edgar Santana takes pictures of the borough.

do you think is the historical importance of these photographs?

A: The Bronx changes daily and unfortunately, due to gentrification, the Bronx is definitely not the same as it was yesterday or even the day before. But the Bronx came from a very difficult place in the 1970s when the Bronx was burning ... to see how far the Bronx has come ... is incredible.

And that’s why it is extremely important for people to recognize the history behind it because there’s a lot of history in the borough. John F. Kennedy owned a house in Riverdale, you have the Edgar Allan Poe cottage right there on the Grand Concourse, Poe Park ... the same thing with City Island, it was a clam digging village ... it’s important for us to showcase that ... not only natives but to people who are interested in knowing where we’re from.

Q: Has contributing to @everydaybronx changed your perspective at all as an artist? If so, how?

It’s changed a lot. The @everydaybronx feed is incredible...The feed is specifically driven by our followers ... it’s a cool opportunity to see so many different views of so many different parts of the Bronx. Whether it be an African family sitting on the train or

an Irish person in Woodlawn ... I’m very proud to be a part of that feed. It really expanded my eye and I’ve been extremely inspired by a lot of the people that have submitted photos to be featured.

Q: Future plans?

A: Now that it’s the winter it’s not like I stop shooting, I continue ... I want people to see my photo without knowing it’s mine and be like “Oh I know whose photo that is. That’s Edgar’s photo.” Usually, during the winter, people hibernate, so I’ll probably be hibernating with them.

Q: What would you tell a young artist or photographer aspiring to pursue this track that you have taken?

A: Don’t be a follower. Do not follow trends. Do what you feel comfortable doing. Do what you like.

Don’t do what anyone else is doing.

Unfortunately, a lot of young people nowadays fall into that trap. Especially with social media, they want to do what everybody else is doing. Don’t do that.

Go another route. Go a way you feel comfortable. Be yourself ... That’s the best advice I can give to anybody that is starting out or is interested in photography.

FKA Twigs Dazzles Audience at King’s Theatre

By SAM HADELMEN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

This past month, pop star Grimes told Pitchfork that in 10 to 20 years, she believes live performance will become obsolete.

“Once there’s actually AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), they’re gonna be so much better at making art than us,” she said.

I witnessed experimental icon FKA twigs prove her unequivocally wrong in Brooklyn on Thursday, Nov. 21.

The concert venue, Kings Theatre, was swanky and magnificent.

Red velvet carpet and gold furnishing drew the eye at every turn. The crowd was the most diverse and inclusive group of individuals I have ever seen — there were no Juuling frat boys in Knicks jerseys, and it was lovely not to have to worry about cheap, light beer soaking my clothes throughout the show.

When observing and talking to the crowd, it was obvious that FKA twigs has conjured up a uniquely committed fan base, one reflective

COURTESY OF SAM HADELMEN

British singer and songwriter FKA twigs preformed at Kings Theater in Brookyln on Thursday, Nov. 21 to excited fans.

of the quality of her music. Both her enlightened guests and the regal scenery of Kings significantly enhanced my experience.

The show began purposefully subdued, FKA twigs singing somberly in front of a lavish red curtain.

Then suddenly, everything came alive. The set was exuberant, flashing sleek choreography and intricate wardrobe designs. At times, it felt like a full-scale Broadway

play. FKA twigs displayed a full palette of emotions through movement and cadence, from exasperation to euphoria. Every costume she presented was meticulously detailed and aesthetically fitting.

Just when I thought I understood what she was going for, FKA twigs switched gears. She brought out her iconic stripper pole and changed the dynamic of the show completely. The way she represented femininity through her

provocative performance further stretched the bounds of her artistic expression. FKA twigs truly flaunted an ever-expanding sea of ingenuity.

The show reached an undisputed climax during her final song, “Cellophane.” This harrowing ballad, a tale of insecurity, is the anthem of FKA twigs fans, many of them practically weeping during it.

One of the most awe-inspiring

aspects of the show was FKA twigs’ ability to guide the crowd.

The crowd got so tranquil and noiseless that I felt bad reaching in my coat pocket to grab a pen, worried that I was making too much noise.

In all my years of documenting shows, I have never seen an equivalent to that. Many artists have to worry about projectiles being thrown at them, fights breaking out in the crowd or a lackluster group of millennials stuck on Snapchat recording the whole performance. This concert was completely bereft of those modern shortcomings, highlighting FKA twigs as a matchless artist in an age of clones.

Her performance was by far one of the best I have ever seen — the disbelief of what I had just witnessed followed me all the way home.

FKA twigs cemented her eminence that Thursday night to a sea of applauding fans and showed why she is one of this generation’s greatest artists.

SPORTS

December 4, 2019

Football Ends Season With Win Over Bucknell University

By DYLAN BALSAMO

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The 2019 season for Fordham Football has been very much like a hot tea. Along the way there were saccharine tastes of sugar that were enough to keep a person yearning for more. However, there was also the soury tang of lemon that gives you a bad taste in your mouth and occasional burnings of the tongue from what you soon realize is nothing more than just flavored hot water. But what gets remembered is what falls to the bottom, the final thing you taste: the honey.

That honey is the 31–14 Rams home win over Bucknell on Nov. 23, not only ending the season for Fordham on a high note, but also did the same for the college careers of their seniors. It is the fourth consecutive season that Fordham has defeated the Bison on the final day of the season. With the win, the Rams finish their season at 4–8 with a 2–4 mark in the Patriot League, while Bucknell goes to 3–8 with a 3–3 record in the conference.

As is tradition for the final home game of the season, the Rams held their Senior Day ceremonies on the field before kickoff, honoring their five seniors: running back Tyriek Hopkins, defensive back Jesse Bramble, wide receiver Joe Ferraro, wide receiver Jonathan Lumley and defensive lineman Michael Ware. As has been the case for the graduating classes in the handful of years prior to them, these Rams got to go out on top with a victory over the Bison.

When it came to the game itself, the affair started off fairly quiet. The only scoring that occurred in the first quarter was in favor of Fordham: Sophomore quarterback Tim DeMorat (finishing up a strong season at the position for the Rams) capped off a 61-yard drive with a score in the form of a 3-yard run, putting his squad up 7–0 after the opening 15 minutes.

About halfway through the second quarter, Fordham got on the board again. Ending a 5:12 drive, junior kicker Andrew Mevis (who finishes 2019 flirting with Fordham records and still with a season of eligibility) kicked a 44-yard field goal through the

uprights to get Fordham a 10–0 lead.

Towards the end of the first half is when things got a bit wacky.

With two minutes to go in the half, Fordham had the ball at its own 5-yard line, and they fumbled. Linebacker Rick Mottram was the one who picked it up for Bucknell, returning it back into the Rams’ end zone and getting his team on the scoreboard with their first touchdown of the game. Thirty seconds later on the game clock, DeMorat threw a pass that was intercepted by corner Micah Dennis for Bucknell. He returned the ball 39 yards to make two touchdowns for Bucknell without the offense even touching the ball.

In the blink of an eye, Fordham’s 10–0 second quarter lead turned into a 14–10 deficit at halftime.

But that was all the scoring that Bucknell would be doing that day.

The rest of the game was all Rams.

The score would remain the way it was until deep into the third quarter, when Fordham ran an Odyssey of a drive, marching 99 yards and taking 7:01 off the game clock. On the 17th play of the possession, junior running back Trey Sneed completed a 1-yard run that put Fordham back on top 17–14.

In securing their victory, the Rams would score twice more, both being near the end of the game. Sneed would run for another touchdown, this one a 15-yarder, and sophomore wide receiver Fotis Kokosioulis would be the recipient of another TD pass from DeMorat. And before long, the game was over. The final score was 31–14 Fordham.

The Rams defense did not allow the Bison offense to score once on the day. There was a feeling of jubilation and glee around Jack Coffey Field following the victory, clearly a homogeneous mixture of excitement over a home win, the finality of a season’s last game and the emotional highs of seniors whose college football roads have come to an end.

But as Fordham head coach Joe Conlin was quick to remind of in the postgame, the season overall was not nearly as euphoric.

“I think these guys are gonna leave the season with a little bit of frustration,” Conlin said. “We had

an opportunity to win [the game against] Lehigh, ... [we had a chance against] Lafayette, [for] two and a half quarters of the game against Holy Cross, we were the better team [and the game against] Central Connecticut came down to a field goal on a last second drive. Those are four games right there where had we done some things a little bit better, they could have gone our way.”

Had all of those games turned out differently, the Rams would have finished 8–4 overall, with a 5–1 conference record, and maybe would have squeezed into the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. But that was not the case.

Without that negative additive, the snapshot of Jack Coffey Field following the game was quite beautiful.

Leaving the field was not only the entire Fordham squad but a good amount of the players parents and families. The Rams stood on the steps in front of the Rose Hill Gym and posed for pictures. They rang the victory bell. They sang the fight song. It made the chilly November air feel warm and celebratory.

The players stepped down from the steps, and many ran into the arms of their parents. Each player could feel a sense of accomplishment that they had completed the 2019 season. As for the seniors, they embraced their families with a whole other sense of finality: unless they were to have the chance to play football professionally, this was the end of their journey. Everything that they and their families had together worked towards for what was likely nearly two decades was done.

Two decades is a long time for any person, and for a college senior, it encompasses most of their entire life. This moment was more than just the end of a season. It was a milestone, a family accomplishment and a lifelong memory.

Even if it was not the greatest cup of tea, the 2019 Fordham Football season may have been worth it for this honey at the end.

Now, the Rams will look forward to 2020. They will have time to rest up, reassemble and go at brewing themselves another fresh cup.

ALEXANDER WOLZ/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham Football finished the season on a positive note as it cruised to a 31–14 win over Bucknell University.

Page 20

Beyond the Scoreboard: Ice Cracks on NHL Coach

By ANDREW POSADAS SPORTS EDITOR

Editor’s Note: This article contains language that could be offensive or disturbing to some readers.

Former Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters sent a letter of resignation this past Friday when reports confirmed Peters aimed racial slurs to Nigerian-born player Akim Aliu nearly a decade ago in the minor leagues. Also, reports of Peters kicking and punching his players behind the bench during his tenure with Carolina Hurricanes from 2014–18 were also validated, ultimately sealing his fate and perhaps closing the door on his head coaching career for good.

It used to be that the ideal head coaching candidate that professional sports teams wanted was someone like Bill Peters. A coach that fit the “old-school” mold, ruling with an iron fist and holding all their players accountable, from the star player to the last player on the bench. These coaches use fear to instill motivation and greatness into the entire team, but it seems now more than ever, teams are going away from this style of coaching in favor of a more playerfriendly approach.

And Peters’ situation only reinforces that notion. Peters had not been behind the bench for the Flames since Aliu first brought up the accusations of racial slurs last Monday on Twitter. According to Aliu, Peters used the N-word several times toward him. The reason? Aliu says it was “because he didn’t like my choice of music.”

The confrontations occurred during the 2009–10 season when both Aliu and Peters were with the Chicago Blackhawks top minor league affiliate in Rockford, Illi. Aliu, who was 20 years old at the time, told Toronto Sports Network of one such encounter where Peters reacted towards rap music that Aliu was listening to. As Aliu recalled, “He walked in before a morning pre-game skate and said ‘Hey Akim, I’m sick of you playing that n----- s---.’”

Eventually, two of Aliu’s former teammates in Rockford, Simon Pepin and Peter MacArthur, corroborated the story’s validity to TSN. Peters released a written statement two days after Aliu’s allegations were brought to the surface of national attention. In his statement to Flames general manager Brad Treliving, Peters expressed his apologies, essentially admitting he did indeed use offensive language towards Aliu a decade ago. He also went on to say in his statement that the racial slurs he used at that time were “made in a moment of frustration and does not reflect my personal values.”

Peters claimed in his apology statement that he “immediately returned to the dressing room and apologized to the team,” after being challenged by players for his offensive language.

However, Aliu would take to social media to call out Peters’ attempt at an apology and described it as, “misleading, insincere, and concerning.”

Unfortunately, the accusations do not stop there. Peters was never reprimanded or questioned by the Blackhawks organization, and his coaching career continued when he took over as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2014. During his tenure with that team, former Hurricanes forward Michael Jordan alleged that Peters kicked him and punched another player in the head during one game. This week, current Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour, who was an assistant during Peter’s tenure, corroborated both of those claims, saying the situation with Jordan “for sure happened.”

How Peters managed to stay around as a coach in the NHL for another decade following the initial incident with Aliu is completely baffling when taking into account the due-diligence that executives are supposed to cover when looking to hire a coach to lead their respective franchises. I am not surprised by the lack of action taken by Aliu and the Blackhawks minor-league affiliate team. NHL teams, as well as in other professional sports leagues, do not concern themselves much with what goes on in the minor-league levels if it has no correlation or relevance to the primary teams of the franchise.

What is inexcusable, though, is the inconsistencies that lie between former Hurricanes GM Ron Francis and former majority owner Peter Karmanos. Francis made his first public statements about the physical abuse allegations last week, saying he took “immediate action to address this matter and briefed ownership.”

Karmanos went on to tell the Seattle Times in an interview that he was never informed about the incidents, and would have fired Peters swiftly had he been told during that time. But the blame does not fall just on the Hurricanes. Treliving, along with the rest of the Flames Franchise, hired Peters in 2018 without any prior knowledge of any allegations surrounding him. You would think that a professional sports organization is competent enough to do their research when hiring a prospective head coach. How could the Flames not have uncovered this sooner?

It feels apparent that the Flames were more vested in what Peters could do for them in the win column than what he brings to the culture and identity of a franchise under his watch. For now, Peters is out of the coaching business in the NHL. Still, there are more questions than answers on how this man was able to continue implementing his coaching principles for over a decade, when it was made quite clear he was not even deserving of coaching professionals on the minor-league level.

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Bill Peters represents a style of coaching that is no longer sought in sports.

SPORTS

Page 21

December 4, 2019

Swim and Dive Sweep Over NJIT, Stony Brook

By JACK ROCHE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Fordham swimming and diving team swept its opponents last Friday in its final meet ahead of the Bucknell Invitational. The men won by their largest margin of the season, 194–102, hosting the NJIT Highlanders. The women’s team cruised past the Stony Brook Seawolves, 182–111, keeping its spotless record pure, now 6–0 on the season.

Going into this Friday’s meet, the women held a 4–0 record against the Seawolves. This goaround yielded the same result, as the women handily defeated Stony Brook behind an especially strong performance by senior diver Molly Dunn. Dunn posted a career-best and winning score of 297.45, qualifying her for the NCAA Zone Diving Regional.

She also won the 3-meter dive with a score of 246.75.

The Rams also benefited from three other multi-event winners.

Junior Caitlin McNary touched first in the 1000 freestyle in 10:29.00 and in the 100 freestyle in 53.55 seconds. Freshman Clare Culver finished ahead of the pack in both the 200 (1:53.58) and 500 (5:09.83) freestyle events, while freshman Alison Lin finished first in the 200 backstroke (2:06.39) and the 200 individual medley (2:06.93).

In the women’s relays, the 200 medley group of Lin, junior Michelle Martin, sophomore Kiara Norris and senior Theresa Mullen was first in 1:47.08, while the 200 freestyle relay of Norris, Culver, senior Paulina Watson and Mullen placed first in 1:38.29.

In a season where the women

have somehow built upon their pristine 7–0 record in 2018, it was the men who put together their best performance of the year.

Fordham posted five season-best performances against NJIT, along with four multi-event winners.

Sophomores Connor Wright and Josh Stegen, junior Patrick Wilson and freshman Ethan Murray each captured two events in the meet.

Stegen took the top spot in the 200 (1:42.92) and 100 (47.04) freestyle events. Wright captured first in the 100 backstroke in 53.39 seconds, as well as the 200 backstroke in a season-best 1:54.65.

The men maintained their success in the relays, finishing first in both events. Sophomore Spencer Clarke, Wilson, senior Casey Sawyer and junior Bryce Bollesen posted a time of 1:35.05 in the 200 medley, while Wilson, Bollesen, Stegen and senior Kevin Berry recorded a time of 1:24.98 in the 200 freestyle relay.

Sawyer was vocal about the improvements the team has been able to make.

“Despite two weeks of hard training, we’ve been able to perform well in our meets,” he said. [“I think the success is] mostly just [from] all our hard work coming together. We had a busy semester of dual meets which has helped us focus on improve our racing and training.”

The men will finally receive some long-needed rest, as both squads took last week off to celebrate Thanksgiving. However, they will be back in action as they travel to Lewisburg, Penn., for the Bucknell Invitational on Dec. 6–8.

By JIMMY SULLIVAN SPORTS EDITOR

If you’re a baseball fan, you may be familiar with “Moneyball,” the 2003 book and its accompanying 2011 film.

One of the most poignant scenes in each revolves around an out-of-shape minor-league catcher named Jeremy Brown, a once-heralded prospect who only garnered 10 career major-league at-bats. Before that, he was a first-round pick by the A’s in the 2002 draft and one of their coveted prospects. There was only one problem: Brown was deathly afraid of running to second base.

Towards the end of the 2002 season, Brown found himself with the Visalia Oaks of the California League. On the first pitch of an at-bat, Brown smacked a ball to deep center field and, instead of doing what he usually did — pack it in with a single — he decided to go for broke and try for a double, confronting his biggest fear headon. Unfortunately, Brown took a header rounding first base and had to retreat to the bag, drawing laughs from both his team and the opponent, the San Jose Giants, in what the movie described as “all of Brown’s nightmares come to life.” But all parties were not laughing at Brown because of his embarrassing stumble around first base. They were reduced to hysterics because Brown hit the ball 60 feet over the fence.

It’s a metaphor. Brown clearly feared failure but, more than anything, he hated the embarrassing sting of running the bases and trying to round first. As soon as he tried to do so in a game, he failed spectacularly, only to discover that he didn’t fail at all, quite the opposite, in fact. Jeremy Brown’s attempt to sprint around the bases — which wasn’t necessary because he’d hit a home run — is symbolic, in many ways, of what we do here at The Fordham Ram. I’ll speak from personal experience to avoid sweeping generalizations. I applied to join this newspaper as an assistant sports editor in advance of volume 100 because even though I didn’t think I would make it, it would be a good optic to apply and get

rejected. I didn’t think I was ready for a position like that. Long story short, I interviewed for the assistant sports editor post and within a week, I received the job.

An occasion that should’ve been marked with celebration was instead stained with an underlying dread of “oh my God, what have I done?”

As it turns out, what I did was one of the best decisions of my life.

I — somewhat accidentally — joined a team of people just like me, despite the fact that I’m still finding who I am on a daily basis.

I felt an immediate kinship with just about everyone else on staff.

Previously, I had thought that the notion of “family” — whether it be in a workplace or a sports team, the area in which I was more familiar — was complete garbage. This paper made me adjust my thinking on that.

This year, I removed the assistant title from my job here.

It wasn’t always easy and I often metaphorically grabbed onto whatever I could to hang on.

The amount of work and stress that comes with this gig was not something I had anticipated, and the adjustment process was incredibly difficult at times. But, as is often paramount in a difficult situation like this, I had the two best assistants I could have asked for in Dylan Balsamo and Andrew Posadas. My advice to anyone in a newly-found leadership position is to have an Andrew or a Dylan in your life or, even better, directly working with you. If you don’t, then I’m afraid you’re on your own.

Anyway, I’m coming back for volume 102 in the same position I

had for volume 101. Andrew will be The Fordham Ram’s new managing editor and he’ll do a terrific job, so long as the copy room is cool with listening to A Tribe Called Quest. Dylan will be coming back as an assistant, and he will be joined by Alex Wolz, who will also do a wonderful job.

While I’m not leaving, several other talented Ram staffers are.

We will miss every single one of them, and I’m better for having worked with all of them. I’ll miss having the positive energy of Briana and Lindsay in the print shop every Tuesday and bouncing questions and other issues off Aislinn and Hannah in the copy room. I’ll miss having nothing but great conversations with Erica, Colette, Bo and Julia, all of whom often popped in and out of the print shop for various reasons on a Tuesday night. I’ll also miss being able to bounce random AP style questions off Maggie and get an instant response, though I’m sure she’ll stay all over that stuff even after her time as copy editor is done.

This is not my goodbye, but it is their goodbye. This paper — and our section in the back of it — wouldn’t be the same without them. Even as I stumbled around first base time and time again over the past 44 issues, they consistently helped us hit the ball 60 feet over the fence.

As acclaimed artist Bob Ross once said, “we don’t make mistakes, we just have happy accidents.” The last two years have been one of the happiest accidents of my life, and it’s my honor to renew my contract for one more.

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Jeremy Brown feared failure. He may have feared success even more.

Varsity Calendar HOME AWAY

Thursday Dec. 6

Saturday Dec. 8

Friday Dec. 7

Sunday Dec. 9

ALEX WOLZ/THE FORDHAM RAM

Swim and Dive finished the month of November on a high note with two wins.

Women’s Basketball

Track

Follow us on Twitter at @theram_sports

Squash Swimming & Diving

Manhttan 7 p.m.

Tuesday Dec. 11

Bryant 12 p.m.

Manhttan 2 p.m.

Men’s Basketball

Monday Dec. 10

Georgetown 2 p.m.

Fordham Season Opener 2 p.m.

Denison/ Boston College/ Swarthmore 2 p.m.

Bucknell Invitaitonal Lewisburg, Pa.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Wednesday Dec. 12

SPORTS

Page 22

Water Polo Comes in Fourth at Mid-Atlantics

By SABRINA BOYD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Fordham Men’s Water Polo concluded its season with a fourth place finish in the MidAtlantic Water Polo Championship on Nov. 22-24. The No. 16 ranked Rams started off the tournament with a win against Gannon University, advancing to the semifinals. They ultimately fell to George Washington University in the semifinals game and closed out their tournament play with a loss against Navy in the thirdplace game. The Rams ended their season with a 24–8 record.

In their first tournament match against Gannon University on Nov. 22, Fordham pulled ahead to a victory and secured a spot in the semifinals. The match was closely contested in the first quarter, with the score tied at two apiece before Fordham scored one goal to pull ahead. The Rams traded goals through the second quarter before pulling ahead to a 7–3 lead by the beginning of the third. Gannon managed to bring the deficit to three goals by the beginning of the fourth quarter, with Fordham leading 9–6. The Rams offense shined for the remaining minutes, scoring seven goals by the final whistle to cement the win. Sophomore Dimitris Koukias led the team with five goals for the game, with senior Jake Miller-Tolt and junior Phillip Wang tallying four each. The final score was 16–11 in favor of the Rams.

Fordham took on George Washington University in the semifinal round, playing in a tight contest that ultimately resulted in a loss after a 15-save performance from GW goalie Matt Taylor. The GW Colonials led by one goal at

the end of the first quarter, with a 3–2 score, and Fordham managed to retain the one goal deficit, trailing 4–3 at halftime. The Rams faltered in the third quarter, unable to put points on the board as GW increased their lead 6–3.

Fordham was unable to fully rally in the fourth quarter with GW staying ahead and securing the win. Despite the loss, it was a big night for Miller-Tolt, whose two goals brought his single season total to 113, breaking Ned Kelly’s 1971 record of 112 on the year.

Sophomore goalkeeper Bailey O’Mara also had a strong game with nine saves, a steal and an assist. The end result was a 9–5 win for George Washington.

The Rams closed out their season with a hard-fought contest against Navy in the third place game. Fordham held a 2–1 lead in the first quarter, but Navy rallied and pulled ahead 4–2 by the half.

The game remained a two-goal deficit throughout the third quarter. In the fourth, Navy was able to stifle Fordham’s offense and hold onto the lead, taking the thirdplace spot. For Fordham, Phillip Wang netted two goals, while Jake Miller-Tolt, senior Tristen Knoflick and freshman Sebastian Zapatero each scored one. The final score was 9–5 in favor of Navy.

At the conclusion of the tournament, Jake Miller-Tolt, Dimitris Koukias and Bailey O’Mara were named to the All-Championship Second Team.

Overall, Fordham Water Polo has plenty to be proud of in the 2019 season. With a recordsetting season for some veteran players and exciting performances from their new additions, the Rams have a lot to look forward to heading into next year.

December 4, 2019

Kutch Competes at NCAAs, Cross Country Hosts ECAC/IC4As

By JIMMY SULLIVAN SPORTS EDITOR

On Saturday, Nov. 23, Fordham’s Cross Country teams competed in the ECAC/IC4A Championships at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y., while their best runner, senior Ryan Kutch, participated in the NCAA Cross Country Championship in Terre Haute, Ind. For his second straight individual competition, Kutch was forced to deal with inclement weather in the midwest. The area was struck with 35-degree temperatures and driving rain on the day of the event, but Kutch and his competitors pushed through those conditions throughout the day. Kutch ultimately finished 241st in the event to cap off an extraordinary four-year cross country career for the Rams. Despite the rain and generally miserable conditions, he did so in 34:48.2.

Moving over to the team, it competed in the ECAC/IC4A Championships at nearly the same time as Kutch’s race. The day began with the coaches’ races for both teams, and Fordham sent several competitors to the men’s competition. Junior William Whelan pulled out a victory in the race with a time of 26:40.

Other Fordham finishers included junior Patrick Norako (ninth – 27:14), sophomore Patrick Tuohy (22nd – 27:41) and junior Dylan Serino (41st – 28:38). The Rams did not field any competitors in the women’s race.

The next event was a team competition in the women’s ECAC Championship race. In the event, Fordham finished seventh out of 18 teams in the field, just two points behind George Mason for sixth place. Fordham’s top finisher was freshman Alexandra Thomas, who crossed the finish line with a 13th-place finish of 18:38. Senior

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Ryan Kutch competed at the NCAA Cross Country Championship in Terre Haute, In.

Sydney Snow was right behind Thomas with a time of 18:59.

Other Fordham competitors included freshman Taylor Mascetta (57th – 19:33), sophomore Bridget Alex (58th – 19:34), senior Kataryna Krzyzanowski (63rd – 19:41), juniors Julia Herms (116th – 21:03), Maeve O’Connor (123rd – 21:14), Bridget White (125th – 21:20) and freshman Bridget Tan (144th – 23:57). Providence College won the team title and fielded each of the top three finishers.

The day’s final event was the men’s IC4A Championship, which had a total of 16 teams competing for a championship.

The men’s team fared similarly to the women’s, finishing in sixth place out of 16 teams. Without Kutch, the Rams competed admirably, and senior Nicholas Raef-

ski led the team with a 21st-place finish and a time of 25:54. Sophomore Brandon Hall finished right behind him with a 28thplace time of 26:03 and freshman John McGovern ran the course in 26:07.4, good for 32nd. Fordham’s other finishers were freshman Colin Flood (41st – 26:19), junior Christopher Strzelinski (56th – 26:38), freshmen Jack Craven (94th – 27:34) and Ryan Fahey (109th – 27:51).

Now, the Fordham program will transition into preparing for the indoor track season, which begins this Friday in the Fordham Season Opener at the Lombardi Fieldhouse. Fordham’s cross country season was noteworthy and impressive, and the Rams will look to carry that same success into the winter.

Fordham Squash Takes Two of Three to Close Out November

By JIMMY SULLIVAN SPORTS EDITOR

MACKENZIE CRANNA/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham Water Polo has a lot to be proud of at the end of the 2019 season.

Fordham Squash entered a weekend home series in late-November with one goal in mind: to maintain its early-season momentum. Fordham entered at 9–3 with some impressive wins early on.

Fordham was able to keep that momentum rolling, winning two of its three matches on the Lombardi Squash Courts on Nov. 23 and 24.

The Rams started with two matches on Friday, Nov. 23 against Washington University of St. Louis and Bard College. The first match, against Washington, started bright and early at 9 a.m., but Fordham avoided the earlymorning doldrums. Junior Griffin Fitzgerald kicked off the proceedings with a four-set victory over Washington’s Russell Scharf and the Rams followed his lead. Fordham’s only loss over two matches on the day was junior Tommy White’s loss to Washington’s Ryan Wiersbitzky in five sets. Besides that, Fordham made quick work of Washington, as sophomore Patrick Rodden, junior Justin Deck-

off, sophomore Dylan Panichello and freshman Caleb Schumacher all cruised to straight-set victories en route to Fordham’s 8–1 victory over Washington.

The Rams clamped down even more in the second match of the day against Bard. Fitzgerald, Rodden and White all swept their opponents in three sets to open the match and, once more, set the tone. Sophomore Jack Reed beat Bard’s Martin Graham in four sets, and freshman Justin George clinched the victory with a win over Connor Browder in five sets.

Fordham didn’t concede any of its individual matches against Bard en route to a 9–0 win that pushed the Rams to 11–4 on the season.

Awaiting Fordham on Sunday was its toughest test of the weekend: New York University.

The match did not look to be an easy task for Fordham coming in, and it lived up to that throughout. Unfortunately for the Rams, they started the match by digging themselves into a hole that turned out to be insurmountable. After Fitzgerald’s match-opening victory over Hamaad Jafry, the com-

bination of Rodden, White and Reed failed to win any of its individual contests and Fordham was down 3–1. George won a thrilling come-from-behind match with Kenneth Nakamura in five sets, but Fordham could never quite draw even with the Violets. The teams traded individual triumphs for the rest of the match, and NYU came away with the victory.

With the defeat, the Rams were unable to claim a weekend sweep, but the most recent outcomes have pushed Fordham to an impressive 11–5 record to start the season. Fordham and head coach Sahel Anwar will take that, and more than anything, the earlyseason performance has also shown that Fordham is capable of the same season-long consistency it displayed all of last season en route to a Chaffee Cup title.

The Rams are in action this Saturday with a vigorous tripleheader against Denison, Boston College and Swarthmore. Saturday’s three home matches are Fordham’s last of the calendar year, as the team will not compete again until Jan. 17, 2020.

SPORTS

December 4, 2019

Alex Wolz F1 2019: A Year to Remember The Formula 1 (F1) 2019 season has been a year to remember for several reasons. This was the first year with the new aerodynamic regulations, which promote more overtaking since it is now easier for cars to follow competing cars in front. Red Bull Racing terminated its engine deal with Renault and switched to Honda-powered engines. Daniel Ricciardo changed teams from Red Bull to Renault. As a result of that move, Pierre Gasly was given the seat at Red Bull. Kimi Raikkonen, who was a Ferrari driver, moved over to Alfa Romeo, while Charles Leclerc moved from Alfa to Ferrari.

During preseason testing, Ferrari dominated, giving us hope that it could finally dethrone the reigning champion Mercedes and its driver Lewis Hamilton. However, when the first race was underway, Mercedes dominated. Hamilton’s teammate Valteri Bottas won the first race in Australia, and, from then on, Mercedes dominated, winning the first eight races in a row and Hamilton winning six of them.

When F1 came back from the summer break, Ferrari started to show the pace they had during preseason testing with Leclerc getting his first win in Belgium and winning the next race in Italy. Then, Vettel won the following race in Singapore. When it came to Russia, Mercedes struck back by taking the win. In Brazil, Verstappen won in another dramatic race.

The season ended in Abu Dhabi on Sunday with Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton winning and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc rounding out the podium.

The McLaren team and its drivers Carlos Sainz and rookie Lando Norris finished the year off fourth in the team standings, with Sainz finishing sixth in the driver standings, which is impressive since the top six places are always occupied by the top three teams and their drivers. But since Gasly was swapped with Albon, this helped Sainz get that sixth place, while Gasly and Albon finished seventh and eighth, respectively. Renault, who was fourth last year, dropped down to fifth with disappointing results on multiple race tracks. The Hass team finished ninth this year, only beating Williams, which has been in a decline since 2014. It only got one point this year, during the German Grand Prix.

This year was dominated by Mercedes, with it winning 15 out of the 21 race season and Hamilton winning 11 of them, giving him his sixth drivers title. This is his third in a row and fifth in six years. There could also be a six-way battle for the Drivers’ Championship with Hamilton, Bottas, Leclerc, Vettel, Verstappen and Albon.

Page 23

Varsity Scores & Stats Women’s Basketball Fordham 59 #25 Arkansas 71 (FOR) Cavanaugh: 19 PTS, 2 3PT

Fordham 59 Lehigh 57 (FOR) Heremaia: 19 PTS, 3 3PT

Men’s Basketball UMES 45 Fordham 66 (FOR) Ohams: 18 PTS, 8 FG

Athletes of the Week Chuba Ohams

Kendell Heremaia

Redshirt Junior

Junior

Men’s Basketball

Women’s Basketball

In playing 23 minutes against University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Ohams got himself 18 points in the form of eight field goals and two free throws in just 23 minutes, helping secure 66–45 Rams win. The double double is his second such performance of the season.

In addition to her four points against #25 Arkansas, Heremaia went off against Lehigh, getting a triple double with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

She made three three-pointers to help lead Fordham to 59–57 win in the game on Saturday.

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

News & Notes •

Women’s Hoops Has New Members of Squad

Fordham Women’s Basketball has announced its recruiting class for 2020, and it consists of two members: guard Riley DeRubbio and forward Maranda Nyborg. DeRubbio is a 5’8” guard from Washington, Pennsylvania and has two First Team All-Section honors to go with her four varsity letters. Nyborg, at 6’3”, hails from Bethel, Connecticut, and is a four-year letter winner at Bethel High School with two All-Conference honors.

“Since we have no seniors, the additions of Maranda and Riley will add depth to our bench,” said Fordham head coach Stephanie Gaitley. “We’re excited to welcome them to the Fordham family!”

• Nine Football Players Honored by Patriot League Upon the announcement of the All-

Patriot League First Team honors for the 2019 football season, nine Fordham Rams were awarded: junior linebacker Glenn Cunningham, junior running back Zach Davis, sophomore quarterback Tim DeMorat, sophomore linebacker Ryan Greenhagen, junior kicker Andrew Mevis and junior offensive lineman Nick Zakelj. The program also saw three of its players named to the Second Team: sophomore offensive lineman Phil Saleh, junior running back Trey Sneed and junior defensive lineman Ellis Taylor.

— Compiled by Dylan Balsamo

• Men’s Soccer Announces Recruits

The 2020 early signing period has come to

a close, and Fordham Men’s Soccer head coach Carlos Aquista has announced four players that will be joining his program. The players joining the Rams are Sebastian Fabrin (Hellerup, Denmark/ Øregård Gymnasium), Galen Flynn (West Hartford, Conn./Kingswood Oxford), Max Rogers (Sydney, Australia/St. Ignatius College) and Gianluca Sciortino (Maple, Ontario/St. Joan of Arc). “This group of young men will play a big role this fall and beyond,” Aquista said. “We believe this new crop of young talent possess the attributes essential to build upon our strong team culture accomplished this past year.”

• Football Has Three Academic Honorees

Three members of the Fordham Football team, the day after being commended and awarded for their honors on the field, were also named to the Academic All-Patriot League for their performances as students. The three honorees were junior linebacker Glenn Cunningham, sophomore linebacker Ryan Greenhagen and junior offensive lineman Nick Zakelj. Cunningham, a native of Glastonbury, Connecticut, is an economics major with a 3.42 GPA, Greenhagen, from Sparta, New Jersey, is undeclared with a 3.76 GPA and Zakelj, hailing from Broadview Heights, Ohio, is a finance major with a 3.64 GPA.

Kaley Bell Student-Athlete Column: Pressure in Competition I haven’t even started competing yet, and I am enjoying the season already. It has been a great experience to see the success of both the men and women’s cross country teams. I was so happy to see Ryan Kutch, FCRH ’20, represent Fordham at Nationals in Indiana. Overall, our team has done so well, and I can’t wait to see what is to come.

This upcoming week, we will be competing in our first meet of the season at our home track (everyone should come out and represent!). This time last year, I was very nervous. I was scared of the competition, and as a freshman in college, I did not know what to expect. I can’t say I’m not nervous now, but I feel like I have more experience, so fear is the last thing on my mind.

As the beginning of the season approaches, I am thinking about the influence of my nerves. Why do they make us do weird things?

Why do they make us feel awkward and unable to perform?

Why do nerves make us feel pressured to do certain things?

If I weren’t an athlete and if I hadn’t been doing this for so long, I do not know if I would be able to adjust to the mental strength that it takes to do what so many athletes do on a daily basis. Of course, being a D1 athlete at Fordham is very different from what it takes to be a professional, but the levels can be compared.

For a college athlete, there is a lot being asked of you: performing the best that you can, going up against high competition, maintaining good grades, eating well, making connections for a successful career and much more. With all of these pressures combined with the social aspect of college, a lot of mental strength is needed to do a sport.

In comparison, I think of professional athletes who make their sport their career. These are men and women that have been doing their sport for years, and I wonder if they take the competition as seriously as they did when they first started.

I think about Lebron James who has been in the NBA for 16 years. Almost every year that he has been in the league, he has played in the playoffs. Last year was the first time in a while that we have not seen James participate.

His success, to me, means that it takes time to get things right. It wasn’t until his third season in the NBA that James made the playoffs. He adjusted to the pressure and used it to propel him toward a Hall of Fame career.

As he strives to be the best, I can only hope to be as unfazed as he is.

SPORTS

Page 24

December 4, 2019

The Fordham Ram

Men’s Basketball Makes Easy Work of Maryland-Eastern Shore

By ANDREW POSADAS

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Men’s Basketball went into the 2019 Paradise Jam on the U.S. Virgin Islands undefeated, but the team experienced some growing pains in its three games on St. Thomas. The Rams went 1–2 at the Jam, ultimately losing a close game to the University of Western Kentucky 69–64 in the fifth place game.

However, Sunday’s non-conference game against the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore would be just what the doctor ordered, with Fordham dominating UMES on its way to a 66–45 blowout win.

In the span of a week, the Rams went from playing in the blissful utopia that is the Virgin Islands to seeing a mix of snow and rain cascading over the historic Rose Hill Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon. Considering the fact that UMES came into the Bronx winless at 0–8 and having traveled nearly 3,500 miles on its current road trip, the Rams could have easily fallen prey to overconfidence and complacency.

But head coach Jeff Neubauer’s message to the team after its performance in the Paradise Jam was simple: “It’s time for us to start playing better basketball.”

And better basketball is exactly what the Rams displayed for

Neubauer and the Fordham faithful’s viewing pleasure on Sunday.

UMES did what it could to stay competitive and hang around early on in the first half, finding themselves tied with the Rams at 5–5 heading into the first media timeout at the 16-minute mark.

From there, the Rams ramped up the defensive pressure and started executing on the offensive end.

Fordham went on a methodical 18–0 run in the following eight minutes, flexing its muscles on an under-manned Hawks team that had no response for the Rams’ size advantage in the frontcourt.

Fordham controlled the painted area and outrebounded UMES 24–12 in the first half. Redshirt junior forward Chuba Ohams led all scorers with 11 points. The Rams defense held the Hawks to a woeful 25% shooting from the field and, at halftime, enjoyed a comfortable 34–15 lead.

The second half began with UMES going on a quick 4–0 run as they attempted a potential comeback bid. Fortunately, the Rams responded with a 4–0 run of its own, and never relinquished its double-digit lead throughout the rest of regulation. Ohams earned his second double-double of the season with a game-high 18 points and 11 rebounds and was the driving force in the Rams 21-point win over the Hawks.

ALEXANDER WOLZ/THE FORDHAM RAM

Chuba Ohams earned his second double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds on Sunday.

Talking post-game, Neubauer admitted he does not have to tell Ohams to be aggressive on offense, saying, “All of Chuba’s aggression and choice of shotselection is all him. I don’t have to tell him to shoot the ball, he’s just eager to shoot the ball.”

Sophomore guard Jalen Cobb also stuffed the box score on Sunday, tallying nine points, six rebounds and five assists. Junior

guard Josh Colon and freshman forward Joel Soriano both enjoyed season-highs, contributing eight points each off of the bench.

The team also had season-highs with seven blocks and 16 assists in a balanced performance.

With the impressive win, Fordham Men’s Basketball improves to 5–2 on the season as it continues to take advantage of a favorable non-conference schedule.

Up next, the Rams host the Manhattan College Jaspers in the annual Battle of the Bronx this Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. The Jaspers lead the all-time series 57–54, but the Rams have taken the last two contests, including a thrilling 57–56 Fordham win on the road at Manhattan last December. The game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard exclusively on WFUV 90.7 FM.

Fordham Women’s Basketball Splits Bahamas Hoopfest Tournament

By JIMMY SULLIVAN SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Women’s Basketball and head coach Stephanie Gaitley likes to take this part of the season to figure some things out.

This includes finding out the team’s strengths and weaknesses and where it can improve for the second — and more important — half of the season, Atlantic 10 play.

This year’s Fordham women’s basketball team has had its fair share of ups and downs, but one area that is a clear strength for the Rams? Resiliency.

The Rams split a pair of games in the Bahamas Hoopfest this past Friday and Saturday, falling to nationally-ranked University of Arkansas but rebounding for a thrilling, last-second victory over Lehigh University.

The action started on Black Friday as Fordham took on #25 Arkansas. The Razorbacks were the second ranked team Fordham faced in the first month of the season, with the first being Notre Dame in the season opener on Nov. 5. Notre Dame recently fell out of the top 25 after a 5–4 start to the season, which meant that Arkansas would be the toughest opponent Fordham had faced to date.

In the first half, Arkansas used a powerful offensive attack — the Razorbacks entered the tournament averaging nearly 90 points per game — to build a doubledigit lead at the half. Despite shooting just over 25% from the

ALEXANDER WOLZ/THE FORDHAM RAM

A clutch shot from Kaitlyn Downey lifted Women’s Basketball to its third win of the season over Lehigh. field, Arkansas got to the line 17 times and carried an 11-point lead into the locker room. In the second half, Arkansas continued its relentless attack and led by as many as 20 points late in the third quarter. Despite the Rams’ commendable comeback efforts — Fordham closed the gap to six points with five-and-a-half minutes to play — the Razorbacks were just too much for Fordham to handle and, ultimately, Arkansas walked away with a 71–59 victory.

Throughout the day, turnovers

plagued Fordham, as the Rams accumulated 17 and four players had at least three. Fordham simply dug itself too large of a hole and couldn’t quite climb out of it in the fourth quarter.

The Rams would look to put this performance behind them against another strong opponent in Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks entered Saturday with just one loss, back on Thanksgiving in their tournament-opening game against Ball State.

Fordham would have fallen to 2–6 with a loss, but the Rams had

other ideas.

However, once again, Fordham dug itself a hole. Lehigh entered the halftime break with a 31–23 lead and built the lead to doubledigits late in the third quarter. By the end of the quarter, the lead was down to six and Fordham had 10 minutes to salvage a victory from the Bahamas Hoopfest.

Fordham spent the entire quarter clawing back and, on multiple occasions, had the lead down to one score. However, the Rams just couldn’t quite get over the hump and trailed 57–53 with just

under a minute left. That’s when sophomore Kaitlyn Downey took over, drilling a three-pointer with 46 seconds left to pull Fordham within one. Lehigh’s Hannah Hedstrom followed with a miss, allowing Fordham to take over with 20 seconds left and the opportunity to take the last shot. It was in Downey’s hands from behind the arc and once again she delivered, catching a pass from freshman Anna DeWolfe and nailing a wing three with 0.1 seconds to play and putting Fordham up two. The basket prohibited Lehigh from having enough time to get a clean shot off on the next possession and gave Fordham a victory over a solid opponent.

Downey, though, wasn’t necessarily the star of the game. Junior Kendell Heremaia played quite possibly her best game in maroon and white, scoring 19 points and hauling in 13 rebounds. Heremaia’s improvement over the past year is evident, and she has shown a greater proclivity to playing inside, whether that be through rebounding or even, at times, in the post. To this point in the young season, she is averaging around 12 points and eight rebounds per game, two marks that any team would take in a heartbeat.

After their exhilarating victory abroad, the Rams return stateside to visit Manhattan College in the Battle of the Bronx on Thursday night. Fordham won the storied matchup 65–61 last season behind 27 points from then-sophomore Bre Cavanaugh. Tip-off from Manhattan is at 7 p.m.