Volume 107 Issue 6

Student Employee Hours Cut Due to Federal Funding Decrease

By ALLISON SCHNEIDER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

All student workers employed by the Student Employment Office (SEO) are now only permitted to work a maximum of 10 hours per week. The change went into effect on Feb. 22, and students were informed of the change via email nine days prior, on Feb. 13. An email from SEO stated that approximately 1,300 students across both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses are employed by the office.

Prior to the change, students were permitted to work up to 15 hours per week in some positions, according to the Student Employment webpage.

Following the announcement of the change, student workers have started to consider how the hours cut will impact their daily lives.

Liliana Kinnan, GSB ’25, has been working as a desk assistant at the Rose Hill

SEE HOURS, PAGE 4

Student Letters Allege Insufficient Support Under Dean McGlade

By ANDREW MASSIE with

NORA MALONE ALLISON SCHNIEDER & ADITHI VIMALANATHAN NEWS TEAM

Three high-ranking student leaders at Fordham University have submitted three separate letters of personal grievances and one letter of no confidence against Assistant Dean for Student Involvement Catharine McGlade, the top administrator at the Rose Hill Office for Student Involvement

(OSI). McGlade plays a key role in overseeing the work of over 170 student organizations at Fordham. These documents highlight administrative delays and allege a failure to adequately support students.

The letter of no confidence — which received 123 signatures — was submitted to Fordham President Tania Tetlow, the university’s Office of Human Resources and all members of the Faculty Senate on Jan. 17.

The four letters ranged in length from eight to 42 pages and included screenshots and other material to back up the students’ complaints. Student leaders across the United Student Government (USG), the Campus Activities Board (CAB), the Residence Halls Association (RHA), the Commuting Students Association (CSA), student employees who

SEE DEAN, PAGE 5

How Restaurant

Chains Are

Established on Campus

By JACK MCDONALD ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Così, Starbucks and BKG Coffee Roasters are three on-campus dining establishments familiar to the Fordham community. However, these establishments are not exclusive to Fordham. They are chains, operating several locations across the country.

Students React to Housing Process

By

As March unfolds on Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus, the first thing on students’ minds, even before midterms, is where they will live next year. Around 44% of students live in one of the university’s 14 residential buildings, and the highly competitive process of housing selections will begin in the coming weeks. Many students have to weigh the endless pros and cons of their housing options before they can make this decision; finding roommates (especially to fill apartments), deciding whether to live oncampus or off-campus and securing the least expensive housing option are three of the most common for Fordham students. Each of these and more are questions students are rushing to answer before their deadline for housing decisions arrives.

A significant number of Fordham students have continued to move off-campus, usually after their freshman year. Since last year, there has been a decrease in the number of students living on-campus, and Sophie Barr, FCRH ’27, is one of these students choosing to move into off-campus housing.

Barr currently lives oncampus in O’Hare Hall.

“There are a lot of pros to living on-campus, like RA [Resident Assistant] programs and proximity, but I’m ready for a change,” she said. Despite being satisfied

SEE HOUSING, PAGE 4

in this issue

The Fordham Ram President Tetlow Gives

By NORA MALONE NEWS EDITOR

President Tania Tetlow gave a speech titled “The Sign of the Times: How Will Fordham Hold on to Core Values at This Moment?” on Wednesday, Feb. 26. In

light of recent actions from the Trump Administration and a letter from the Department of Education that was sent to educational institutions nationwide, Tetlow delivered this speech to faculty, administration and staff.

Craig Trainor the Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights signed the letter and addressed it as “Dear Colleague.”

“Educational institutions have

SEE ADDRESS, PAGE 5

Così Restaurant Holdings LLC was founded in 1989, and as of 2025, operates 14 locations across the East Coast, including locations on West 46th Street in Manhattan and Washington Boulevard in Jersey City. The corporation was originally founded by Drew Harré in 1989 on Rue de Seine in Paris. Così opened its first North American

SEE CHAINS, PAGE 5

Opinion

Page 11

How “ Wounded” Can Help Us Find Healing

Student Government Belongs to all of UsLet’ s Keep it That Way Sports Fordham Runs the Show at A-10 Championship Culture

MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM

The Office for Student Involvement is on the second floor of the McShane Campus Center.

Tetlow and her cabinet arrive at her speech on Wednesday, faculty and staff wait inside.

NORA MALONE/THE FORDHAM RAM

WHITNEY WOODROW CONTRIBUTING WRITER

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS

Dealy Hall Feb. 25

4:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, the Campus Operations Manager reported damage to the soap dispenser in the third floor restroom of Dealy Hall. The supervisor responded. The investigation revealed the soap dispenser was ripped off the wall and thrown in the toilet.

Alumni Court South Feb. 26

12:47 p.m.

On Wednesday, there was a stuck occupied elevator in Alumni Court South. The supervisor responded and notified the elevator company. The supervisor freed the student and a technician inspected the elevator.

LaLande Hall

Alumni Court South Feb. 26

2:59 p.m.

On Wednesday, there was a smoke alarm in Alumni Court South. The supervisor and FDNY responded. The investigation revealed the smoke detector on the third floor triggered the alarm. There was no smoke or fire. The supervisor reset the alarm panel and prepared a work order to have the smoke detector inspected.

Last week’s article “Thomas Massaro Appointed as New McGinley Chair” had an error in the fourth paragraph. It read “Patrick J. Ryan, S.J. held the position from 2002 until he died in 2022,” but it should have been “Patrick J. Ryan, S.J. held the position from 2002 until he retired in 2022.” The Ram apologizes for this error.

Fordham’s Initiative on Migrants, Migration and Human Dignity Receives New Grant

A group of Fordham students, who took part

By SIENNA REINDERS ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Fordham’s Initiative on Migrants, Migration and Human Dignity recently received a $670,000 grant from the Nathan Cummings Foundation, a Boston-based initiative promoting the concept of accompaniment. The money will allow them to expand their internship program and involve more Fordham students and faculty with the initiative.

The initiative was originally created in 2022 by Fordham’s Associate Professor of Spanish language and literature Carey Kasten, Associate Professor of theology James McCartin and Assistant Professor of theology Leo Guardado.

Last week’s article “Fordham YDSA Launches Condom and Plan B Distribution Form” had an error in the first paragraph. It read “Fordham Young Democratic Socialists Association” but it should have been “Fordham Young Democratic Socialists of America.” The Ram apologizes for this error.

Wednesday March 5

Career Center Fair

Lowenstein 12th Floor (LC) 2 p.m.

Attend Fordham’s Social Impact and Sustainability Fair to meet with employers and explore different career paths! The event is open to all majors.

The program’s website lays out five main goals for the initiative: cultivating student activists and researchers, promoting the practice of accompaniment with migrant communities, supporting faculty and student research surrounding the topic of migration, cultivating relationships with community-based organizations and leading the promotion of migration accompaniment in Jesuit institutions.

Gregory T. Donovan, associate professor of communications and media studies and one of the

professors working on the initiative, is the child of an Italian immigrant. He said that growing up hearing about his mother’s immigration story and now working on this initiative makes the work personal for him.

“This is an issue that not only I need to be focused on, but Fordham as a university, a Jesuit university in New York, needs to be engaged in,” Donovan said.

The Cummings Foundation initially provided the program with $200,000 in 2022. The original grant allowed the initiative to provide several students with paid internships and also allowed them to have two faculty members trained through the Villanova Interdisciplinary Immigration Studies Training for Advocates (VIISTA), an online training program that prepares individuals for accompaniment.

According to Kasten, this new round of funding, which started in January and will last three years, will primarily be used to help the initiative expand its internship program. Some of the funding will also be used to allow more students and faculty to get trained by the VIISTA program.

“We sponsor all different kinds of interactions and conversations, and we’re just really starting to

sponsor intentional conversations with communities in New York City,” Kasten said.

One of the main goals of the initiative is to connect students with internships through the organizations that they partner with. These organizations include the Little Sisters of Assumption (LSA) Family and Health Services, The Ark at the Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST), Jesuit Refugee Service, Kino Border Initiative and more. Currently, they have eight interns placed at LSA Family and Health Services working directly with migrant populations.

Lauryn Sweeney, FCRH ’25, held an internship at the Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Department through the initiative during the summer of 2024.

During the internship, Sweeney primarily worked on case organizing and migrant intake interviews. She said the experience was very eye-opening but also very overwhelming.

“Obviously it’s one thing to learn about it and another to experience it,” Sweeney said. “I am very hopeful in the way that there are such dedicated individuals there who have been there for so long that do the service. But it’s also overwhelming because there is such a lack of resources.”

This Week at Fordham

Thursday March 6

Battle of the DJs

Rodrigue’s Coffee House 6:30 p.m.

Go to Rodrigue’s Coffee House on Thursday to see your fellow Rams battle it out in the battle of the DJs. Bring your friends and get ready to dance!

Friday March 7

Baseball Game

Jack Coffey Field 3 p.m.

Fordham’s baseball team will be playing against the United States Military Academy at West Point on Friday. Go support your fellow rams!

Saturday March 8

Catholic Women

Great Hall, McShane 12 p.m.

Attend Catholic Women Speak to explore and celebrate the role of women in the church and hear from speakers such as Jeannine Hill Fletcher and Joan Cavanaugh.

Aside from connecting students with nearby internships, the initiative sends students to the border between the U.S. and Mexico every summer to help people immigrating to the United States. Clare Balsan, FCRH ’24, was among those to spend eight weeks at the border in the summer of 2023. During her time there, she worked in the kitchen and clothing post while also doing intake interviews for migrants coming through the border.

Balsan said it was emotionally challenging to hear people’s stories, but it was also one of the most impactful experiences of her life.

“It was a very, very impactful experience for me. Probably one of the most impactful of my life,” Balsan said. “Emotionally, it was very challenging. I met a lot of people who were fleeing such incredibly difficult and tragic and horrendous situations in their home communities.”

In September, the initiative will host an on-campus conference to bring together organizations, faculty and students from Fordham and other universities to discuss migration-related issues.

In the meantime, the initiative hopes to continue engaging students with the topic of migration and providing internships for students through partner organizations.

Sunday March 9

Women’s Tennis

Fordham Tennis Courts 6 p.m.

Bring your friends and cheer on the Fordham Women’s Tennis team on Sunday! The Fordham Rams will be playing against the Stony Brook Seawolves!

in the Kino Border Initiative in January 2024, stand with Associate Director of Education Peete Neeley, S.J.

CAREY KASTEN FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham Announces Free Access to Speechify for Students

By NISHANTH ADUMA ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Fordham University’s Office of Information Technology (IT), in collaboration with the Accessibility Committee, has introduced free access to Speechify for students. This initiative aims to enhance accessibility across campus and ensure students have the tools to engage with their coursework in a more flexible way.

Speechify, a widely used text-to-speech platform, was selected after members of the Accessibility Committee identified its potential benefits for students with print disabilities, such as dyslexia, visual impairments and physical disabilities that make reading difficult.

For students interested in accessing Speechify, more information is available through the Office of Information Technology and the Accessibility Committee.

According to Katherine Morris, IT communications manager, “Speechify was brought to the Accessibility Committee’s attention by a forward-thinking faculty member. She and another committee member documented its benefits in a proposal, which was reviewed and approved by Fordham’s Chief Information Officer, Anand Padmanabhan.”

The platform is already used by institutions such as the New York City Department of

Education, the University of Southern California, Stanford University, Barnard College and Columbia University. IT conducted an independent review and deemed it a secure, effective solution that aligns with Fordham’s commitment to universal design.

“Importantly, Speechify does not collect any data and is SOC 2 compliant, ensuring privacy and security for students,” Morris added.

By converting digital text — including PDFs, websites and scanned content — into high-quality audio, Speechify allows students to engage with their coursework in a more accessible way.

“A significant number of students at Fordham University have documented print disabilities. Providing access to text-to-speech technology can help level the playing field and allow these students to more easily access course materials, texts, and other required readings,” said Morris.

She also emphasized that Speechify is not only for students with disabilities, but benefits a broad range of learners.

“This tool helps ensure that all our content is available in multiple formats,” she said. “Non-native speakers, students with different learning styles, and anyone who prefers auditory learning can find value in it.”

The introduction of Speechify

has drawn positive reactions from students. Matthew Semelsberger, GSB ’27, shared his perspective on the initiative. “I have not used Speechify yet. I do think it is a great tool, and it is awesome that Fordham gave it to us. I do hope to look into it and be successful with it in the future,” he said.

Jack Robinson, GSB ’27, stated similarly, highlighting Speechify’s potential for diverse learning styles: “It seems like a valuable tool for modern learning. I believe it would be especially useful for students with different learning styles, as listening to text aloud provides an alternative way to absorb information.”

Robinson also mentioned the aspect of using Speechify to multitask, adding, “I would definitely consider using Speechify while multitasking, especially while at the gym. Compared to other study tools, its ability to convert text into audio could enhance efficiency. Additionally, I think Fordham should offer more subscriptions to AI-powered tools, as they are becoming essential in today’s educational landscape.”

IT and the Accessibility Committee hope that by making this tool freely available, students will find new ways to enhance their learning experience and improve their engagement with course materials.

IT and the Accessibility Committee hope that by making Speechify freely available, students will find new ways to enhance their learning experience.

In addition to Speechify, Fordham IT is also providing students with free access to monday.com, a project management tool designed to help with task organization and collaboration. With features that allow users to create personalized workflows, manage deadlines and streamline group projects, monday.com offers a flexible way for students to stay on top of their academic and extracurricular commitments. Whether used for tracking assignments, coordinating team efforts or simply organizing daily

tasks, the platform aims to enhance productivity and efficiency across various aspects of student life. Specific details on how monday.com will be distributed were not described.

As Fordham continues to expand its technological resources, initiatives like these reflect a broader effort to support students in navigating academic challenges. Fordham IT has expressed its commitment to evaluating student feedback on Speechify, potentially shaping future accessibility offerings at the university.

USG Hears From Provost Dennis Jacobs and Prospective Clubs

By SOFIA SEMPER USG COLUMNIST

The Fordham Rose Hill United Student Government (USG) met on Thursday, Feb. 21 to review bylaw changes, study abroad concerns and club presentations.

Executive President Eron Maltzman, GSB ’25, opened up a discussion regarding the proposed bylaw changes. Audience member Evan McManus, FCRH ’25, stated that he wanted to express his concern about the new proposed changes for the USG election process. He explained that he used to be a senator on USG and felt that it would be best to continue to allow all students, regardless of whether they have participated in USG before, to run for the executive ticket.

He said that he believes that there are many benefits to allowing all students to run for presidency and, if that were to be changed, he does not think that the Fordham University community would be very accepting of the change.

Vice President of Fordham College Emma Blake, FCRH ’25, explained that she and Maltzman have been in continued contact with the Study Abroad Office and their delegates. She stated that

she hopes to have a clarifying meeting with the Study Abroad faculty to make sure that all of their concerns are clear.

There have been issues with communicating with the Study Abroad Student Advisory Council. Maltzman said they feel that creating a Study Abroad Committee may be the best approach to address the study abroad concerns coming from students.

Dennis C. Jacobs, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, spoke to USG about what his office does for the university and about upcoming changes. He explained that his role is to offer support for every aspect of the university and consider the university’s longer-term strategic goals.

Some current projects that his office is working on are the core curriculum revision, undergraduate research opportunities and study abroad concerns. They are also working on updating the science facilities on campus with the help of outside consultants and the board of trustees. He stated that within the next two weeks, there will be a major announcement in this regard.

Blake asked if he could explain how the structure of the Dean’s office will change when the new Dean

of Arts and Sciences is hired. Jacobs explained that there are normally four Deans of Arts and Sciences and they all report to him, however, with this new change, there will only be one Dean of Arts and Sciences that will work with a team of vice deans to make sure that everything runs smoothly. The new dean will start in their role on July 1.

Two new clubs presented their club proposal at the meeting, as well. The first club to present was Community Squared. The president and vice president of the prospective club explained that the purpose of this club would be to facilitate a love for math by using art to create more enjoyable math-focused activities.

Some future events they hope to have include a Pi Day festival, math board game nights and observatory nights where members would paint and draw constellations. They hope to also incorporate community outreach and volunteer opportunities with local Bronx schools into their club. This would include going to local schools and helping tutor kids who struggle with math in an afterschool program or during designated

math periods. They would also host fundraiser events where the money raised would be used to buy school supplies for students.

The European Society also presented their club proposal. The club’s president and vice president shared that the purpose of this club would be to promote an environment where all students from Europe or of European descent can feel at home.

They hope to have events that foster European culture across campus, create meaningful connections between students and professionals to network and to explore European history. They plan to host a cultural event on European art and history with possible guest speakers, have informative events on European countries and host a European business, financial or political symposium.

The Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs is working on core curriculum revision and undergraduate research opportunities.

MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM

MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Students Share Insights into Housing Search Process

FROM HOUSING, PAGE 1

with her current housing situation on campus, she notes that having more kitchen facilities, especially in dormitories with no apartmentstyle rooms, would have made her experience better.

She and her future roommates worked with LandSeAir Real Estate Group (LSANY) to contact a broker who helped them set up tours and answer all of their questions regarding housing options.

“The process was smooth.

We were able to contact a broker named Isam, and he was a great help. He was also our point of contact between us and the landlord, and ultimately, helped us sign a lease for our new place,” Barr noted.

Many students like Barr are eager to move offcampus so they can ensure they get into housing that has a kitchen and individual rooms, which are things some Fordham students are not guaranteed during their four years.

However, there is still a large portion of students who prefer to remain in Fordham on-campus housing. Mackenzie Colvin, FCRH ’26, currently lives in Fordham’s Belmont Community Housing (BCH), which is Fordhamsponsored apartment-style housing that is not physically on campus.

“Living in BCH has been perfect because I get to experience physically leaving campus everyday which makes me feel less claustrophobic,” she said.

Despite BCH not being

traditionally on-campus, it offers the same services that traditional on-campus Fordham housing would, including the use of work orders.

“Another reason I choose to stay in Fordhamsponsored housing is because repairs are much easier to fix. We had an issue with our plumbing this year, and all we had to do was put in a work order and it was resolved. Having this service has made situations like that far less

stressful,” Colvin added. Colvin mentioned that she wished her current housing included laundry units and air conditioning, but that the lack of these things is not enough to stop her from living in BCH next year.

“My roommates and I are hoping to keep our current apartment through the retention process, but as always, we have a back-up plan in case we hit obstacles in the housing selection process,” she said.

Fordham Campus Ministry Celebrates Mardi Gras

By ADITHI VIMALANATHAN MANAGING EDITOR

Student Workers Discuss Adjusting to Pay Changes

Ram Fit Center for just under a year and was working about 13 hours per week prior to the cut. She also works an unpaid internship at a non-profit organization that she fears she may have to quit due to the student employee hours reduction.

“I’m currently working at a non-profit internship on Fridays which has been something I wanted to do to do volunteer hours, and I was able to do that because I had my work schedule. But now with the hours cut, I think I might have to get a second job and then I don’t know if I’m going to be able to continue to do that volunteering work,” Kinnan said. “To get a second job, I wouldn’t be available at certain hours, so that’s something I’ve been thinking about for the last week.”

Kinnan also noted that the short notice about the change is posing its own difficulties.

“It’s just a huge inconvenience because with the short time notice to rearrange my entire schedule in

the middle of the semester is just very inconsiderate of student employees,” she reported. “I felt it was a very bad show of administration to only give people less than two weeks to figure out how they’re going to make up that separate income.”

Cecilia Lodge, FCRH ’27, echoed similar sentiments.

“I definitely have to be more conscious about my spending because it’s like a hundred to two hundred dollars every two weeks that I can’t make,” said Lodge, who has been working at the Office for Student Involvement since last fall.

“It was definitely a minor blow that I wasn’t expecting.”

Assuming a student employee was working the maximum 15 hours permitted prior to the cut, the hours reduction actually results in a potential decrease of $75 a week or $150 per pay period when factoring in the raise in minimum wage.

cut in student hours is a direct result of a recently announced reduction in federal funding.

“The Department of Education has announced our tentative funding levels for Campus Based Institutional Aid (Federal Work-Study and SEOG [Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant]) for 2025-2026,” Szabo wrote. “Federal Work-Study was reduced by approximately $550,000 from FY [fiscal year] 25. We have seen a decrease of approximately $1,165,000 over the last two years. This represents a 25% decrease in our funding.”

Opportunity Grant Program (SEOG) and $3,002,870 in Federal Work-Study Program money during fiscal year 2023. As indicated by Szabo’s email statement, these amounts have decreased substantially since then.

Szabo also noted that the recent New York State minimum wage increase in January and the rise in the hours students were working also played a role in the decision. He stated in the same email that the decision was the result of a consensus among multiple administrative offices but did not elaborate on exactly which Fordham offices were involved.

Audifre also spoke about the number of students who have inquired about working for Public Safety. “I have students asking all the time for work, and even before this order came down I was actually turning students away because I have so many wanting to work for Public Safety,” he said.

Public Safety is one of a few departments on campus that have been less affected by the hours cut. Theresa Gormley, FCRH ’26, who works as a Fordham security student aide for Public Safety, reported that she and her co-workers are still working up to 15 hours a week.

Director of Financial Aid Technology and Operations Michael Szabo wrote in an email on Feb. 25 that the

The money that Fordham receives through CampusBased Institutional Aid is portioned off for specific purposes, and the university relies on that federal funding to employ students in work-study programs. According to publicly available financial statements from Fordham, the university received $2,077,320 from the Federal Supplemental Educational

According to Szabo, SEO has not taken any other steps to reduce the cost of employing student workers; however, the change in hours does coincide with reported changes in Public Safety hiring practices. Public Safety Parking Operations Manager Vicente Audifre III said he received word on Feb. 5 that the office would not be permitted to hire any more students for the spring semester.

According to an email sent to Ram Van drivers shortly after the initial announcement, student drivers and other student Ram Van employees are also unaffected by the hours cut.

Other students employed by Fordham University should contact their immediate supervisor to determine whether or not the hours reduction affects them. FROM HOURS, PAGE 1

Campus Ministry hosted their annual Mardi Gras party on Tuesday, March 5. The event drew many students and served Popeye's, macaroni and cheese and cake.

Students gathered at tables with their friends to enjoy the Mardi Gras festivities.

(Left to right) Naomi Andrews, FCRH '28, and Kayleigh Scecina, FCRH '28 stand in front of the McShane second floor ballroom.

An inflatable clown in green, yellow and purple with streamers stands by the celebra-

Tetlow Speaks to Faculty, Staff and Administration

toxically indoctrinated students with the false premise that the United States is built upon ‘systemic and structural racism’ and advanced discriminatory policies and practices,” reads the letter. “Proponents of these discriminatory practices have attempted to further justify them — particularly during the last four years — under the banner of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI), smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming, and discipline.”

The letter had mixed reception with some universities. The Georgia Institute of Technology axed their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, while others like Mount Holyoke College declared they won’t be altering their programs.

Tetlow’s speech took place in the McNally Amphitheater at the Lincoln Center Campus and was live-streamed to the Rose Hill, Westchester and London campuses.

“I think it’s very crucial because we need to know what the official position of the university will be in light of the executive orders,” said Alessia Valfredini, Senior Lecturer of Italian, before the address. “I really hope today they will be not bending to pressure.”

Professors from both campuses attended the speech, and seats were filled quickly, with many professors having to stand on the second level. Members of administration also attended. Students,

including reporters from The Fordham Ram, were not allowed to attend Tetlow’s speech.

“I always like to hear what the president has to say. I’m always interested in the direction of the university, what her strategic plans are so that I can help kind of bring them to fruition,” said Associate Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Jason B. Benedict.

The event lasted around an hour, and applause and laughter could be heard from outside the amphitheater. The general consensus from people leaving the event was that they were pleased with what the president said.

Tetlow has yet to make an official announcement to the students regarding recent executive orders.

“In the last month, higher education has faced troubling developments from the new administration,” said Tetlow. “On Wednesday, I brought faculty and staff together to discuss the impacts we are already seeing, what’s at stake, and how we will navigate the rapid changes coming from Washington. Most importantly, I emphasized our Jesuit, Catholic mission to ensure that we continue to support our students fully, both in and beyond the classroom.”

Fordham Hosts City Charter Hearing

By EMMA LEONARDI EXECUTIVE COPY EDITOR

The New York City Charter Revision Commission held a Bronx Public Input Session in the thirdfloor ballroom of Fordham University’s McShane Campus Center on March 4 to hear testimonies regarding the charter’s Land Use and Housing section. According to the New York City Charter Review Commission's website, the charter, “defines the organization, functions, and essential procedures and policies of our City government.”

When asked about the commission process, Chief of Staff Madeline Labadie noted that the meetings take place in all five boroughs to hear testimonies from members of each community. Labadie credited choosing Fordham as the meeting location due to its central location within the Bronx and the facilities available. Project Coordinator for Government Relations and Urban Affairs Casandra Gomez shared that the location was chosen so that Bronx community members could attend and speak on behalf of themselves and their community.

The first testimony, given by Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr., noted the importance of ensuring all neighborhoods are appealing and accessible, as obstacles preventing fair housing are not just historical but remain present in the city. Carrión shared several statistics — including higher asthma rates and lower credit scores — that align with areas of the city with less affordable housing. Carrión highlighted the need for the council to keep housing obstacles at the forefront of their minds during this conversation.

Former City Council Member for District 13 Marjorie Velázquez shared a personal story of her time on the city council and her struggles trying to address the city’s housing crisis. Velázquez noted that through her time trying to advocate and attain more affordable and accessible housing within her district, her efforts were met with death threats and even a need for a panic button to the New York Police Department installed in her house. Velázquez cited the “hate and venom laced with racism and misogyny” towards her stance on housing as causing her to step down from her seat on the city council.

Velázquez shared that to effectively use the power and tools within community boards, questions regarding whether the boards really represent the whole community must be asked and assessed.

President of Monadnock Development and housing podcaster Kirk Goodrich added to this by sharing that the process allows a single individual to disrupt the city’s affordable housing efforts. Goodrich also shared that increased job opportunities require equally increased housing and that he feels the city has given up on the latter half.

The revision process is ongoing.

Fordham Dining Offers Several Restaurant Chains On Campus

FROM CHAINS, PAGE 1 location in 1996 on 52nd Street in Manhattan. They were established as a “fastcasual” chain, which offers a healthier alternative to fast food while still holding the same level of convenience.

Rose Hill’s Così opened beneath Campbell Hall in 2013 following the closing of the Empire State Café. Empire State Café was more of a coffee-based establishment, compared to Così, which offers meals of more substance. After it opened, students who had visited the Così in Union Square noted how the food at Rose Hill’s Così was of similar quality. Overall, Così was well-received when it was first established at Rose Hill.

BKG Coffee Roasters had a different journey to Fordham. BKG, founded by brothers Craig, James and Alain Muir, began roasting in Brooklyn in 2003 out of a small apartment and soon opened its first location at 557 Myrtle

Avenue, out by the Brooklyn Navy Yard. They also served baked goods from Balthazar Bakery, another local establishment in Brooklyn. As of 2024, the location on Myrtle Avenue was closed. The Starbucks in Dealy Hall was established at Fordham in 2017, following renovations done on Dealy to accommodate the famous coffee chain.

“Fordham University joins the many New Yorkers and, literally, the population the world over who admire, flock to and enjoy the local restaurant culture in the communities the University shares, both in the Bronx and in the surrounding Lincoln Center communities,” said Deming Yaun, dining services contract liaison for Aramark at Fordham University.

Establishing the right chains is not an easy task, however, and requires all hands on deck, according to Yaun. “The task becomes even more complex and

challenging when consideration is given to the University catering and concession needs it has,” he said.

The integration of chain restaurants on campus is largely due to Ram Hospitality’s mission to provide something unique for each student. Yaun prioritized finding reliable and well-examined food supply sources to integrate at Rose Hill in order to create a seamless dining experience for students. “The amount of resources Fordham expects from its partners requires, simply, an organization from the worldwide stage,” said Yaun.

Students also weighed in on the topic. “The Starbucks in Dealy definitely gets very busy, having that brand recognition is a super important part of their business on campus,” said Tyler Rayer, GSB ’28.

Starbucks is one of the most popular dining locations on

campus, and has a loyal following of clientele who visit the establishment every day, often for the same food or drink.

While another Starbucks is located just outside the university

gates on Fordham Road, the Starbucks in Dealy Hall offers students a similar experience without having to cough up additional cash outside of their dining dollars.

ALEX ANTONOV FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

BKG is one of the chains located on Fordham's campus.

NORA MALONE/THE FORDHAM RAM Seats were reserved for Tetlow and members of her staff, as well as other university leaders.

Students Submit Letter of No Confidence in Rose Hill Dean for Student Involvement

work for OSI, students involved with orientation and other club leaders signed onto the letter of no confidence.

“This is not limited to one problem that someone had with staff or one complaint,” said one of the student organizers. “It’s a very special situation. We want to speak to the Faculty Senate. We want to speak with the President. We want to speak to whoever.”

Twenty-five current and former students and employees were interviewed for this story. Many of the students who spoke with The Ram cited concerns about protecting their current work-study employment, potential retaliation and the negative stigma involved with discussing sensitive topics, and were granted anonymity.

Over the course of a month, McGlade did not respond to The Ram’s multiple requests for comment regarding the letter of no confidence, letters of personal grievances, her workload, the workflow in OSI and other issues.

According to the students, the goal of those who signed is not to ask that McGlade be removed from her position, but rather for upper administration to address the concerns raised and ensure students have a better experience working with her going forward.

An email obtained by The Ram, sent from student organizers on Feb. 25 to those who signed the letter of no confidence, said that McGlade expressed that she wants to meet with the organizers. The organizers said in the email that they are willing to do so.

Vice President for Student Affairs Michele Burris, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students at Rose Hill Christopher Rodgers and University Spokesperson Bob Howe replied together to a request for comment, saying, “This issue and cases like it are a Catch 22: you can’t report on them accurately without receiving information about employees that is confidential by law. Here the desire for freedom of information is in opposition to privacy and employment law. Fordham’s position is that, besides being illegal, it would be irresponsible and damaging to the University to betray employees’ right to privacy.”

“Our approach to any complaint about processes, policies, and services is to make sure we follow it up, often meeting with students to learn more, share information, and come up with ways we can work together to address the concerns,” the statement continued. “This process is underway and we plan to continue to do this going forward.”

Associate Director for Campus Center Operations Stephen Clarke, who was on medical leave from July 2024 to December 2024, declined to comment.

Assistant Director for Student Organizations and Programming Mark Less did not reply to a request for comment.

The Details

The letter of no confidence was organized by two former high-ranking members of USG and an OSI student employee, FCRH ’25. The

students signed the letter of no confidence with their full names and positions. The letter details “negative effects” on students as a result of shortcomings within OSI, alleging that McGlade’s actions have delayed club approvals, slowed student payments and hindered event planning.

The letters of personal grievances and the letter of no confidence presented these complaints. Numerous students and alumni involved in OSI who spoke to The Ram corroborated these statements.

Additionally, two former full-time OSI employees who had daily contact with McGlade shared concerns about her conduct. These former full-time OSI employees, who requested anonymity due to potential consequences to future careers, described chronic delays in making payments and consistent issues when scheduling meetings with McGlade. They say these delays contributed to an overall work environment that negatively impacted both students and staff.

“Anybody who works in that office is going to experience these kinds of delays. You can’t get around it,” said one former full-time OSI employee. “Nothing is done in any timely fashion.”

The Lead-Up

After five years as assistant dean for student involvement, Cody Arcuri, McGlade’s predecessor, left Fordham in December 2021. A panel of five students and administrators was then convened to vet candidates to replace him.

One former full-time OSI employee said that late into the hiring process, the panelists were asked to consider McGlade. “There were three candidates and all were internal within Fordham University,” the former employee said. “Then almost two months later, we were asked to consider this fourth candidate, who turned out to be Dean McGlade.”

McGlade originally studied at Fordham College at Rose Hill as a commuter student and later moved on campus as a resident assistant. She then received two master’s degrees from Fordham for Teaching English as a Second

Language (TESOL) in 1999 and in Education and Counseling in 2006. She worked at Fordham as the associate director of Judicial Affairs in 2007, then left until her return in May 2022.

Since McGlade took over OSI, multiple sources interviewed by The Ram allege that unpaid timesheets, backlogged invoices and routine late approvals have disrupted the office’s operations. These were among the concerns brought up in the student letters sent to Tetlow.

“We had a bunch of invoices to vendors for orientation, for clubs, for pretty much all of OSI’s operations that were not being paid or being paid late,” one of the former employees said. They noted that, in some cases, months would pass before essential paperwork was signed.

Another former full-time OSI employee described frequent meeting delays or noshows during Zoom interviews with McGlade. “Students, administrators, deans, staff — even candidates applying for jobs — are left waiting on the other end,” said the source. “If it’s not a no-show, it’s a rescheduling or she’s extremely late.”

The letters of personal grievance written by students noted numerous instances where they had difficulty arranging meetings with McGlade. Specifically, students felt that their time was “disrespected” and one letter details a “track record of [McGlade] being late to meetings or me showing up and her not even being in the office.”

In addition to the letter writers, the other former full-time employee said that multiple Fordham offices did not adequately address the complaints being raised about McGlade and OSI. “Multiple complaints were made directly to Student Affairs and directly to Human Resources,” the source said.

Responding to a request for comment, Fordham’s Office of Human Resources emailed The Ram the following:

“HR does not discuss confidential employee matters or complaints in order to comply with privacy regulations and, more importantly, maintain the trust of our colleagues who seek assistance,” said the

department. “When HR related concerns are raised, they are addressed with departmental leadership through various interventions including but not limited to consultations, advice, coaching, training, facilitated discussions, performance improvement plans, investigations, and recommendations of discipline as appropriate.”

Some interviewees say McGlade has positively contributed to OSI but think that she might have more success in another office. One former full-time employee explained, “I think that there’s something out there for her. I just don’t think this was a good fit.”

The Response

The students who wrote the four letters point to administrative shortcomings as a motivation for their formal complaints. They say that for more than a year, they tried to resolve issues privately, but saw no meaningful change.

One OSI student worker, FCRH ’25, who helped organize the letter of no confidence, said, “At some point, we had no choice but to make this public and ensure the administration could no longer ignore what’s happening.”

Student leaders say the lack of communication through OSI as a whole has negatively affected club operations. Jenn Fluet, GSB ’25, president of Fordham Marketing Association, said her club faced event planning and funding difficulties due to OSI’s alleged disorganization. She did not sign the letter of no confidence but expressed support for its goals.

“[OSI is] so unorganized and I will absolutely give them the benefit of the doubt,” Fluet said. “They can’t just completely stop, take a beat and rework their entire system and organization without letting clubs down for a semester to completely overhaul all their systems.”

Several students familiar with the orientation operations under OSI were also interviewed and expressed concerns over McGlade’s delays in responding to emails. Secondyear orientation captain AJ Boyd, FCRH ’25, recalled frustration about McGlade’s unresponsiveness. “We emailed her on August 29, 2024, asking for a meeting, and we didn’t hear back for two months,” he said.

Ava DeVita, FCRH ’23, former president of CAB, spoke about what reaction she would like to see from the Fordham administration concerning the student letters which she did not sign.

“Actions speak louder than words,” said DeVita. “You’ve got to show me you’re willing to help us put on these events because you can’t do it without [OSI]. When students aren’t getting the attention they deserve … relationships are going to get strained.”

DeVita added that McGlade was “always very willing to help” and that their conversations were “pleasant for the most part.”

The Future

McGlade remains in her position as assistant dean for student involvement.

According to the email from student organizers to those who signed the letter of no confidence, the organizers are in the process of planning a meeting with administration.

“During this meeting, we are to come prepared with a set of expectations and specific points of contention that we will present to [Burris, Rodgers and McGlade],” said the email obtained by The Ram. “After reviewing these points [McGlade] will agree to a new set of expectations in front of her boss(es) that address the chief areas of concern presented by the students and will adjust her behavior going forward.”

The email also says that the student organizers have requested that “students be made aware of specific avenues through which they can report violations of these expectations.”

Associate Professor of theology Jude Jones, a faculty senator for Fordham College at Rose Hill and chair of the Faculty Senate Committee on Student Experience, told The Ram via email on Monday, Feb. 3 that Student Affairs is currently discussing the situation raised by the student letters, “and doing what they can to address the concerns carefully.”

“The Senate asked me as Chair of the Committee on Student Experience to follow up with VP Michele Burris, which I did, at some length,” Jones continued. “I have reported back to the Senate that the matter is being handled in Student Affairs, and that I will keep abreast of the situation as it develops.”

The student organizers said they will continue to meet with Burris and Rodgers as they work to find a solution that satisfies all parties.

“You’d think they’d realize after all these complaints that something’s not right,” said one former full-time OSI employee. “I really hope something changes here, because it can’t keep going on like this.”

This is a developing story.

If you have any experiences you would like to share with The Ram, please email us at fordhamramonline@gmail.com

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The Fordham Ram strives to build trust with sources and engage with them in a respectful and appropriate manner in pursuit of ethical journalism of the highest standards. The Ram’s Standards and Practices policy, which outlines the paper’s code of ethics and sourcing policy, states that The Ram will opt for anonymity only under certain circumstances determined in conversation with the interviewee and approved by its top editors.

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Student Leader Op-Ed | Lucas Hjertberg, Former Executive President of United Student Government at Rose Hill

Student Government Belongs to All of Us — Let’s Keep It That Way

Most of the time when I tell somebody I am involved in the United Student Government (USG), they hit me with one of two questions: “What is that?” or “What do you guys even do?”

And let me tell you, there is no easy, soundbite-friendly answer. It’s the eternal struggle of every USG member to explain why students should show up to USG and the Student Life Council (SLC) meetings or, at the very least, read the meeting minutes. But honestly? I get it. USG often fails to connect directly to their peers, for one reason or another.

But there are moments, like right now, when USG emerges in the proverbial “Fordham News Spotlight.” This is a time when, as Fordham students, we owe it to ourselves to tap into what is going on in the USG world.

Right now, USG is in the spotlight because of proposed changes to our organization’s bylaws. Some of these proposed changes would bar any non-USG member from running for executive president or executive vice president. Some suggest that this change would ensure that the organization’s leadership is “qualified” and “experienced.” I flatly reject that notion, and suggest to those pushing these changes that the only experience that you need to serve your fellow Rams is to

be a Ram. If you care about this community, if you listen to your peers, if you have ideas for how to make student life better, then you are more than qualified to run.

In my own election for executive president in April 2024, we saw three presidential candidates with USG experience, but the ticket that actually brought attention to the race was that of Drew McDonald and Sam Daniels. Dressed in Abraham Lincoln garb, McDonald delivered the “Ramsburg Address,” a play on the iconic “Gettysburg Address,” to discuss all that he wanted to do if he was to win the highly contested race. While a few of his ideas were considered “outof-the-box” or difficult to achieve, McDonald and Daniels were willing to take a stand on many issues that other USG-consumed minds would never have suggested. Their presence in the race forced us all to discuss issues that would not otherwise have been talked about, from supporting faculty unions and disability rights to getting a live ram on campus.

Directly from McDonald and Daniels’ campaign push, my executive vice president Eron Maltzman and I took disability rights to the office of President Tania Tetlow. In my first meeting with President Tetlow after getting elected, I informed her that

the space belonging to the Office of Disability Services (ODS) was itself not accessible for many with physical disabilities. Within weeks of that first meeting, we were notified by President Tetlow that ODS was being moved to a physically accessible location on campus. A win that to some might seem small, but for many on our campus, was one that meant a lot, both literally and symbolically.

Had these proposed bylaw changes been in place last year, McDonald and Daniels wouldn’t have even been allowed to run. That’s not just a bad idea — it’s anti-democratic. At best, it’s elitist gatekeeping. At worst, it’s authoritarian nonsense.

So what can you do? Simple. Show up. Show up for your community. This Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Bepler Commons, USG will meet, and there will be a big, empty seating area waiting just for you. Every USG meeting includes

a “public concerns” session — your chance to speak up. If you’re fired up about this, now is the time to act. And if you want to go even further, run for something. Not sure about campaigning? Join a committee. USG has 11 committees, from Budget (which allocates $2.9 million to clubs) to Operations (which approves new student organizations). Think you’ve never benefited from USG? Think again. This very newspaper? Funded by the Budget Committee. That club you love? Approved by Operations. Heard of Fordham Flea, Bronx Appreciation Week, the Committee of Sexual Misconduct’s (CSM) Week of Action or the Chomp Truck? Thank USG committees. USG isn’t a secret society. It’s your government. And it should stay open to everyone, because the only real qualification for improving Fordham is wanting to improve it in the first place. Let’s keep it that way.

Free Speech: Why It Must Be An Absolutist Issue

By MICHAEL DUKE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Free speech seems to be something of the past. As each day goes by, the First Amendment becomes less of a guaranteed right and more of an aspiration for Americans. However, where we go wrong as Americans is when we view the issue as one-sided or partisan.

When it comes to the First Amendment’s language, Cornell University Law School’s Legal Information Institute says, “The right to freedom of speech allows individuals to express themselves without government interference or regulation.” However, issues can arise when colleges, universities or government bodies craft their own sets of rules, regulating acceptable forms of free speech and expression.

As an example, public universities can “regulate speech through time, place, and manner restrictions.” However, boundaries in place require restrictions to be reasonable, neutral, preventative of disruptions and foster discourse. While hate speech is the likely target of the regulations and restrictions, the basis that speech itself can be restricted is concerning.

What is problematic about this idea is that on college campuses, free speech and freedom of expression are both declining. If they weren’t in decline, measures taken by the government or university administrators to safeguard them would be unheard of and unnecessary. Instead, on Feb. 18, a Yale Law conference reaffirmed institutional backing for aca-

demic freedom and free speech on campus. Going back further to 2018, the state of Florida responded to free speech issues by joining 20 other states in proposing their own “Campus Free Expression Act.”

However, one of the most interesting elements of free speech restrictions is self-censorship. Ask yourself right now, have you ever sat in a class and hesitated to share a belief you have?

Free speech is a heavy issue on campuses and look no further than how Fordham University is ranked as number 234 of 251 colleges by the nonpartisan Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s (FIRE) “free speech rankings” for 2025. Fordham was also amongst the bottom five of FIRE’s rankings in 2024, mainly for disruptive conduct, holding little tolerance for either liberal or conservative students and having a “below average” speech climate in the classroom. FIRE also lists other examples of free speech restrictions like some public institutions such as the University of South Carolina.

A good explanation for this could come from the same 2024 report from FIRE where 26% of students stated that they feel pressured to avoid discussing difficult topics in class and 56% also expressed their worries about how a misunderstanding could damage their reputation.

The problem of free speech goes beyond higher education as well, as President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office titled: “Restoring Freedom Of Speech And Ending Federal Censorship.”

Specifically, this order was

described to “enshrine the right of the American people to speak freely in the public square without Government interference,” and to “secure the right of the American people to engage in constitutionally protected speech.”

But, a good question to ask is: Why did Trump sign an order on free speech if all Americans already have the right to express themselves freely?

The reason lies in many places, like in present societal concerns over misinformation, but also other concerning examples of free speech issues on campuses. Extraordinary violations, or violations of any sort on campuses, back the necessity for attentiveness to the topic.

This added attentiveness to free speech through the executive order could very well affect colleges and universities as well, mainly because of how institutions are overseen by the government through the many grants, subsidies or other financial aid that assist college operations. Though not all federal funding pertains to campus operations, if colleges get a single dollar, they are in debt, so to speak, to the government. Though higher education is not directly mentioned in the order, and it is uncertain if the order will affect colleges and universities; the intention behind the order could be seen as a warning shot to administrators. Take for instance how the the language states that it is aimed to “ensure that no taxpayer resources are used to engage in or facilitate any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen.”

Beyond the examples of FIRE’s ranking of colleges and universities, there are recent instances where attempts to have free speech on campuses have been disrupted. One example is how a Turning Point USA speaker event was shut down at the University of Washington last month. In that instance, a protest was organized and turned violent due to how the invited speaker had previously expressed her comments and views about women’s sports. Another example that could be considered is when conservative commentator, Michael Knowles, was interrupted during a speech at the University of Pittsburgh in 2023 by a couple who set off smoke bombs inside of the event. But free speech is an absolutist topic; it doesn’t only relate to conservatives on college campuses. It applies to every student. A good example of such is the 2024 anti-Israel protests on campuses like Columbia University. At the time, posts on Instagram from Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a pro-Palestine student group, led to conversations, concerns and outrage from both sides of the aisle on issues of free speech, expression and demonstrations. Whether or not we’d like to face it head-on, conservatives, liberals and moderates need to come together to understand that free speech isn’t fully present on college campuses. The simplest way to solve this issue is by doubling down on the idea that free speech and expression cannot be infringed, prohibited or limited.

Michael Duke, GSB ’26, is a business administration major from Scottsdale, Ariz.

OPINION

King of the Algorithm: The White House’s Disturbing Social Media Campaign

By MOLLY O’CONNOR DIGITAL PRODUCER

Over the past few weeks, both the official White House and President Donald Trump’s social media accounts have released unprofessional and disrespectful posts.

The Trump administration is massively compromising its governmental integrity, particularly in its actions online.

To start, they misappropriated satirical videos generated using aritifical intelligence, feeding them into what the original creators called a “propoganda machine.” They took Valentine’s Day, the day known for celebrating love, and turned it into a hateful, cruel meme of Trump and “border czar” Tom Homan’s faces on a background decorated with pink hearts. Posted on X, the text above them read “Roses are red, violets are blue, come here illegally, and we’ll deport you.”

A horrifying but unsurprising look into the violent views of this administration, this post showed all of this is just a joke to them, but for immigrants and their families, this is their lives at stake. As if the mass deportations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids disrupting every corner of the country were not enough for

immigrants already suffering, they had to mock their struggles even more with a meme.

Just days later, on Feb. 18, the White House posted a video of a deportation flight being boarded on X with the caption: “ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight.” This video featured the sounds of chains and handcuffs being put on immigrants’ wrists and ankles and footage of them walking up the stairs to the aircraft.

To publicly mock these people on social media and make a joke of the millions of people whose lives and families have been uprooted is simply disgusting. The idea that a government account would post autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) anything is ridiculous, but to take such a serious issue and adhere it to a trend is entirely undignified. This continues to show how little immigrants are respected in this country - a country that was built on the backs of immigrants before us.

The day after that, in light of the removal of congestion pricing in New York City, Trump posted on Truth Social: “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE

THE KING!” The White House X and Instagram accounts took this quote and turned it into an image of Trump with a large crown on his head and the words “LONG LIVE THE KING” in the bottom left corner.

Despite leading a party that preaches patriotism, this is a new low in President Trump’s lack of patriotism and lack of respect for democratic values. As president of the United States, a country founded on democratic ideals as we fought to separate from the British monarchy, referring to himself as a king is not something that can be brushed aside.

This is added to the evergrowing list of blatantly unconstitutional actions done by our current president in less than two months of his second administration. They are disrespecting the very institution of the presidency by disregarding precedents set in our country’s history.

Just this past week, Trump posted a captionless AI video of “Trump Gaza,” depicting his plan for turning the destroyed Gaza strip into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” after removing all of the native Palestinians. My jaw was practically off of its hinges for the entire length of

this video as I watched images of children holding gold balloons of Trump’s head and a nauseating clip of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lying shirtless on a resort beach.

Yet again, Trump made a mockery of the very serious role of the president of the United States while also denigrating another extremely serious issue. Thousands of Palestinians have died in the last year and many more have lost family members and entire neighborhoods, but instead of offering his support to rebuild the place they call home, he is advertising a profitable resort destination in place of their homes.

The government should be using social media as a tool to communicate with the masses about press releases and important government actions, not as a platform for

insensitive memes and careless jokes. Many conservatives preach having respect for our country, yet they support an administration that seems to be actively promoting our image as the laughingstock of the world.

This undignified use of social media simply amplifies the fact that this administration feels they do not need to take their governmental roles seriously. Simply put, the reason is that the American people let them. If we do not denounce this behavior, we promote their ability to act this way without consequence. The American people need to stand up against this administration and speak their minds about their abuse of the media and lack of respect for the people of their country and others.

Out of Right Field: Germany’s Troubling Election Results

By ANDREW MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Friedrich Merz’s conservatives won the German election last month with 28.5% of the vote and now face the challenge of forming a governing coalition in the Bundestag. Despite their victory, the historically pro-American, center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) under Merz has signaled a major shift in German foreign policy. Rather than reaffirming transatlantic ties, Merz declared that his priority was to achieve “independence from the USA.” If even a standard center-right conservative German chancellor is openly advocating for European autonomy, it raises serious questions about the “length” of America’s alliances.

This deterioration in relations is tied to the growing influence of far-right, pro-Russian parties across the West, such as the endlessly controversial Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which came in second with 20.8% of the vote, doubling its last electoral performance and marking the best performance by a German far-right party since the Nazis. Meanwhile, the Center-Left Social Democrats (SPD) suffered the worst defeat in their 150-year history (besides when elections were suspended by Hitler) with just 16.4% of the vote, while the Greens also saw significant losses. On the left, Die Linke experienced a surprising resurgence following the defection

of Sahra Wagenknecht and her more culturally conservative but still economically left-wing faction.

Despite Merz building nearly his whole career as an ardent Atlanticist, his embrace of European strategic autonomy comes as a massive policy shift. Now equating U.S. involvement in the German election with Russian interference, he stated, “The interventions from Washington were no less dramatic and drastic and ultimately outrageous than the interventions we have seen from Moscow.” His remarks were not in a vacuum and were referencing interference by high-profile American figures, including Vice President J.D. Vance and billionaire and President-Donald-Trumphandler Elon Musk, who openly supported the AfD. Musk, in particular, presented virtually on stage at an AfD rally, where he endorsed the party and, in reference to the Holocaust, stated that Germans spend “frankly too much of a focus on past guilt, and we need to move beyond that.”

The American right’s involvement in European politics has been paradoxically in favor of “alternative right” parties and nationalist movements like the AfD, Spain’s Vox, Britain’s Reform, Brothers of Italy and France’s Reconquest (who all received invitations to Trump’s inauguration). They share a common purpose in weakening transnational alliances like the European Union

(EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), increasing the skepticism many traditional European conservative leaders like Merz have about U.S. reliability.

Despite these open attempts from Republican-aligned figures in Trump’s orbit to bolster the far-right AfD (a party the CDU refuses to work with) and Merz’s current statements regarding U.S. leadership, Trump still bizarrely congratulated the CDU’s victory as a triumph for his own movement. “MUCH LIKE THE USA, THE PEOPLE OF GERMANY GOT TIRED OF THE NO COMMON SENSE AGENDA, ESPECIALLY ON ENERGY AND IMMIGRATION,” he posted on Truth Social, claiming it was a “GREAT DAY FOR GERMANY, AND FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF A GENTLEMAN NAMED DONALD J. TRUMP.” Trump’s attempt to frame the CDU’s victory as a win for his movement suggests either complete delusion in “Trumpworld,” the complete abandonment of any meaningful foreign policy coherence or both.

The irony of this situation is that Trump’s “America First” policy has rapidly transformed into “America Alone,” or an America with waning global influence. His administration’s disregard for the United States Agency for International Development’s soft power, his squandering of the benefits of free trade through

his incomprehensible tariff policy and his indifference towards Europe as a whole — most notably displayed for all of European leaders to see during Trump’s insulting Oval Office confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — has left even Germany’s historically pro-American conservatives questioning whether the U.S. remains a reliable partner. Talk of NATO’s dissolution is no longer a fringe idea. Merz has warned that Europe may soon need to establish its own security framework, independent of both the U.S. and its domineering and now seriously unreliable role in NATO. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron’s calls for a “European Army” to counter Russia no longer seem like a pipe dream. Trump’s disregard for Ukrainian security has only reinforced fears across European capitals that America is no longer a defender of post-World War ll alliances, but a destabilizing force within them. What remains to be seen is whether this shift in Germany will lead to genuine European strategic autonomy or simply

a drift toward another sphere of influence. The rise of the AfD and its pro-Russian sympathies, combined with Merz’s disavowal of American influence, could upend decades of European security architecture. If Germany, Europe’s “economic engine,” moves further away from the U.S., it will force a reckoning not just for NATO but for the structure of the EU itself. While some American conservatives celebrate an imagined ideological victory in Germany, their revived “isolationist” tendencies and far-right ideological alliances are and will continue to leave the U.S. increasingly sidelined. But maybe that’s Trump’s plan; who could tell? The question is no longer whether Trump’s America can lead the West — it shouldn’t and is incapable of doing so — but whether America can even maintain relevance within it in the administrations and years to come.

Molly O’Connor, FCRH ’28, is a journalism major from Weymouth, Massachusetts.

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

Friedrich Merz’s conservatives recently won Germany’s national election.

CRISTINA STEFANIZZI/THE FORDHAM RAM

CRISTINA STEFANIZZI/THE FORDHAM RAM

The official White House media accounts promote questionable content.

Getting Coffee With Your Younger Self

By JULIA BURNHAM CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“[I] met my younger self for coffee. She got there ten minutes late. I got there five minutes early & grabbed us a table.”

@emmahagarman on TikTok is just one of countless users participating in the new “coffee with my younger self” trend. This trend encourages self-reflection, prompting viewers to share what they would say if they met up for coffee with a younger version of themselves. Jennae Cecelia, a 31-year-old poet, created a poem she posted to TikTok called “I Met My Younger Self for Coffee,” which went viral and inspired this trend. Though this poem is only a preview of her upcoming book, it has gone viral with over 16 million posts under the “coffee with my younger self” page. Through this trend, TikTok users have shared everything about themselves, from elements as surface-level as their tardiness to as profound as their sexuality. These confessions can be cathartic and emotional, both for the creators and those who view them.

However, not everyone on TikTok has enjoyed the coffee. Other users, like @katrinathrifts, have satirized the trend, making corny comparisons between their past and present selves and joking that “this is how … yall sound.” Some TikTok users roll their eyes at the

sickly-sweet rhetoric that this trend has helped create, while others use it as a platform to let go of their past selves. Overall, people on TikTok have mixed opinions on the trend, none of which are necessarily right or wrong. Personally, I think the trend can go either way. Though I have not participated in the trend, it has helped me contemplate how much I have changed in the last five years. When I was 15, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I had just realized the friends I had for the last couple of years were toxic — though they did not give me a chance to figure that out before kicking me out of their group. On top of that, I attended an extremely competitive, cutthroat public high school where the sole focus was how many AP classes you took, your GPA and the prestige of the colleges you could get into. Though my graduating class had over 1,000 students, cliques, which were dictated mainly by extracurriculars, were practically impenetrable. Needless to say, my anxiety was through the roof practically all the time.

If I could meet my 15-year-old self for coffee, I would first give her a massive hug. She has no idea how strong she is, simply for existing in all the enormous change she’d been through. With the COVID-19 pandemic ending her freshman year, she was

thrown for a loop while trying desperately to make new friends. After I let her go from the hug, I would tell her that it gets better. Her bad grade in physics didn’t define her life, and she winds up getting into a great school in her favorite city in the world. I would tell her that, slowly but surely, she would find a fantastic group of friends with people just as nerdy as her, but who also know how to have a little fun.

I would tell her that she is loved by her peers, by her family and, most of all, by God. I would validate her undying passion for dance (even after quitting a few years back) and tell her I wound

up getting into my high school’s elite junior-senior dance company, finally finding people who were as driven by its preciseness as I am. Lastly, I would tell her that she would finally feel comfortable enough to be her true self after she came to college and that in doing so, she would find so many people who love her for her.

It gets so much better, Julia. You have no idea.

Although the “Coffee with my Younger Self” trend is not perfect, I believe it can be an excellent opportunity to become cognizant of how much we can change in just a few years. Whether or

not viewers of this trend choose to participate in it, simply seeing the videos — and maybe even relating to them — can spur them to consider how much they have learned since they were younger. It can be therapeutic to reflect on your past and realize how much you’ve grown, or even better, how you could grow in the future. Overall, this trend can provide a lesson for all of us: getting older has its perks, but we all could use a little time connecting with our less mature selves. They might just teach us something.

Stay Calm and Study On: How To Make It Through Midterm Blues

By GABRIEL CAPELLAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Midterm season is here. Dread it or run from it, destiny arrives all the same. I was watching a TikTok video the other day and it was talking about the semester cycle in which everything is calm during syllabus week. We start out relaxed and somewhere about three weeks into the semester, we miss a class, but brush it off since it was only one day. We then take it lax until we see our roommate frantically saying, “I’m so behind for midterms!”

Then you realize: “Wait, I have midterms next week!” Now, you realize you’re also behind.

Stress begins to take over during this shared time of camaraderie of being unprepared for midterms. Some succumb to the stress, others end up surviving, but not without a little bit of coping and preparation.

So, to you, my readers, I present my methods of staying organized and sane. My first piece of advice is to exert whatever you’re feeling. If it’s stress, fear or uneasiness, go exert it into something else (not another person preferably) and try to reset your mind to zero. I find writing to be a great way for me to get down whatever I’m feeling. I journal pretty often about

the things around me, good or bad; it gets me back into a good mind space once I’ve talked about what’s holding me down.

Next, take a break. Not a “break” when you’re in the middle of doing your work, like picking up your phone to doom scroll on Instagram or TikTok for two hours instead of being productive. But rather,

a real break, where you get up from wherever you’re at and take a walk, grab some food, use the bathroom — a quick refresh, essentially. To genuinely step away from whatever you’re doing. Those 30 minutes would be way more productive than killing your attention span.

I realized this during finals season of last semester,

but keep track of important test dates and make a calendar with all the work you have to catch up on when you’re at the perfect midpoint between the start of class and the midterm. In my case, it was two weeks before Thanksgiving and I realized I did not know any of the class content so I chose to teach myself one lesson every day

for the next month, along with the work due for each class, and I ended up getting an A- in the class. I went from zero to 100 in a month because I was organized and stuck to my plan. Being organized is key to managing what you need to get done and by when.

I also advise this: one or two social days per week. Now, you can do whatever you want, go out and enjoy some nightlife, hang out with friends, have lunch or dinner together, anything your heart desires, but only one or two days a week, if you can afford it. The balance between fun and work is what allows me to get through these stressful weeks ahead and stay on top of everything.

Staying sane and calm is especially important during midterm season since we’re only halfway done with the semester. No matter what you’re taking this semester, you got this! I send to the readers my manifestations of those A’s you’ll be getting! Keep your head up and it’ll be fine in the end; you just have to put in a little work.

Gabriel Capllen, FCRH ’28, is a journalism major from the Bronx, New York.

can cause students significant amounts of stress. MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Julia Burnham , FCRH ’27, is a psychologymajorfromGlencoe,Illinois.

Getting coffee with your younger self has become a popular TikTok trend. JESSICA NOCE FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

By EDUARDO MATEO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Movie theaters have played a pivotal role in the film industry, from providing a place to watch and enjoy films to establishing tight-knit communities for movie critics, fanatics and lovers. With the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Max and others, the appreciation for traditional movie theaters has been gradually decreasing over the years.

Many theatres have been closing down across the country. A recent article, focusing on the Bronx area, states that the borough has become a film desert.

Some filmmakers and industry professionals argue that the cinematic experience, complete with large screens, immersive sound and communal viewing, cannot be replicated at home; however, the downfall of movie theaters says otherwise. The skyrocketing ticket prices have been discouraging people from attending movie theaters. This led the public’s eye to be caught by streaming platforms that have proven to be a much more cost-effective alternative than paying these increasingly high prices.

Multiple studies have shown an ever-increasing demand

OPINION

Moving On from the Moving Picture?

for digital content. According to several studies, a staggering 99% of households in the United States have at least one video streaming subscription, and 90 million individuals have at least one paid music streaming subscription. With these statistics in mind, we can already see that there’s an upward trend in the usage of streaming platforms across the nation, signaling a shift in consumer preferences.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us were left confined within our homes and unable to physically go to movie theaters, which led to a surge in the usage of movie streaming platforms to watch our favorite and most beloved movies. From 2020 to 2021 time spent streaming rose 44%. This shift in behavior has made streaming platforms a dominant force in the entertainment industry, redefining how audiences consume media.

Additionally, the cost disparity between movie theaters and streaming services is a significant factor influencing consumer choices. The average nationwide price of a movie ticket in 2022 was more than $11. In New York a ticket can reach up to $28. On the other hand,

streaming platforms offer a variety of subscription plans from which you can choose the most affordable one. The average base price for most starts at $7.99 per month, granting unlimited access to a vast library of content at a fraction of the cost of a single theater visit.

Despite this, some argue that movie theaters are not dying but rather evolving to fit the needs of contemporary consumers.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many movie theater companies were forced to close down locations due to the economic downturn the country was experiencing which declined the demand for their services. As the industry goes out of style, operators have taken measures to enhance the movie theater experience by investing in better picture quality, improved sound systems and comfortable seating, among other things. Moreover, other movie theaters have begun diversifying their programming by hosting live events, gaming tournaments and special screenings of classic films to attract a broader audience.

All of these changes, despite being carried out in an effort to make theaters more competitive in an era dominated by

digital entertainment, have not yielded positive results. In fact, according to Forbes, the number of movie tickets sold in the U.S. has decreased by 50%, and the devastating decline includes the successful 2023 films “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” With this in mind, it is not surprising that a number of movie theaters have gone bankrupt.

Subscription-based services have proven to be a better alternative for moviegoers as they have presented an attractive and affordable alternative for those who can’t keep up with the rising costs of movie theaters. The rise of streaming platforms has undoubtedly transformed the movie industry, offering a more affordable and reliable alternative to traditional theaters. With flexible subscription models

and extensive content libraries, streaming services provide accessibility to a broad global audience. However, movie theaters continue to adapt by enhancing the inperson experience to remain relevant in an ever-changing scenery. Ultimately, the decision between streaming and attending a theater depends on individual preferences. While some may value the comfort and affordability of watching a movie at home, others cherish and indulge in the unique atmosphere and the social vibes of the cinema. As both streaming and movie industries evolve, a balance between the two may emerge, ensuring that movie lovers can enjoy films in the way that best suits their needs.

Digital Addiction: Should We Quit Social Media? Is it Possible?

By ALESSANDRA SMITH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Social media has become integral to our daily lives, fueled by our insatiable, innate desire for constant entertainment. This need for time occupation is part of human nature – a tale as old as time. Modern technology has made it easy (perhaps too easy) to experience amusement at any time. Social media, in particular, is the driving force in producing infinite entertainment. Apps like Instagram, TikTok and X hook users daily, utilizing their algorithms to keep people online. While these apps are undoubtedly entertaining, their iron grasp on society is concerning. Despite their popularity, is it possible that social media is too entertaining? Is it so entertaining to the point that it has become sinister?

TikTok is one of, if not the most, popular social media apps available right now. Its short-form videos, eerily personalizable algorithm and infinite scrolling feature make it the perfect app for brainless content consumption. Consumers, myself included, can spend hours upon hours per day on TikTok without getting bored. However, TikTok’s power was threatened by President Donald Trump’s 2020 executive order, which ordered the app to shut down in the name of protecting national security. TikTok ceased operations on Jan. 18, sending its users into a spiral. How

would we get our entertainment now? How do we fill the TikTok-sized hole in our lives?

The spiral didn’t last long, as the app was returned 12 hours later. However, those 12 hours were enough to lead consumers toward reflection regarding their social media usage. I was no exception. Leading up to the fateful day of the ban, I was in a frenzy of consumption, trying to use TikTok as much as possible before it was gone. I panicked as soon as the app stopped working for me. Like everyone else, I was at a loss since I’ve filled my days with silly TikTok videos for over four years, spending an average of seven hours a day scrolling on that app alone. I had no idea what to do with myself. I found myself repeatedly opening TikTok, forgetting that it was inoperational. I fear this happened far, far too many times. One could even call it an unhealthy amount of times.

After attempting to fill that TikTok-sized gap in my life, I found that my efforts were fruitless. Everything else was boring, no match for TikTok’s personalized algorithm. I sought enjoyment from the real world, even after TikTok returned after an embarrassingly short time. I realized that, perhaps, I don’t need social media to have fun.

Despite this revelation, I am remiss to report that I have fallen back into my TikTok addiction. I was good for a while, but I could not resist the brainless, quickfire amuse-

ment waiting just beyond a single tap on my phone. I have some friends who have unplugged from social media. It’s inspiring to know that maybe escaping the internet is possible for me, too.

Reflecting upon social media usage, both from my journey toward consumption reduction and observing other consumer reactions, I have concluded that while social media may never be eradicated, we consumers need to consider making some changes to our relationship with social apps. The history of social media apps is enough to inform us that we can never escape the intoxicating, brain-numbing effects. Social apps have a shelf life no matter how popular they become, some lasting longer than others. MySpace is dead, Vine is gone, Facebook is on its way out, Snapchat is decreasing in popularity and BeReal is survived by a rapidly decreasing number of users, its peak one of the shortest I have ever seen.

Social media platforms can die as quickly as they sour to public adoration –most likely in some of their failures to keep up with consumers’ ever-changing trend preferences, decreasing attention span and offline societal pressures. Our personalities and mental health are directly impacted by the ever-changing world around us, pushing many to seek refuge in the light-hearted, detached world of the internet.

The internet is inherently and ironically isolating –the promise of worldly connections offset by its form, confining the connections inside a small rectangle in the palm of our hands. It feels like we are connected to people by sharing content online and interacting with each other’s content. Yet, the mere fact that we do not even have to leave the house, or even our bedroom to “see” other people yields to isolation. We consumers need to reevaluate our relationship with social media. As it stands, the internet is highly addictive to unhealthy levels. We can only imagine what platforms might arise in the future. The rise of artificial intelligence threatens to further isolate us, with virtual companions and chatbots replacing human relationships. What will happen when a social media company creates something society can not resist? What

will happen to our real-life connections when technology can fulfill them in the palm of our hands?

Social media is not going away, at least not anytime soon. As technology evolves, we must determine how we want to interact with what new social platforms come our way. Will you as a consumer dive into the virtual world social media has to offer? Or step away and relish in the real world, finding happiness in those around you? It would be challenging to quit social media completely, especially since it is ingrained in our socialization. Quitting may not be possible, but invoking your agency is. It’s up to you to decide how to move forward in this increasingly digital world. I know I will try to step away and hopefully ground myself in reality.

Hannah Johnson, GSB ’26, is a finance major from Medfield, Mass.

Alessandra Smith, FCRH ’25, is an English major from Verplanck, New York.

CRISTINA STEFANIZZI/THE FORDHAM RAM

New York City students still enjoy going to the movies.

CRISTINA STEFANIZZI/THE FORDHAM RAM

5, 2025

Eduardo Mateo, FCRH ’28, is a political science major from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Editor’s Pick | Theater

How “Wounded” Can Help Us Find Healing

By MIA TERO CULTURE EDITOR

You know that feeling when a story hits you in a place that you didn’t realize you had?

That is what “Wounded,” a play being shown at the SoHo Playhouse, does. It may be the way that it captures how buried grief can be, the revenge we seek against those who have wronged us or the dark humor that makes hardhitting topics slightly more bearable. Although the story focuses on the difficulties of being gay in a world that lacks empathy, it goes beyond that, making us reflect on the wounds that we carry and the actions they can drive us to take. Even if you don’t relate to the prominent themes of loss, assault or queerness, this play will leave you reflecting on past moments and how playwright, Jiggs Burgess, captures the feelings we so often hide.

Told with unflinching honesty, “Wounded” doesn’t shy away from the weight of sexual assault or past traumas. Instead, it uses comedy in moments of unexpected darkness to prove that laughter in itself can be an act of rebellion against even the darkest of times. Through this gripping

performance and fearless storytelling, “Wounded” turns pain into something communal. We may have different thoughts racing through our heads while watching this play, but sitting together in this hidden gem of a theater, our personal tragedies can transform into resilience. The phrase “it takes a village” is usually in reference to raising a child, but we should not forget that it can also take a village to carry things from our past. This play offers a hand in this, not to erase what we have gone through, but instead to remind us that we don’t have to hold our emotions or past actions alone.

Split into two acts that mirror each other in style, “Wounded” unfolds in two unchanging environments — with just two actors on stage at a time, and only three actors in total. At the center of it all is the main character, Carrol, a force that pulls the audience through each moment with a presence so demanding that additional action is not needed. Carrol is played by actor Craig Taggart, who does an amazing job of portraying the emotional turmoil of his character. In the first act, you are introduced

to the character Katie, a mom grappling with the deterioration of her nuclear family and who is raising her disabled daughter alongside her overbearing mother. Katie is excellently played by actress Kristen McCullough. In the second act, we are introduced to Robert, a man struggling with addiction and guilt, incredibly played by actor Shaw Jones. You won’t find dramatic set changes or choreography that you may see in other plays, but you won’t be able to look away nonetheless. Every decision that the actors make is incredibly deliberate in unwinding the truth behind the story.

The director, Del Shores, a former actor himself, believes that it is important to work closely with the actors in order to better portray the story. “I’m very big on the psychology of characters. I can’t really write or direct until I understand that completely,” Shores said. “I collaborate with actors to achieve that. You have to ask yourself as an actor, how did my character get here?”

This process was shown clearly in “Wounded” since each actor has the task of embodying a character facing

great internal conflicts. The actors had to delve deep into their characters’ pasts to understand and behave how the characters would given their world experiences. The pauses and expressions made by the actors feel raw and authentic. The depth of the characters is what makes “Wounded” so emotionally gripping. The collaborative approach of Shores ensures that audience members not only watch these characters but feel the weight

of what they are struggling with. Because of this, you are left with a lasting impression that lingers long after the play is over.

“Wounded” is playing at the SoHo Playhouse until March 16, and if you have the opportunity to see it in person, you won’t regret it. This play serves as an invitation to look deeper, to question everything and wonder if grief and revenge can ever be as simple as we want them to be.

“Paradise Bronx” is a Love Letter to the Bronx, and to History

By ELEANOR SMITH STAFF WRITER

I love the Bronx. This year, I’ve started taking long walks in the Bronx a few days a week, and sometimes while I’m on these walks, I think about why I love the Bronx. I was never able to put my finger on why exactly I loved it so much, but I knew it had something to do with history. From music to sports history, the Revolutionary War in the 1770s and 1780s to community organizing during the 1970s and 1980s, so much has happened in the borough that there has to be some aspect of Bronx history that appeals to anyone who visits or lives here.

When I heard a book had come out about the Bronx that was described as “a love song to New York City’s most heterogeneous and alive borough,” I knew I had to read it. In “Paradise Bronx: The Life and Times of New York’s Greatest Borough,” author Ian Frazier traces the history and character of the Bronx from its beginning — about 500 million years ago, when North America was part of a landmass called Laurentia — until the present day.

Throughout the book, Frazier discusses the Revolutionary War, the development of the Bronx, the waves of immigration from Europe, the devastation of the South Bronx caused by the Cross Bronx Expressway and government neglect, the community organizers who

saved their apartment buildings and parks from destruction and the subsequent rise of the Bronx. Along the way, we learn about the conversations Frazier had and the friends he had during his 15 years of walking in the Bronx.

On Feb. 27, the Bronx County Historical Society (BCHS) and the Kingsbridge Historical Society hosted a “Paradise Bronx” book talk with Frazier.

Steven Payne, the director of the BCHS, said he wanted to host this event because the book brought positive coverage to the borough.

“Paradise Bronx” has fortunately gotten a lot of positive coverage in the press. It’s not too often when books that are focused specifically on the Bronx get that kind of coverage,” Payne said.

Payne would be right. The Bronx persists in national imagination — and even in the minds of some New Yorkers — as a dangerous place and a symbol of urban decay.

But in writing “Paradise Bronx,” Frazier makes the history of the Bronx interesting and accessible to a general audience. His love for the borough comes through clearly. In telling the whole story of the Bronx, Frazier makes it clear that the things that almost destroyed the Bronx in the 1970s and 1980s — the Cross Bronx Expressway, the crack cocaine epidemic, the city closing schools and firehouses and landlords neglecting their buildings — came from above

or from outside the Bronx. Many Bronx residents did everything in their power to hold their neighborhoods together. If you were to walk through the South Bronx today, you might not be able to tell it ever burned at all. One of Frazier’s favorite Bronx walks is the route of former President Jimmy Carter’s 1977 motorcade. Carter visited the South Bronx after watching a CBS piece titled “The Fire Next Door,” which was the first major piece of reporting done on the Bronx fires. Carter exited his car at the corner of Charlotte Street and Boston Road and looked around dazedly at the rubble that stretched for blocks. Now, those blocks are filled with single-family ranch style homes which are part of a development called Charlotte Gardens. After walking Carter’s motorcade route on a fall day, Frazier wrote, “The whole way, I had seen maybe two abandoned houses, no obviously abandoned buildings, and not one vehicle or structure that was burned out.”

Earlier in the book, Frazier wrote about when the Bronx was the neutral ground between the British and American forces during the Revolutionary War. At this time, Bronx farms along the Boston Post Road (now Boston Road) were subject to raids. Residents lived in fear, worrying that their homes could be destroyed at any time. At the book talk, Frazier noted that “when you put the two together, you see that the history of

1777 and the history of 1977 are similar in unexpected ways.”

While this history gets covered up by new development or lost to time, it will always be there. “Something that has always been and always will be takes you out of your daily life. To be able to step out of the limitation of time is intoxicating to me,” said Frazier. I find it intoxicating as well. Any block in the Bronx has decades of history, and spending time in places where history happened makes my chest feel tight and sets my mind wandering.

Towards the end of the book talk, Frazier said, “[history] gets erased because people go by without looking.” History tells the story of a place, of the people who lived there and of the things that happened there. New York City isn’t great at putting up historical plaques, and many important historical sites in the Bronx (such as Cedar Playground,

where Grandmaster Flash realized he wanted to be a DJ) don’t have plaques commemorating their significance. Thousands of people drive through the Bronx every day on the highways that slice up and encircle the borough without really looking at what they’re passing by. I look for history everywhere I go, and you should too, if you don’t want it to be forgotten.

When I walk around the Bronx and think about the families and strivers, the historical figures and everyday people, the artists and musicians who lived here before me and live here now, I feel like I am a part of something bigger than myself and bigger than the present moment. This is why I love the Bronx, the greatest borough in the greatest city in the world. History is all around me.

Editor’s Note: Eleanor Smith is a current employee at the Bronx County Historical Society

“Paradise Bronx” is a love letter to one of New York’s greatest boroughs.

MIA TERO/THE FORDHAM RAM

Actors Jones, Taggart and McCullough on opening night.

CRISTINA STEFANIZZI/THE FORDHAM RAM

By AMEYA JAIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I judge every book and album by its cover. As people who consume media, it is in our nature to make assumptions and quick judgments based on what we can see at first glance. An album cover is more than just packaging; it is the authentic representation of the music inside coming straight from the perspective of the artist. A while back, there was a TikTok trend that encouraged people to take everyday pictures and stills from videos and turn them into album cover art. While the trend was fun and proved how most simple photos can be good album covers, many albums require covers that are thoughtful expressions of some greater message. Some of the most iconic album covers — and some of my favorites — are ones that pay attention to detail.

Personal preferences play a large role in the perception of album artwork, but there are some indisputably iconic covers that have maintained relevance since their conception, such as the album cover for “The Velvet Underground & Nico,” which is a collaboration between the rock band The Velvet Underground and Nico, a German singer. Andy Warhol designed this album cover, a neon yellow pop art print of a banana, with a controversial yet bold interactive element that was a part of most early copies of the album. The original editions of this album’s record sleeve featured instructions that urged listeners to

CULTURE

Judging Albums By Their Cover

“PEEL SLOWLY AND SEE.” If you peeled the sticker down, a suggestive, fleshy pink banana could be found peeking underneath the saturated yellow one. The element of shock and the progressive nature of evocative jokes like this one played a large role in cementing this album in the timeline of music.

Another iconic cover is the “Abbey Road” cover by the Beatles, which depicts a zebra crossing with singers John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and George Harrison walking in a single file line across the street. Photographer Iain Macmillan captured this shot, and it checks all the boxes of a memorable cover — it’s quirky, effortless and artistic in its nature. The picture is symbolic of the art brought to life within the recording sessions in the Beatles’ “Abbey Road” studio, and each musician stands out in some way on the cover. Paul McCartney is captured barefoot; George Harrison is in a Canadian tuxedo and Ringo Star and John Lennon are boldly crossing the street in all black and white suits, respectively. These minute details work together to form the art. Listeners can sense both the band’s unity and each member’s individuality in this picture, despite it being the cover of the last album they recorded.

In some cases, album covers can serve as political statements, capturing cultural fervor that penetrates through cutting lyrics. One of the best examples of this is Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly.” A conscious hip-hop collection with a cover

that taps into American history, this album tackles themes that mainstream media tends to skirt around. In a piece about the cultural moment that “To Pimp a Butterfly” evoked, Jamie Atkins describes the work as “an intense exploration of big themes: exploitation, living up to responsibilities, the importance of staying true to yourself, finding strength in the face of adversity.”

When the music is as sprawling and politically charged as the 16 tracks on this album are, the cover art has to be equally intricate. The thought that goes into a piece like that extends far beyond a quick snapshot picture taken for a TikTok trend. The album cover of “To Pimp a Butterfly” delineates a group of mostly Black men and children in front of the White House, and confronts American society in a raw, unadulterated way.

In an interview with Mass Appeal, Lamar said the photo represents “just taking a group of the homies who haven’t seen the world and putting them in these places that they haven’t necessarily seen, or only on TV and showing them something different other than the neighborhood and them being excited about it. That’s why they have them wild faces on there.” The intention that went into this cover holds a lot of significance in the execution of the final product and couldn’t be recreated by a picture from a TikTok trend.

In addition to these serious album covers, there are also album covers that fulfill no greater purpose than grasping the tone and direction of

an album and illustrating that through art with an attractive appeal. I think the use of color, lighting and dimension on an album cover is integral to crafting something unforgettable. Lorde’s “Melodrama” and SZA’s “SOS” are some all-time favorites of mine. Album covers like these allow the artist to expand the impact of their music beyond the auditory level.

The “Melodrama” album art is a blue-lit painting of Lorde lying in bed. The strokes of hazy colors across her face communicate uncertainty and restlessness, showing the youthful themes that resurface throughout the tracks in the album.

The moodiness sits deep and the drama feels intriguing.

“SOS,” on the other hand, is a photograph of SZA sitting on the edge of a diving board with nothing but piercing blue waters surrounding her. The diving board juts in from the right side, and the image of SZA looking out at the sea, lighting up from the sun in front of her, is hopeful and elegant. Inspired by an image of Princess Diana, the photograph conveys isolation and

independence, two critical subjects of the album. Even the title “SOS” plays into the idea of the artist being the only one who can truly save herself from her troubles. The art is tranquil in its simplicity, flowing perfectly with the overarching message of the songs.

While some artists are eager to spark conversations and reel in potential listeners, others take a minimalist approach, allowing the music to speak for itself. Others still take to the album covers as extensions of the tracklist, leaning into the greater aesthetic of the music. Regardless, the visual and sonic art elements of any record must work in tandem to produce some greater effect on the audience. Anything can be an album cover, but the cover of an album and the music itself have to work in unison, and that type of harmony often requires greater time and energy than is allowed for by the TikTok trend. If we are going to continue to judge the media by its cover — which I believe isn’t something we need to steer away from — then the cover deserves just as much attention as the art inside.

Redefining Alt-Rock: Inhaler and Sam Fender Shape the Genre’s Future

By LILLIAN VERDI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The alternative rock genre is a constantly growing and evolving subgenre of rock music, and two artists have begun to establish themselves as its next stars.

The albums “Open Wide” and “People Watching” by Inhaler and Sam Fender, respectively, redefine the ever-evolving altrock genre. Both artists show growth in their new releases; Inhaler experiments with new styles while Sam Fender brings his lyrical storytelling to a whole new level.

The rock powerhouses were tasked with bringing something new to their discography, as these records are both Fender’s and Inhaler’s third studio albums. Inhaler showed off their improved songwriting abilities while completing the intimidating task of developing their signature sound. The band stayed true to their rock roots in their prior two albums. Songs like “It Won’t Always Be Like This” and “My Honest Face” established them as more than nepotism babies, as Elijah Hewson,

the band’s lead singer and son of U2’s Bono, stepped out from behind his father’s shadow. In their second record, the band moved away from their “teenage dirtbag” image, crafting a more mature rock album about the complexities of growing older, falling in love and touring together.

“Open Wide” shows how much more the band has grown since their sophomore album, “Cuts & Bruises,” released in early 2023. Hewson’s vocals command the attention of listeners while the combined sound of Robert Keating on bass, Josh Jenkinson on guitar and Ryan McMahon on drums keep us bopping our heads to the whole album. Every song is unique; in “Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah),” Hewson’s lilting vocals lure listeners to a fun, energetic chorus. “Even Though” has a vague disco sound, while the haunting guitar riff in “XRay” immediately reminded me of Hozier’s “It Will Come Back.” Inhaler allowed themselves to experiment, bringing newfound confidence to “Open Wide,” a refreshing addition to

the alt-rock genre.

Sam Fender’s album, “People Watching,” was released on Feb. 21 (a week after “Open Wide”), brings a different energy to the alternative rock landscape. While both artists’ first albums were emotionally volatile stories of young adulthood, Fender’s third album veers in a different direction than Inhaler’s. In his first album, “Hypersonic Missiles,” Fender hid concerns about the chaotic state of the world behind loud guitar riffs similar to 80s rock songs. Similarly, in “Seventeen Going Under,” from Fender’s sophomore album by the same name, he sings of his struggles growing up in poverty, surrounded by violence and anger.

In “People Watching,” Fender takes a more refined approach to airing his grievances with the world, especially in the song “Something Heavy.” This song perfectly encapsulates the entire album, standing out against the arguably bleak story being told by Fender. It’s upbeat, but the lyrics illustrate the many “heavy” things people deal

with, creating a compelling visual of the universal burdens that come with life. Fender’s lyrics pack an emotional punch that creates a memorable album when combined with the carefully mixed backing vocals, acoustics and at least one signature saxophone solo.

Inhaler and Sam Fender proved they earned their success with each of their third studio albums. “Open Wide” illustrated Inhaler’s ability to

branch out past their original grunge sound. Fender took “People Watching” in a slightly different direction, focusing on high production value in order to match his growing success. By experimenting and incorporating other styles of music into their individual sounds, both artists continue to develop the alternative rock sub-genre and bring new listeners to a deserving style of music.

MARY HAWTHOWN/THE FORDHAM RAM

The members of Inhaler were friends in college prior to starting the band.

MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM

The concept of including album covers with music began in the 1930s.

CULTURE

The Women Behind the Rhythm

By MACKENZIE SMITH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A male-dominated history is a constant tale of overlooked voices. Just because countless female contributions to the arts, sciences and beyond are ignored does not mean they are not felt in the pulses of change. One such area in which women have played unrecognized roles in developing innovations is the musical genre of jazz.

The “Rhythm is My Business: Women Who Shaped Jazz” exhibit at the New York Public Library of the Performing Arts in the Lincoln Center Plaza challenges the narrowed history of jazz as a malecentered genre. The exhibit is so engrossed in all things “jazz women” that even the title is an allusion to the 1962 studio album of American jazz singer legend, Ella Fitzgerald. The exhibit runs until June 13, giving people, particularly Fordham students at Lincoln Center, plenty of time to learn about the many “achievements of female jazz musicians as instrumentalists, bandleaders, composers and arrangers,” according to the exhibit’s audio guide.

While I fell victim to viewing jazz as a male-dominated industry, my visit to this showcase opened my eyes. The exhibit is small with a number of pictures and plaques scattered around the library walls in addition to two monitors with headphones where you can listen to some jazz. What the display lacks in size is made up for in its riveting historical facts that erase the shadows surrounding these

very talented women.

A key factor of the exhibit is the concentration on jazz women’s pioneering accomplishments as well as a pivot in focus from female jazz singers to musicians. This is because the curators of the exhibit found that the female jazz musicians held more unrecognized work compared to female jazz singers, although there is a nod to the fact that the female jazz singers were often dismissed as just entertainers.

While the museum plaques held very enticing information, the audio guide gave an even more enriching experience about the waves women started in jazz. The curator of the exhibit, Kevin Parks, and members from the Music and Recorded Sound Division, Danielle Cordovez and Rebecca Littman, are the voices that take us through lesser-known steps women took in the jazz industry.

Cordovez shines a light on the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, who are known as the most talented jazz players of the 1940s era. The jazz band from Mississippi included white, Black, Latina, Asian and Native American women — making it the first integrated jazz band with all women.

Parks talked about how vibraphone player Margie Hyams joined the Woody Herman’s all-male group.

In Linda Dahl’s book titled “Stormy Weather,” Hyams said, “In a sense, you weren’t really looked upon as a musician, especially in the clubs. There was more interest in what you were going to wear or how your hair was fixed. They

just wanted you to look attractive, ultra feminine, largely because you were doing something that wasn’t really considered feminine.” Hyams fought against the sexist expectations of women in music by forgoing a cocktail dress to wear the same uniform as the men while on stage.

Littman attributes the fact that Ruth Lowe, a composer, musician and arranger, “wrote Frank Sinatra’s first number-one hit, ‘I’ll Never Smile Again.’” She also mentions Viola Smith, a female drummer who played with “two tomtoms at head height,” a technique and setup no man ever dared to imitate. This astounding woman continued to play until she died at the age of 107 in 2020. Littman cited a quote from Smith that perfectly sums up the message of this exhibit: “Give girl musicians a break! Idea: Some girls can outshine male stars.”

After turning my focus to the written plaques on the walls, I found out that the tales of female jazz players range not just from prominent jazz places like New York City and New Orleans, but also from the western hemisphere to the eastern hemisphere. Toshiko Akiyoshi is a Japanese jazz musician who composed and arranged jazz ensembles. Alice Coltrane, although she is an American, produced jazz music that incorporated Indian instruments such as the tambura and harmonium. Hazel Scott was a Trinidadian jazz pianist and singer. Fun fact: she had such a natural born talent for jazz and classical music that Juilliard accepted her into the school when she

was only eight years old. Jazz was an avenue for these leading women to join other industries as well. Akiyoshi has obtained 14 Grammy nominations. Scott’s abilities in jazz singing as well as movie and theater acting led her to be the first African American to have a television show and gain respectable roles in Hollywood. The jazz music mentor and advocate for women in jazz, Marian McPartland, headlined the first Women’s Jazz Festival. Dorothy Donegan, jazz pianist, was the first Black performer at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall. Amina Myers was a pianist, vocalist, organist and composer, and these talents landed her a spot in the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame. Jane Ira Bloom, through her inclusion of electronics to modern jazz, is the “first musician to be commissioned by the NASA

Arts Program to create music inspired by space exploration,” according to her plaque at the exhibit. Despite being faced with boundaries, female jazz musicians continue to strum the chords of change within the genre. Stereotypical gender roles held women back from public and professional spaces, including the stage. Being expected to look and act “feminine” with meekness and passivity was particularly detrimental for women wishing to play jazz due to its freedom of improvisation and upbeat spontaneity. However, the exhibit “Rhythm is My Business: Women Who Shaped Jazz” showcases how women pushed beyond these boundaries. Helping craft a sound of such an important era of music is a testament to the accomplishments in these ladies’ careers.

One Book, One Million Ways to Change Your Life

By MARIAM AHMED CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“The Magic of Thinking Big” by David J. Schwartz is not your ordinary book. This self-help book focuses on the mindset changes needed to implement positive thinking, confidence and goal-setting in order to achieve all kinds of success. Schwartz truly shows you that you don’t have to be anyone special to achieve success in all categories of your life. There isn’t a specific cheat code, intelligence, luck or background that it takes to change the trajectory of your life. He emphasizes that it all starts in the mind, the place that can be our strongest asset or our biggest downfall. In a mindset that is all abundant and fearless in conquering oneself, there is no path but success that can be paved. In “The Magic of Thinking Big,” Schwartz dissects practical strategies to develop an actiondriven mindset and a successoriented way of thinking. The book itself begins by

telling you what it will do for you personally. It seems that we’ve forgotten how to have the things we consume serve us, and this book is an example of exactly that. Our consumption, especially with knowledge, should help us cultivate a better life. The book has essential messages that it emphasizes. Firstly, Schwartz stresses the importance of believing in yourself. This one may be rather self-explanatory, but a hopeful and positive mindset begins from the genuine belief that you can achieve something. When you have that belief, you will find ways to act on that. Now, belief in oneself is hard when we have consistent excuses for why we don’t achieve something. Defeating excuses is a large part of obtaining that success because we want all our focus to be on effort. In the same manner, we should utilize our imagination to provide us with endless opportunities. More specifically, thinking and dreaming creatively helps optimize our skills. Large achievements only come when

we think beyond the ordinary when we take it upon ourselves to embrace creativity in problem solving.

One of the important topics Schwartz reflects on is a change in character. By this, I mean he implies that one should develop the “you are important” attitude, essentially treating oneself and others with importance. This will not only lead to positive and confident interactions, but help you take initiative and be proactive. We often forget how half of our perception of ourselves comes from our mind, so when we seize opportunities rather than wait for the “right time,” we strengthen our ability to be strong communicators. Additionally, these actions can come with fear, but working to destroy that fear and consistently build confidence comes through action and preparation, despite the outcome.

Along with taking initiative, thinking like a leader is a must in all this. A leader mindset helps one to embrace qualities such as decisiveness,

enthusiasm, the ability to inspire others and the ability to turn defeat into a learning opportunity. When such thinking is embraced, failure becomes a necessary lesson rather than a stopping point. These anecdotes are only the gist of the several fascinating topics Schwartz tackles in his novel. This book surpassed my expectations. As a society, we have forgotten the transformative power of literature and the importance of investing in our minds as intentionally as we do in our daily routines. Books like this are essential for personal growth and development. Learning these micro habits and mindset shifts allows us to achieve far more than we often

believe possible. With that in mind, books like “The Magic of Thinking Big” should be revisited regularly. They serve as a powerful reminder that meaningful change begins in the mind, through our thoughts and beliefs. Too often we limit ourselves with self-doubt and scarcity thinking when, in reality, these same challenges can fuel our drive for change. The way we present ourselves and approach challenges reveals how deeply we believe in our own potential. More than just a guide to transforming your life, “The Magic of Thinking Big” is an inspiring roadmap to success, demonstrating how even small shifts in thinking can lead to significant growth.

MACKENZIE SMITH FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

The “Rhythm is My Business: Women Who Shaped Jazz” exhibit runs until June 13.

CRISTINA STEFANIZZI/THE FORDHAM RAM

A Theatrical Gem in Midtown at Urban Stages

By RORY DONAHUE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Nestled within Midtown just a short walk from Grand Central, Urban Stages offers a refreshing haven for new theatrical voices. Founded in 1984 by Artistic Director Frances Hill, this intimate theater prioritizes developing original works and fostering community engagement through producing new plays and having youth workshops. They also work to address socioeconomic and geographic limitations that prevent people from engaging with the arts industry.

This past Thursday, I had the pleasure of attending their “Dynamic Duos” program at 7 p.m., a showcase of two-actor, one-act plays selected from a pool of 300 submissions. This is a part of their playwriting competition that opens calls for submissions for one-act plays featuring two characters.

Upon my arrival at 259 W 30th Street, the theater had a welcoming, local charm. The crowd, a mix of all ages, spilled out the door on opening night, a testament to the program’s popularity. We were greeted by Frances Hill herself and a complimentary

cup of wine, exciting us for the experience. Inside, we were shocked to find a small 50-seat theater with a lone square stage. The space created a sense of intimacy, allowing the actors to connect more with the audience.

Frances Hill greeted the audience, emphasizing the competitive selection process for the “Dynamic Duos” initiative. The program featured two plays of contrasting nature: “The Audit” and “The American Dream.” Each play was about an hour long with a 10 minute intermission.

“The Audit,” written by Lynda Crawford, presented an intriguing clash between a struggling musician, Sam (played by Joel Ripka), and a practical government tax auditor, Edie (played by Disnie Sebastien). Locked together in Sam’s cluttered apartment, these two flawed individuals, each carrying emotional baggage, navigated their differences with humor and surprising vulnerability. Sam was seeking money for his dying pet, hoping to claim his kitchen as his office space for tax purposes. As a government worker, Edie was quick to identify his scheme, but he was unwilling to let this go

easily. There was bickering, numerous phone calls and intense moments, but ultimately, they found common ground amidst their contrasting personalities.

“The American Dream,” written by Juan Ramirez Jr. and directed by Maria Mileaf, shifted the tone dramatically. Libe Barer, known for her roles in “Sneaky Pete” and “I See You,” delivered a moving performance as Corina, an immigrant seeking a route to the United States. Juan Ramirez Jr., who wrote the play, brought an intensity to the role of Efren, her reluctant smuggler. The minimalist set — a desk, chair and cardboard box highlighted the stark reality of their situation. This powerful piece explored the complex and often disappointing pursuit of the American dream, highlighting the contrasting perspectives of those seeking it and those who have lost faith in it.

Though different in subject matter, both plays showcased the actors’ versatility. They were both so unique but spoke to different important moral and political dilemmas. “The American Dream” spoke to the struggle of immigration and the current

political climate. “The Audit” talked about the struggle to make ends meet as a musician. The “Dynamic Duos” format effectively highlighted the nuances of character interaction and how relationships form. The evening was a testament to Urban Stages’ commitment to nurturing new voices and providing a platform for engaging, thought-provoking theater. It is a gem within the New

York theater community. For an affordable theatrical experience, I highly recommend checking out Urban Stages. Student tickets are available for just $15, making this an excellent opportunity for anyone seeking a new, unique theater experience. There are performances Wednesday through Monday at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. for Dynamic Duos.

Falak’s Graceful Halftime Performance

By HANNAH SULLIVAN DIGITAL PRODUCER

At the Fordham men’s basketball game on Saturday, March 1, the Fordham Falak club gave a breathtaking performance at halftime. The dancers stunned in their flowing white skirts and glittering gold belts as they performed three different traditional Indian dance styles: Garba, classical and South. The dances were upbeat and brought energy to the audience. The performance was well rehearsed, and the passion of the club members was clear in their dance.

The dances themselves were choreographed by members of the club, Sanya Singh, GSB ’27, who did Garba; Megha George, GSB ’27, who did classical; and Zyna Mathew, GSB ’27, who did South, which was her first time ever choreographing for Falak. The three dances each had their own differences; Garba and classical were more calm and slow, whereas South was more energetic and fast-paced. Each dance reflects different aspects of their respective regions in India. Despite the three different styles, the performance overall was graceful and energetic. All members were almost perfectly synchronized in their movements, despite only having a month and a half to rehearse.

The Falak performance gave the club an opportunity to represent their culture and for audiences to indulge in the elegant dances. Falak was the first South Asian dance group at

Fordham University and has offered a space for members to connect to their culture in an artistic way. The dance team itself is made up of many different grades and skill levels, with many members having no prior dance experience. However, this was not noticeable in their performance, as their movements were very structured yet elegant and reflected not only the time spent practicing, but also their love of the club.

Co-captains Aaliyeh Sayed, FCRH ’25, and Ojaswi Pradhan, GSB, ’25, have been members

of Falak since their first year as it helped them to connect with their culture, which is what has made them stay with the club since. Sayed had previous dance experience before coming to Fordham, so Falak was a natural next step for her to continue with a form of dance she was well acquainted with: the classical style. However, Pradhan, like many members of the club, had no prior dance experience, but fell in love with the way it connected her to her culture. For both co-captains, performing at halftime had been a dream of

theirs since they started.

“We’ve both held e-board positions since our sophomore year basically. It’s been like a three to four-year build-up process of building our team up to the point we could really represent Fordham Falak,” said Sayed.

This was the first time the group had ever been able to perform in front of a large audience that was not at an inherently South Asian event. This added another level of stress going into the performance, other than simply dancing in front of a large audience.

Many of the club members felt pressure for it to go well in order to best represent the club at the first chance they had been given to make such an impact on the community. However, they succeeded in blowing away audiences with their wellchoreographed performance.

Reflecting on the performance, Sayed and Pradhan said that the most rewarding part of the performance was having such a large team and the effort that the club members put into it. “I think everyone coming together and working as a team was the most rewarding part of it,” said Pradhan.

Zariyat Ahmed, FCRH ’28, shared her thoughts on the performance. “I felt very good walking out of it. When you do dances and performances, you have to be aware of so many other things including the choreography which make things difficult. I just focused on enjoying the performance and the people around and everything else came naturally to me and I let my face show how much I loved it,” she said.

This was Ahmed’s first semester as a member of Falak, and since joining the club, she has become better friends with some of the club members and found a new love of dancing. The performance meant a lot to both the Falak captains and group members, not only because it was another first for the group, but also because it was the result of weeks of hard work and passion, all of which showed through in their stunning dances.

OJASWI PRADHAN FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham Falak wowed the audience with their latest performance at the men’s basketball game on March 1.

RORY DONAHUE FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

“The American Dream” and “The Audit” are being shown at Urban Stages.

CULTURE

Fordham Sophomore Lives the Dream On Broadway

BY NORA MALONE NEWS EDITOR

Sophomore Jhailyn Paige Farcon, FCLC ’27, is currently living her dream as part of the cast of “& Juliet” on Broadway as Imogen. As a student in the Ailey/Fordham BFA program, Farcon has been dancing since the age of three.

“My older brother started dancing first actually,” she said in an online text interview. “My family and I were in Blackpool, England, for a Ballroom competition of his. After seeing him in action on the competition floor, I turned to my mom and said, ‘Mom when is it my turn? Can I do that?’ As soon as we flew back home, my parents put me in dance classes, and I never looked back.”

“& Juliet” isn’t the first professional show Falcon has been involved in. At age eight she was in the touring production of “Billy Elliot: The Musical.”

“I auditioned for the show with little knowledge of musical theater, but became drawn to the idea of storytelling involving singing and acting on top of the dancing,” she said.

Beyond that, she has also supported Justin Bieber at Madison Square Garden and performed with Mariah Carey at Rockefeller Center. She is trained in ballet, hip-hop, tap, jazz and contemporary.

Farcon auditioned for “& Juliet” in August of 2024 and began working on the show in October. She joined as part of the updated cast that included Charli D’Amelio.

“I went in twice, once for the initial call and the second time for the callback,” said Farcon. “Each consisted of learning a dance combination from the show, and I was also asked to stay and sing. I got the call from my agent that I booked the job a month later.”

Farcon remains a full-time student at Fordham University Lincoln Center and she has to balance her classes with her performances.

“Balancing both performing and being a student is still something I’m navigating,” she said. “There are definitely some tough days, but I always remember to listen to my body and what it needs. It is definitely a test of time management and work ethic but I am making it work.”

Farcon followed in her brother’s footsteps with her choice to go to the Fordham/ Ailey BFA program. She admired the location as well as the success of alums of the program. After her success with achieving her dream of being on Broadway, she feels that anything is possible.

Farcon aspires to be in the original Broadway cast of a show, tour with a musical artist and work in television and film. She is set to end her tenure at “& Juliet” in October, but doesn’t plan to slow down at all.

“This experience has been unlike any other,” she said.

“Going into an ongoing show with so many people was so refreshing and made the process less nerve-racking. I got lucky with such a welcoming and lovely group of people. It is truly a blessing to have my Broadway debut in a show that feels like a warm hug and a celebration of all who come visit.”

MICHAELA REYNOLDS FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Jhailyn Paige Farcon has been working for “& Juliet” since October of 2024 after auditioning in August.

By KURT SIPPEL STAFF WRITER

The San Antonio Spurs had all the momentum leading into the 2024-25 NBA season with a new budding superstar in Victor Wembanyama. Along with brand new team personnel, the Spurs were looking like a competitive team for the first time in several seasons.

However, sad news came before the season could even get started. Long-time Head Coach Gregg Popovich had a stroke in November. He would be out for the rest of the season and Mitch Johnson would take over as the interim head coach.

Johnson was well on his way with his young team, led by Wembanyama as well as newly acquired veteran Chris Paul, who would add a good presence in the young locker room. They also made multiple moves around the trade deadline, like acquiring De’Aaron Fox and adding a legitimate young point guard around Wembanyama.

Sadly, any momentum the Spurs had coming out of the All-Star break was halted after more sad news hit the team. On Feb. 20, the Spurs announced Wembanyama would have to miss the rest of the season with blood clots in his shoulder.

Wembanyama was on a run this season as the favorite to

A Spur In the Heels of the Spurs

A series of unfortunate events have put an end to any momentum that the San Antonio Spurs had.

win Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 24.7 points, 11 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He was the clear leader of the Spurs and with him missing, there was going to be a significant hole for them to fill.

On the first day with Wembanyama out, the Spurs came together and beat the Phoenix Suns on the day of his diagnosis. But after the win, the Spurs would go just 1-4 in their last five games.

Without the presence of the massive 7-foot-3-inch Wembanyama, the Spurs are in need of size in the middle. The next biggest guy in the Spurs roster is Charles Bassey, who is 6 feet, 10 inches tall, but has been out with a knee injury.

The smaller lineups that they have been putting on the court just aren’t able to cut it against the taller, more physical opponents. Without Bassey, the Spurs have no one over 6-foot-9-inch in their rotation; this has been a challenge. In their last four losses, they have been outrebounded by an average of 15 rebounds per game.

Without those much needed boards, the Spurs are without the important second-chance points that they need and the momentum in critical moments that a key rebound can offer.

Coach Johnson, after the loss to the Houston Rockets, said, “It’s going to be a team effort.” Then Johnson added,

“Bismack Biyombo is not going to come in and solve the problems, or playing Sandro next to Bismack or whatever it may be. It’s going to have to be a gang rebound, all five players on the court participating just by virtue of how we’re built right now.” His squad heard this and seemingly took it to heart in their next game against the Memphis Grizzlies. They evened out the rebound battle, grabbing 42 boards to the Grizzlies’ 41, and poured it on scoring-wise, going up 7758 in the first half.

The Spurs would waver at the end of that game and it would come down to a gamewinner by Fox. But there are a few positive takeaways for the Spurs to build on, including

RECYCLE

Ram

their reserves outscoring the Grizzlies bench 77-41.

This game was a full-team effort for the Spurs and is the kind of basketball they are going to have to play with Wembanyama out. Players spread the scoring out: Jeremy Sochan had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and on top of the game-winner, Fox finished with 20 points.

The Spurs’ season is not going to get any easier as they fight for the last play-in spot in the Western Conference. They are currently just three games back from the Phoenix Suns, but their remaining schedule has very tough opponents. According to Tankathon, they have the eighth hardest schedule left in the NBA.

But there is a light at the end of this tunnel for the Spurs because the teams above them in the standings — the Portland Trail Blazers and the Suns — have the first and third hardest schedules, respectively.

With Wembanyama on the mend, the Spurs are going to have an uphill battle to finish the rest of the season, but they have their new roster addition in Fox now leading the squad and a strong bench unit.

The season might not have gone the way many fans would’ve wanted, but the Spurs are still looking to make some noise before the NBA season wraps up.

CRISTINA STEFANIZZI/THE FORDHAM RAM

By NOAH HOFFMAN ASST. SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS

After two weekends in North Carolina resulted in a 1-6 start to the season, Fordham Baseball returned to the Bronx this past week for the team’s home opener against the Iona University Gaels, before heading down to Florida to face the Florida Atlantic University Owls.

On their familiar ground, the Rams began the week defeating the Gaels 18-10 in an over three-and-a-halfhour midweek matinee.

Iona struck first with a sixrun second inning fueled by a two-run double and a two-run single. The Rams responded in the third inning, recording a four-run frame courtesy of junior Daniel Bucciero’s Runs batted In (RBI) single, a tworun double from sophomore Matt Dieguez and a sacrifice fly off the bat of graduate student Andrew Kanellis.

Iona added another run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, but Fordham once again fought back with two in the bottom of the frame with a Bucciero sacrifice fly followed by sophomore Madden Ocko’s RBI single, closing the gap to 7-6. The Rams tied the game in the fifth inning after a run scored on an error and took the lead on another Bucciero sacrifice fly. Ocko extended the advantage to 10-7, after plating two on a double.

A two-run home run by the Gaels in the sixth cut Fordham’s lead to one run before the Rams responded with an eight-run outburst.

Baseball Wins Home Opener

Both Kanellis and freshman Caden Young led off with singles, scoring on freshman Tommy Markey’s double. Freshman Taylor Kirk sent in Markey with a triple, and then graduate student Reid Lapekas followed with an RBI single. Ocko’s second RBI double and Kanellis’ three-run homer capped the rally, extending Fordham’s lead to 18-9. Iona added one in the seventh, but the Rams secured the 18-10 win. Following the win in the first home game, Fordham was unable to carry the momentum south, opening their three-game series against the Florida Atlantic Owls with a 5-2 loss. The Rams scored at the top of the first inning when Lapekas reached on a dropped third strike, advanced to third on a Bucciero double and scored on an RBI groundout

Athletes of the Week

Njam Abdul-Latif

Adding on to his stellar freshman season, Njam Abdul-Latif earned Most Outstanding Rookie Performer honors at the Atlantic 10 Championships this past weekend. He took gold in two events last Saturday, grabbing a school record in the 60-meter dash in 6.81 seconds and an A-10 meet record of 21.17 seconds in the 200-meter dash. Abdul-Latif’s spectacular performance helped the Rams secure fourth place in the competition, the team’s best finish at the championship since 2018.

Graduate student Katarina Birimac made Fordham Athletics history at the Atlantic 10 Championships this past weekend. She became the first Ram to win the gold medal in the women’s 5,000-meter run, taking the top spot with her season-best time of 16:36.06 on Friday. She also claimed the bronze medal in the 3,000-meter run on Saturday to bring home two medals for the Rams. The team placed eighth in the Championships, their best finish there since 2011.

from Ocko. However, the Owls quickly responded, tying the game at one with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame before taking a 2-1 lead in the second.

The score remained 2-1 until the fifth inning when Florida Atlantic extended its lead to 3-1. Fordham’s offense was left quiet until the eighth inning when Kirk, Lapekas and Bucciero all reached base to load the bases. Ocko was hit by a pitch, bringing in a run to cut the deficit to 3-2. With momentum shifting and only one recorded out, the Rams looked poised to take the lead and potentially steal a victory. However, Lapekas was thrown out at the plate on a Dieguez flyout, ending the rally. The Owls added two insurance runs with a two-run homer in the eighth to seal a 5-2 win.

Both missed opportunities and sloppy play plagued Fordham in game two of the series, resulting in an 11-1 loss. Kirk, Lapekas and Bucciero all reached to start the game, loading the bases with no outs for the heart of the order. However, Fordham only came away with a single run on a fielder’s choice by Dieguez. Florida Atlantic responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning with three runs. The Owls extended the lead after scoring twice in the second and once in the third. It remained 6-1 until the sixth inning when the Owls added two more runs and then another three in the seventh inning.

Fordham did not help themselves by any means on either side of the ball, committing five errors that led to four Florida Atlantic

runs. On offense, despite having nine hits, the Rams only managed to push across one run. Fordham also left 13 men on base, including seven in the final three innings of the 11-1 loss.

In the final game of the series, the Rams showed more fight, coming back from an early 4-0 deficit, but were walked off in a 6-5 loss. The Rams started behind the eight ball when the Owls scored four runs in the first inning. After the Fordham starter, freshman A.J. Pino, lasted only a third of an inning, sophomore Koen Smith relieved him with 2.2 scoreless innings.

During the fifth inning, Fordham got on the board when Kanellis scored on sophomore Carson Chavez’s suicide squeeze. The Rams continued to chip away in the sixth with a Bucciero RBI single and then again in the seventh on a Chavez RBI single to pull Fordham within one. Florida Atlantic earned one back in the bottom half of the seventh inning before Dieguez tied the game at five on a tworun single during the eighth inning. The score remained until the bottom of the ninth when Owls junior Jake Duer led off the inning with a walk-off home run to right center to win the game 6-5 and send the Rams back to the Bronx without a win.

The Rams will look for a bounceback from the series sweep as they head back north to face the United States Military Academy at West Point in a three-game series over the weekend.

Varsity Calendar

Men’s Basketball

Women’s Basketball

Baseball

Softball

Men’s

Freshman Track & Field

Katarina Birimac Graduate Student Track & Field

Tennis

Women’s Tennis

Fordham Baseball claimed their first win on home turf at Houlihan Park last week. COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Yankees Drop Decades-Old Facial Hair Policy

By JAMES NELSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Early on the morning of their first spring training game of 2025, the New York Yankees announced through their social media platforms that they were altering their policy on facial hair. Implemented nearly 50 years ago by former owner George Steinbrenner, players and staff were forbidden from growing beards of any sort, only able to sport mustaches that didn’t curve past the lip. Steinbrenner famously wanted the Yankees to represent a clean, classy look. Steinbrenner’s son, Hal, made the change after what he called, “ongoing internal dialogue that dates back several years.” Players will now be allowed to keep well-groomed beards.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone believes the new policy may help the team in their recruitment of free agents, saying, “If we miss out on one player because of that, that’s too many.”

Boone stated that he’d heard rumors of players deciding against signing with the Yankees due to not wanting to give up their beards.

Yankees captain Aaron Judge had a different response to the idea of players avoiding the Yankees for the sake of their facial hair.

“If that little rule is going to stop you from coming here, then you probably shouldn’t be here,” he said.

Days later, the Yankees confirmed that they will no longer be playing their signature song, Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” after losses. This decision likely

stemmed from the fan outrage last October when the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their World Series victory at Yankee Stadium as the classic song played. Instead, a rotation of songs will play after losses, including Sinatra’s “That’s Life,” which has a more apt

tone following the suffering of last season’s end.

While Yankees fans seem to unanimously support the music changes, the new beard policy has caused a divide. Some are disappointed to see the Yankees break their iconic decision, something that separated them from the other 29 teams in Major League Baseball. Others are in support of the move to allow the athletes freedom of expression.

This marks a major moment in Yankees history. Most fans have never seen a bearded player don the pinstripes, nor have they walked out of Yankee Stadium without hearing Sinatra’s love letter to New York. However, one tradition sits above all in Yankees culture: winning. Beard rules and song selection aside, winning games and pursuing championships unites Yankees fans. It’s safe to say that if the ballclub brings home the World Series trophy come October, nobody will be talking about the facial hair policy change.

Fordham Runs the Show at A-10 Championships

By GIANNA TETRO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Fordham University’s track & field teams traveled to the Virginia Beach Sports Center to compete in the Atlantic 10 Championships. The Rams delivered outstanding performances in various events and showcased resilience, talent and determination. Both men and women achieved milestone victories, from record-breaking individual performances to dominant relay finishes. The men’s team came in fourth place with 87 points and the women’s team came in eighth with 35.5 points. Though the women’s team did not fare as well as the men’s team overall, they had one of the most incredible performances on their team. Graduate student Katarina Birimac cemented her name in Fordham history, becoming the first Ram to ever win gold in the women’s 5,000-meter race at the A-10 Championships. Birimac ran a tactical race, finishing at an impressive 16:36.06, securing a commanding victory over the

track. Not only did she grab gold in the 5,000-meter race, but she also stood atop the podium with bronze in the 3,000-meter run, coming in at 9:46.26. Her dominance in the event speaks to her hard work and endurance; her historic win not only gives pride to the university but also sets the bar high for future Fordham distance runners.

The men’s distance medley relay team made history of their own, capturing Fordham’s firstever gold medal in the event at the A-10 Championships. The quartet including senior Nathan Bezuneh, sophomore Dakota Strain, sophomore Sean Reidy and senior Rodolfo Sanchez delivered a show-stopping performance, clocking a season-best time of 9:52.44. This victory was especially significant given Fordham’s past performances in the event — previously earning silver in 2003 and 2015 and bronze in 2005. This time, however, the Rams stood atop the podium, their dedication and teamwork culminating in

a championship-winning effort. Their gold-medal performance secured the First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors, affirming Fordham’s strength in middledistance and relay events.

The Fordham men’s team delivered an outstanding performance, securing fourth place out of 11 scoring teams with 87 points — their best finish since 2018 and the most points scored since 2012. The team excelled in multiple track events, led by standout freshman Njam Abdul-Latif, who dominated the sprints. AbdulLatif won the 60-meter dash with a school record time of 6.81 seconds and continued his success in the 200-meter dash, clinching gold with an A-10 meet record time of 21.17 seconds, earning the title of Most Outstanding Rookie Performer of the Championship.

His teammate, sophomore Sam Freeman, also contributed valuable points by finishing third in the 500-meter dash in 1:04.47 and scoring sixth place in the 200-meter dash in 21.88. Sanchez also had a

strong showing and claimed gold in the mile run with an impressive 4:09.46, just ahead of his teammate Reidy, who took silver in 4:09.50.

The team also demonstrated depth in relay events in the 4x800-meter relay team consisting of Reidy, junior Ben Borchers, Sanchez and graduate student Aidan Hickey, who placed third, earning a bronze medal at 7:35.12.

In the field events, the women’s team struggled to secure high placements, limiting the team’s score. Junior Zoe Arakelian delivered a strong performance in the high jump, tying for third place with a height of 1.65 meters. Sophomore Michaela Gier finished 13th in the pole vault, clearing 3.32 meters. In the shot put, sophomore Sarah Cooley placed 16th with a seasonbest mark of 11.75 meters, falling outside the top eight. Graduate student Jasmine Hope secured fifth place in the long jump with a leap of 5.62 meters.

On the track, Fordham’s

squad of sophomore Brenna Sears, freshman Kathleen Keefe, sophomore Cate Roche and sophomore Megan McCann just barely missed scoring in ninth place at a season-best time of 9:23.80. In contrast, the 4x400 relay of junior Dillyn Green, graduate student Michele Daye, junior Kylie Ritz and junior Alexandra Williams scored sixth in a season-best mark of 3:51.37. Despite solid efforts from individual athletes, the Rams’ inconsistency in scoring positions ultimately led to a lower team standing in the championships for the women.

Fordham’s stellar performance at the A-10 Indoor Championships set the stage for an exciting outdoor season. As they shift focus to their last indoor competitions and move to outdoor competitions, the team will aim for faster times, higher finishes and more championship moments. With a deep roster and growing confidence, Fordham is ready to turn heads again.

Three Wins in a Week for Fordham Tennis

By GRACE MCCARRON SPORTS EDITOR

Across the board, it was a successful week for Fordham University Men’s and Women’s Tennis. The men’s team started things off on Friday, Feb. 28 by clinching their second win of the spring run, defeating the Queens College Knights 4-3. The Rams took the doubles point by winning two of the three matches of the day. Graduate student Phillip Uhde and freshman Filip Horak teamed up to win second doubles 6-3, while junior Ruben Russwurm and freshman Will Lokier took

third doubles, 7-6(5). They locked down the win by defeating Queens College in second, third and fifth singles. Horak defeated Tim Andersson in second singles 6-1, 7-6(4), Lokier defeated Loup Alleno 4-6, 6-4, 10-3, and Russwurm defeated Pablo Serrano 7-5, 0-6, 6-4. They have a couple of weeks off before their next match, where they will take on the Hofstra University Pride on the road at the Point Set Indoor Tennis Club in Oceanside, New York on Saturday, March 15. The women headed down to the Washington metropolitan

area and grabbed two shutouts over the weekend. Then, on Saturday, March 1, they dominated out the George Mason University Patriots 4-0, clinching the doubles point by winning all three matches and then taking straight set wins in the three completed singles matches. Sophomore Julianne Nguyen, who was named Atlantic 10 Women’s Tennis Performer of the Week in early February, teamed with junior Nevena Kolarevic and won first doubles 6-2. Freshman Catalina Padilla Udaeta, named Atlantic 10 Women’s Tennis Rookie of

the Week in mid-February, teamed with freshmen Paola Ueno Dalmonico to win second doubles 7-6(1). Juniors Aya Matsunaga and Sofie Siem blanked the Patriots 6-0 in third doubles. In singles, Kolarevic won 6-4, 6-0, senior Lorraine Bergmann won 6-4, 6-2 and Padilla Udaeta won 6-3, 6-2.

The following day, the women continued their perfect weekend, defeating the George Washington University Revolutionaries 4-0 as well. The Rams won both completed doubles matches of the day. The Nguyen/Kolarevic duo

won first doubles 6-1, while sophomore Lily Chitambar and Bergmann won second doubles 6-3. They then repeated their trend from the day before and won all three completed singles matches in straight sets. Kolarevic and Bergmann once again won their singles matches with scores of 6-2, 6-1 and 6-3, 6-4 respectively, while Ueno Dalmonico won fourth singles 7-5, 7-5. The Rams did not drop a set over the weekend. Next up, the women will travel to Rhode Island to face the Brown University Bears on Saturday, March 8.

CRISTINA STEFANIZZI/THE FORDHAM RAM

The New York Yankees have changed their facial hair policy after nearly 50 years.

The Road to Win 100: Mikaela Shiffrin Achieves Yet Another Milestone

By MOLLY FRIEDMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After 14 years and 278 World Cup starts, Mikaela Shiffrin became the first alpine ski racer in history to achieve 100 World Cup wins — an extraordinary and unprecedented milestone. This feat of athletic excellence occurred during a World Cup slalom race in Sestriere, Italy, on Feb. 23.

Shiffrin’s path to World Cup win number 100 was unconventional and unexpected. Back in November, with 99 wins under her belt, Shiffrin crashed in the Giant Slalom race in Killington, Vermont in front of her home crowd. The pressure was on to achieve this landmark on home snow. While initially deemed a minor crash, it quickly became clear otherwise as she remained on the snow, visibly in immense pain. It was later revealed that she had suffered a puncture wound to her abdomen, likely caused by her ski pole during the crash. This scary and traumatic injury led to Shiffrin having to remove herself from the circuit to recover physically and mentally — all of this while on the brink of winning number 100.

Shiffrin’s traumatic injury forced her to take two months off from the World Cup circuit during the height of the season. While the rest of her competitors continued to train and race, earning World Cup points, Shiffrin spent the time recovering and preparing herself psychologically and physically to make the long-awaited return to the World Cup. She

shared her journey openly and vulnerably on her social media pages. In January, Shiffrin revealed to the world that she would return to the circuit at the slalom race in Courchevel, France. With this news, many expected her to return with full force and be the dominant skier she always has been. However, on the contrary, when she made her return, she did fine, skiing into 10th place. Her performance at the World Cup Championship in Austria, was respectable but not dominant. Her results were mediocre and nothing like the superior Shiffrin the ski racing world has come to know and love over the years.

Many don’t realize that the fight and the struggle back into ski racing after a setback or injury is ruthless. Performing at that level requires so much from the athlete, and it is always strenuous to be put in those high-pressure circumstances. With this in mind, fans started to believe it might

take Shiffrin a while to reach the highly coveted 100 wins, but she had other plans. The day before winning number 100, Shiffrin had one of her worst results in recent years; she hadn’t even managed to qualify for a second run, which has rarely been a challenge for her. Coming off that disappointing day, it was clear she was hungry to prove herself again on the World Cup stage, and she did just that.

Now, let’s break down race day and every decision that allowed Shiffrin to leave her mark on ski racing history yet again. For the slalom in Sestriere, she drew bib four, which is an advantageous place to run, as you have time to analyze how others skied the course, but the ruts and bumps have not formed yet. She had a very clean and quick first run skiing into first place, leading over Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutić by 0.09 seconds. This was the best possible outcome from the first run, setting herself up for success in

the challenges of the second run. Being the leader after the first run meant Shiffrin would go last for the second run in an attempt to level the playing field. This meant she had to deal with course deterioration, any changes in conditions, and the mounting pressure from the crowd and coaches. Shiffrin’s experience in these high-pressure situations really showed through as she kept a cool head and performed with her usual impeccable skill and athleticism, skiing her way into World Cup history. She skied into first place, finishing an impressive 0.61 seconds above Ljutić.

From the moment Shiffrin’s skis crossed the finish line, the emotion of this moment swept over the crowd, fellow athletes, everyone watching from home, and, of course, Shiffrin herself. This terrific moment only got better for Shiffrin and the United States Ski Team because Shiffrin got to share the podium on this historic day with her teammate Paula

Moltzan, who has been with her for the past several years. The immediate aftermath of this milestone was praise for Shiffrin from every corner of sports, from fellow teammates to the greatest athletes of our time to the biggest brands and sponsors. Win number 100 also triggered the MIK100 campaign, a partnership between Shiffrin and Share Winter Foundation, that aims to raise $100,000 for youth incentives in ski and snowboard programs. After Mikaela’s success, this was a good opportunity to bring light to inclusivity in ski racing. Shiffrin has dedicated much time to inspiring aspiring athletes, especially young girls, to chase their dreams.

This was one of many occasions in Shiffrin’s career at the World Cup where she broke a record and wrote herself into ski racing history. Back in January of 2023, Shiffrin surpassed Lindsey Vonn, another American phenom ski racer, as the winningest female ski racer in history. Later that season, Shiffrin surpassed a record that had stood for 34 years. She passed Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden’s record of 86 World Cup wins with win number 87. Shiffrin has been the backbone of the U.S.’ ski team and helped it become the power it is today. Over 14 years on the World Cup circuit, Shiffrin has continually showcased her skill, athleticism and determination, solidifying her place as the greatest ski racer in history. Reaching 100 World Cup wins is just another milestone in her extraordinary career.

American skier Mikaela Shiffrin, star of the U.S.’ ski team, has made history with 100th World Cup win.

CRISTINA STEFANIZZI/THE FORDHAM RAM

Men’s Basketball Extends Losing Streak to 6

By ELIZABETH COLLINS ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

March is a time of renewed desire and hope in college basketball. With the Atlantic 10 Conference championship around the corner (beginning on Wednesday, March 12), the Fordham men’s basketball team desperately needs some change and momentum. However, neither was gained in their recent matchups against the George Mason University Patriots and the Saint Joseph’s University Hawks.

In their matchup against George Mason in Virginia on Wednesday, Feb. 26, as usual, the Rams came out strong in the first as senior guard Jackie Johnson III earned five of the team’s first seven points, giving them a 7-2 lead less than three minutes in. However, over the following four and a half minutes, the score was tied twice at 9-9 and 12-12 before the Patriots began to increase their lead. After a five-point scoring

run by the Patriots, with 9:05 on the clock, a three from graduate student Japhet Medor cut their lead to two, 17-15, but the home team held onto their lead. A 9-4 run by the Patriots gave them a 32-24 lead at halftime.

The Rams came out of the break with the momentum they needed, scoring the first eight points and tying the game at 32 three and a half minutes into play. The Patriots increased their advantage, but the Rams’ responses consistently kept it within a one or two-possession game. Later in the second, a Johnson III bucket tied it again at 55, but the Patriots continued pushing the Rams down as they held out for the 74-64 win.

The loss marked Fordham University’s fifth in a row, as they fell to 11-17 overall, 3-12 in the A-10, and George Mason advanced to 22-6 overall, 13-2 in the conference. Medor led the Rams with 22 points, while Johnson III scored 13 and graduate student forward Abdou Tsimbila added eight.

The Rams looked desperate to bounce back on Saturday, March 1, against the Hawks. While they put up an impressive fight, they were eventually outplayed in the Rose Hill Gym. The game began with back-toback buckets for both teams, but the Hawks took an early 12-7 lead by four minutes in. They remained in the lead until around halfway through the first when Fordham completely flipped the game.

Amid an 18-5 Rams scoring run, graduate student forward Matt Zona made a layup, and Medor followed with a three to make it a one-point game, 2928. A shot from Medor then gave the Rams their first lead of the night, 30-29, with 8:54 on the clock. Fordham began playing more physically, especially defensively in the paint, stripping the Hawks of multiple opportunities; in an event the Hawks were seemingly unprepared for, Fordham was outplaying St. Joseph’s. With 4:21 left in the half, Fordham increased their lead to eight,

43-35. However, missed free throws from the Rams and a sequence of successful layups from the Hawks allowed St. Joseph’s to climb back into the game by the final minute, tying it again at 45 with 42 seconds left. Fordham was up 47-45 at the break. Fordham played their best possible game in the first half, shooting over 50% from behind the arc and only turning over the ball three times. However, it all seemed to be a wake-up call for the Hawks in the locker room, as they came out ready to dominate after the break. The Rams lacked the energy they always thrive off of at the beginning of the second (reflecting their performance last week against Davidson College, which ended 80-69 in Davidson’s favor) as the Hawks scored the first eight points, earning them a 53-47 lead three minutes in. Defensively, the Hawks were playing with vigor that translated to their offense, and while the Rams were putting up a persistent fight, they couldn’t break through like they did in the first.

By the halfway point of the second, the closest the Rams got before the end was within eight, which they did five times. The win slipped from Fordham’s hands as the Hawks denied them any possible run, and once the fouling began, St. Joseph’s only excelled with their talent from the free-throw line. The game ended 90-76. With the loss, Fordham fell to 11-18 overall, 3-13 in the A-10, while Saint Joseph’s improved to 19-10 overall, 10-6 in the conference. Four players scored double digits for the Rams, as Johnson III dropped 18 points, junior forward Joshua Rivera scored 14, sophomore forward Jahmere Tripp had 13 and junior forward Romad Dean added 11.

As they enter their final week of regular season games, Fordham will look to end on a high note with their matchups with the George Washington University Revolutionaries on Wednesday, March 5, and the University of Rhode Island Rams on Saturday, March 8.

Women’s Basketball Wins on Senior Night

By IAN NELSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

The Fordham women’s basketball team ended their season on Saturday, March 1, with a loss, but fortunately not before securing the senior night win against the La Salle University Explorers on Wednesday, Feb. 26. When this season comes to an end, the Rams will send off three senior starters: guard Taylor Donaldson, guard Taya Davis and forward Irene Murua. In their

last game at the Rose Hill Gymnasium, each contributed to the 72-51 rout of the Explorers. Murua led the way with a game-high 23 points to go along with seven rebounds. Davis facilitated with ease, dishing a game-high 11 assists — more than La Salle had as a team — in addition to grabbing eight boards. Donaldson chipped in seven points, two assists and two steals. Off the bench, junior forward Emma Wilson-Saltos scored 16 points on 7-8 shooting with a gamehigh nine rebounds.

After a close first quarter, the Rams widened the lead following a 22-point second quarter. The Rams forced seven straight turnovers to end the first half and capitalized with 13 points. La Salle turned the ball over 27 times in the game, resulting in 24 Fordham points.

As a team, the Rams shot over 50% from the floor in the second and third quarters, shooting 43.8% on the night as a team. They also passed well, assisting on 18 of 28 made shots on the night.

The Explorers were held without a make from the floor in the final five minutes of play as the Rams dominated in the final ten minutes, earning their largest margin of victory since they defeated Siena College by 29 earlier this season.

Following the win, in North Carolina, the Rams faced the final challenge of the regular season against the Davidson College Wildcats. Regrettably, the Rams were not able to conclude the regular season with a victory as they fell 64-52. Top contributors for the Rams

included Donaldson with 17 points, Murua with 16 points and eight rebounds and junior guard Chaé Harris with nine points.

Fordham will now begin its Atlantic 10 Tournament run as the eighth seed, and on Thursday, March 6, they will battle the ninth-seeded Duquesne University Dukes in the second round. Finally, on behalf of all the people at the Fordham Ram, I would like to thank the seniors and wish them luck in their respective futures and careers.

Overtime: National Pride and the Glory of Sports

By GRACE MCCARRON SPORTS EDITOR

Any fan of any sport can attest to the fact that sports are emotional. Sports are reflective of life’s peaks and valleys, giving people a taste of the eternal glory that comes with etching one’s name into the history books. This sentiment only grows when you bring in the aspect of national pride that is forever a part of sports.

We especially see it in the Olympic and World Cup years, with entire countries rallying behind their athletes as if their own flesh and blood are out there competing. This particularly applies to athletes with long careers in international competition who

become darlings to their countries. How do they become this way?

Sports are often about family. Some people might choose to cheer for the same teams as their parents. They might grow up going to the ballpark with their family and watching nine hours of football every Sunday at home. National pride is often about family, too. There is a certain connection between a person and country that is brought out by sports. People take their country’s wins in international competitions as their own personal wins, even sometimes presenting it as the “good guys” winning. Often, it goes beyond the sport itself. One national team winning over another could feel like a victory

for that entire country because of the way sports impact the general population. After all, much of the backdrop for the “Miracle on Ice” in the 1980 Winter Olympics is the fact that the United States and the Soviet Union were still entrenched in the Cold War. The upset win for the Americans brought a certain element of hope to a country that had been battling a beast for so long. In a time when hope and pride were needed, sports delivered.

This is why it is so important for professional sports leagues to utilize their element of international competition and advertise it sufficiently. Most recently, the NHL saw major success with its inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off during what is usually their AllStar break. Fans of Teams USA, Canada, Sweden, and Finland banded together and found themselves rooting for players who they might normally root against during the NHL season, simply because they were wearing their country’s colors. From a business standpoint, the NHL should latch on to this reception and continue the 4 Nations FaceOff — whether every year or every four — because people were so invested in it, even those who were not previously devoted hockey

fans.

Many times, these anticipated international events are that way because they don’t happen every year. The two biggest examples are the Olympics and World Cup, both of which are held every four years. Fans grow eager to watch stars compete on the biggest stage in these competitions partially because of the gaps between the competitions. It’s difficult to know which athletes will still be around for these competitions four years later, so their fans might feel a need to pay close attention. Even in sports that are not as popular in non-Olympic years, people grow attached to their country’s athletes. Gymnastics is by no means one of the most popular sports in the United States, but every four years, Olympic gymnastics has a lot of the main coverage in the U.S. There is an even greater level of dedication for nations with less international sporting success. For example, a highlight of the 2016 Summer Olympics came when swimmer Joseph Schooling won the first gold medal for Singapore in the nation’s history, claiming the top spot in the men’s 200-meter butterfly race and defeating idol and Olympic great Michael Phelps

in the process. Oh, and he also set the then-Olympic record for this event. These are the types of moments that people remember forever, and it meant a lot to Singapore that one of their own found himself at the top of the podium, surely feeling on top of the world.

There is something special about representing your country on the biggest stage. Maybe it’s a desire that all sports fans have. Maybe we all secretly wish to wear the gold medal around our neck and step up to the podium knowing that we did ourselves, our families, and our country proud. Or maybe it’s just simple appreciation for the fact that we get to witness the best athletes in the world do what they love and achieve their dreams. The ability of sports to bring people together is something that should not be taken for granted, especially in this current climate. Sports foster unity in a way that is not always easy to find, considering everything going on in the world. They give us a small respite from the greater happenings around us so that for one moment, our biggest concern can be who wins one game out of countless others that will happen in history.

CRISTINA STEFANIZZI/THE FORDHAM RAM

In difficult climates, sports can be outlets for connection.