Volume 101 Issue 9 by The Fordham Ram

The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 Volume 101, Issue 9

April 10, 2019

FordhamRam.com

FFP Hosts Annual Fashion Show

Commuting Students Discuss Challenges

By SARAH HUFFMAN and JOE GERNGROSS

By ISIAH MAGSINO STAFF WRITER

With its gothic exterior soaring high above the ground and Hogwarts-like interior, Keating Hall resembles a fantastical castle with the rest of the Rose Hill campus as its kingdom. Its dungeon can be found in the basement of McGinley, tucked away in what was once known as the “commuter” lounge. The newly renamed student lounge is the compact basement space previously meant to serve as a designated space for commuter students, a population that makes up 23% of the 7,380 enrolled undergraduate and graduate students at Fordham, according to Stephen Esposito, assistant director for leadership and Commuter Student Services. It is decorated with blank walls, plastic chairs, wooden round tables, three HP computers, leather chairs and a pool table. The lounge is only one obstacle commuter students face. Some feel that the root issue is the overall lack of space offered for commuter students. They claim that the interactions between residential students and commuter students are limited because of the lack of recreational community spaces shared by both commuter and residential students. “People don’t talk to you unless you live in their dorms, or if they view you as a familiar face,” Chantal Chevalier, FCRH ’20, a commuting student, said. According to the Chevalier, going to class is not enough to make connections with others. Class discussions hardly lead to outside conversations, and many students are not willing to talk to each other, much less commuters, outside of class. “My freshman year I was legit depressed and I cried at home because I didn’t know anybody,’’ SEE CSA, PAGE 3

in this issue

Opinion Page 9 When Charity GO!es Wrong

Sports

Page 22

Men's Tennis Wins Four Matches

Culture

Page 14

Previewing This Year's Spring Weekend Concert

ELIOT SCHIAPARELLI/THE FORDHAM RAM

On Saturday, April 6, Fordham Club hosted its third annual Bronx Celebration Day in Fordham Square.

Bronx Celebration Day Showcases Local Initiatives By SARAH HUFFMAN ASSISANT NEWS EDITOR

Fordham Club hosted its third annual Bronx Celebration Day on Saturday, April 6. Local non-profits, Bronx vendors, various performance groups and Fordham clubs all attended the event. The event brought together members of the local Bronx

and Fordham community Fordham Club members Neil Joyce, FCRH ’19, and Brian Daaleman, FCRH ’19, were part of the committee that planned the event. They said the planning started in the fall and they worked to invite different non-profits and vendors as well as coordinating with the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO)

to put together a music lineup. The event showcased performing groups from the community and Fordham. The lineup included Afro Puerto Rican Ensemble Cumbalaya, Fordham Satin Dolls,youth dance troupe UNITY, Fordham Hot Notes, Afro Dominican ensemble Palo

SEE BRONX, PAGE 3

On Saturday, April 6, Fordham Fashion for Philanthropy Club (FFP) held its annual fashion show in McGinley Ballroom. Student volunteers walked the runway in clothes donated from Rent the Runway, LF and Lord and Taylor. All of the proceeds from the event benefit the Make-AWish Foundation of Metro which works to grant children with terminal illnesses “wishes.” FFP President, Samantha Trabattoni, GSB ’19, said the show had great energy and awesome vibes and that the event as a whole was a huge success and had a great turnout. This year, Emma Kaden’s, FCRH ’21, walked for the second time in the show. She said she decided to walk again this year after how fun the event was last year – and this year did not disappoint. “The event was so much fun this year and we had such a good turnout,” she said. “The crowd SEE FFP, PAGE 6

Ellie Kemper to Speak at SW By HELEN STEVENSON NEWS EDITOR

Actress and comedian Ellie Kemper will step outside the screen as this year’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) Spring Weekend Speaker. Kemper is known for her work on “The Office” and “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” streaming on Netflix. Kemper has recieved two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Kimmy Schmidt, and in 2018 she published her first book, "My Squirrel Days." In a joint statement to The Fordham Ram, Abby Rizzo, FCRH ’21, and Maxson Thomas, FCRH ’19, said that as co-chairs of CAB’s Speaker Series, they are always looking for a speaker that has an inspiring message to bring to Fordham. “After last year’s successful moderated Q&A with Josh Peck, we decided to pursue candidates that would have a similar comedic SEE SPEAKER, PAGE 5

KATIE MORRIS/THE FORDHAM RAM

Griffin LaMarche, GSB ‘22, and Thomas Reuter, FCRH ’22, debate for the VP of Communications position.

Fordham Community Meets 2019-2020 USG Candidates By ERICA SCALISE PROJECTS EDITOR

United Student Government (USG) hosted its annual Meet the Candidates Night, during which candidates briefly outlined their platforms for the upcoming USG election.

Four of the seven vice presidential candidates are running uncontested and one of the positions, Vice President of Sustainability, is currently accepting write-ins. The two contested positions are for Vice President of Gabelli and Vice President of Communications.

Reilly Keane, GSB ’20, and Michael Tomicich, GSB ’20, both running for VP of Gabelli intend to better bridge what Tomicich’s platform referred to as a gap between students in the Gabelli School of Business (GSB) and students in Fordham College Rose Hill. SEE USG, PAGE 6

NEWS

Page 2

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS

April 10, 2019

Rose Hill Pride Alliance Petitions for ILC Committee Members Gather Signatures By ELIOT SCHIAPARELLI ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

April 5 Cosi 1:45 p.m. A Cosi supervisor notified Public Safety of a gas odor. Facilities was notified, and a plumber responded. No gas leak was identified. April 5 Rose Hill Gym 9:45 p.m. A non-Fordham student who was at an on-campus event jumped the curb outside the Rose Hill Gym in their car. The vehicle and stone path were damaged, but no one was hurt. Air bags deployed. April 7 Lombardi Field House 10:30 a.m. A member of Fordham atheletic staff notified Public Safety of a water leak. Two large puddles were observed in center court. Custodial staff cleaned up the water. April 7 Finlay Hall 4:00 a.m. Residential Life notified Public Safety that an unknown person threw eggs both inside and outside Finlay Hall. Public Safety is investigating.

A group of students at Fordham is asking for an LGBTQ+ focused integrated learning community (ILC) at Rose Hill. The space twould provide members of the Fordham's LGBTQ+ community with a space akin to Queen's Court or West Wing. The Pride Activism Committee, which is a group under the Rose Hill Pride Alliance, is spearheading the initiative. It started the process of gathering signatures on Wednesday, April 3, but the group said it has been planning this initiative since the beginning of the semester. It plans to gather signatures outside the cafeteria in McGinley Center on Wednesday afternoons. It's goal is to gather support before approaching United Student Government (USG), Residential Life and the Fordham administration. Jack McClatchy, FCRH ’21, is the programmer on the Pride Alliance executive board. He said the petition’s goal is to show support for the initiative before bringing it to Fordham’s administration. “This would be totally voluntary program that LGBT students could opt into so it would be a means of coming together as an opportunity,” said McClatchy. “Even if an LGBTQ+ student does not feel that they want to be

JULIA CORBETT/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Members of the Pride Activism Committee are petitioning for an LGBT+ integrated learning Community (ILC).

in this community it’s still a way for Fordham to send a message to the LGBT community that they’re welcome here and that they’re valued members of the community.” Isabelle Fabrizio is the secretary for The Pride Alliance. She added that initiative caters to Fordham’s idea of Cura Personalis. “This is a thing that students want and a thing that the LGBTQ+ community really needs and something Fordham is lacking in,” said Fabrizio “Their iden-

April 6 2449 Hoffman Street 11:55 p.m. NYPD and Public Safety responded to a large house party at the area commonly known as Bro's Hill. It took students two hours to disperse. There were no injuries, arrests or summons.

-Compiled by Eliot Schiaparelli

COURTESY OF RAM ARCHIVES

The petition hopes to provide an inclusive space for LGBTQ+ students.

tity and who they are is not contrary to Fordham’s beliefs but is part of Fordham’s mission.” Ariston Papeo, FCRH ’20, is also on the Pride Alliance. As an Resident Assistant (RA) he has been coming up with programming ideas for the ILC. “As an RA, I know that programs have to fit into Residential Life's programming model, which can change with each year,” said Papeo. “However, programs we envision include programs on education about LGBT+ spaces in NYC, and social and community building.” As of publication, the petition has gathered 119 signatures. Rather than using an online petition site like change.org, every signature has been physically recorded. “We didn’t want the students who are involved in this or the university to come under fire for something that isn’t completely created yet,” said McClatchy “We decided that physical signatures created a better space for us to control who knows about it and who sees it and we would be less likely to come under personal attack.” The petition is also intended to provide an on-campus housing option for transgender students. Fabrizio and McClatchy want the ILC to be open to sophomores through seniors and provide a safe space.

“It came about mostly because we wanted a space for LGBT students who felt uncomfortable in normal housing situations,” said Fabrizio Fabrizio said Pride Alliance is aware that there is a system in place, where transgender students can approach Res Life on their own and work on a one on one basis to find their own. Howeverm she said, such a situation is not always the most comfortable option for everyone. "We wanted a space where students could find roommates and a community that was much more open and accepting," she said. Fabrizio said members of the Pride Alliance are researching this policy as well as the policies of other Jesuit institutions as well as other colleges in the New York area. Georgetown, another Jesuit University in Washington DC, made the move to offer LGBTQ+ only housing. Their proposal, similar to Fordham's, seeks to provide a community space for inclusion. "I think that Fordham is a place for everyone and a place for progress to flourish," said Papeo. "As such, one should always feel free to engage with and question new ideas. Personally, I know I would be happier to create this together rather than apart."

This Week at Fordham Wednesday April 10

Thursday April 11

Friday April 12

Saturday April 13

Middle Eastern Music Ensemble

Holi Festival of Colors

Best Buddies Field Day

Keating 114 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Mario Kart Tournament

McGinley Ballroom 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Feminist Playwrights Festival

Join Professor Mohamed Alsiadi for an afternoon of Arabic and coffee followed by Middle Eastern music ensemble at Fordham, music directed by Professor Alsiadi. The event will be in Keating 114 on Wednesday, April 10.

Commuter Student Association (CSA) is hosting a video game tournament in McGinley Ballroom on Thursday, April 11. Winners of the tournament will receive prizes. The event will occur from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Holi is an ancient Hindu festival to mark the end of winter that is celebrated across the world. Fordham University South Asian Entity will provide colored powders to throw with friends and strangers. There will be music, dancing and free food.

Martyrs' Lawn 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Martyrs' Lawn 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization that gives opportunities to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Fordham chapter is hosting a field day. They will be playing games on Martyrs' Lawn and having lunch afterword.

Blackbox Theatre 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Fordham Experimental Theater (FET) and Women's Empowerment (WE) will present Feminist Playwrights Festial. The show showcases six stories about women. All of the pieces are student written and directed. Admission is free.

NEWS

April 10, 2019

Page 3

Fordham Club Hosts Annual BX Celebration Day FROM BRONX, PAGE 1

En Cuera, poet and author Willie Perdomo and Mazarte, a Mexican folkloric dance company. Fordham Club set up tables for various local vendors and non-profits. Melanie Silverman, GSAS, had a table to make hats with kids. Spes Nova, a non-profit that benefits impoverished people around the world, was selling various goods, including accessories such as bracelets and necklaces. Bronx is Blooming is a non-profit that focuses on tree and environmental stewardship. It partners with youth and is full of active advocates for the Bronx parks. The organization partners with Fordham in the form of student volunteers and interns. Liberty Partnership Program is a college access and dropout prevention program. It provides college tours, afterschool programming and tutoring. It partners with the center for Community Engaged Learning and was invited to talk to the community and recruit people. Site administrator Jackeysi Benitez said the group has been at Fordham since 1989 and work with volunteers from Fordham. Other non-profits in attendance included Part of the Solution (POTS), Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA), a project of new settlement apartments, NYC Council Participatory Bud-

geting and The Underground, a Bronx program that provides a space for musicians of all ages to perform their music. The U.S. Census Bureau 2020 was also at the event. Sarah Lynn, recruiting assistant for the Bronx, said she was there to offer employment opportunities and extend information to the community. Various Fordham organizations were also in attendance. Campus Activities Board (CAB) played games with kids, and there was a library book station set up. FCRH dean’s office and Fordham Club were also set up with activities. Student artist Caden Jones, FCRH ’19, was also invited to showcase her artwork. Daaleman said the event had really great attendance and weather. He said the main difference this year was that the event was held in Fordham Plaza. He said they wanted to make sure that it was more accessible for the community and that they could be more involved in the community. “It started initially and has continued to be basically an opportunity for Fordham students and members of the Fordham community to have an opportunity to celebrate the Bronx as a borough and its history and culture,” said Joyce. Joyce said Fordham Club tried to be intentional about being engaged with the Bronx. He said

Bronx Celebration Day is part of Fordham Club’s Bronx Engagement Committee, a subcommittee that focuses on bridging the gap between Fordham and the Bronx. “This event has always been a great success but going forward, we as a committee would like to be more intentional about engaging with the Bronx more than just one day a year,” he said. Joyce said they would like to bring vendors on campus or host more events to make a more sustainable and stronger partnership between the community and Fordham. Daaleman said many Fordham administrators attended the event on Saturday and that he hopes they could see the potential events like Bronx Celebration Day have. Joyce said he hopes Fordham students had the chance to interact face to face with members of the community and that Bronx community members were able to do the same. He also said he hoped they saw Fordham students as respectful, responsible members of their community. “Hopefully they [Fordham students] saw a little bit more of the culture and history of the Bronx and the different social and ethnic groups that make this borough a real melting pot,” he said. Chief Diversity Officer Rafael Zapata said the event was a huge

WILL JONES/THE FORDHAM RAM

The third annual "celebration day" highlights various initiatives in the Bronx.

success and the student organizers of the Fordham Club, student volunteers from the Center for Community Engaged Learning and other offices deserve the bulk of the credit. “I hope that Fordham University sees itself as intimately connected to, and invested in, the communities and residents of the Bronx; that we strive to be present and engaged in meaningful ways, and that we recognize and affirm the beauty, depth, and creativity that has always characterized this unique borough that we call home,” said Zapata. Joyce and Daaleman said they

are very grateful for everyone that had a hand in the event. They specifically wanted to thank Fordham Club, Fordham College Rose Hill Dean Maura Mast, Ph.D. and all of the Fordham College at Rose Hill dean’s office staff, Jessica Gordon and the Fordham Road Business Improvement District, The Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, The Fordham Commuting Students Association, Fordham University Marketing and Communications, Fordham Modern Languages Department and United Student Government.

Commuter Students Address Challenges On Campus FROM CSA, PAGE 1

said Chevalier. Because many interactions happen within dorm-life, Commuter Students Association (CSA) has lobbied for more commuter access to the spaces, since they can be a place of connection among students. Currently, commuter students do not have access to lounge spaces in residential halls according to the president emeritus of CSA, Vanessa Reyes, FCRH ’19. “We’ve asked to open the spaces to commuter lounges, but administration made the claim that if something were to be broken by commuter students, they wouldn’t have a way to track us,” said Reyes. “But this only put a negative connotation on commuter students.” In response, Residential Life said in a statement that it wishes to treat students equally. According to Residential Life, when it is unable to find the student at fault for damaged property, students in that particular dorm are faced with a community fee. In the event that a commuter student would accidentally damage something, there is no secure way to track the person, which would ultimately result in a fee placed on the rest of the dorming community. “Commuter students are welcome to use the lounge spaces in residential buildings,” said Alex Fischer, Interim Director of Residential Life. “All one would need is a student who lives in the hall to be their host during the day or to sign them in at night during signin/out hours. Resident students visit one another between halls in the exact same way.” Joining clubs might be seen as a solution to that issue, as many

residential students also meet friends through on-campus organizations, but some commuters have found it challenging to involve themselves on campus through extracurriculars or academic life. “I remember I wanted to join a lot of clubs my freshman year, but everything started at 9 or 10 p.m. — I had to be home,” said Jahdaya Francis, FCRH ’20. “You’re just going to school, you’re not experiencing college.” Francis said trying to get to professor’s office hours, tutoring and even class scheduling is difficult to navigate for commuter students, as many of them also pick-up part-time, or even fulltime jobs. Francis explained a groupproject incident where she was ultimately left out of the group’s final presentation because she was unable to make the meeting, even though she felt she thoroughly explained to her group the days when she could and could not meet. Reyes and the rest of CSA have attempted to work with administration, but Reyes said there is a sense that administration is but another obstacle the community faces. Reyes pointed to the aforementioned Keating lounge which suffered from a large flood and leak that would fall from the ceiling to the, at the time, carpeted floors. This leak would appear everytime it would rain or snow and eventually caused the carpet to smell like mold. According to Reyes, the issue was only solved after administration finally went down to the lounge to inspect the situation

— two years after the initial complaint. Stephen Esposito, the assistant director of leadership and commuter student services at Fordham of three months, explains how this was a top priority for administration from the office’s standpoint. “It was more of facilities’ ability to order the floor, have them come in, do the labor and close down the lounge for the time being,” explained Esposito. “It was a big decision to whether or not we wanted to close the lounge for a week.” In addition to the lounge, the parking accessibility is also another element commuter students said they have had trouble communicating with administration about. Some commuter students said they feel they are at a disadvantage when trying to find parking. They believe residential students have parked in convenient areas, causing commuter students to drive around for 10-20 minutes in order to park their cars. According to Salma Yousseff, FCRH ’20, CSA attempted to reach out to John Caroll, associate vice president of Public Safety, in order to gain statistics pertaining to the designated spaces, how overnight parking is enforced and how many violations are found earlier this year. Caroll said that he was unaware of the email and apologized about the confusion. “You should know that we do not have spots for specific categories of people,” said Carroll. “The parking is for every member of the Community, students, faculty, staff and visitors.”

Shortly after, Caroll provided the information CSA requested. Reyes claims that there is a direct correlation between the neglect commuter students face and economic backgrounds. Many commuter students are minority students who go through a program called the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), which provides academic aid to lower-income commuter students. “We are at double jeopardy being a commuter student and a black/brown student at a predominantly white institution,” said Reyes. “Black and brown problems are directly linked to commuter student problems.” In the two years of fighting to get the molding floors and leaking ceilings fixed in the student lounge, Chavelier and Acevedo said they felt they had to send Jhadaya Reyes to speak with administration because of her whiter skin. “If a white student goes up there, she’ll get more attention than any person who is black or brown,” said Acevedo. Rafael Zapata, Fordham’s first Chief Diversity Officer (CDO), described the long battle of race and ethnic adversity on college campuses and how he and his team are working diligently to combat these issues. “There’s a strong overlap. There’s a lot of lower-income and first generation students that are disproportionately commuter students — not exclusively,” said Zapata. “ He said he feels the issues and separation between the commuter and residential students point towards the lack of space that invites both commuter and residen-

tial students to come together. “College is sometimes the first time that many distant — socially distant, backgrounds come together in once space,” he said. “That in itself is awkward at times, might be funny, might be tension filled. The question is, ‘how do we deal with this conflict?’” Mary Bly, Ph.D., a professor at Lincoln Center who is heavily involved with commuter students at the Lincoln center, explained Lincoln Center’s initiative to create a multicultural lounge open to all students. “When you create a commuter lounge, it automatically isolates commuter students as if they’re a different population,” said Bly. “A multicultural lounge, creates a space that is welcoming without isolating.” As for Rose Hill’s initiatives, Esposito said he is currently working on a survey for commuter students that will hopefully clarify what the top concerns are. “My goal is is to merge RAs and CAs to ensure that the experiences between residents and commuters are paralleled. I am in close conversation with Residential Life in hopes to find solutions and create events that are more accessible to both commuters and residents. ” Reyes and several other commuter students hope that administration furthers the invitation to commuter students to be apart of the conversations about decisions affecting commuter students. They said they hope that administration becomes more mindful of the commuter experience and improve on possible solutions to make their experience as fruitful as that of residential students.

NEWS

Page 4

April 10, 2019

Research Spotlight

USG Column

USG Fordham Professor Researches Special Education Makes Title Addresses Areas With Shortage of Professionals Changes By KRISTEN MCNERNEY

By SARAH HUFFMAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The 2019 Outstanding Externally Funded Research Award Recipient and associate professor in the Division of Curriculum and Teaching in the Graduate School of Education, Su-Je Cho, Ph.D., is completing a fiveyear-long research project that trains 40 pre-service individuals in special education and school psychology. Cho said her project addresses needs in the fields of special education, school psychology and other related fields, all areas where there is a shortage of professionals. Cho’s research provides funding for trainees to become certified in their respective fields and earn a master’s degree in education. The data collected from these trainees informs other education professionals about how to work with each other in K-12 settings. Cho said the idea came from her experience training special education teachers over the last 20 years. She said special education teachers must work to collaborate with professionals in other fields, such as school psychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and school counselors, but they are all educated and trained separately. “I saw this as a serious problem and have always been interested in providing interdis-

Photo of the Week:

COURTESY OF SU-JE CHO.

Su-Je Cho, Ph.D. is researching the interdisciplinary training of special education and school psychology students.

ciplinary training for them to collaborate,” she said. “The U.S. Department of Education recently created funding opportunities for interdisciplinary training and I was awarded a federal grant in that area.” Cho is currently in year two

of her five-year grant period. She has 16 pre-service trainees, including eight in special education and eight in school psychology. She also has four faculty members involved in her project. She said her trainees participate in

MACKENZIE CRANNA /THE FORDHAM RAM

Spring has sprung at Fordham as students take to Edward’s Parade. The sun and warm weather were finally back this week, drawing students outside and onto the grass in front of Keating Hall.

one of four student-driven research projects by completing literature reviews and data collection. Cho said interdisciplinary collaboration is extremely important in the field of education. In the past, she emphasized it in her courses and has tried to implement the approach with colleagues, but a more systematic collaboration began when she was awarded funding. “One major thing I want to accomplish through my project is to find out what motivates professionals to become true collaborators, rather than just collaborating because of job requirements,” she said. Cho said Fordham is a good place to balance research and teaching. Additionally, she said the Office of Research has created several internal funding opportunities to support faculty who are at the developmental stage with their research projects and grants. Cho was awarded some of these grants as well. “One of the internal grants that I was awarded helped me secure federal funding in the amount of $1.25 [million],” she said. “Two other projects that I am working on in teams of faculty and students were internally funded and have great potential to be developed for external funding opportunities.” Cho said the main takeaway of her project is the importance of interdisciplinary training for pre-service professionals in special education and related services fields. She also said that it is still too early to provide concrete findings since her project has not been going on for very long. She said she will be able to provide preliminary findings next summer.

United Student Government (USG) held a constitutional convention on Thursday, April 4, to approve new bylaws and clarify the roles involved in various positions. The meeting included much discussion about wording and name changes. In a traditional governmental style, the title of “Executive Board” was changed to “Cabinet.” The cabinet will consist of the same positions that were a part of the executive board but with a few name changes. Those positions are Executive President, Executive Vice President, Vice President of FCRH, Vice President of GSB, Vice President of Club Operations, Vice President of Communications, Vice President of Student Life, Vice President of Health and Security, Vice President of Sustainability and Vice President of Finance and Budgets, previously known as Vice President of Finance. The constitution commission originally intended to change the title to VP of Budget, but Elizabeth Bjorklund, FCRH ’21, who currently holds the position of VP of Finance, said she felt that including the term “finance” in her title is necessary because she handles the general financial affairs of USG, which are not restricted to budgeting. Some also argued that it would make more sense for the title to include the word “budget” because the VP of Finance and Budget leads the USG Budget Committee, and the email for the position includes the word “budget” in its name. Opponents of the name change argued that VP of Student Life leads the USG House Committee but the word “house” does not appear in the title. Senator Nicholas Abbazio, GSB ’21 said he strongly believes in simplifying the language used in the constitution in order to make USG more transparent. “We should be speaking in plain English,” he said. Another title change was made, changing VP of Operations to VP of Club Operations, albeit with less argument. VP of Student Life Ashley Qamar expressed concern for the lack of information regarding the Diversity Action Coalition (DAC), a subcomittee under USG. The issue was tabled for further consideration. It was also clarified in the constitution that the Dining Committee is not an official committee with bylaws like DAC and International Integration. It is instead a liason position appointed by the USG President. USG also discussed the various committees students can be a part of and the roles of Senate delegates, who represent organizations, including but not limited to Campus Activities Board (CAB), Resident Hall Association (RHA) and Commuting Students Association (CSA). Senators were able to voice their opinions and vote democratically regarding the wording of the constitution., while some issues were tabled for later discussion.

NEWS

April 10, 2019

Page 5

CAB Announces Ellie Kemper as 2019 SW Speaker: Actress to Speak on Experience in Entertainment FROM SPEAKER, PAGE 1

and more interactive vibe,” they said in a joint statement. “The moderated Q&A was engaging and fun for the audience, and we

figured this year could be no different.” CAB announced Kemper as the Spring Weekend Speaker in a video posted on Facebook,

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

Josh Peck's 2018 Q&A inspired CAB to seek another comedic performer.

showing executive board members dancing along to “Nobody But Me” by The Human Beinz. The scene mimics one that opens The Office’s seventh season: dancing around an office, lip syncing and throwing confetti in the air. Rizzo and Thomas said they felt Kemper could bring a funny and dynamic "Question and Answer" to the student body. They said she could also provide students with a positive message by discussing her own experiences in Hollywood. They are also hoping she can speak on her experience as a woman in comedy. “She also has had many different roles in various popular shows and movies that we felt could reach a wider range here at Fordham,” they said. “‘The Office’ has become a staple show within the Fordham community and has a very loyal fan base.” According to Rizzo and Thomas, they expect a successful event due to the continued relevance Kemper has among the college demographic. They believe she can bring heart and humor to the annual speaker event, and they said they are lucky to have her perform. “We are looking forward to

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Actress and author Ellie Kemper to speak at Fordham for Spring Weekend.

having a great night full of laughs and entertainment with Ellie,” they said. “We know that she will be bringing a positive and inspirational message to campus. We

hope to see everyone there!” The Speaker Series event with Ellie Kemper will be held in Leonard Prep Theater on Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m.

English Department Hosts Author Kiese Laymon By MARGARET ROTHFUS COPY CHIEF

Last Wednesday, April 3, the English Department hosted author Kiese Laymon for its Reid Writers of Color Reading Series in the Keating First auditorium. This event takes place annually to celebrate a prominent writer of color and is made possible by Kenneth and Frances K. Reid. According to the English Department’s webpage, the event was also sponsored by the Fordham English department and the Creative Writing Program. Laymon, this year’s writer, is the author of the novel “Long Division” and two memoirs, “How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America” and “Heavy: An American Memoir.” The latter memoir was released last fall and has been named the best book of 2018 by several outlets such as the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, NPR and more, and also recieved several awards, including the Andrew Carnegie Medal. According to Sarah Gambito, director of Creative Writing at Fordham, this year’s reading had been planned for over a year prior to the event, and booking Laymon was facilitated by his friendship with Fordham assistant professor and author Scott Poulson-Bryant. Gambito and Poulson-Bryant opened the event with introductions. Poulson-Bryant described Laymon’s “Heavy” as something that found “a way to bridge joy and pain in ways that are new and refreshing … but always intimate in the way that the best literature is.” Laymon began his reading with

COURTESY OF THE FORDHAM ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

The Fordham English Department hosted author Kiese Laymon last Wednesday, April 3, in Keating First.

gratitude for Gambito and Frances Reid, who was in attendance, as well as humor that made the audience laugh. His reading selection reflected this. “I usually base what I’m gonna read on what my vibe is,” he said. “I feel very happy right now, so I’m gonna read something that’s gonna make me laugh — whether or not it makes you laugh is up to you.” He read a selection titled “Meager,” which detailed his experience with other black children when they attended school with white children for the first time. “We didn’t feel like this space was ours, so we tried to rhetori-

cally make it ours,” he stated. “And we had to deal with the consequences.” The reading lasted for about 25 minutes, and because of Laymon’s schedule, there was only time for two questions during the post-reading Q&A. When asked what it was like to be a person of color while writing “Heavy” and to overcome related obstacles, he said the writing was difficult and referenced his mother, to whom the book is addressed. “I always wanted to write this book, but I just didn’t have the heart, and I didn’t have the skill,” he said. “And then I just got to a point in my relationship with my

mother where I just felt like it was gonna die completely. If it died I felt like we were gonna follow it — literally.” He expanded upon his choice to address his mother in the second person after the second question. “I hadn’t seen a memoir really pull off the second person unless used in epistolary form,” he stated. “I didn’t want to write a letter to my mom … I actually wanted to write a book that put my mama in her black central Mississippi upbringing at the center. So I wanted the space between my mama and me to be the motivating force that kept people turning the pages.”

He cited Christina Sharpe and “The Color Purple” as influences for him throughout the writing process for “Heavy.” According to Gambito, around 500 students and faculty attended the event. Many of the students were going for their English classes and were able to find the reading a good supplement to the book. “Hearing his voice read the book definitely makes it so much better,” said Maeve Ambrose, FCLC ’22. “It gives you a better connection.” Maria Nettgen, FCLC ’22, stated that the reading let her “see the book in a new dimension.” “Hearing him read it out loud adds a new dynamic to it,” said Meg Whalen, FCRH ’21. “I think I’m gonna download the audiobook actually because when I’m reading it I’m still reading it in my voice…not in his voice, so it’s like hearing a white girl say these words, instead of, like, how they are meant to be said and what he’s actually trying to communicate, so that opened up a new part of this book to me.” While many focused on what the reading had done for their understanding of the book, Anthony Nunez, FCRH ’22, had unanswered questions for Laymon. “I have a theory [about] the whole idea of contractions in the book,” he said. “I wish more questions could have been asked.” Gambito said she could sense the engagement of students. “It was wonderful to see Fordham students and faculty come out in force for Kiese Laymon,” she said in a statement to The Ram. “The excitement in the air was palpable.”

NEWS

Page 6

April 10, 2019

USG Candidates Outline Election Platforms More Than Half of Candidates Uncontested FROM USG, PAGE 1

Keane, who live-streamed into the event from London, outlined her three campaign initiatives, including expanding student mentorship programs, expanding the Gabelli vision for prospective students and providing information that will aid students who are not in Gabelli’s most popular majors, including expanding research into less populated majors. Tomicich’s platform included a proposed mandatory service day intended to bring students together to help the Bronx community, a suggestion close to several of the candidates’ platforms. Carlos Rico, FCRH ’21, current senator running for re-election, campaigned largely on a platform that intends to weave together the Bronx and the university. “We need more representation on this campus to have a truly human perspective, one that can be called New York and one that can be called uniquely Fordham,” said Rico. “Much has been given to us. Much is to be expected and much is to be done.” Ashley Qamar, GSB ’20, vice presidential candidate for the executive ticket and current vice president of student life, echoed this sentiment when she stressed the importance of diversity and biastracking as co-chair of the Diversity Action Coalition.

“There’s room for us to grow as a Fordham community and there’s room for us to grow as a Bronx community,” said Qamar. Qamar, who said she has become increasingly connected to students emotionally, is prioritizing inclusion. “We as a student body are working to move forward in looking at what we can do to make Fordham’s retention much higher than it is," she said. "We notice that we lost a lot of students of color and lots of students who are LGBTQ and that’s because they don’t feel included in our campus culture.” Kaylee Wong, GSB ’20, presidential candidate and current vice president of USG, repeatedly stressed that the university is at a pivotal stage for change and said as president she will continue asking questions to increase transparency. “It really seems that when we ask a question, they assume that students don't care about it so I’m saying we do care about what’s going on so that they have to be transparent,” said Wong, addressing the question concerning systemic transparency at Fordham. Wong and Qamar's plans for the upcoming school year include bolstering sustainability and Earth Week programming and collaborating with IT to address banner and OrgSync issues with the intention to make these systems more user

friendly. Griffin LaMarche, FCRH ‘22, candidate for vice president of communications, touted his skills in photoshop and various programs while his opponent, Thomas Reuter, FCRH ’22, said his communication skills would allow his platform, based on transparency, expediency and accountability, to be successful. LaMarche called for increased freshman senate representation and the implementation of a Direct Streamlined Feedback (DSF) program to improve campus communication. He also proposed the replacement of OrgSync as the primary communicative platform and if not possible, increased tutorials for clubs to learn how to use OrgSync. Reuter said overhaul and a new program could be utilized as a replacement for OrgSync. “I think that scrapping that old program and coming in with a new program that advertises what USG is doing and what other clubs are doing on campus can be effective,” said Reuter. Several of the candidates addressed issues of exclusivity and elitism within USG. Nicholas Abbazio, GSB ’21, current senator running for reelection, called for an end to this supposed culture.

“In the past there has been an aura surrounding USG where the people within the organization seem to be elitist,” said Abbazio. “The only way to improve the university is if we all have a say to do it.” One of Abbazio’s initiatives focuses on building a lasting relationship with Part of the Solution (POTS) where the university could donate excess food it would otherwise throw away at the end of each day. Luke Morgan, GSB ’22, candidate for senator, also said he wants to improve the elitist reputation of USG in his platform statement. Connor Sullivan, FCRH '19, current USG president delivered Morgan's remarks in his absence. In addition, Morgan proposed online access rather than paper copies be granted to Gabelli students in order to promote sustainability. FCRH Class of 2020 senate candidate Matt Schumacher, FCRH ’20, a previous senator running for re-election, stressed the importance of other clubs following USG’s lead in his speech, also delivered by Sullivan in his absence. “There are other organizations on campus who think they can do whatever they want...they are organizations for the people, like USG, and they should do as such,” wrote Schumacher. David D’Onofrio, FCRH ’22, current senator running for re-election, called for initiatives he referred to as

smaller, but important, including putting tampons and other feminine products as well as tissues in campus bathrooms, coffee in the Walsh Library and allowing fruit to be sold for meal swipes. Patrick Fox, FCRH ’20, vice president of FCRH running for re-election, outlined his plans for a current proposal that would bring a career services class to Rose Hill students. Several candidates also addressed the importance of mental health and called for improved counseling and psychological services and resource awareness, including Emma Budd, FCRH ’20, candidate for vice president of health and security. "I want students to know I can be an open line of communication for public safety,” said Budd, addressing issues of student health and safety. Some of the candidates also called attention to the importance of fighting for transgender and nonbinary recognition and safety. Tyler Raciti, FCRH ’21, a recent transfer, outlined his platform for his Senate run. “As an LGBT individual, Fordham really struggles there and we have to admit that,” said Raciti. The vote for the contested positions of vice president of Gabelli and vice president of communications opens at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 10 and closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 12.

Fashion for Philanthropy Hosts Annual Fundraiser All Proceeds Donated To Make-A-Wish Foundation FROM FFP, PAGE 1

was very hype and I think the gift bags brought a lot of people there.” Kaden said she decided to get involved because of her love for fashion. “[I] want to work in the fashion industry but know the industry is not always positive and wanted to combine that love with giving back in a positive way,” she said. All the clothes were donated from clothing companies, but FFP also puts together VIP gift bags with items from various companies. Trabattoni said the bags feature anything from makeup samples to free workout classes in the city. “The creation of these bags allow us to charge a higher ticket price which ultimately assist us in reaching our fundraising goals,” she said. “Some of this year’s sponsors included scentbird, Barry’s Bootcamp, Bou soup cups and Kiss Cosmetics, just to name a few.” The fashion show used to be held in the gym, but this year it was in McGinley ballroom. Trabattoni said they received a lot of positive feedback from show attendees complementing the new space. “It definitely led to a more intimate feel. We will most likely stick with this venue next year,”

COURTESY OF EMMA KADEN

Student volunteers walked the runway in clothes donated from Rent the Runway, LF and Lord and Taylor.

she said. Trabattoni said the event was scheduled in the morning because of all the other events happening on campus that day. She said they knew 11:30 a.m. was a risky time slot because of the given nature of sleeping college

students. “We really didn’t know what to expect given that the show this year took place on a Saturday morning which is rare for us," she said. "Despite all this, turn out couldn’t have been better."

According to Trabattoni, the process of gathering donations is an independent task that many of the club members perform at their leisure, while more time sensitivetasks are taken care of by the eboard. “When it gets down to the wire,

however, it’s all hands on deck and we rely heavily on the help of club members to make the show a success," she said. "This year’s group was absolutely amazing and willing to help in all aspects." The fashion show is FFP’s main event, but they hold small fundraisers throughout the year. All of their fundraisers contribute to Make-a-Wish. FFP’s mission statement says that their club believes in the power of dreams, which is why they donate all of their proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “We also incorporate our love of fashion into planning unique fundraisers and events to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, following the Jesuit tradition of being men and women for others," reads the mission statement. "FFP’s biggest event of the year is the annual spring fashion show." Trabattoni said aside from raising money for the Make-AWish Foundation, they strive to provide their club members with opportunities beyond community service. “Specifically, we want to help them enhance professionally as well as grow their Fordham network socially," she said. "We always try to hold career site visits with companies our members are interested in."

ADVERTISEMENTS

April 10, 2019

Page 7

Catch up or get ahead this summer! • Finish core requirements. • Begin a second major. • Set yourself up to graduate early. Session I: May 28–June 27 Session II: July 2–August 6

SUMMER SESSION 2019

Choose from more than 200 available courses!

Check out the

Look for our

Ramcast, the official

latest episode on

podcast of

SoundCloud and

The Fordham Ram!

iTunes!

NEWS

Page 8

April 10, 2019

Students Struggle to Receive Credit for Internships By ERICA SCALISE PROJECTS EDITOR

With the spring semester coming to a close, landing an internship and spending the summer in the city continues to entice students. However, for some, the cost of interning during the school year or in the summer comes with a hefty price tag, especially when accepting an unpaid position. The university offers three options during the summer to obtain credit for an unpaid internship. This includes the summer internship program, a four credit class in cooperation with Career Services for $3600 and a suggested grade point average of 3.0, a tutorial in which students can obtain one to four credits for $915 per credit or the 0.5 credit option in which students who do not require credits within a specific discipline pay $495. According to Maura Mast, Ph.D., dean of Fordham College Rose Hill, the 0.5 credit option was created in the summer of 2018 in response to student and faculty concerns about students having to register and pay for a course in the summer in order to receive credit for an internship. “This is a difficult situation,” said Mast. “Internships are incredibly popular, and data

from Fordham’s Office of Institutional Research indicate that most Fordham undergraduate students participate in at least one internship during their undergraduate careers. Many of our students hold paid internships, but this is not always the case.” After conducting research on how other schools approach the issue, Mast said FCRH piloted the 0.5 credit option in summer 2018 and will offer it again in summer 2019. During the academic year at Fordham, students can enroll in an internship for credit and usually do not have to pay an additional cost unless they exceed their credit ceiling, according to Mast. For Ashley DiMatteo, FCRH ‘21, taking an unpaid internship as a sophomore would exceed her credit ceiling. She referred to this process as “financially burdensome.” “Traveling to the city is super expensive, and the Ram Van can be tricky because of traffic," said DiMatteo. "This can financially discourage people to take an internship, especially if they aren’t getting credit for it. In my senior year, with my major, I have to take an internship class, so I will be getting credit eventually in some way, but by the time I’m a senior, I will most likely have gotten an-

other internship, and so really I feel that I should be getting credit for my current internship now.” When considering the cost, DiMatteo also pointed to the potentially taxing nature of unpaid internships. “I think that having an unpaid internship is a great experience in the sense where you get to really learn a lot, and that is super valuable,” she said. “However, it’s easy for some companies to take advantage of interns and in that case it’s unproductive.” According to Maria Aponte, assistant director of Global Diversity & Inclusion Career Services, each of the options require students to meet with their class dean to receive permission to obtain credit. Career Services does not issue credit, though the internship tutorial has been part of Career Services for over 15 years. “Once a student is approved to receive credit via the tutorial, they meet with an instructor to discuss the importance of the professional development they are learning in the internship and how it will reflect on their major and career building,” said Aponte. Students meet with the instructor three times throughout the academic semester to cover academics, growth and

assessment of the internship experience and are required to write a two to three page paper about the internship, according to Aponte. Aponte also said students are required to read chapters from the assigned book on internships as part of their reflection on the importance of interning. Sabrina Sahler, FCRH ’21 worked remotely as an editorial intern this past semester. She said any negatives were outweighed by being able to work with a patient and understanding staff. “I think it’s easier in the case of my unpaid internship because I don’t have to commute to do my job, so I’m not spending money on transportation,” said Sahler. “I took my internship not with the intention to get credit, but just to get experience for the future and I wound up really liking it and liking who I work with.” Sahler also said she felt favored in her internship because she came from Fordham. “My boss says she prefers to hire Fordham students because we’ve been the hardest working interns she’s seen, so that was really nice to be able to have that positive connection off the bat,” she said. Though a compromise was set in the form of the 0.5 credit

option, other students still find themselves displeased with the overall internship policy. Andrew Millman, FCRH '21, has also enjoyed his unpaid internship, but was unable to obtain credit as a sophomore. “I emailed Dean Mast, but she said it was Fordham policy that you could only get credit after sophomore year and I’m a second semester sophomore,” said Millman. However, Fordham is not the only university with this policy. Though internship grants are available to a select number of students, the policies for unpaid internships at New York University (NYU) remain the same. According to NYU’s website, tuition and fees for internships are generated in the same way as are those for classroom courses. Meanwhile at schools such as Columbia University, most schools and programs within the university do not offer academic credit for internships. According to Columbia’s Center for Career Education, academic credit should not replace compensation for work performed during an internship “The whole paying Fordham for credit on something that’s not through them is kinda ridiculous to be honest,” said Millman.

College Democrats Host Robby Mook in Walsh Discusses 2016 and 2020 Presidential Elections By HANNA DECKER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Wednesday, April 3, the College Democrats hosted Robby Mook in the Flom Auditorium in Walsh Library. Mook was Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager during the 2016 presidential election. Mook has a number of achievements under his belt, including accomplishments before Clinton’s election. For the 2016 election, he was able to build a history-making $1 billion, 50-state, 3,500-person campaign. President Sophia MacMaster, FCRH ’19, and Vice President Michael Fissinger, FCRH ’21, said they went through the Worldwide Speakers Group in order to get in contact with Mook. From there, they worked closely with the Office for Student Involvement to plan the details of the event. MacMaster was a field organizer for Clinton in North Carolina and was especially excited to hear from Mook. “Robby's perspective is unlike any other because of his direct connection with the 2016 campaign,” stated MacMaster. “The campaign he ran in 2016, though didn’t result in a winning election, was extraordinary on many fronts.” Mook spoke on a number of topics including the 2016 election and its results as well as the what to expect during the 2020

election season. He covered both the primary and general elections, as well as pertinent strategies, while also discussing the new Democratic candidates and what the public can expect from them. Mook spoke about what impacted the 2016 election results. He commented on the shift within the electoral terrain as well as the quick transitions that the population as a whole underwent in their voting patterns. “How educated you were [on the election] drove how you voted,” Mook said. Based upon the trends he saw, most people voting for Clinton were college-educated. He also noticed a large population of minorities favoring Clinton over Trump. However, he also mentioned a shift in state loyalties. “States that you once thought were safe were now split and often in jeopardy of being lost,” said Mook. He said Texas and other southwestern states were slowly mobilizing support for the Democrats while southeastern states were becoming more and more Republican, shifting the status quo that had stood for a number of decades. Mook said that the way the news worked during the election was different than previous years: news broadcasters make money based on "clicks," and their best strategy in acquiring these "clicks" is suspense.

KYLIE ELWOOD/THE FORDHAM RAM

Robby Mook, Hillary Clinton ’ s campaign manager during the 2016 election, spoke in Walsh Library last Wednesday.

“Policies are of secondary importance to polling when it comes to news coverage,” said Mook. This is due to the fact that polling involves suspense and keeps the audience on their toes while policies is just listing information that the public could acquire themselves. News broadcasters are also responsible for covering both sides equally in order to hold them both accountable. However, Mook said that if one side has a few minor infractions while another side has many major issues, the media coverage can

begin to cause both sides to appear equally horrible when that is not the case. Mook covered how these facts may have impacted Clinton and how they could impact other candidates in the future. As he worked his way into the end of his speech, he spoke on the 2020 Democratic candidates and the outlook for their election, mainly focusing on Biden and his status as a front runner — despite not yet announcing a candidacy. “I hope the university community gained a sense of some of the major factors that drive

national political campaigns,” stated Fissinger. “I hope everyone in attendance found him insightful and was able to learn something new, about politics, campaigns, etc., from his talk.” Mook ended his talk with words of encouragement for the audience. “You need to understand the resource you have and use it,” he said. He spoke about the enormous potential our generation has to impact our society and the world. In Mook’s words, we have to “just go do it.”

OPINION

April 10, 2019

Page 9

The Fordham Ram

When Charity GO!es Wrong By SEAN FRANKLIN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

GO! fundraising season is in full swing. Everywhere I turn, there are pleas for me to buy something to support someone’s GO! trip. Posters in the hallways of my dorm tell me to go to Chipotle. Emails from my resident director alert me to an upcoming bake sale. Instagram stories implore me to buy donuts, and texts from my friends eagerly dish out order forms for customized Fordham gear. It’s inescapable. This is troubling, because GO! is not a charity. Sending Fordham students on cultural enrichment trips that involve some service makes it closer to a voluntourism organization. Its members act as though they are members of a charitable organization, holding on-campus fundraisers and soliciting donations much in the same way that legitimate charities such as FDM and UNICEF do. But they aren’t. The things that GO! does do not make it a charity. At best, they are misguided attempts at service. At worst, they are nothing more than glorified tourism. I want to be clear that I don’t think GO! is a malevolent organization. It provides Fordham students with unique opportunities to immerse themselves in other cultures and learn about unfamiliar

ways of life. It builds community among the people who participate in its projects. It provides opportunities for reflection and spiritual growth. However, GO! is not a service organization. The service it provides to the communities it visits is nominal at best. There’s only so much you can accomplish with 15 undergrads and a week’s time. Even if GO! trips were 100% service — which they are not — they would still be a waste of resources. A GO! trip usually runs between $1,000 and $2,000 a person. If your typical GO! trip is 10 to 15 people, then you’re easily looking at a total cost of over $20,000 – just for 15 people to spend a week in a foreign country cooking meals and gardening. $20,000 donated to UNICEF could vaccinate over 100,000 vulnerable children against malaria. $20,000 donated to Oxfam could plant 40,000 trees in the developing world. When compared to the impact of real charities, the impact of that $20,000 spent on a GO! project is vanishingly small. Therefore, for GO! to pose as a charitable organization and solicit donations in the same way is indefensible. It’s impossible to justify GO! as anything but an enrichment program — an opportunity for students to go abroad and learn about different ways of life. Many

COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

Though GO! has altruistic intentions, it is ultimately more of a voluntourism organization than a charity service.

GO! members, when asked, will readily admit to this. Yet this is not the way these trips are marketed. Their own promotional material lists them as a “service and immersion program.” A picture of students participating in GO! Mexico put out by Campus Ministry (which has a history of affiliation with GO!) with the caption “Feed the hungry. Comfort the afflicted.” has appeared all over campus (including, strangely, on the napkin dispensers in the cafeteria). You could be forgiven for thinking that they’re an organization primarily engaged in service. However, they aren’t. Students looking to make a gen-

uine impact should look elsewhere. The fact there is an appetite for GO! trips shows Fordham students have a genuine interest in service and charity, which is laudable. Students who are interested in serving others could volunteer with homegrown organizations like FDM or venture out further into the Bronx with organizations like the Bronx Volunteer Coalition. There are plenty of opportunities right here at home that will do far more good than a GO! trip ever will. Campus Ministry, for their part, should either fully finance GO! trips or leave the cost up to the students alone. Encouraging GO! members to

engage in this kind of disingenuous fundraising is unacceptable. Unless GO! becomes more transparent about the nature of its projects, it should not be soliciting donations. Earlier this week, a friend of mine asked me to buy a Fordham hat for $20 to support her GO! trip to New Orleans. I didn’t, but in her honor I took that $20 and donated it to UNICEF. The next time someone asks you to donate to their GO! trip, I would urge you to do something similar. Don’t let their good intentions go to waste.

Sean Franklin, FCRH ’21, in an urban studies and economics major from Alexandria, Virginia.

The U.S. Will Regret Cutting Ties with Turkey

COURTESY OF FLICKR

The United States should still supply Turkey with F35 fighter jets.

By TIMOTHY KYLE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The currency that U.S. relations in the Middle East is built on is not goodwill or trust, as in other parts of the world, but utility. Over the course of the last several decades, the U.S. has built a web of alliances and treaties with key players, such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, to ensure the stability of the region. Recently, some of these partnerships have come under intense scrutiny for ongoing human rights abuses and foreign influence. Ongoing tensions with Turkey culminated this week in the cancellation of new fighter sales, primarily due to Turkey’s purchase of Russian missiles. This marks a new low point with an extremely important ally

whose proximity to conflict zones and relative stability makes them a cornerstone in Middle East policy. Though it is important to hold our partners in the region accountable, it is equally important to avoid ceding the immense strategic benefits of such partners to hostile actors such as Russia or China. The United States, now more than ever with the resurgence of superpower competition, needs to walk a fine line between our commitment to freedom and democracy. When discussing Middle Eastern geopolitics, there is an important truth that must first be understood: there are few benevolent actors, if any, and this is entirely irrelevant to the motivation for U.S. interests in the region.

Tin-pot dictators, Islamist warlords and would-be despots control the most vital tradelanes in the world and round out the list of partners and “friends.” While our support of these tyrants is distasteful, it is simply another reality of global politics that must be accepted. The alternative — a Middle East dominated by Russia or Iran, for example — is infinitely worse not only for the United States but also for the world as a whole. As a nation, we can use our military and economic influence to try to peacefully induce cultural change in our more illiberal allies, a strategy that has seen some success in countries like Saudi Arabia and, until recently, Turkey, though this should remain, at best, a tertiary aim. Our goal in the Middle East, despite the rhetoric of politicians, is not to “spread democracy.” It is to maintain the stability of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and, therefore, the global economy. The recent developments in the case of Turkey are disturbing. Turkey has long occupied a preeminent spot in the system of U.S.-Middle East alliances. Until recently, it was seen as a shining beacon of hope for the region. An example of what could be. The Turkey of the 20th century had successfully harmonized nationalism, secularization and liberalization to become one of the largest

economies in the world, with universal suffrage and a stable government. The last decade, however, has seen much of that progress reversed, with Islamism becoming increasingly mainstream and the president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, concentrating vast amounts of power in his own hands, purging the press and academia and arresting opposition leaders. Turkey has quickly become another name to add to the list of distasteful U.S. allies, and factions at home have been emboldened to call for reduced military cooperation, pointing to increased human rights abuses as well as Erdogan’s apparent closeness to Russia’s Vladimir Putin. The suspension of F-35 fighter deliveries this week is the first step in a potentially disastrous estrangement. Make no mistake — the United States will regret cutting ties with Turkey. The U.S. will regret backing away even a little bit and allowing Russia to fill any vacuum caused by a falling-out. Despite Turkey’s slide into authoritarianism and corruption, we must ensure our alliance remains strong for the sake of our interests in the Middle East. Policymakers should consider Turkey the same way that they consider Saudi Arabia - an unpleasant but necessary partnership — and act accordingly. Maintain arms sales to the Turk-

ish military. Continue to invest in the Turkish economy and support the legitimate Turkish government. At the same time, we should take appropriate measures to limit Russian influence — the stated reason for the cessation of F-35 deliveries — instead of accepting it as a fact of geopolitics. There are some who claim that our continued relationships with unsavory actors in the Middle East legitimize authoritarians and tyrants. They are, unfortunately, right. Some of our allies are veritable despots — but that’s not the point. It is a calculated political cost that we maintain relations with such disagreeable regimes in order to keep the conflicts in the region from spiraling out of control and blocking our great power competitors from swooping in and disturbing the balance of power in the region and the world. We can try and use our soft power — our cultural and economic influence — to affect some political change for the better in the countries where we hold sway. However, until then, we must begrudgingly continue working with and supporting the autocrats of the Middle East — or someone far worse than the United States will.

Timothy Kyle, FCRH ’21, is a history and political science major from West Hartford, Connecticut.

OPINION

Page 10

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

Website FordhamRam.com Email Address theram@fordham.edu Editor-in-Chief Aislinn Keely Managing Editor Hannah Gonzalez Business Director Donald Dugan Operations Director Briana Scalia Editorial Director Lindsay Grippo Executive Director 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 Visual Director Bojeung Leung Faculty Advisor Beth Knobel Editorial Page Policy

The Fordham Ram’s editorial and

ramblings topics are selected on a weekly basis and reflect 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.

April 10, 2019

From the Desk | Rachel Gow

The Climate is Changing and So Must We

Most people have acknowledged, at least to some degree, the detrimental impact humans have made and continue to make on the environment. However, our response to the issue of climate change does not extend much past this acknowledgement. Every few months a new climate report is released, each more dire than the last. Yet these reports only enter our discussions as small talk. A collective “did you read the latest predictions about sea-levels risings” is said distantly between sips out of a Venti-sized plastic cup, before moving on to more pleasant discourse about the flowers blooming. Climate change is a truth that is as unpleasant as it is easy to ignore. Until it isn’t. The latest report released by a UN panel of scientists states that the Earth is predicted to warm 1.5 degrees Celsius by the year 2030. In order to limit temperature increases beyond that, we would need to go carbon-neutral by 2050, requiring the largest and most extensive energy transition in human history. To be clear, this transformation would not halt the impacts of climate change, but rather stave off the most detrimental of them. The inevitable 1.5 degree increase in temperature will still lead to a 70 to 90% decline in coral reefs, a decrease in food availability and an increase in the intensity of natural disasters. However, this is better, however, than the 99% decline in coral reefs and massive food

shortages and subsequent migrations predicted with a two-degree increase in global temperature. In 20 years, we will no longer be able to talk about climate change between sips of coffee, for there might not be much coffee to drink. These are truths that we can choose to ignore now but that will hugely affect our reality moving into the future, truths that question the ethics of our generation bringing children into the world, truths call into that question the existence of New York in the coming years and truths that cast serious doubt on the survival of the human race. In response to these facts, we are obligated to make massive changes in the way we consume. Buying a reusable straw or remembering to ask for a no-straw lid from Starbucks 50% of the time is not enough. Each and every one of us should be making a concerted effort to decrease our carbon footprint. That includes significantly decreasing our consumption of animal products, using a reusable cup every time we buy from a coffee shop, purchasing most of our clothing second-hand, voting for candidates that place climate change reform among their main policy goals and opting for cafeteria food to avoid using bulky plastic packaging. If you do not care for cafeteria food, learn to. If you forgot your reusable cup, skip the coffee. If you really like the taste of meat, like it less. We can no longer pretend that the changes needed to slow global warming can

occur without sacrifice, or that somehow our affinity for caramel macchiatos takes precedence over future generations’ ability to eat. Sporting fashionable “Save the Bees” t-shirts and retweeting images of trash in the ocean does not constitute environmentalism. To say you are concerned about climate change while failing to alter your actions in a way that reflects this concern is to take part in a dangerous and ubiquitous hypocrisy. Remind yourself that our comfort now is not worth large-scale suffering in the future. Now, I am not going to say that the individual changes made by people reading this article will fix the problem. Unfortunately, the entirety of Fordham’s student body transitioning to a vegan, zero-waste lifestyle is not enough to halt or even significantly slow the impacts human activity is having on the Earth. In fact, this transition, if coupled with no broader changes, would solve nothing. The earth needs a global shift in legislation that severely limits the use of fossil fuels and natural gases, as well as decreases food waste and the consumption of animal products. I am begrudgingly aware of the enormity of the climate problem as well as the profound changes needed to fix it. However, knowing that you cannot single-handedly save the planet does not mean you do not have an obligation to make ethical choices, especially when the largest hindrance to these choices is convenience or

preference. Caring about the Earth does not mean rescuing it, but rather performing actions that contribute to a broader societal shift: a shift in which climate change is viewed accurately, that is, as one of the greatest threats humanity currently faces. We have power as consumers and voters to normalize plant-based diets, to discourage plastic use and to shame politicians who are not doing their absolute best to combat this Earth-sized dilemma. It is only in a society where it is unacceptable to abuse the planet that it will stop being abused; it is only in this type of community that we can ever hope to save future ones. To do nothing is to accept the current and dire predictions, passively awaiting their arrival. So for the climate’s sake, skip the burger, walk the ten blocks instead of Ubering and stop pretending that it is not your responsibility to help.

Editorial | “Game of Thrones”

Gather Together for “GoT” The battle between the living and the dead begins this Sunday at 9 p.m. EST. Many will crowd around their TVs, laptops or iPads to watch what is likely to be the start of an exhilarating final confrontation between the heroes and heroines of George R.R. Martin’s highly beloved fictional world. The Ram thinks you should be one of them. “Game of Thrones” (“GoT”) – the television series based on Martin’s bestselling book series known as “A Song of Ice and Fire” – has captivated the attention of diverse audiences since 2011 and has held that attention over a span of seven, soon to be eight, wildly exciting seasons. Knowledge of the show is fodder for casual conversation at parties, banter among friends or watercooler talk in the workplace. Everyone knows at least something about the “GoT,” and most know a lot. With its newest and final season upon us, the franchise’s fundamental cultural standing has become increasingly evident. It is difficult, borderline impossible to escape such an overwhelming pop culture craze – so we don’t think you should. Regardless if you have been a fan since book one, are a latecomer to the action or have yet to see an episode, The Ram believes you should take advantage of the monumental cultural moment you find yourself in and watch along this Sunday evening.

Streaming platforms and apps that personally cater to viewer preference allow people increased independence in their media consumption habits. With such a breadth of options in terms of what to watch, how to watch and when to watch, it’s rare to have everyone on the same webpage. Similarly, our society can feel plagued by both apathy and polarization. Those disillusioned with the state of things either refuse to participate in productive conversations or get defensive. Civil discussions turn hostile quickly, and most heated dialogues do not end respectfully. Media allows us to escape the problems we’re sick of facing, to transcend the trite and plunge into the fantastical for 20 to 40 minutes or a few hours at a time. But great media reminds us why we want to solve these problems in the first place. It reinvigorates us to fight our own battles and encourages us to join together in our shared quest of life. Cultural phenomena like “GoT” have the ability to connect us to humanity in ways that break through the barriers of everyday life, precisely by letting us all enter a world that is so beautifully make-believe. So take advantage of this opportunity to reunite with a wide range of your peers in a way that’s more fun than it is consequential, more fantastical than it is plausible. Amid an otherwise divisive environment, we should embrace the opportunity to enter conversations

that are good-natured but not lacking in passion. “GoT” is not the first series to take the entertainment industry by snow storm (winter is coming, after all). The final movie in the original “Harry Potter” series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two,” garnered much of the same cultural traction building up to and during its box office run. It, too, being the last of its series, the film boasted an opening weekend box office total of $169,189,427 and entailed a satisfyingly conclusive war of its own with the Battle of Hogwarts. Marvel’s recent “Infinity Wars” caused similar hysteria among the franchise’s staunch fans, as the iconic superhero group known as the Avengers took a final stand against Thanos to resolve a rivalry lasting over 22 prior films. Along with the definitive conclusions to these highly anticipated series and their induction into the pop culture canon comes a slew of gifs, memes and intricate references that circulate around social media pages and friend circles alike. Topically witty jokes and impassioned debates can be heard in all corners of the public sphere. These cultural signifiers and the media they stem from have the ability to form and strengthen bonds between a wide range of people across a wide range of differences. They give us the opportunity to examine and discuss issues that resonate with us in a real way without real consequences.

These fantastical universes serve as practice areas for us to discuss issues surrounding race, class, gender, ability and more, and these discussions are far more readily engaged in and productive when held behind this veil of fantasy. It is through such discourse that people come to realize the villains of make-believe might not be so different from the villains of our lived experience, or perhaps even ourselves. People love “GoT,” and they love to hate it. The worst characters get killed off in one episode (to the unanimous glee of viewers), then the best ones in the next (to their excruciating despair). Nothing is expected, and everything is riveting. But most importantly, people deeply care about it. And this care can translate into reality. The Wall, Northern Westeros, Southern Westeros and Essos are not merely fictional places but rather sites of intense emotion, drama and fantasy for characters and audience members alike. You might not be able to travel physically to any of Martin’s imagined landscapes, but you can most definitely plunge yourself emotionally into his world, and in turn, deeper into your own. And you won’t find yourself alone there. So join the cultural moment, be one of the millions watching “GoT” this Sunday – if for no other reason than to strengthen the connections with those around you going forward.

OPINION

April 10, 2019

Page 11

Biden’s Behavior Will Not Keep Him From Running in 2020 By NED SHEEHAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In recent days, former Vice President and potential 2020 Democratic candidate Joe Biden has faced criticism over his conduct around women. Lucy Flores, 2014 candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Nevada, accused Biden of putting his hands on her shoulders, smelling her hair and kissing her on the back of the head. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, feminists have decried

this sort of behavior, which Biden has been photographed engaging in regularly, in addition to his handling of issues like the Anita Hill hearings and his pro-life stances in the 1970s. Many in the media have stated that these controversies will cripple Biden, but I am unconvinced that this will have a major effect on his potential candidacy. First, I am suspicious that the Democratic Party has shifted towards feminism to the extent that some in the media believe it has.

The Democratic Party has always been less a political party based around a single political platform than a squabbling, big-tent organization of different groups with semi-compatible goals. Yes, feminist groups have been mobilized by revulsion at President Trump’s vile conduct towards women over his career, but they remain just one group within the coalition. Has the Democratic rank-andfile, especially those not in tune with the ever-faster news cycle,

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Former Vice President Biden has been accused of acting inappropraitely with women, but will still enter the race.

truly withheld support from Biden based on these accusations? I remain decidedly unconvinced. I’m not writing this article to defend Biden from these accusations, but from what we know there has been enough ambiguity in his behavior to allow many to justify it in some way. After all, being a little too close to someone isn’t the kind of vile, blatant behavior that President Trump has confessed to. Furthermore, Democrats have over the years shown a mixed record in regards to allegations of sexual misconduct. During the height of #MeToo in 2017, Al Franken was forced to resign over such allegations, but Kirsten Gillibrand, the first senator to call for his resignation, has since faced anger from many Democratic voters and struggled to win over some donors. And, of course, there’s the elephant in the room in this area, the Clintons. Now, it may never be clear what exactly Bill Clinton has and has not done, but we do know that many ostensible feminist leaders have for decades been quick both to defend Clinton and to smear those who have accused him of misconduct. Have the voters who tolerated that changed so drastically that they would never tolerate such a thing today? And this behavior is not a

partisan issue. Millions of Americans, regardless of political stripe, have either seen or engaged in this sort of behavior. Are we really in an era of fundamental cultural re-examination, or just a phase of sound and fury from the media and other cultural elites while in most circles things carry on as before? In my opinion, the discussions of identity that will mark this postTrump primary could be so overwhelming and confusing (and, all too often, wielded in bad faith to undermine various rival candidates) that many will flock to the safe, avuncular former VP. To be clear, I do not support Biden. On the contrary, I think he has a 40-year track record of taking dubious positions for the sake of political expediency, on issues ranging from criminal justice to foreign policy. I think he is old and tired and entirely devoid of ideas and that the personal charm he’s leaning on is dubious at best. I also think his conduct around women is certainly strange, if not outright concerning. But to assume these allegations will cripple his potential campaign would be a real error for opponents of Biden within the party to make.

Ned Sheehan, FCRH ’22, is a history major from Needham, Massachussetts.

The Dangers of Lawnmower Parenting By DANE SALMON

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Parenting: it’s a hot topic. From participation trophies to homeschooling to vaccines, everyone has an opinion on the relationship between parent and child. In light of the recent college admissions scandal, in which over 750 families of prospective students paid a total of more than $25 million to two college admissions firms to artificially inflate students’ grades, help them cheat on entrance exams and create false sports accolades, I will be focusing on the phenomenon known as lawnmower parenting. Lawnmower parenting is what it sounds like: parents remove all obstacles in their child’s path. The practice is different from simply being an infamous “helicopter parent” because it doesn’t just involve keeping children out of potentially dangerous situations, monitoring all their activities and trying to control their life, but also actively trying to remove all hardship of any sort from a child’s life. As an anonymous middle school teacher who has written an essay on the subject at weareteachers.com puts it: “Lawnmower parents go to whatever lengths necessary to prevent their child from having to face adversity, struggle or failure.” This can be as small as asking a teacher for an ex-

tension on an assignment in lieu of their child or as big as paying exorbitant amounts of money to help their child get in to the college they want. This is obviously problematic in a number of ways, but the core of the issue is avoidance of struggle. It may be a platitude, but as Yoda said, “The greatest teacher, failure is.” Tough obstacles and disappointment can be the same. We learn from times when we’re disappointed: we assess ourselves and try again. Finals are hard, 20-page research papers are hard, but we learn from them — not just what we’re being taught in class, but how to deal with them. Whether it’s conscious or not, we develop strategies and methods for dealing with adversity every time we’re faced with it. If during a child’s most critical developmental years they are not allowed to face struggles they would have otherwise faced (within reason, of course), they will not be equipped to deal with the inevitable failures and adversity they will face in their college and adult years, rendering them not only stunted developmentally in this category, but also will impact their success in college and in employment. School and jobs aren’t the only problem when it comes to the fallout of lawnmower parenting. Though we’ve heard the idea

thrown around, millennials have the highest rates of depression diagnoses and anxiety disorder diagnoses of all age groups in the United States. I think this is in no part due to the rise of lawnmower parenting. When difficult situations relating to mental health are mowed down by a wayward parent a child will end up bereft of weapons in their fight against their mental health issues. When adversity in the form of depression or anxi-

ety is taught to be feared and not struggled against and taken on as directly as one can, the sufferer will be hard-pressed to find respite from their struggles. While parents can certainly take a constructive role in their child’s mental health, lawn mowing is not the way to go. Instead, help them deal with issues as they arise and let them learn for themselves how best to deal with their struggles themselves, while providing adequate support when it

is needed. If I could sum up my position in a few words, I would tell parents that it’s fine to tell your kids, “Tough luck, do better next time.” Parents undoubtedly want their children to succeed, but success without earning it is no success at all.

Dane Salmon, FCRH ’22, is a philosophy and economics major from Coppell, Texas.

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Lori Loughlin is only one example of a lawnmower parent, known for using illegal means to get her daughter into college.

CULTURE

Page 12

April 10, 2019

Billie Eilish’s Album is Disturbingly Beautiful By RACHEL GOW CULTURE EDITOR

Billie Eilish was just 13 years old when she released her breakthrough track “Ocean Eyes” on SoundCloud. The song, written by Eilish’s older brother, Finneas, was uploaded with the modest intention of allowing Eilish’s dance teacher to access it, but went viral virtually overnight. It is easy to understand why: the record utilizes a subdued beat, highlighting Eilish’s honey-smooth vocals. The three minutes and 20 seconds produce a euphoric cloud upon which the listener floats blissfully. While “Ocean Eyes” is about a breakup, it feels more like Eilish is completing you, offering a puzzle piece you didn’t know was missing. The song would be impressive for an artist of any age but is made increasingly so by Eilish’s youth. Her prodigious talent helped catapult her to stardom, which snowballed after the release of her EP “Don’t Smile At Me.” Here, Eilish’s voice shines, her soft melodies anchoring themes of heartbreak and insecurity. It is only the slightly darker tracks, “idontwannabeyouanymore” and “COPYCAT,” that could have foreshadowed the vibes of her latest album, “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP WHERE DO WE GO,” which dropped on March 29 of this year. This new album, Eilish’s first LP, veers off from “Don’t Smile At Me” to such an extreme degree it is hard to believe it is produced by the same artist. The subtle qualities of eeriness and depression present in Eilish’s EP have been turned up to an unrecog-

COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

Billie Eilish’s first studio album, “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP WHERE DO WE GO” dropped on March 29 of this year.

nizable degree, resulting in a jarringly divergent album. The songs on the record either produce tears or shivers. This is not to say, however, that “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP WHERE DO WE GO” is by any means unpleasant. Rather, the album is delightfully unique, taking the listener on an unpredictable ride of beats, modulations and harmonies. “You should see me in a crown,” “bad guy,” “all good girls go to hell,” “ilomilo” and “bury a friend” all have a similar vibe, constituting the edgier half of the record. Here, the subdued beats that characterized “Don’t Smile

At Me” are swapped for far snappier and bass-heavy rhythms, breaking up the lyrics into cliffs off of which Eilish’s vocals repeatedly jump. The themes of the tracks have similarly transitioned from Eilish’s first EP as the young artist gets in touch with her dark side: taunting past lovers, pondering world domination and taking the perspective of monsters from her nightmares. She utilizes the diva-esque overtones that brand female stars like Kehlani and SZA but puts an avant-garde twist on them. The songs are also intensified by the addition of technological abstractions. Jarring sounds like that

of a knife being sharpened and glass shattering, as well as the disturbing Auto-Tune of Eilish’s voice to sound alien in nature, produce a distinct listener experience. Fans are trapped in a vocal universe that almost seems four-dimensional, constantly inundated with perfectly layered sound elements that trigger an out-of -body-like episode. Eilish has flawlessly captured horror. While these tracks are more technologically focused, allocating vocals to a more backstage position, Eilish’s does not let us forget her capabilities. Songs like “listen before I go,” “i love you” and “wish you were gay” are painfully sincere, Eilish’s voice a

beautiful and feathery whisper that bears her truest emotions. Here, she ditches the bad-b---h persona for a different perspective of someone downtrodden by life and love, and it works perfectly. Listeners of “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP WHERE DO WE GO” are invited to participate in both “sad girl hours” and “happy girl hours.” Eilish assures us the two are not mutually exclusive. Perhaps the most respectable aspect of the new album, however, is Eilish’s ability to incorporate these morose motifs while still acknowledging her youth. She begins the album by announcing the removal of her Invisalign, the dreaded braces alternative, with a few salivae infused slurps. On the track “xanny” she denounces the use of the illicit painkiller, stating “she’s better off without them” and instead “drinks canned Coke.” This assertion is especially profound considering the fetishization of drugs often seen in the work of her counterparts. The album is an overall mishmash of emotions and ideas made increasingly complex by Eilish’s unique wardrobe of matching sweat suits, chunky sneakers and menacing chains, as well as her unapologetically eccentric, dark, personality. This strangeness is beautifully genuine, the result of candid 17-yearold musings few other artists are capable of tapping into. As the singer’s persona continues to transcend her musical capabilities, it is exciting to see what she does next, both as a musician and a teenager.

Cardi B and Sexaul Assault Double Standards By PATRICIA WHYTE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Cardi B does not hold back. The rapper is notorious for speaking her mind and sharing her opinions on social media. On March 24, an old video of Cardi surfaced on Twitter, in which she recalls how she used to drug and rob men while se-

ducing them before she was famous. “I would drug [men] up and I would rob them. That’s what I had to do. Nothing was ever f---ing handed to me,” Cardi says in the video. The video in question was taken from an Instagram Live recorded three years ago, in which Cardi emotionally responed to someone who claimed she didn’t deserve her suc-

COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

Rap sensation Cardi B has received backlash for a recent Instagram video.

cess. Cardi B has faced heavy backlash for her comments in the video, which gained hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. The hashtag #SurvivingCardiB was created and spread on Twitter, referencing the #SurvivingRKelly hashtag many used when the Lifetime documentary “Surviving R. Kelly” came out, detailing the singer’s alleged sexual transgressions. Many took to twitter to express their frustrations with the rapper’s comments, calling out Cardi for admitting to the crime. “ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS @iamcardib is trash and needs their head examined.. what she did is horrible and disgusting,” Twitter user @ DeplorableLouJr wrote. “If it were a man? You’d all be all over him 24/7... she should be held accountable for her actions!” A couple days later, Cardi B released a statement on Instagram defending herself. “I made the choices I did at the time because I had very limited options. I was blessed to have been able to rise from that but so many women have not,” she wrote. “Whether or not they were poor choices at the time I did what I had to do to survive.” Part of the reason Cardi B rose to fame is her presence on Instagram. Today, she posts videos almost daily speaking to her following.

This is not the first time a Cardi B Instagram video has made headlines. In January, the rapper posted a video addressing the government shutdown, which quickly went viral and caught the attention of several government officials. It is clear that Cardi has a strong impact on the platform. With a social media presence as powerful as Cardi’s, one bears an immense responsibility to their following, as anything done or said on such accounts will reach a wide audience. The rapper’s statement regarding the controversial video was not at all apologetic. Though she did admit her actions may have been wrong, the statement itself was a defense mechanism rather than an apology for her actions. Aside from the backlash the video caused online, Cardi B has faced no consequences for her comments. It is interesting to examine the double standard in sexual assault allegations in which female aggressors are not chastised as severely as men. The #MeToo movement has brought to light many cases of sexual assault and harassment and, consequently has brought down the careers and even put behind bars many of the accused, and rightfully so. Almost all of them have been men. Violence is often the subject of many rap and hip-hop songs, which

Cardi B has acknowledged. “I’m a part of a hip hop culture where you can talk about where you come from and talk about the wrong things you had to do to get where you are,” Cardi wrote. “There are rappers that glorify murder, violence, drugs and robbing.” Contrary to many cases of assault, there are no witnesses or accusations against Cardi B. However, admitting to a class B felony is not something to take lightly. The rapper should be held accountable for her actions, as all aggressors should. “Hip hop culture” cannot be used as an excuse when discussing serious allegations, as this can normalize crime and violence. No matter who the culprit is, a crime is a crime. Whether it happened 10 minutes ago or 10 years ago, whether the accused is a celebrity or a civilian, male or female or any other gender, drugging someone without their consent and robbing them is a felony and should be treated as such. Cardi B has been very open about her past and what she has had to overcome to get to this point in her career. The rapper should be commended for working as hard as she did and achieving what she has. However, these comments cannot be brushed under the rug. The rapper has admitted to some very serious crimes and should be held responsible.

CULTURE

April 10, 2019

Page 13

Thousands of Orchids Display Thousands of Hues Botanical Garden Brings Singapore to the Bronx

TOMMY TEDESCO/FORDHAM RAM

The New York Botanical Garden’s annual Orchid Show offers attendees the chance to see a dazzling array of flowers.

By TOMMY TEDESCO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

For the 17th consecutive year, the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is hosting its famous exhibition, The Orchid Show, to start the spring season. The theme of this year’s dazzling display of orchids is Singapore, a city with its own world-renowned botanical garden and a country that celebrates the hybrid orchid breed Vanda “Miss Joaquim” as its national flower. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is the only tropical garden in the world designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It houses the country’s National Orchid Garden and features the famed Supertrees of the “Gardens by the Bay” attraction. The NYBG certainly has big shoes to fill. Thankfully, the flowers on display and the renditions of the Supertrees and Arches of Singapore’s “City in a Garden” exhibit capture some of that beauty right here in the Bronx. Situated in the Haupt Conservatory, access to The Orchid Show: Singapore can be found right by the NYBG’s main entrance on Southern Boulevard, across from Jack Coffey Field. Entrance to the Haupt Conservatory requires an All-Gardens pass, which costs $20 for students who present their ID. Right off the bat, this might seem a little steep. There is not much else to do at the NYBG, either, since most of the outdoor exhibits are out of season. But if you have the money lying around, it is

certainly possible to make a day out of the exhibits available in the Haupt Conservatory. Upon entering the conservatory, I was struck by the flowery aroma and humid air. The Singapore Botanic Garden is, after all, the world’s most renowned tropical garden. The NYBG simulates this tropical climate for the health of its orchid flora and the true-to-life emulation of the National Orchid Garden experience. Make no mistake, it is not stuffy or uncomfortable. Dress light, bring some water and I am sure you will find the experience pleasurable. The main entrance to the exhibit, which does not take up the entire Haupt conservatory, opens into a hallway decorated with beautiful flower arches — much like the Arches of the Singapore National Orchid Garden — and other hanging plants. A few steps inside and I lost myself in the maze of flora around me. I actually stopped to look at each and every orchid. As you walk toward the exhibit’s center, make sure you do not miss this year’s featured flower, the Vanda Awkwafina, an orchid named in honor of native New Yorker and “Crazy Rich Asians” star Awkwafina. The aisle is also a great place to take a photo. The variety of orchids on display is simply stunning. I am no orchid expert, but I left the conservatory with the knowledge that orchids can be just about any color you can imagine and that the hues are fantastically vibrant.

For those who care, each breed of flower or plant is marked with a sign providing its scientific name and some brief background, much like a sign you would find for an animal exhibit at a zoo. I learned a bit about orchid agriculture this way. At the center of the show lies the Botans’ portrayal of Singapore’s famous Supertrees, and while it is hard to compete with the original attractions’ magnificence, there is still beauty in the simplified NYBG Supertree. The tree is decorated to the top with orchids of pink, yellow and orange, and walkways surround it for easy viewing. For all the hype, it was perhaps a little underwhelming, but that does not mean it is not a great background for a photo or just a pretty sight to observe and contemplate for a while. The highlight of The Orchid Show: Singapore is the Arches. They are likely what you will remember best upon leaving and certainly where I saw the most cameras in hand. The center of the exhibit, while underwhelming in comparison, is still a sight to behold, and the closest many people will ever get to seeing the Supertrees of Singapore. If you are a frequent visitor to the NYBG or want a fun way to leave that wintery feeling behind, you should find the time to see this exhibit before it ends on April 29. I had a great time witnessing the collision of human creativity and natural beauty in the Arches, Supertrees and displays of The Orchid Show: Singapore.

CULTURE

Page 14

April 10, 2019

Who’s That Kid? | It’s Diane Greg-Uanseru, FCLC ’21!

Fighting Back: Sophomore Creates Real Change By KIERAN PRESS-REYNOLDS CULTURE EDITOR

Diane Greg-Uanseru, FCLC ’21, is a major presence on campus. “My friends would describe me as ‘a lot,’” she said. Her journey to Fordham was different from most students. Growing up in Lagos, the biggest city in Nigeria, she said she saw going to school in America as a cool opportunity. “Most of the rest of my family went to school in London,” she said. “I knew from when I was 15, 16, I didn’t want to, so I applied to a bunch of boarding schools towards the end of high school.” She ended up attending a little school of about 300 kids in Rhode Island. “It was such a culture shock for me,” she recalled. “So many white people. I’ve never been in the situation where I was the only black girl in my grade.” Seeking escape from the suburbs, she applied to Fordham and was accepted. “I knew I wanted to be in New York no matter what,” she said. “So why not?” Greg-Uanseru’s main involvement at Fordham is with the Black Student Alliance (BSA). She recently became the organization’s Director of Public Relations.

“I love being social and talking to people, so it’s perfect.” Her interest in racial and social politics extends outside of Fordham. Last summer, after replying to a post on Twitter, she and a few others orchestrated a sexual assault protest rally in Lagos. “It was surprisingly huge,” she said. “We got a turnout of over 100 people.” Nigeria, as both a state and a body politic, is not the most politically progressive country, Greg-

Uanseru explains. “It was very new for the country, this being the first march of its kind.” Luckily, they prepared for the backlash by hiring bodyguards. “One women yelled at my friend and I, saying that if we covered up our bodies more, then we wouldn’t get raped.” Greg-Uanseru’s said her parents were especially distraught at her involvement with the march. “They are very conservative,”

COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

Diane Greg-Uanseru, FCLC ’ 21, is passionate about women’s rights.

she said, explaining how her mother attempted to stop her, but she moved forward with the march anyway. She stresses the significance of having security. “Without security, we would have gotten a lot more hate and heckling,” she said. “We were so privileged in that sense. We needed to use it to help other women’s struggles.” Greg-Uanseru said she plans to organize more rallies next summer. “Nigeria is very backwards,” she says. Homosexuality is still illegal in Nigeria. Laws prohibiting marital rape were only passed recently. “We need to talk about sex and sex education,” she said. “A lot of the guys doing assault don’t even know what consent is, or that they were genuinely committing an act.” In addition to BSA, she is involved with Fashion for Philanthropy. She has a keen interest in fashion and specifically in advocating for a wider acceptance of plus-size models. “I wanted to be a plus-size model for the longest time,” she said. “But if you don’t have an hourglass figure or really amazing bone structure, even being a plus-size model, they won’t accept you.” Greg-Uanseru explained what she sees as a basic contradiction

plaguing the plus-size model industry today. “If you’re a fat person, you can’t be fat in the face,” she said. “Kind of defeats the whole purpose.” Similarly, she said the body positivity movement, which seeks to normalize and support all body types, is flawed. “You can’t be body positive if you’re disabled, unconventionally fat, trans,” she said. “There’s no representation. I’m not gonna be a part of that.” She recently made a YouTube channel, Diane Greg-Uanseru, as an outlet to advocate for the leastprivileged. “There’s a spectrum of body types,” she explained. “I know that, as a fat person, I am a privileged fat person. There’s a privilege to my body type; I need to understand that and talk about it.” She said she is a bit terrified about making videos because supporting unconventional body types is a thing some people shun. “If you’re not conventionally fat, like slim-thick, then you won’t be accepted,” she said. “It’s not fair. Everyone deserves a voice.” Speaking about her time at Fordham, Greg-Uanseru says she’s definitely enjoyed it. However, it’s clear that Fordham is of little importance. Her goals and passions are much bigger than anything the University could provide.

Previewing This Year’s Spring Weekend Concert By MARGARET ROTHFUS COPY CHIEF

On March 28, Campus Activities Board (CAB) announced its Spring Weekend concert lineup: Sean Kingston, Whethan and Bryce Vine. After the news that CAB had removed Soulja Boy from the concert, students worried that the final lineup would not make up for this initial loss. However, some said they have ended up being optimistic for the concert. While Kingston is exciting for most, many on campus had heard of neither Whethan, Soulja Boy’s replacement, nor Bryce Vine until the announcement. Kingston’s presence on the lineup has increased students’ positive outlooks for the event.

“I was honestly a bit upset when they announced that Soulja Boy wasn’t going to be performing anymore, until they announced Sean Kingston,” said Julia Swanson, FCRH ’21. “I think I’m more excited for him than I was for Soulja Boy.” Kingston is known for his hits “Beautiful Girls,” “Take You There” and “Fire Burning” from 2008 and 2009, as well as “Eenie Meenie” with Justin Bieber. However, an introduction for the Jamaican-American singer may be unnecessary. “A lot of his songs are gonna be fun throwbacks that everyone knows,” according to Magee Snyder, FCRH ’20. However, both Snyder and Swanson agreed that they did not know much about the other two Spring Weekend concert performers.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Sean Kingston will be one of the performers at Spring Weekend this year.

Whethan, the co-headliner for the concert, is a 19-year-old DJ toured with The Chainsmokers in his senior year of high school. His music features many popular artists such as Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, Oh Wonder, Portugal, The Man, Elohim and more. “I do really like the song ‘Superlove’ by Whethan,” Snyder said. “I don’t know anything else by him, but I do like that one song!” Whethan’s style, which is similar to that of The Chainsmokers, is promising for an event like the Spring Weekend concert. It is laidback yet dance-provoking and builds up well to Kingston. His sound will differ from that of the other performers and offer a change of pace between each act. The opening act, Bryce Vine, is known for his 2017 hit “Drew Barrymore,” which garnered over 115 million listens on Spotify. “I’m excited to see Bryce Vine perform,” Arianna Chen, FCRH ’22, said. “I think he’s super different from the rest of the lineup.” Bryce Vine is a rapper and singer that got his start on “The Glee Project” and also attended Berklee College of Music. While his collaborations are not as extensive as Whethan’s, his latest song “La La Land” features YG, and he was featured in “Coming Home” by G-Eazy in 2010. While Bryce Vine’s songs are R&B, his take on it is not traditional, as he is influenced by bands like

COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

Whethan is known for his remix of Skrillex’s remix of Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode.”

Third Eye Blind. The instrumentation in “Sour Patch Kids” even sounds reminiscent of the indie pop-rock songs from 2012. Despite Whethan and Bryce Vine not being well-known by Fordham students, students are still excited for the concert and for good reason. Each performer brings something different to the table (or in this case, the stage) that will get students excited and jumping around on Martyrs’ Lawn. However, Mary Interdonati, FCRH ’20, said she’d like to see more representation. “I’d like to see a woman one of these years.” As valid as Interdonati’s comment is, especially in the lineups she has seen during her time at Fordham, this year’s show still promises

a good time for students. If you have not had the chance to check out either Whethan or Bryce Vine out on Spotify or Apple Music, get on it before the concert on April 27. Do not doubt an artist you have yet to listen to. “I really like Whethan, and I listen to him pretty [often] and I know a few of his songs,” Ethan Dobrzynski, FCRH ’20, shared. “I have listened to [Bryce Vine] before and enjoy his music.” Especially considering how Whethan was booked so quickly after Soulja Boy’s departure from the lineup, CAB is working to make this a Spring Weekend concert one to remember. The only thing left for students to hope for is good weather and solid ground to dance upon on Martyrs’ Lawn.

CULTURE

April 10, 2019

Page 15

Editor’s Pick | Film

“Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” Still Relevant By SARAH HUFFMAN

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

“The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” was added to Netflix on April 1, bringing back a wave of nostalgia for many, including myself. This series was hugely popular within the realm of middleschool girls back in the early to mid-2000s. The books and movies presented positive models of female friendships with an added touch of magic pants. If I’m being completely honest, I do not remember a lot about this series, but I do remember the books being part of my library conquest in middle school and having friends that were obsessed with the series. I do not think I ever actually saw the movies as a child, which was one of the reasons I finally gave in and watched the movie. The story follows four best friends, Bridget, Lena, Tibby and Carmen, as they spend the summer apart for the first time. They find a pair of pants that miraculously fits their four different body types, and they decide to mail the pair of pants around the world to each other to stay connected throughout the summer. The story is easy to follow, and while the girls face challenges, everything wraps up into a satisfying bow by the end. The movie focuses on female role models, the struggle to gain confidence

and close friendships. I’m aware that this movie was targeted at middle schoolers and others that loved the book series, but I think it’s valuable for people of all ages. The themes in this movie are supposed to inspire young girls, but they can also inspire older girls. Now more than ever, there has been a push for female empowerment and the idea that women need to lift each other up. A movie like this, as cheesy as it might be, presents those ideas and continues to reinforce them. The girls face family problems, deal with inner struggles and learn to conquer their problems head on, gaining confidence in the end. The movie frames these situations as if the pants gave them the confidence, but the sisterhood behind the pants is what actually helped the girls through their struggles. The theme that women can do anything is important, no matter what medium it is communicated through. This movie reminds us all of that message, especially when there are positive people championing them along the way. The female friendships in this movie are also important models. Their friendships are not perfect; the girls sometimes disagree and feel distant from each other, but they always come back together. They show that a true friend will fight you sometimes but will always have your back in the end.

Those concepts are nice to be reminded of, especially at a time in my life where I’m realizing that the people you surround yourself with matter so much. They have the power to build you up and give you the confidence to do anything, no matter where they are or what they are doing.

My friend group does not mail each other pants every week. We do not even talk every week. But we have our own ways of showing that we are there for each other, no matter where “there” is. This movie perfectly encapsulates the feeling of having that type of friend group. “The Sisterhood of the Travel-

ing Pants” may be a cheesy, mid2000s movie about friends who love each other, but sometimes life requires a cheesy story. The themes of this movie are relatable to women — and people — of all ages. And even though the idea of the pants is silly, the ideas of friendship and confidence are not.

COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

“The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” a cult classic, contains themes relevant for people of all ages today.

Divided Music, Divided Culture: Lil Nas X Taken Off Country Chart By KIERAN PRESS-REYNOLDS CULTURE EDITOR

Rapper Lil Nas X — and pretty much everyone on the Internet — was rightfully upset when Billboard removed the countryrap hit “Old Town Road” from the Hot Country Songs chart. They deemed it as not embracing enough elements of country. But it has the banjo. It has the voice. It has the lyrics. How is “Old Town Road” any less country than Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line’s “Meant To Be,” which sits at number four on the country chart despite including, literally, no elements of country besides the latter duo’s southern inflection? Scouring the Internet, I’m hard-pressed to find any dissensus at all. Even Billy Ray Cyrus, a certified country legend, gave Lil Nas X the biggest stamp of approval possible by featuring on a remix of the track. The controversy is unsettling because it appears racially-motivated; white people can do pop-country and get away with it, but black people can’t do rap-country? The history of African Americans in country music, on the surface, is scant. Only three Af-

rican Americans (out of over 200 history of erasure. acts) have ever been inducted Over time, such a skewed hisas members of the Grand Ole tory attached a certain image to Opry, arguably the most revered country music: whiteness. This country institution. The Counis exemplified, for example, by try Music Hall of Fame website the backlash Beyonce caught for describes the history of the Opry performing “Daddy Lessons” at as almost “the history of country the 2016 Country Music Awards. music itself.” Country formed part of a larger But this history is not an objecwhole, an invisible culture of isotive one. It is a lie. African Amerilation — that country, and later cans have contributed much to rock, unofficially would be concountry music without being sidered “white music,” while O F Y T S W E afforded any credit. In T ITTE other styles like blues UR R CO the Jim Crow era, and jazz would when the genre be considered was really being “black music.” shaped, AfriThis is the can-American insidious efartists were fect of genres unfairly dis— or “genrecredited. For izing” muexample, guisic — that, tarist Lesley across gen“Esley” Riddle erations, social had a significant barriers form. We influence on the think listening to muCarter Family, the first sic is a self-selective promainstream country band. He cess, but it’s not. How much is it would learn the music and teach one’s choice, as a white person, to the Carters how to play it. Howlisten to the Rolling Stones rather ever, Riddle was removed from than Prince Buster? Developing the Carter story and the band’s taste — essentially a process of credits, a common trend for early identification — is based on how African American country artists. genres and musical styles funcThe history of country music is a tion in particular social contexts.

There are, of course, many people ago, we’re seeing historical biases who push beyond what’s presenthaunt us in real time. ed to them. But largely, genres Billboard’s illogical decision reflect base social connotations was clearly racially-motivated, — the hegemonic tribalism that’s most likely unconsciously. They existed since the beginning of wouldn’t consider it country America. because “white country” apY OF FACEBO S E The economics T OK pears antithetical to UR CO of label funding “black rap,” acare partially to cording to how blame. After these genres the image have functioned of a genre in American is created, history. It’s major labels wildly detwill abide rimental to by it to make c r e a t i v i t y, the most capipunishing an tal, because it’s experimental what they think African American the audience expects. artist for venturing Labels would more into white-dominated mulikely cast an African American sical territory. for hip-hop than classical music, Is there no alternative to for example, because that’s what genres? There’s no need to raze African Americans “have been all genres and begin an age of doing” and are musically known sonic anarchy. for. This further fuels the image Instead, exemplified by this of hip-hop as the quintessential controversy, we must simply reblack artform, ad infinitum. It’s a evaluate how certain genres have recurring loop, the invisible hand been historically constructed and of an unconsciously racist society consider the consequences these segregating its culture. connotations can have. HopefulEven though, as a state and a ly, Billboard’s decision becomes body politic, we’re much less exa learning opportunity rather plicitly racist than, say, 100 years than a precedent.

CULTURE

Page 16

April 10, 2018

Parkland Suicides Stress Care for Survivors Many Americans, especially high school students, remember exactly what they were doing on Feb. 14, 2018, when the news of the devastating school shooting in Parkland, Florida occurred. Fourteen students and three employees at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD) in south Florida tragically passed away in the massacre. Now, over a year later, devastation has struck the community yet again as two students, both of whom survived the shooting in 2018, have committed suicide. Sidney Aiello and Calvin Desir, aged 19 and 16 respectively, took their own lives within a week of one another. Aiello lost her best friend, Meadow Pollock, in the 2018 shooting, and had been struggling with mental health issues ever since. She had recently been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a psychiatric disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts, distressing flashbacks and negative thoughts and feelings following the traumatic event. Aiello had been particularly struggling with survivor’s guilt. Although first considered a separate diagnosis, survivor’s guilt is when an individual feels they do not deserve to survive a tragedy that others did not. It is now defined as a symptom of PTSD. The condition can lead to devastating effects as it did with Aiello. PTSD is an incredibly difficult mental health condition. It involves a repeated reliving of an event that was beyond horrific to experience. PTSD

was added to the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) in 1980. Prior to its inclusion, the condition was referred to as “shell shock” or “war neurosis,” as it was typically associated to the impact of war on soldiers. But as seen in the case of the Parkland students, PTSD is not limited to war. The American Psychiatric Association says it can arise following “a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault.” In its early diagnoses, it was assumed that an individual had to have directly experienced a traumatic event firsthand in order to suffer from PTSD. However, it has now been noted that it can result from exposure to details or information about trauma cases as well. In the initial aftermath of an event like Parkland, the response is centered on the victims who were either killed or physically injured. Unfortunately, over time, the well-being of those who survived the attack, frequently suffering from PTSD and other mental health conditions, worsens and we often forget to pay attention. These suicides show that there is an imperative to provide long-term mental health assistance to all survivors of devastating events. As we see here, the anniversary of the event can be a distressing trigger for those survivors. Thankfully, the city of Parkland,

Florida has continued to take action in the face of tragedy. Many of the survivors, including Emma González and Sarah Chadwick, organized a massive demonstration, March for Our Lives, on March 24 of last year to advocate for improved gun control. The organization was an outstanding act of perseverance and courage in the aftermath of the event. As I discussed in a previous article, young people have shown increased anxiety levels compared to their parents’ generation, and the prevalence of gun violence in recent years has played a significant role. Tragically, the deaths of these Marjory Stoneman Douglas students have shown the damaging consequences. A combination of survivor’s guilt and other symptoms of PTSD, as well as the rampant occurrence of gun violence in the United States, has led to

the loss of young lives full of brilliant potential. In response to Aiello and Desir’s passings, several students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School planned a walkout. In addition, schools in Broward County, Florida have made tremendous efforts to provide further resources for their students. This has included 23 additional trauma trained mental health professionals on site at MSD along with suicide prevention staff training, off-site resources and professional consultations available this week, according to reporter Saira Anwer. Unfortunately, Parkland, Florida has become a model for the response to violent tragedies that have become far too common in our country. However, the actions by both the young students and school officials have been admirable.

While the fight for improved gun control legislation and other measures to directly inhibit gun violence continues, mental health initiatives can make a significant difference in assisting both students who have witnessed such horrific violence, as well as those who fear they too will be victims. We must never lose hope that the situation can improve and that our futures will be bright. If you are struggling with mental health issues, do not hesitate to contact the following resources: Fordham University Counseling and Psychological Services (RH): 718-817-3725 Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800273-8255 Crisis Textline: text START to 741741

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Organizations like “March for Our Lives” protest for gun control as well as increased support for survivors of school shootings.

“Shazam!” Presents a Comedic Spin on the DCCU By MATT DILLON STAFF WRITER

“Shazam!” is the newest addition to the DC Cinematic Universe. Like the previous six films, it draws upon characters and plotlines featured in DC Comic’s vast library of publications. Unlike its predecessors, “Shazam!” sports an overtly comedic tone and manages to have a complete story arc. The film follows 14-year-old orphan Billy Batson (Asher Angel), who is gifted with the power to turn into a magical strongman (Zachary Levi), upon uttering the word “SHAZAM.” The comic book counterpart to “Shazam!” has a turbulent history. Traditionally one of the more lighthearted superheroes, “Shazam!” has suffered frequent artistic mishandling. Due to legal troubles, he has even lost his original name, Captain Marvel (he had the title long before any Marvel character did). The film touches on this in a mirthful way by having Billy struggle to come up with a superhero name that won’t turn him back into a 14 year old. Regardless of its source material, “Shazam!” is a unique, surprisingly enjoyable movie. It has its

weak points, but it stands out in an oversaturated genre and the poorly crafted DCCU. “Shazam!” starts slowly but quickly picks up. It introduces the antagonist before the hero, as Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong) learns about the Power of SHAZAM at a young age and spends the rest of his life searching for it. Strong lends the character an intensity that makes his singlemindedness compelling. While not a particularly nuanced villain, Sivana is set up as a great foil for Billy, as the two characters’ respective struggles with family and power are reflected in each other. Sivana’s plotline establishes the stakes, circumstances and central conflict of the film. While Billy’s own contributions are less impressive. Most of his scenes are centered on his struggle to fit in with his new foster family, which he initially sees as a distraction from finding his long-lost mother. All of these characters are developed more later on in the film, but they still lean a little too heavily on family sitcom tropes. Billy’s first transformation is

as miraculous for the film as it is for the wayward teen. Levi oozes charisma and lands the comedic scenes just as well as he does the more traditional superhero elements of the movie. His interactions with Billy’s adopted brother and superhero fanboy Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) are the highlight of the film and the two actors manage to present some surprisingly nuanced interactions. The “Big”-esque idea of a kid in an adult’s body is difficult to present in a genuine way, but Levi captures it, and handles the complexity that superpowers add to the setup well. The film takes an immediate jump in quality with Levi’s introduction and thankfully it never dips after that point. Aside from the great sense of humor and Levi’s performance, “Shazam!” sticks close to the superhero formula. The fight scenes are competently done, if simplistic. The same goes for the special effects, which can look rubbery, but work with the film’s goofy tone. The writing doesn’t present anything too far off the beaten track, aside from a particularly mean spirited reveal about Billy’s

COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

“Shazam!” features Billy, a 14 year old oprhan who turns into a superhero.

parents. “Shazam!” does have some great costuming that works well with the movie’s tone. All things considered, “Shazam!”

is easily the most complete DCCU film and one of the more memorable superhero flicks to come out in recent years.

April 10, 2019

CULTURE

Page 17

Across 1. Make a sketch, maybe 5. “We Are Marshall” and “This Means War” director 8. Urn contents 13. Boundary between the crust and mantle, briefly 14. Popular sport concession 16. Accusatory “game” 17. Psoriasis treatment additive 18. Kristen Bell in “Frozen” 19. Real last name of “Ziggy Stardust” 20. Monday’s loser 23. Like Sam from “The Mup pets” or Varys

24. Eisenhower and Turner 25. It’s squared 26. Windows web server (Abbv.) 27. Post-wedding feeling, as the saying goes 28. Monday’s winner 31. Sick 32. “McStuffins” preceder or Word follower 33. Oozing stuff 34. Sunday’s champion 37. Buy stock 41. Santa ___ 42. Helms and Asner 44. Hit the slopes 45. Traitor

48. Popular Twitter account Dog _____ 50. Twice, a popular dance hall dance 51. Death observance, briefly 52. Maleficent or Ursula, say 53. Play segments 55. Sunday’s loser 57. Unicorn-esque pachyderm 59. Brie Larson movie 60. YouTube beauty vlogger with over five million subscrib ers 62. Coffee without the kick 63. Remove excess 64. Symbol on Jimmy Neutron’s shirt 65. Spent a lazy day in bed (with “in”) 66. Pig home 67. “Biggest Little City in the World”

ANSWERS TO ISSUE 8

Down 1. Ostrich relative 2. “Bean blankie,” to Tom Haver ford 3. With sass 4. April Fools’ pranks, maybe 5. Gabelli grad degrees 6. 1/100th of a peso 7. Store brand 8. Midnight Rider group (abbv.) 9. Pig 10. Newest state in the union 11. “The Clarke in ‘Game of Thrones’”

CREATED BY CLAIRE POLACHECK & JACK MCLOONE & GABBY GILLESPIE

The Fordham Ram Crossword: March Madness

ANSWERS TO ISSUE 10

12. Plants, before 15. Meet contestant 21. Donkey 22. Scottish pudding 27. Dinner attire for an infant 29. Charged molecule 30. The 11th mo. 32. A “child” of 11-Down’s char acter 35. Small network, briefly 36. “A Chorus Line” song 38. Approximation 39. Type of key or downhill race 40. ___ the season

42. Some Ram staffers 43. Motor City 45. “The Brosnahan in ‘Mar velous Mrs. Maisel’” 46. Lure 47. Cancel 48. Scarlet or crimson 49. “ ______: The Last Air bender” 50. 52 in a deck 54. Raven Baxter’s catchphrase (with “Oh”) 56. E in EGOT 58. Frequently in poems 61. If you ask me, for short

Page 18

ADVERTISEMENTS

April 10, 2019

SPORTS

April 10, 2019

Fordham Track and Field Have Solid Showing in Colonial Relays By ANDREW POSADAS

SPORTS EDITOR

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Track and Field have taken full advantage of the outdoor season so far.

just missed out on winning the 800 meter university run. However, his second place finish and time of 1:53.68 gave Fordham its third IC4A qualifying time to end the day. In the women’s competition, sophomore sprinter and jumper Kathryn Kelly continued her impressive season, scoring in both the 200 meter championship run, as well as the long jump championship event. Also, senior distance runner Laurel Fisher performed incredibly well in the steeplechase with a season-best time of 10:29.22, good enough for a third place finish. The Rams carried their momentum into day two, especially on the women’s side. Senior middistance runner Aidan Moroz was able to finish eighth in the 800 meter run, but her time of 2:11.55 does qualify her for the ECAC championships next month. Moving on to the ever-important relays, the women’s team had great outings in two events. The team of Kathryn Kelly, senior sprinter Mary Kate Kenny, freshman sprinter Dominique

Valentine and sophomore sprinter Dana Beggins, captured first place in the women’s sprint medley relay with a time of 4:06.56. The Rams added another top-3 finish when the team of Laurel Fisher, junior distance runner Katarzyna Krzyzanowski, senior mid-distance runner Kate McCormack and senior distance runner Angelina Grebe, placed third in the 4x1500 relay. Their time of 18:52.85 sets a new school record and caps off an impressive weekend for the women’s team. As for the men, they enjoyed moderate success in the relays, with two top-10 finishes in the 4x1500 and distance medley relay races. By meet’s end, the women’s team finished in 11th place out of 33 teams while the men came in 17th place out of 27 teams. Fordham Track and Field will have a few days off before returning to action. This weekend, the Rams will make the short trip to the University of Rutgers for the 2019 Metropolitan Outdoor Track and Field Championships from April 12-13.

Golf Stumbles to Second-to-Last at Wildcat Invitational By JIMMY SULLIVAN SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Golf started its spring with a slightly encouraging 14thplace finish at the Coca-Cola Lehigh Valley Invitational last weekend. However, the Rams were unable to build off that progress this week at the Wildcat Invitational, hosted by Villanova University. Paul Dillon’s team finished 19th out of the 20 teams in Malvern, Pennsylvania on Monday and Tuesday, and the team’s secondround performance was particularly discouraging. After shooting 11-over as a team on Monday, Fordham cleared 300 on Tuesday to finish at 28-over and in secondto-last place. Drexel University ran away with the tournament, finishing nine strokes ahead of second-place Akron University at -17. The Rams got a good performance out of sophomore Anthony Wells, who bounced back nicely from last weekend’s rounds of 83 and 81. Wells shot a threeover 145 over the two rounds, and started his tournament with an even-par round of 71; that finish had him tied at 33rd on the individual leaderboard. Senior Tommy Hayes also had a solid tournament, and after struggling

Beyond the Scoreboard: One Unpaid Moment By JIMMY SULLIVAN

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Track and Field competed in the 54th Annual Colonial Relays over the weekend at the College of William and Mary. The Rams enjoyed many successes throughout the two-day event, securing more qualifying times for the Eastern Conference Athletic Conference and IC4A Outdoor Championships. After having his team split to compete in multiple meets for the last two weeks, head coach Thomas Dewey finally had the full team as they headed south for Williamsburg, VA. The College of William and Mary played host to 60 teams this past weekend, 33 on the women’s side and 27 on the men’s. On day one of the Colonial Relays, the Fordham Track and Field record book took another hit from a familiar face. For the second straight week, junior distance runner Ryan Kutch rewrote said record book, this time in the 5,000 meter championship run. His time of 14:04.48 was nearly eight seconds better than the previous record set by Dave Callahan 40 years ago. More importantly, the time qualifies Kutch for the IC4A. The Rams would add two more IC4A qualifying times on the men’s side before the day was finished. Graduate school distance runner Brian Cook won Fordham’s next event, taking home first in the 1,500 meter run with a qualifying time of 3:50.89. Finally, sophomore mid-distance runner Christopher Strzelinski

Page 19

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham Golf finished in 19th place out of 20 teams on Tuesday afternoon.

with a 76 in round one, he shot a one-over 72 on Tuesday. But aside from Hayes and Wells, there wasn’t much good news for the Rams in the tournament. Junior Tomas Nieves, after setting a career-low two-round score of 148, shot a nine-over 151 for the Wildcat Invitational. Nieves shot a 77 on Tuesday after firing a 74 on Monday. The other two team competitors for Fordham, senior Josh Madarang and sophomore Dean Cerimido, found themselves near the bottom of the individual leaderboard. Madarang was +12 on his tournament, with a 76 and a 78. Cerimido fared even worse; after starting his tournament with a 74, he shot a 10-over 81 in the second

and final round. By the end of Tuesday, Fordham finished one stroke behind St. Bonaventure University for 18th place and 31 strokes ahead of Wagner College, who finished in a distant last place at 59-over. Fordham has two more tournaments before the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship in the last weekend of April. The Yale Spring Invitational will take place on Saturday, and it will force Fordham to play the entire course twice in one day. Then, it’s off to the Rhode Island Invitational next Monday and Tuesday to close out the regular season. The Rams need to figure it out in time for those tournaments. The time in the spring season is ticking.

Monday night’s NCAA men’s basketball national title game did not disappoint. University of Virginia and Texas Tech University battled in the first championship game appearance for both respective teams. In a matchup some fans did not want to see — one Yahoo! writer called the matchup “generationally unsexy” — the two teams gave us one of the best championship games in recent memory. The game ultimately went into overtime and Virginia pulled out its first national championship just over a year after becoming the first one-seed to lose to a 16-seed in the history of the tournament. The Cavaliers’ comeback is one of the greatest in the history of sports, and the team won its last three games after trailing in the final 15 seconds of each, including two overtime victories. At the end of the day, Virginia and Texas Tech gave us an instant classic in the first national championship game to go to overtime since 2008. Unfortunately, the final five minutes of Monday’s showdown was not the only “free basketball” on full display in this tournament. As you probably know, NCAA student-athletes are unpaid because the NCAA believes that athletes are paid in the currency of a scholarship and a free education. Theoretically this is fair; many athletes get a full ride to go to college and play sports, so they should not ask for much more, right? Well, not exactly. The NCAA, despite being “notfor-profit,” has raked in over a billion dollars for the last two fiscal years. In 2016-17, over 82% of the organization’s total revenue came from the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. That means the 2017 NCAA Tournament pulled in $825 million. This is no surprise considering the tournament has always been a wild and nutty surfeit of basketball. Advertising and gambling has been even further accelerated since the NCAA signed its television deal with CBS and Turner, one that brings the NCAA hundreds of millions of dollars each year and every game of the big dance to a bar near you. In spite of all of this, what do student-athletes get? Nothing. For example, Virginia head coach Tony Bennett received $400,000 after his team’s nailbiting championship victory on Monday. If you add that figure to the $850,000 in bonuses Bennett has received up to this point in

the season, you get a total of $1.25 million in incentives, in addition to his $2.31 million base salary. The Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, Virginia junior Kyle Guy, earned himself a shirt, a hat and part of the net at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Thus, Guy just led his team to a national title, but he could have received two of those three very generous gifts by working as a camp counselor. However, it’s not just that the NCAA reaps the benefits of college athletes’ services without having to pay them. It’s that the organization artificially caps their value, as well. College athletes are unable to make money off their image and likeness; that means no jersey sales, autographs, video game appearances, etc. In football and basketball, many student-athletes would like the opportunity to profit off their fame. For example, Duke superstar and future first-overall draft pick Zion Williamson could have earned seven, maybe even eight, figures from his popularity, whether that would have manifested itself in endorsements, shoe deals or a combination of both. Instead, Williamson earned nothing as the tournament’s advertisers and television partners exploited his fame. This was at its most obvious when CBS trotted out a “Zion cam,” which remained trained on the Duke freshman at all times. The only person who did not benefit from “Zion cam” was Zion himself. It may not be realistic to pay all college athletes, but it’s less realistic (and far less fair) to pay all college athletes nothing. If we decide to pay all athletes, we will have to do so equally, which could be problematic because football and basketball rake in far more revenue than other sports. That being said, it is very realistic and easy to allow athletes to make side money off of their popularity, which for some who have come along in the past few years — Williamson, Johnny Manziel, Kyler Murray and many others — could mean millions. To this point, though, the NCAA has not done so and does not appear to be changing course anytime soon. The governing body of college sports has its head in the sand on this one, as it emphasizes amateurism in its athletes’ compensation while stressing capitalism in all other areas. And in terms of exploiting its athletes, the NCAA has gone pro in something other than sports.

COURTESY OF FLICKR

It seems the real winner when it comes to college basketball is the NCAA.

SPORTS

Page 20

April 10, 2019

My Love Affair With the New York Islanders By CHRIS HENNESSY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“Why are you an Islanders fan?” someone asks. “Well, my dad’s from there,” I reply. “Oh, that’s stupid,” they say. “The Islanders stink. How do you even root for them every day?” This exchange occurs all the time. Being from Connecticut, there are not many Islanders fans around. Everyone is either a Rangers or Bruins fan, which annoys me. But I have never faltered; in my 19 years, I have never for one night rooted against my team. My love for the Islanders starts with my love for hockey. At five years old, I brought home a learn-to-skate flyer from kindergarten, and little did my parents know that would mark the start of 15 years of three boys playing hockey every winter. That, combined with my father’s Islanders fandom, was enough for me to launch into a passionate, sometimes psychotic, fandom of the New York Islanders. The Islanders are my favorite team. I have 20-plus extra members added to my family 82 nights a year, and hopefully more. Everyone from the coach to the star player to the announcers are like family to me. The last 19 years (even longer, but I didn’t have to suffer through the ‘90s) have featured the highest of highs and the

COURTESY OF FLICKR

For some fans, hockey is just a game. For others, though, it can mean so much more than what happens on the ice.

lowest of lows that lead me to call the New York Islanders a perpetual cycle of mediocrity. But this season has been different, for me and the Islanders, and it has led me to be even more passionate and emotionally attached to the Isles than ever before. Let’s start with the easy part: the team. It lost its captain John Tavares in free agency to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was my favorite athlete of all-time, before he lied and left when he said he wasn’t considering it and has a career year up north at that. The Isles fired their coach and general manager and hired Hall-ofFamers to fill each role, but the fans

were still pessimistic. Barry Trotz and the boys have gone on to prove everyone wrong, clinching a playoff spot on March 30, before Tavares’s new team, and have had a season that no one thought was possible. Mix in goaltender Robin Lehner, who has been great all season long after writing an article announcing his mental health and addiction issues during his time in Buffalo. All of this meshed together has led to must-watch television every night they are on, which will extend into April for this first time in three years. Now, let’s move on to me. “College Freshman” is the worst job I’ve

ever held in my life. I’ve been a caddy, a camp counselor and gone to boarding school, yet nothing has scared me more than my first two months here. I was seriously considering transferring at Christmas and even went as far as telling my roommate I was leaving. My anxiety, stress and lack of confidence was at an all-time high, and I did not know how to deal with it. Luckily, three times a week on Channel 38 were the New York Islanders, and they were good. Really good. It brightened my spirits when times were bad, which was often. Eventually I got myself figured out — I have been much better this

semester, but that first semester was terrifying, and the only thing that soothed me was the boys in Uniondale. I have loved the 2019 New York Islanders more than maybe any sports team in my life, and the season is not even over yet. For some reason, I gravitated towards my favorite team and my favorite sport when times were tough. I was also able to join WFUV Sports and talk hockey on the “Five-OnThree” podcast with my new friends Jack, Jackson and Matt, which has been the best experience of my life. To put this remarkable season into words every week, even to a limited audience, is so much fun. Additionally, I have been fortunate enough to beat-report for two games this season for WFUV and go into the locker room. I’ve talked to my three favorite Islanders: Anders Lee, Mat Barzal and Casey Cizikas. I am physically and emotionally closer to this team than I have been to any other team. It will be crushing when they get eliminated from the playoffs, but this season is about so much more than just winning in the playoffs. This season has shown the future of the Islanders and what good coaching, good defense and good goaltending can do for a team without tremendous offensive talent. This season will not be a fluke. The Islanders are back, and we don’t need John Tavares.

Dwyane Wade’s Legacy at the End of the Last Dance By STEPHEN LEBITSCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As the 2019 NBA schedule rolls into April, we come to not only the end of another exciting and awe-inspiring season, but to the end of a historic and memorable career as well. As Kobe Bryant did a few years earlier, following this last stretch of games (and possibly one final playoff run), Miami Heat shooting guard Dwayne Wade will hang up the sneakers and say goodbye to the game he has played all his life and on which he’s left a lasting impact. However, like Kobe, it’s only fitting that we look back on and commemorate what has been an extraordinary and legendary career before he rides off into the sunset. Coming out of college at Marquette University, where from 20012003 he was the team’s leading scorer and helped it to its first Conference USA title, Wade was selected fifth overall by the Miami Heat in the 2003 NBA Draft. He shared the spotlight with the likes of LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Joining a youthful squad in Miami, whose lackluster offensive production resulted in losing seasons the two years prior, Wade quickly brought them to the American Airlines Arena. In his rookie season, Wade would go on to average 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 46.5%. With that type of offensive prowess, the Heat would finish the 2003-2004 season with a 42-40 record and qualify for the NBA Playoffs. It made it to the Eastern Conference semi-finals and gave the 61-win Indiana Pacers a run for their money. Wade would also finish with a unanimous selection to 2004 NBA All-Rookie Team and a top five ranking among rookies for several statistical categories. One of Wade’s most memorable

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Dwyane Wade has solidifed his legacy as one of the greatest NBA players of all-time, but there’s even more to his greatness.

seasons in his 16-year career would have to be the 2005-2006 season, where he would get his first taste of the NBA Finals and begin to solidify his legacy with the Miami Heat and in the league. Despite having to overcome numerous obstacles throughout the season, Wade continued to improve his offensive stats and shine in the regular and postseason. He averaged 27.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game and was named a starter for the first time in the 2006 All-Star Game. To top it all off, he and thenMiami Heat center Shaquille O’Neal put the team on their shoulders and led it to Miami’s first NBA Finals where they defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 after losing the first two games. Come the summer of 2010, everything changed. Wade would no longer be known just for resurrecting a team, but also for helping to create a dynasty in Miami. Within days of each other, former Toronto Raptors star Chris Bosh came to the Heat via a sign-and-trade

deal and LeBron James decided to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers to play in Miami. The three new teammates would form the infamous “Big Three,” a precursor to the super teams of today’s game. Although he would have to share the spotlight with James, this didn’t bother Wade. The two became one of the most memorable duos in basketball. Even though he considered himself the number two guy for the Heat, Wade would still average over double-digit points per game, and his assist stats would remain high thanks to fancy passing and lobs for baskets with James. Soon, a lot of NBA players wanted to sign with Miami because they could see something powerful coming from it. Unsurprisingly, the phenomenon did happen, as Wade, James and Bosh would dominate the Eastern Conference for four straight years together, each ending with a trip to the NBA Finals and two of the four with back-to-back titles. However, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.

The Big Three would eventually disband, and Wade was once again Heat’s main guy. But that would not last very long as the two sides would experience a fracture in their relationship. Following disagreements with the organization over his contract heading into the 2016-2017 season, and seeing the opportunity to play for his hometown team, Wade would decide to leave Miami to join the Chicago Bulls. Despite being back home in Chicago, the homecoming wouldn’t be so pleasant for Wade as there were teammate issues, injury woes and an early exit from the NBA Playoffs. After another short stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Wade would end up going back to where it all started, to the team that really defined his incredible career. Wade would be able to reconcile with the team that first took a chance on him, even though they welcomed him home with open arms in 2018 as the Cavaliers would ship him to Miami in exchange for a 2024 draft pick.

Now, in his sixteenth season, Wade announced his intentions to retire at the end of the 2018-2019 season, in what he called his “Farewell Tour.” Although his performance on the basketball court and championship pedigree is deserving of praise and admiration, what’s made Dwayne Wade’s career so memorable and unique is his unselfish approach to the game and his “team before me” attitude. During his years with LeBron, Wade could have been one of those superstar athletes who didn’t want the love and attention that he created in Miami. However, he would decide to go the alternate route, welcoming James to the team and showing his willingness to work together to bring the organization a championship. Wade was okay with the idea of having to be James’s sidekick and didn’t let his ego get in the way of the betterment of the team. Perhaps this is what made the Miami Heat such a spectacular sight for the four years of the Big Three dynasty. There is little doubt that Dwayne Wade’s career has been one of the most influential in recent NBA history. His contributions to the Miami Heat coming out of college and all that he’s accomplished throughout his 16-year journey are truly unforgettable, and it sets a standard for many future players to come. A three-time NBA champion with one NBA Finals MVP, one NBA scoring title, 13 All-Star appearances, numerous Olympic medals with Team USA and all-time Heat records in several categories, there is nothing a basketball fan can’t enjoy about watching Wade play. There is no doubting that before Dwayne Wade enters the NBA history books, he will receive nothing but thanks from all who have idolized him. Enjoy the last dance, D-Wade.

SPORTS

April 10, 2019

Page 21

Student-Athlete Column: Championship Season By KALEY BELL

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The time has snuck up on us once again. Championship season has arrived, and as always, it feels all too soon. Outdoor season flew past, and now we are in the home stretch. In a couple of days we will compete in the Metropolitan Championship. After that, we have another conference meet at Stony Brook University. After Stony Brook, it’s Penn Relays and then the big A-10 conference meet. After A-10s, it is ECAC/ IC4A championship and then NCAA regionals. Half of these mentioned are championship meets that will end our season strong. My teammates and I have been working so hard. We have been pushing through tough practices all year long. Everyone has been so dedicated to doing well for each other as a team that I know we will do well. Our coaches have faith in us, and we have faith in each other. As long as we have the right mentality and maintain

positive thoughts, I think that we will be able to do whatever we set our minds to. So much of being a part of a team requires being on the same page, and I believe my teammates are all on the same page, which is the last page in the book of our track season. We all want to finish the year off strong, and I know that we will be able to. As the year comes to a close, I reflect on my athletic performances. As this was my first year of college athletics, I surprised myself by persisting through the tough year. I actually persevered through the tough workouts that I did not think I was going to get through. There have been many times that I have been running, and I thought to myself, “There is no way I’m going to be alive after this,” but here I am, alive and well, and of course, stronger. I am ready for what’s to come, and I am excited to get better. I’m focused on being the best that I can be and doing what I can to do more.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham Track is in the best time of its year, which has flown by too quickly.

By ANDREW POSADAS ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

We have crowned national champions in both men’s and women’s basketball. The NHL playoffs begin tonight and the NBA playoffs tip off this weekend. Baseball season is also in full swing as the weather begins to warm up. Yet the best sporting event to watch this week isn’t any of the above. It is finally that time of year when the casual sports fan faces a crucial question: is golf worth watching? Tomorrow, the first round of golf ’s most popular major tournament tees off at Augusta National Golf Club: the 2019 Masters. The casual fan might doubt the words excitement and golf can exist in the same sentence. Truthfully, you shouldn’t expect to witness any hard-hitting tackles on the golf course. Players aren’t alleyooping golf balls into every hole like a fastbreak in basketball. It is considered a “gentleman’s sport,” but that phrase has since become ambiguous. Most sports fans now tend to equate a gentleman’s sport with something that is boring and therefore unwatchable. Attempting to convince my own father that watching the Masters would alter his indifference on golf was an adventure in itself. As a lifelong soccer fan, I rested my case on the simple fact that if he believed watching a 90-minute soccer game ending in a 0-0 draw was exciting, he should have no problem watching one round of golf. However, my father was stuck on the fact that professional athletes were seriously competing for “an awful-looking green jacket” (as he described it when shown a picture). What mainstream sports fans and my father fail to realize is that the green jacket holds more weight in the golf community than any other trophy on the PGA tour. Just one win at Augusta National automatically cements the legacy of a professional golfer. It is undoubtedly the most competitive tournament golf has to offer. I would even go as far as to say that the Masters is exactly the

change-up from which sports fans could benefit. We yearn for and crave the back-and-forth, actionpacked pace that sports like football and basketball give us. We wait for highlight plays to occur and then go on social media to see reactions from everyone else. Having balance in life is universally regarded as great advice to give. In the realm of sports, the same advice holds true. Watching the methodical and patient play of a golfer from shot to shot is mesmerizing at times, considering how lonely they are out there. They have no teammates to lean on in times of crisis. They are only able to bounce ideas back and forth with a guy whose job is to essentially carry your golf clubs around for you. No matter how difficult or easy the shot, it is all on the golfer to take said shot. What should also intrigue you about golf is how aesthetically pleasing it is to watch, whether on TV or in person. Augusta National is one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. At first glance, the landscape is quite the sight. Beautiful trees and forest areas surround the course uniquely and uniformly. Small bodies of water silhouette certain holes as well as bunkers with pure, white sand. I guarantee if you

walked all 18 holes without taking a shot, you would come away confused about why it wasn’t just a regular park for civilians. Use the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday to acclimate to the course view. Pay some attention to the jargon which commentators like Jim Nantz are using throughout the rounds. Don’t just focus on the stars like Tiger Woods and Jordan Speith — give every golfer a chance to show you how good they are. If you still couldn’t care less for golf by Friday evening, there is nothing more to discuss. However, if something in your gut is telling you to tune in for the final two rounds this weekend, do not deny yourself the satisfaction of actually liking golf. Consider this: there are still nearly 150 games left to play in the MLB season, not to mention an entire postseason still to come. Aside from the occasional upset or two, nobody should expect anything drastic to happen in the NBA or NHL playoffs. Everyone knows the playoffs do not really heat up until the semifinals. With all that being said, there is only one more question left to ask: is anyone up for a little round of golf ?

COURTESY OF FLICKR

With many sports wrapping up or just starting, this is the perfect time for golf.

Varsity Calendar HOME AWAY

Thursday Apr. 11

Friday Apr. 12

Softball

Track Volleyball Golf Men’s Soccer

Monday Apr. 15

Tuesday Apr. 16

St. Bonaventure TBD Siena Rhode Island 3:30 p.m. 1 p.m.

Women’s Tennis

Baseball

Sunday Apr. 14

Wednesday Apr. 17

Siena 12:00 p.m.

Men’s Tennis

Saturday Apr. 13

VCU 6:30 p.m.

Saint Louis Saint Louis (DH) 12 p.m. 12/2:30 p.m. VCU VCU 2 p.m. 1 p.m.

Dayton 7 p.m. Hofstra 3:00 p.m. Fairfield 3:30 p.m.

Metropolitan Championships Piscataway, NJ Georgian Court/ NYU/Stevens TBD

Yale Spring Invitational New Haven, CT St. Francis (BRK) 10:30 a.m.

URI Invitational North Kingstown, RI

SPORTS

Page 22

Men’s Tennis Wins Four Matches

April 10, 2019

Rowing Competes in California and New Jersey to Kick Off Spring Slate

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham Men’s Tennis finally found some consistency this past week. COURTESY OF ROW2K

By DYLAN BALSAMO

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Men’s Tennis has been a good team all year. The only thing keeping them from being a great team was maintaining their level of play. It seemed as if each success this season had come with a downside. That is, until this past week. Between Wednesday and Sunday, the squad had four matchups and came out successful in each one, including a Saturday conference win against Saint Joseph’s. The success began on Wednesday in the Bronx against Yeshiva with a shutout 7-0 victory. A 6-2 win by junior Steven Duka and freshman Jofre Segarra over Ezra Rudansky and Mikey Ozery helped the Rams win all the doubles matches and take the doubles point. Fordham was 6-0 on the day thereafter, including 6-0, 6-0 wins from Duka over Alexander Kaib and from junior Gabriel Mashaal in defeat of Samuel Edery. On Saturday, the stakes were significantly higher for Fordham when they travelled to Philadelphia to face off against Saint Joseph’s, a matchup that had conference significance. Unlike on Wednesday, this matchup was much closer, but the Rams again came out on top. The Rams won the doubles point by winning two of the three matches, those victories coming from the pairs of juniors Fabian Hansch Mauritzson and Allen Thornes along with sophomore Max Green and junior Finn Kemper. This point ended up being the decisive victory, as Fordham went 3-3 in singles. With a 6-3, 6-3 win by Lutwin de Macar over Dan Tan and 6-3, 6-1 decision won by sophomore Alex Makatsaria against Eshan Kanetkar, the Fordham fate for the day was decided by Kemper, who came out on top of Johnnie Massart 6-2, 4-6, 6-0. This was an important win. The victory against Saint Joseph’s was the primary objective of the week for the Rams and, in their eyes, the most important takeaway. “After last week’s defeat, we

put in an extra amount of work in practices and conditioning,” said Kemper. “Beating Saint Joseph’s is obviously great for our seeding in the conference tournament, but it also shows that we are doing the right thing in practices.” Next for Fordham was a trip to Adelphi University for a Sunday date with St. Francis Brooklyn and then back to the Bronx to play Baruch. Again they owned the day, but this time with double the stature. Against SFB, the Rams wrapped up the doubles point quickly with a 6-0 shutout win for Mauritzson and Thornes over Stefan Gmijovic and Pablo Blasco-Torres and a 7-5 victory for Green and Kemper against Dirube and Couso. Makatsaria and de Macar’s match was left unfinished. After that, Fordham not only dominated singles play as a whole but individually, including a 6-1, 6-1 de Macar win against Gmijovic, a 6-1, 6-0 victory for Makatsaria against Blasco-Torres and 6-0, 6-2 decision for Seggarra on top of Grant Louis. It was another 7-0 win. The matchup against Baruch was a similar story. The closest Fordham came to losing a match during doubles was a 6-3 win for Mauritzson and Thornes against Abhinav Srivastava and Leonard Margolis. The Rams had another early lead. By singles play, it was clear that Baruch was trying to tame the untamable as Fordham swept these matches again and even saw a 6-0, 6-0 sweep for Duka against Hudson Kaylie. The Rams had themselves another 7-0 victory, their third of the week. Fordham has three more matchups in their regular season, including a conference date with St. Bonaventure on the road on Sunday. After that comes the A-10 Conference Championships in Orlando. They say the key to winning is getting hot at the right time, and as the temperature begin to heat up in the Bronx, it looks like these Rams are doing just the same.

Fordham Women’s Rowing competed in its first two events of the season this weekend in New Jersey and San Diego.

By MARIA TRIVELPIECE STAFF WRITER

The Fordham women’s rowing team was back on the water this weekend for the first time since their Spring Training trip back in March, and they did not disappoint. The Rams headed out to San Diego for the San Diego Crew Classic, a major event for rowers of all levels. For the Rams, the showing was something of promise for the rest of the year. Junior Erika Sela-

kowski said, “I’m really proud of our team. We had to race against some of the toughest teams in the country and we really held our own.” And the Fordham women’s rowing team did hold their own. The Varsity 8 came in fourth in the Petite Final, and the JV 8 came in third in the petite final. Yet the success was no surprise. Selakowski said, “Everyone had been working so hard for the opportunity to just make it out to San Diego and everyone’s effort

and dedication really showed out on the water.” This is just the beginning. The Rams vow to continue to work hard and improve to increase their accomplishments. “It was a good showing for those being our first races of the season,” said Selakowski. “I’m excited to see how we build off this for the rest of our season.” The Fordham women’s rowing team will be on the water again at the Cherry Hill Invitational Regatta in New Jersey on April 20.

Women’s Tennis Goes .500 Against Davidson and St. Joseph’s By GIGI SPEER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Rams came out to fight this Saturday against A-10 opponent Saint Joseph’s in Philadelphia, knocking them down 6-1. They jumped out to an early lead, taking the doubles point in a sweep. Sophomore Arina Taluyenko and senior Tatiana Grigoryan defeated Amanda Nava and Isis Gill-Reid at first doubles, 6-3, and seniorfreshman duo Alexis Zobeideh and Genevieve Quenville continued the success in second doubles, winning 6-0 over Paige Conrad and Alex Kramer. The Rams continued to dominate, taking five singles matches and four in straight sets. At first singles, Taluyenko came back from a first set loss to Nava, 6-4, winning the second, 4-6, and the third, 7-6. In second singles, sophomore Maia Balce won at 6-1 and 7-5 over Gill-Reid while senior Gianna Insogna blazed through fourth singles, defeating Conrad 6-4 and 6-2. In the fifth position, Quenville won against Kramer in an epic 6-0 and 6-0 show. Freshman Nicole Li rounded out the Rams, winning 6-0 and 6-1 against Katherine Devlin. The team then loaded the bus and headed back up to the Bronx to play only their second outdoor

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham Women’s Tennis was up-and-down in two matches last week.

match at 11 a.m. on the Hawthorn/ Rooney Courts. Despite their impressive showing on Saturday, the Rams did not start with the same intensity against Davidson on a sunny Sunday morning. The team dropped all three doubles matches, but managed to get two wins in singles, finishing with a 5-2 loss to the A-10 foe. Coach Peter Banas summed up the day: “We were playing outdoor home games, it was our second outdoor match and we were not ready transitioning from playing indoors.” The two singles wins came from Taluyenko and Grigoryan, at first and third singles, respectively. Ta-

luyenko bested Megan Scholvinck 6-2 and 6-3, while Grigoryan came back from a first set loss of 7-5 to win the next two 6-4, 6-3 against Gabrielle Centenari. “However, we are certain that we will take them down in conference in Orlando because we will get used to the conditions,” continued Banas, referring to the A10 Championship that will take place there from April 24-27. Before that, though, the Rams have a shot at redemption as they play again on their home Hawthorn/Rooney Courts this Saturday, April 13 against Siena College on senior day.

SPORTS

April 10, 2019

Anthony Cardone Baseball Opening Weekend 10. That’s the number of Yankees that are injured right now just nine games into the season. This isn’t the way the Yankees want to start their season, especially after losing their first two series against the Orioles and Tigers. Both teams are ones the Yankees should have beaten. Giancarlo Stanton, Miguel Andujar, Dellin Betances, Luis Severino, Troy Tulowitzki, Aaron Hicks, Didi Gregorius, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jordan Montgomery and C.C. Sabathia aren’t just backups; they are key players in the lineup and rotation the Yankees need to make a run this year. Everyone is likely to return this season, except for Andujar. Last year’s runner up for AL Rookie of the Year hurt himself diving back to third base in the first week of the season and could opt for season-ending surgery. This would be another blow to the Yankees’ infield, which has already taken huge hits. They’ll be counting on players like Tyler Wade, DJ Lemahieu and Giovanny Urshela to take a huge step-up in at-bats and playing time. The player replacing Gregorius, who could be out until August, was Tulowitzki, who also got hurt with a calf strain and could be out multiple weeks. Tulowitzki was bound to get hurt this season as various injuries have kept him on the shelf for much of his career. Gleyber Torres will now move to shortstop for the time being. As for the outfield, Hicks and Stanton shouldn’t be out much of the season with their injuries, but it still will take time. Players like Clint Frazier and Brett Gardner will be in the everyday lineup for Aaron Boone. Sabathia will have to serve his suspension from last year and then go on the injured list before he comes back in the middle of April. Jordan Montgomery is also still out after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Luis Severino should be back by early May. Players that have to step up in the rotation are Domingo German and Jonathan Loaisiga, who both have pitched well in their first starts of the year. Despite the absence of Betances, the bullpen is the only part of this team that isn’t really a concern because of its depth, even though Betances is one of the key pieces in the back of the bullpen. Betances will also be back in mid-May after getting hurt in spring training. Everyone will move up a spot in the bullpen, and players like Adam Ottavino and Chad Green will both share the setup spots while Betances recovers. With a 5-4 start, the Yankees are not panicking, especially with how the division looks with the Red Sox winning two of their first 10. However, these are still games a team wants to win, because every single one of the 162 games counts for something. The injured list for the Yankees is like an all-star team, and it’s unfortunate we won’t really see the whole team play unless they get to the playoffs and everyone from here on out stays healthy.

Page 23

Chris Hennessy

Varsity Scores & Stats Baseball Siena Fordham W: Zimmerman (2-1) L: McCully (1-2) (FOR) Guercio: 2-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI

4 5

Women’s Tennis Fordham 6 Saint Joseph’s 1 (FOR) Taluyenko: 4-6, 6-4, 7(7)-6(2)

Saint Joseph’s Fordham W: Mikulski (4-3) L: DiValerio (3-3) S: Martin (5) (FOR) MacKenzie: 1-4, RBI

0 2

Men’s Tennis Yeshiva Fordham (FOR) Duka: 6-0, 6-0

Saint Joseph’s Fordham W: Stankiewicz (5-1) L: Kennedy (3-2) S: Martin (6) (FOR) Labella: 3-4, 2B, RBI

3 4

Saint Joseph’s Fordham W: DiMeglio (2-2) L: Seig (1-3) (FOR) Vazquez: 1-3, HR, 3 RBI

0 6

Columbia Fordham W: Zimmerman (3-1) L: Higgins (0-4) (FOR) Vazquez: 2-3, 2B, RBI

2 3

0 7

Fordham Saint Joseph’s (FOR) Kemper: 6-2, 4-6, 6-0

4 3

St. Francis Brooklyn Fordham (FOR) Segarra: 6-0, 6-2

0 7

Baruch Fordham (FOR) Mashaal: 6-1, 6-0

0 7

Men’s Track & Field Colonial Relays Individual Results Only (FOR) Kutch: 5,000m - 14:04.48 - 1st

Men’s Golf Wildcat Invitational Team results: 19th of 20 Individual Results: (FOR) Wells: +3 (145) - 33rd Softball Dayton Fordham W: Aughinbaugh (7-9) L: Weaver (7-6) (FOR) Storm: 2-3, HR, 2 RBI Dayton Fordham W: Gilliam (8-7) L: Trivelpiece (0-1) (FOR) Aughinbaugh: 2-4, 2 RBI Dayton Fordham W: Aughinbaugh (8-9) L: Jensen (3-2) (FOR) Storm: 3-4, 2B, RBI

Athletes of the Week Ryan Kutch

Madie Aughinbaugh

Junior

Track & Field

Softball Aughinbaugh won her fourth career A-10 Pitcher of the Week award this week after allowing just one run and nine hits in two complete games to help Fordham win its third straight conference series.

At this past weekend’s Colonial Relays, Kutch dominated in the 5,000 meter championship, winning with a time of 14:04.48. His time qualified for the ICA4 and broke a school record in the event from 1979, set by Dave Callahan at a time of 14:12.2.

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 • Cavanaugh, Goulding Awarded

Women’s Basketball had an outstanding season, and two of the team’s top players, Bre Cavanaugh and Mary Goulding were given Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) honorable mentions on Wednesday, April 3 for their performances in the 2018-19 season. This award only considers student-athletes that have been named to the First Team of their respective conference or have been given some other major honor. Cavanaugh and Goulding were both the first Fordham teammates to be named to the conference First Team since the program joined the Atlantic 10 and led the Rams to their first ever share of a conference regular season championship and their first conference tournament title.

• Baseball Continues Streak

Monday saw the announcement of the Atlantic

10’s Pitcher of the Week, and the award was given as a co-honor to Fordham’s Anthony DiMeglio along with Dayton’s Ben Hughes. His sharing of the award marks five consecutive weeks that the Rams have have been honored, as the last few weeks have seen Matt Mikulski and Cory Wall each win it once and John Stankiewicz win it twice. DiMeglio stood out this week in Sunday’s 6-0 win against Dayton, pitching what tied for a career best eight innings, while allowing only three hits, walking one and striking out 10.

• Cheerleading, Mascot Tryouts The 2019-2020 Fordham cheer team and mas-

cot will have tryouts on Saturday May 4, 2019 in Rose Hill’s Lombardi Field House from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This team and mascot will be present and active at all Fordham home games for football and men’s and women’s basketball. They will also travel with the football team for away games and attend men’s and women’s Atlantic 10 Tournament games. Any further questions can be directed to head coach Mikela Ryan at mryan78@fordham.edu.

• Men’s Soccer Has Cancellation

Fordham Men’s Soccer was scheduled to play

Adelphi University in a spring game on Friday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m. on Murphy Field, but the game was cancelled due to inclement weather. The next contest for the Rams in their spring season will be against professional side New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League at Murphy Field on Wednesday, April 10 at 4:00 p.m.

NHL Playoff Preview

Women’s Track & Field Colonial Relays Individual Results Only (FOR) Kelly: 200m Dash - 24.92 - 3rd

– Compiled by Dylan Balsamo

1 5

13 6

0 7

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us. The NHL playoffs are here and have provided some intriguing matchups in the first round. Let’s do it, starting with the East. The Lightning (1st in the Atlantic) take on Columbus (2nd in Wild Card). Of all the possible teams to face Tampa (Carolina and Montreal), the Blue Jackets have the best chance at slaying the beast. That being said, the Bolts are one of the best teams we’ve ever seen, tying the regular season win record with 62. That series begins Wednesday. Expect to see the Bolts win in 6. Boston (2nd in the Atlantic) face division rivals Toronto (3rd in the Atlantic). A rematch of the first-round series from last year proves again why the playoff system stinks, but that’s a column for a different day. I like Boston big in this series. They improved their secondary scoring drastically at the deadline, as well as having a better defensive core and goaltending than Toronto and far more playoff experience. Toronto’s investment in a certain $11-million forward will not pay off this year. That begins Thursday. Bruins in 5 is a safe choice. The reigning champions, Washington (1st in the Metropolitan) play Carolina (1st in the Wild Card). This has the potential to be a very intriguing series. The monkey is off Washington’s back, and Carolina is a playoff-starved franchise. I expect the ‘Canes to give the defending champs a run for their money, but eventually fall short. That begins Thursday. The best bet is Caps in 6. The New York Islanders (2nd in the Metropolitan) will play Pittsburgh (3rd in the Metropolitan). Playoff hockey at the Nassau Coliseum. Enough said. Isles will take the series, but it will not be easy. I’m bleeding confidence in Barry’s boys right now, and I love it. Home ice plays a key role in this series between two equally talented teams. That series begins Wednesday. This series will be a close one, but expect the Isles in 7. And now to the West. Calgary (1st in the Pacific) is playing Colorado (2nd in Wild Card). Both eight-seeds are strong this year, and I would not be surprised if Colorado pulled off the upset. However, given their downfall in midseason, I don’t think the recent resurgence is good enough to beat a very talented Flames team. That series begins Thursday. We could expect Flames in 6. San Jose (2nd in the Pacific) is taking on the defending conference champs Vegas (3rd in the Pacific). The defending Western Conference champs face a tough challenge in the first round, and I think they will fall to San Jose. The Sharks are towards the end of their Stanley Cup window and are going to have to prove themselves to free-agent-to-be Erik Karlson. It begins Wednesday. We may see the Sharks in 7. Heavyweights Nashville (1st in the Central) will take on Dallas (1st in the Wild Card). Nashville has struggled down the stretch, but I’m not in love with the Stars. They are talented, but I don’t believe in their offense in general, and think Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are aging quickly. That series begins Wednesday. The Preds will win in 5. Winnipeg (2nd in the Central) are taking on St. Louis (3rd in the Central) Very intriguing series here in the Central bracket. A few months back, I picked Winnipeg to win the Cup. I liked what they did at the deadline a lot, but it is hard to ignore how hot the Blues are right now. I still like the Jets, but this might be the best series of the first round. That series begins Wednesday. We will see the Jets in 7.

SPORTS

Page 24

April 10, 2019

The Fordham Ram

Rams Sweep St. Joe’s Behind Strong Pitching, Leighton Wins 200th By JACK MCLOONE

SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS

The Fordham Baseball pitching staff is on one heck of a roll right now. Senior pitcher Anthony DiMeglio threw eight innings of shutout ball on Sunday to earn Co-Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week honors, the fifth week in a row that a Ram pitcher has had at least a share of the weekly award. The Rams’ pitching dominance was key in their string of wins this weekend. The series started with a doubleheader on Saturday to avoid the colder temperatures and rain that came Friday and to take advantage of Saturday’s Edwards Parade-worthy weather. Fordham won the first half of the day’s games on the back of sophomore pitcher Matt Mikulski, who, like his senior counterpart, threw eight shutout innings. He was a little more chaotic than DiMeglio, however, walking four, hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch. He also struck out seven. The other major difference between the two performances was that Mikulski needed to work out of a couple tight jams. With two outs in the third, Mikulski allowed an infield single and then threw a wild pitch that moved the runner to second. However, he got out scot-free by striking out the next batter. Even better, the Ram offense rewarded him with a run on an RBI double from sophomore Jake MacKenzie. In the fourth, Mikulski walked up to the edge of the cliff before pulling himself back. A hit bat-

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

Behind a stellar pitching staff, Fordham Baseball are now winners of four straight games to vault them into fourth place in the Atlantic-10 Conference.

ter and a double put runners on second and third with no outs. He struck out the next batter and then induced a groundball that junior third baseman Matt Tarabek was able to throw home to cut down the runner and prevent him from scoring. After a two-out walk, a line drive to sophomore second baseman C.J. Vazquez ended the threat. Once again, the Rams rewarded him with a run, an RBI single from Tarabek, to bring the score to 2-0, where it remained for the rest of the game without much further fanfare. The back half of the doubleheader was much more event-

ful, not in the least because it resulted in head coach Kevin Leighton’s 200th win at Fordham and 400th career win. Sophomore John Stankiewicz got the start and was roughed up to the tune of two runs in the second thanks to an error and three singles (only one was earned). He muscled through another four innings, striking out seven over six frames. He also walked one batter and hit another, but otherwise had a solid overall performance. After the Rams scratched one back in the fifth on an RBI single from sophomore first baseman Nick Labella, things got weird in the sixth. With runners on first

and second with one out, MacKenzie laid down a bunt. By the end of the play, he was standing on third with a little league triple thanks to a horrendous throw by the pitcher, which also allowed two runs to score. A later error also allowed another run to score to give the Rams a 4-3 lead. Freshman Gabe Karslo gave up one run in the seventh, but junior Kyle Martin was able to come in and get his second save of the day by shutting the door in the ninth on a 4-3 win. And now back to DiMeglio’s dominance. He had 10 strikeouts to just one walk in eight innings of shutout ball. Over

his eight innings, he faced just three batters over the minimum. He pitched with a lead from the second inning on, thanks to a solo home run by Labella. The Rams plated two more in the fifth then reached the final score of 6-0 on a three-run home run by Vazquez. With the sweep, the Rams are now 6-3 in A-10 play and 2012 overall, which puts them at fourth in the conference. After a couple of midweek games, the Rams will take on the top team in the A-10 at the moment, VCU, on the road. That series will start Friday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m.

Softball Takes Two out of Three Against the University of Dayton By EMMANUEL BERBARI STAFF WRITER

Fordham Softball continues to go as Madie Aughinbaugh goes, as the junior hurler dominated the series opener and finale against Dayton, leading the Rams to 5-1 and 7-0 wins on Friday and Sunday, respectively. Winning two out of three on its home field, Fordham improves to 13-20 overall and 6-3 in conference play. Subpar outings by senior Maria Trivelpiece and freshman Makenzie McGrath in the middle game placed extra pressure on the back of Aughinbaugh, after they surrendered a combined 11 runs over five innings in a 13-6 loss. In Game 1, seniors Chelsea Skrepenak and Jordy Storm collectively tallied four hits and three runs batted in, while Trivelpiece raked her way to a 4-for-4 effort. Aughinbaugh scattered six hits and one earned run over a complete game effort, fanning three in her seventh victory of the season. Dayton’s starting pitcher Jessica Weaver also went the distance, but the Rams pounded 11 hits over her six innings of work, and she allowed 15 total baserunners to reach. “Overall, Aughie and the defense did a good job keeping them off the bases,” head coach Melissa

Inouye told Fordham Athletics. Aughinbaugh held a potenially dangerous middle of the order (34-5) in check for a combined 1-9 performance, keeping the Flyers at bay all afternoon. Despite seeing her just two days prior, Dayton had no answer for Fordham’s rock on Sunday. She registered yet another complete game, this time of the

shutout variety, her first of the year and 12th of her career, allowing three hits, striking out two and walking none in a 7-0 win, her fifth in conference play. Fordham tagged Dayton’s Jensen for four hits and four runs in the first inning, allowing the Rams ace to steal the show for the remainder of the day. “We did a good job scoring first

and giving ourselves the lead by swinging at good pitches,” said Inouye. The Rams scored all seven of their runs over the first two frames largely thanks to Storm’s two-run, one RBI, 3-for-4 effort, senior Molly Roark’s two RBI’s, 3-for-3 showing and eight regulars tallying a hit. On the weekend, Aughinbaugh

allowed just nine hits and one run in 14 frames to record two wins and give the Rams their third straight conference series win. Fordham will be back in action at St. Bonaventure this Wednesday afternoon, playing a twinbill beginning at 2 p.m. The Rams will return home to host Saint Louis in a three-game series next weekend.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Despite an overall record of 13-20, Fordham softball has gotten off to an auspicious start in the Atlantic-10 with a conference record of 6-3.