Volume 98 Issue 1 by The Fordham Ram

The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham dh University Community Since 1918 Volume 98, Issue 1

FordhamRam.com

January 27, 2016

Community Mourns Death of Matthew Genovese, GSB ’14 By LAURA SANICOLA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

JACK BRENNAN/FODHAM RAM

Fordham students heard that hoverboards were banned from campus over this past winter break.

Transportation of the Future is a Thing of the Past at Fordham By MIKE BYRNE ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The balance board trend left Fordham as quickly as it came — on Public Safety’s orders. In the week before spring semester classes began, Fordham Public Safety’s

Future of Sodexo at Fordham Uncertain

Associate Vice President, John Carroll, announced in a university-wide email that self-balancing electric scooters, or “hoverboards”, are no longer permitted on campus. His announcement followed the New York Police Department’s recent decision to ban hoverboards

on streets and sidewalks for being in violation of vehicle traffic law. Hoverboards, which have a price range of approximately $300 — $1500, have gained much of their popularity from SEE BARS, PAGE 5

Matthew Genovese, GSB ‘14, was found dead in the Hudson River following his disappearance during Saturday’s snow storm. He was 24 years old. According to reports from ABC7, Genovese was last seen by his friends leaving McSwiggan’s Pub in Hoboken, New Jersey on Saturday between 10:30 and 11:30 p.m., a 10 minute walk from his home. He was reportedly wearing a grey Fordham t- shirt at the time of his disappearance. Police are investigating, but initial reports from ABC claim that there were no signs of foul play. A Throg’s Neck native, Genovese graduated from Fordham Preparatory High School in 2009 and enrolled in Fordham University. He was involved in the United Student Government, GLOBE Global Business Club and Campus Ministry, according to his LinkedIn page. He graduated 2014 with a bachelor’s

By THERESA SCHLIEP

By ERIN SHANAHAN NEWS EDITOR

While students can temporarily count on drinking Sodexo coffee with their Sodexo pancakes and sausage for breakfast, the Fordham community cannot count on eating the same food next fall semester. Fordham University’s culinary, catering and nutritional services contract with Sodexo is to continue to provide dining services to both Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses and will not participate in interviews nor answer questions until the bidding process is completed, per information provided by John Azzopardi, the resident district manager at Rose Hill. Fordham issued a Request for Proposals, (RFP), on Friday, Dec. 4, 2015. Since Fordham released the RFP to the community, no information has been provided by the university, Sodexo or any of its representatives. Emails for comments to Corina Tse, GSB ’16 and President of the Student Culinary Council John Burns, Catering Manager Bill Haag, Purchasing Manager and Deming Yaun, university contract

Before the last Senior Night in December, several Fordham bars shut their doors to Fordham students. According to Fordham’s Public Safety, these bars were temporarily closed by the New York Police Department (NYPD) as a result of illegal sale of alcoholic beverages and, additionally, many of the bars may have been given sanctions. The establishments affected included: The Blend Cafe, Howl at the Moon Bar and Grill, Mugz’s Sports Bar, Blue Goose Tavern, Champs Sports Bar and Grill . Fordham University Public Safety reported to have not been involved with the establishments’ temporary shutdown. “We, as a university, comply with state law,” commented John Carroll, the associate vice president of Fordham’s Department of Public Safety. “And that means that you have to be over 21 to drink. However, it’s not our responsibility or our particular role to enforce the law in the streetsthat’s what the NYPD have to do.” The NYPD found that many of these establishments were guilty of selling alcohol to minors. “The

SEE SODEXO, PAGE 3

SEE BARS, PAGE 2

SEE OBIT, PAGE 2

Ram Appoints New Editors, Expands Staff

Fordham Bars Receive Court Summons

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

degree in business administration and marketing, his LinkedIn page reads. Genovese’s former high school teacher, Richard Langellotti, FCRH ’60, remembered him as a quiet, polite young man and a great conversationalist in his Advanced Placement Government course at Fordham Prep. “When he was working on something he cared about, you could see the sparkle in his eye,” said Langellotti. “What impressed me the most about him was that when he got excited or enthused about something he put his heart and soul into it.” According to Rich, who kept in contact with Genovese through Facebook messages after graduation. Since April 2015, Genovese worked as an Operations Association at GlobeTax in New York City. “He was telling me how excited he was about his job on Wall Street in our Facebook messages,”

By THE FORDHAM RAM

JACK BRENNAN/FODHAM RAM

Laura Sanicola and Drew Casey, both FCRH ’17, have been named as editor-in-chief and managing editor, respectively, of the 98th edition of The Fordham Ram. Amanda Giglio, FCRH ’17, Zack Miklos, GSB ’17, and Sydney Keen, FCRH ’17, have been named Editorial Director, Business Director and Copy Chief. Erin Shanahan, FCRH ’18 has been named News editor. Margerita Artoglou, FCRH ’18 and Kristian Santer, FCRH ’17 are co-editors of the Opinion section. Bailey Hosfelt and Libby Smislova have been named the Culture Co-Editors for the issue. Finally, this edition’s sports editor is Sam Belden, FCRH ’17. See page 10 to meet the rest of the Vol. 98 staff.

in this issue

Opinion

Page 7

White Privilege Retreats

Culture

Page 12

Oscars Disregarding Diversity

Sports Page 20 JACK BRENNAN/FODHAM RAM

The establishments pictured above closed down at the end of December.

Men’s Basketball Splits Homestand

NEWS

Page 2

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS Jan. 23 12:15 a.m. Howl at the Moon Bar A student was sexaully assualted by an unknown male described as 19 to 20 years old, 5’10” to 6” tall, with fair skin, crew-cut brown hair, clean shaven, and wearing a grey long-sleeved knit sweater. The assailant approached her from behind and forcibly inserted his finger through the student’s clothing without her permission. The victim reported the incident and it is now being investigated by the NYPD. Jan. 23 3:30 a.m. Hoffman and 191 Street A student was walking back from a party to his apartment when a male wearing a dark hoodie assaulted him.. The victim was punched in the face, but refused to go to the hospital and did not want to file a police report. Jan. 20 1 p.m. A student reported a possible internet scam. The student responded to an internet posting for a local marketing job. The company sent the student a check for $3850 and asked for her to deposit it and then return a portion of it. Public safety advised her not to do so. Students should be aware of scams such as these.

January 27, 2015

Journal From Abroad

A Tale of Two Cities A student abroad in London reflects on the the differences between London and the United States. By JAMIE CONNORS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

It is a Sunday evening. As I type this journal, I am sitting in my flat in West Kensington waiting for my freezer-burned chicken to thaw in a pot of warm water, wearing my new Underground-London’s subway-map boxer shorts and wrestling with the washer and dryer combo in my kitchen. Much of my life in New York is the same as in London: I still cannot cook, I am always wearing boxer shorts and I’m not entirely sure I ever learned how to properly do laundry. There’s just one small difference – I am in London. It is incredibly hard to believe that I have already been here for a week and a half! In all honesty, a good amount of my time here has been spent buying groceries, going to class and drinking pints. But I have been doing my best to approach London like a wash-up (British slang for sponge), absorbing every ounce of my experience. I would like to formally state that the person who told me London was a cleaner New York was simultaneously right and wrong. They were right in the sense that

London is a gargantuan city, much like New York. London’s population exceeds 11 million people, and its Underground spans over five zones in the city. The Tube is perhaps the cleanest place below ground I have ever visited. The tiles are white and shiny, the rails glisten in fluorescent bliss, the rats are all wearing bonnets and hoop skirts…anyway, it’s quite nice. But, I have to say, what New York lacks in sanitation, they make up for in insomniac bliss. All Tube stations close at midnight, making a late-night adventure home nearly impossible without breaking the bank. Mostly everything shuts down in the early evening, and I cannot alleviate my 2 a.m. cravings with impromptu runs to Ram’s Deli. New York is, and always will be, “the city that never sleeps.” I think the most overwhelming aspect of my time here so far, and the most staggering difference between London and my home in the Big Apple, would have to be the way people treat each other. I have heard the words “sorry” and “excuse me” in the past week and a half more than I have ever heard them in my entire life; most of them coming from complete

strangers. One night, I got separated from my group and managed to find a woman named Sara, who walked me all the way to my Tube stop and made sure I got the right train home. On my way home from class, I passed a family walking hand-in-hand out of Nando’s, a popular restaurant here in London. I watched as the mother and father ambled across the street with their two toddler children in tow to hand a homeless man on the street a full meal they had just picked up. I can already tell that the people of London value compassion and love over nearly everything else (besides, perhaps, a good pint). The phrase “no worries” has become commonplace — as an apology, as a greeting, as a simple exclamation. In a city just recently armed to the teeth against threats of terrorism, “no worries” has become a mantra among Londoners. No one here lives in fear of what might happen – Londoners spend too much of their time loving and living to ever let fear get in the way. It is a quality I admire immensely in the British, and a quality I hope to acquire before I return to the States (well, that and maybe a British drummer).

Fordham Alumnus Passes Away FROM ADMIN, PAGE 1

he said. “I’m glad I have these messages. This is so very tragic.” When Genovese did not show up for work on Monday, his family became concerned and alerted police, ABC7 reported. Signs posted by his friends and family in the local area and on social media described his identifying features and urged anyone with information of his whereabouts to contact the Hoboken Police Department. Funeral arrangements for Genovese have are unknown at this time.

Are You Studying Abroad This Semester? Contribute to Our Weekly Column!

Email: fordhamramnews @gmail.com

Jan. 15th 1 a.m. E. Fordham and Belmont The NYPD chased a vehicle from Webster onto Fordham Road. The pursuit ended when the car being chased struck Faculty Memorial Hall, which did not receive any major damage. An officer sustained minor injuries and three individuals were apprehended. — Compiled by Michael Byrne

One of many sights Jamie Connors has witnessed on her study abroad trip to London includes a double decker bus and Big Ben.

JAMIE CONNORS/ THE FORDHAM RAM

This Week at Fordham Friday Jan. 29

Monday Feb. 1

Tuesday Feb. 2

RHA’S FDM Promotional Dinner

Cultural Affairs February Raffle

RHA’s Philanthropy Fair

Keating 3rd 8 p.m.-11:30 p.m.

Fordham Cinevents! Presents Mockingjay Part II

McGinley 2nd 6:30 p.m.

McGinely 235 7 p.m.

Keating 1st 8 p.m.-11 p.m.

Fordham University’s College Republicans is hosting a screening of the 7th Republican debate, airing on Fox News Channel. It is open to all students.

Residence Halls Association will be hosting its 3rd annual FDM Promotional Dinner. Food providers will include Tino’s Deli and Healthy Fresh. There is no entrance fee, but attendees must send ten emails on computers at the front door to family and friends asking for donations to the B+ Foundation.

Cultural Affairs will be raffling off 24 tickets to a Les Mis show for Feb. 9 at 7 p.m., 26 tickets to Fun Home for Feb. 12 at 8 p.m., and 24 tickets to the Nets v. Memphis game for Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. All tickets raffled off will be sold at a discounted price of $20.

On Feb. 1 and 4, Campus Activities Board will be screening The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II from 8pm to 11pm. The movie is the final movie in The Hunger Games series, and is based off the trilogy by Suzanne Collins.

Thursday Jan. 28 GOP Debate Watch Event

McGinely 2nd 12:30 p.m.-5 p.m. The Residence Halls Association is hosting its second annual philanthropy fair. It is a showcase of the Fordham community’s philanthropic efforts and is part of its Philanthropy Month.

NEWS

January 27, 2016

Page 3

RHA Reveals Spring Semester Series and Events By KENNEHT ISELHART STAFF WRITER

Trudging to FMH through sheets of snow, it’s hard to imagine a time when the big spring thaw arrives and the campus reawakens with green grass and festivities. The Residence Halls Association has its sights set on the future, however, as it sends out new surveys for the annual Under the Tent dance and makes preparations for Philanthropy month this Febru-

ary. Upon returning to Fordham, students found an email in their inboxes from the RHA, asking them to fill out a survey about Under the Tent, which takes place annually late in the spring semester. Timothy Bouffard, FCRH ’16, executive president of RHA, explained that one of his main initiatives when taking office was to implement an online survey for the dance. The survey gauged students’ opinions on Under the Tent, asking ques-

tions about the dress code of the dance as well inquiring about potential themes. Students also had an opportunity to explain why they might not have attended the dance in the past. After completing the survey, students were entered into a giveaway for two free tickets to Under the Tent. Ticket sales for the dance also might see a change in the coming years. Every year, students form a massive line stretching around the McGinley Student Center to try to

COURTEST OF RAM ARCHIVES

The RHA e-board, pictured above, is currently wroking to produce the Fordham Dance Marathon and Under the Tent.

University Issues Request for Proposals for Dining Services

get tickets for the popular event. Bouffard noted that although this has become somewhat of an event in itself, “we understand that it doesn’t necessarily work for everyone and… it can be a bit of a commitment.” As a solution, he said, “Online ticket sales could be something in the future.” Because the process of setting up an online survey for ticket sales could take as long as a year, it is likely that students will still be lining up for the 2016 dance. However, Emma Bausert, FCRH ’17 and executive vice president mentioned that “at the very least, we will be brainstorming ways to keep the line members occupied during their wait!” In the meantime, RHA is busy planning for the upcoming Philanthropy Month, which will take place in February. All the proceeds for this philanthropy series will go towards the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation. Named after Andrew McDonough, who lost his fight with leukemia at the age of 14, this foundation raises money for cancer research, as well as financially supports families of children with cancer. This year, the money Fordham raises will go toward its “heroes” Lexington and Dominick, from New York City, both of whom have pediatric cancer. Bouffard felt that raising money for the two families would help to put the fundraising into perspective. “I think it helps students understand there are actual people that we’re helping… our money will go directly to Lexington and Dominick… who desperately need it and that’s a really special thing.”

In the past, Fordham’s Philanthropy Month has raised over $40,000. The goal this year is set at $50,000, which Timothy Bouffard claimed RHA was well on its way to reaching. “The Series” starts off with a Philanthropy Fair on Feb. 2, where student-run organizations can present their own philanthropic projects to the Fordham public. On February 9th there will be a $10 craft beer tasting in Dagger John’s, open to all students over the age of 21. On Feb. 16 the RHA is hosting a live auction and a raffle in the McGinley Ballroom. Some of the featured prizes include the first housing lottery time slot and rare Fordham accessories from Reverend Joseph M. McShane S.J., President of the university, himself. To culminate “The Series,” RHA will host the third annual Fordham Dance Marathon, where DJs and student performers will provide 12 hours of music to students who pay a fee of $10 to contribute to the fundraiser. RHA members Jacqueline Scacco, FCRH ’18, and Nina Saccomano, GSB ’18, were spreading flyers about the event in a resident hall. When asked about the upcoming events, they replied that the auction was their favorite of the series. “I like the auction because it’s a fun way to get together with people and bid on different things,” said Scacco. Saccomano mentioned that, “the prizes are really awesome,” recalling how last year two students teamed up and won a helicopter ride over the city. RHA will be posting information about upcoming events on its Facebook page, Fordham Rose Hill Residence Halls Association.

Students Petition for “Sodexo-Free” Campus FROM SODEXO, PAGE 1

liaison, were unable to comment at this time. Sodexo also prohibits employees from answering any questions. Sodexo has provided culinary, catering and nutritional services to Fordham for the past thirty years, despite multiple controversies regarding its contracts. In March of 2011, the Student Deli at Fordham received a letter grade of a C for live roaches and unsanitized food preparation surfaces. New York City health inspectors closed two other Rose Hill dining services for violations. Consequently, in 2012, the Princeton Review ranked Fordham’s food as the national worst. In 2013, the Princeton Review ranked it fifth worst, and in 2014, seventh worse. It stayed at seventh worst in 2015 but improved to thirteenth worst in the Princeton Review’s 2016 rankings. As a result of the controversies surrounding Sodexo’s culinary services, in 2013, the university stipulated that they would maintain their contract with Sodexo

but Sodexo would incur three million dollars in fines if Fordham did not improve in rankings within the next few years. It is not clear if or when Sodexo will pay those fines. In early december, a petition demanding that Fordham University become “Sodexo-Free” began circulating on the internet. In an email in response to questions regarding the contract, Azzopardi claimed that many of the allegations stated in the aforementioned petition are “not factually accurate.” The petition claimed that there are documented cases of Sodexo serving horse meat as “beef ” in England. Azzopardi said that “Sodexo operations in the U.S. do not source beef products from Europe; moreover, all of our raw and frozen ground beef products are sourced domestically.” The petition highlights a cancellation of a $1.2 billion contract between the U.S. Marine Corps and Sodexo. Azzopardi said, “We continue to operate mess hall contracts on both the East and

West Coasts and have done so since the beginning of our contract in 2003.” It appears, that after controversy surrounding Sodexo’s working conditions, the U.S. Marine Corps did in fact lose a $764 million deal for operations on the west coast of the United States in February of 2011 until August 2011, when the caterer announced it was selected for a seventh year, $766 million contract to cater 20 mess halls on the west coast, according to the company itself. Azzopardi, however, did not respond to the referenced University of Michigan study linking private food management and poor testing scores. Similarly, Simon’s Deli, a local business on Arthur Ave that has provided food for Fordham students since March 2007, has made a petition for students to support a potential Simon’s Deli operation on campus. The petition, published on Dec. 4, 2015, claims that if Fordham allows a deli to open on campus, 10 percent of profits will go to Fordham Athletics.

JACK BRENNAN/FODHAM RAM

Fordham’s marketplace may be under new management in the coming years.

NEWS

Page 4

January 27, 2016

Fordham In The Bronx

NYU’s Trash is The Bronx’s Treasure By MICHAEL DOBUSKI BRONX CORRESPONDENT

“Gentlemen - can I see some ID please?” That moment, at Bronx Community College, I knew we would not be able to see the inside of this week’s destination. As it turns out, a Fordham identification does not hold much clout outside of our own gates. It is hard to blame The Bronx Community College for having high security around its beloved Gould Memorial Library given the 1969 arson attempt and general fragility of the building. Named after Helen Miller Gould, a graduate of New York University Law School in 1895, architect Stanford White designed the library years before his murder. The library is only one small piece of a much bigger puzzle. The story of Gould Memorial Library begins at the outset of the 20th century with a murder case that rocked the city of New York to its core. In 1906, Stanford White was a well-respected architect, socialite and womanizer, renowned for his work on such marvels as the original Madison Square Garden, the Washington Square Arch and Tiffany’s. His social life was as varied and extravagant as his professional work, as he was well-known among the bohemian artists of Lower Manhattan and many high-profile Broadway stars. During one of his many trips to the theater, White caught the eye of one Evelyn Nesbit while she was performing in the musical “Florodora.” White became Nesbit’s benefactor, showering her with exorbitant gifts and a healthy allowance. One night, after convincing Nesbit’s mother to take a trip to her hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to catch up with some relatives, White assaulted Nesbit. Accounts differ as to what specific substances were used, but experts agree that White raped Nesbit that night, the two then began a one-year relationship that ended when Nesbit was sent to an all-girls boarding school in New Jersey. She was 17 years old at the time.

While Nesbit was at school and away from White, another man, Harry Thaw, saw his chance to win her attention. Harry was the son of William Thaw, a self-made Pittsburgh millionaire who used his money and influence to allow his son to enroll in the University of Pittsburgh and later, Harvard Law School. Harry was not at all thankful for his father’s generosity, however, as he largely spent his college years binge drinking, attending cockfights and developing an addiction to cocaine. He was expelled from Harvard after being arrested for chasing a taxi through the streets of Boston brandishing a loaded firearm. The time after his arrest was spent bouncing between Pennsylvania and New York City, where he was first introduced to Nesbit. His advances started out innocently (though ineffectively), with gifts of flowers or stockings. At one point, he sent her a brand new piano. Thaw’s true opportunity came when he sent a doctor to Nesbit’s school in New Jersey to perform an emergency appendectomy on the girl. This endeared the Nesbit family to Thaw, who soon after took them on a sprawling tour of Europe. Nesbit ended up marrying Harry Thaw in April of 1905. After returning from Europe, Nesbit began spending more time with White, who warned her of Thaw’s drug addiction and violent tendencies. Harry Thaw began to suspect that the two were conducting an affair and, after failing to uncover an explanation from Evelyn, whom he beat with a dog whip, he turned his attention to White himself. On June 25, 1906, Harry and Evelyn attended the same performance of Mamzelle Champagne at Madison Square Garden’s Rooftop Garden restaurant and theater (itself a creation of White’s). As the show reached its climax, Thaw rose from his seat and shot White three times in the head, killing the architect instantly. Meanwhile, the rest of the audience continued watching the performance onstage, thinking that the real-life drama they had

just witnessed was another staged scene. The ensuing trial was just as bizarre as the rest of the story. The American media and public jumped to defend the actions of Thaw, seen as a romantic defendant of his wife’s honor. Helping Thaw’s case was the release of a film, paid for by the Thaw family, which depicted Harry as a hero, triumphantly defending American womanhood. In the end, Harry Thaw was found not guilty of the murder of Stanford White by reason of insanity. He spent the majority of his remaining years in insane asylums in both New York and Pennsylvania. Though that may seem like as good a place as any to end this tragic story, as is the case with many artists, Stanford White lived on in his work, which is where the Bronx’s very own Gould Memorial Library comes into play. Years before his murder, White was put in charge of a very special project by Henry MacCracken, the chancellor of New

York University in 1891. MacCracken had a vision of an NYU campus in New York City’s burgeoning and grandiose new borough: the Bronx. The campus would have sweeping views of the Harlem River, the Palisades and, of course, breathtaking architecture. White’s main piece was to be the library, named for Helen Miller Gould. The Gould Memorial Library is based primarily on the Parthenon in Rome, and much is shared with Columbia University’s Low Library. White made use of mosaics, Irish marble and Tiffany glass on the inside of the library, though what can be seen today lies in stark contrast to White’s original design. In 1969, a Molotov cocktail thrown by an unknown assailant caused extensive damage to the interior of the library, and less than four years later a cash-strapped NYU abandoned the Bronx altogether. In 1973, the campus was purchased for $62 million by the City University of New York. Today it is run by the

Bronx Community College, which uses the building’s auditorium. The college’s North Hall now serves as the student’s primary library. Other parts of Gould Memorial Library are off limits due to the building’s continued degradation. There is hope for this storied piece of New York history, however. Under the leadership of Michael Parley and Samuel G. White (Stanford’s greatgrandson), Save Gould Memorial Library has emerged. It estimates that a restoration would cost in excess of $50 million which is far from insignificant. That is not to say that the library is beyond saving, though. The city and state have already expressed interest in helping (to the tune of $4 million). Nor is it to say that the library is not worth saving, as the interior dome is inscribed (or so I’m told, because the security guard was unyielding), with an excerpt from the book of Job: “Where shall wisdom be found? Where is the place of understanding?”

CASEY CHUN/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Artists such as the “Royal Kingbee” are being commissioned by corporations to fill the sides of buildings with original art.

Campus Briefs & Bites Modern Languages Professor Awarded NEH Grant

Fordham Graduate Headed to Tanzania

Fordham Student Earns Scholarship

William F. Baker Publishes The World’s Your Stage

The National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded associate professor of French, Lise Schreier, Ph.D. a grant for her to continue research on the the practice of “child-gifting.” The organization receives over 1,200 applications annually, but only seven percent of the candidates are selected to receive the grant. Schreier will use the grant to spend the 201617 academic year researching for and completing her book, “The Playthings of Empire: Child-Gifting and the Politics of French Femininity.” Her studies focus on the much unknown cultural practice of child-gifting, the purchase or kidnapping of dark-skinned children for souvenirs, in 18th and 19th century France. Archival material on the topic minimal, so Schreier has had to use other sources such as letters, literature and artwork as evidence. Her work will also focus on the growing role of women during this time in France.

Next month, Barbara Bemer, FCRH ‘15, will travel to Mlali, Tanzania for three months in order to work at the Queen Elizabeth Academy, a shelter for children who live in the area. Bemer was chosen for the trip and a nine month fellowship by the San Francisco-based non-profit organization Mama Hope. She was one of the first students to graduate Fordham with a degree in Humanitarian Studies and plans to use the skills she gained at Fordham to help raise funds for the academy and build boarding houses for the students. According to Fordham Notes, Bemer will also take this as a chance for personal growth. After her mother died from brain cancer in December 2014, she focused her spring semester on graduating, but now she feels the time is right to do something big.

Christian Greco, a Fordham University business student, earned the Filomena J. Peloro Scholarship from the National Italian American Foundation. The scholarship is worth anywhere from $2,000 to $12,000. The foundation awards the scholarship to students studying Italian language and culture, medicine, engineering, business, law, music and other specialized fields. Scholarship applicants must be an NIAF member or have a parent or guardian who is part of the foundation. Applicants also must be enrolled or entering an accredited college or university in the United States in the fall of 2016, be of Italian Descent with at least one ancestor who has emigrated from Italy, must be U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens, and have an average GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 to apply. The application deadline is March 1, 2016.

William F. Baker, PhD, Journalist in Residence and the Claudio Acquaviva Chair at the Graduate School of Education published The World’s a Stage: How performing arts can make a living while still doing what they love. Evan Leatherwood, Slifka Fellow at Fordham’s Bernard L. Schwartz Center for Media, Public Policy, and Education and Warren Gibson, PhD, wrote the book in conjunction with Baker, and it draws from the Julliard School and Fordham’s course on business in performing arts that was available six years ago. The book follows the history of performing arts and its accompanied struggles with making a living. It is both antiquated and contemporary, incorporating references from Mozart and George Gershwin, to Peter Gelb, manager of the Metropolitan Opera. — Compiled by Michael Byrne and Theresa Schliep, Assistant News Editors

NEWS

January 27, 2016

Page 5

Spring 2016 Club Budgets Announced By CATHERINE CARREJO STAFF WRITER

$442,399 in funding was made available to be allocated by the budget committee for the spring semester. The budget for student clubs, which is derived from the student activities fee, increased approximately $10 thousand from last year, when over $433,000 was allocated to Fordham clubs. In total, 91 clubs requested over $691,000 for the spring semester, a significant increase from the 77 clubs that requested $531,000 last semester. Budget funding is drawn from the $135 student activities fee paid annually by full-time Fordham students. The committee begins the allocation process by estimating the available funds, using a projection of the number of students and multiplying that number by the fee. 30 percent of that $715,500 estimation was immediately earmarked for the Office of Student Involvement budget, and the remaining 70 percent became the Student Activities Budget Committee budget. $33,000 was set aside for club sport, $15,000 for Senior Week and $8,000 for OSI programming. The remaining $442,000 was then dispersed by Stroie and the committee. Overall, the programming clubs, Achieving Change Together (ACT), Campus Activities Board (CAB) and Flipside, were allocated the lion’s share of the funding at 40.5 percent of the total budget. The next highest category was special interest clubs, including Debate Society ($17,480), Mock Trial ($7,498) and Respect for Life ($6,351), which received 14.76 percent of the total budget. Service clubs received 13.88 percent, performance clubs received 11.01

percent, cultural clubs received 8.93 percent, academic clubs received 5.29 percent, publications received 3.83 percent, student governments received 1.58 percent and political clubs received .22 percent of total funding. 18 clubs received 100 percent of their requested budget, excepting for sanctions. Half of those clubs were referendum clubs, including CAB ($174,000), Debate Society ($19,000) and Fordham University Emergency Medical Service ($25,000). In total, referendum clubs received 61 percent of all allocated funding, while general clubs received 39 percent. Three clubs, The Ramblers, Fordham Concert Choir and Colleges Against Cancer, actually received more than 100 percent of their requested budget. The increases for The Ramblers and Colleges Against Cancer were due to incorrect estimations in the cost of security, while the Budget Committee chose to increase the salary for Fordham Concert Choir’s rehearsal pianist. Another 18 clubs, including the Muslim Students Association, the Fordham University South Asian Entity (FUSE) and the Polish Cultural Exchange, were denied any funding under the new budget. The only cited reason for 100 percent funding denial is a missing operations packet, the information, including club member list and event descriptions, that United Student Government (USG) requires to approve funding requests. In total, over $210,000 in requested funding was denied by the budget committee for various reasons, including lack of backup documentation, an event determined to exclusive, and food deemed to enhance an event, rather than being deemed a necessity. 57 percent of the denied funding came from lack of backup documentation related to speakers.

JACK BRENNAN/FODHAM RAM

Mugz’s Bar on Arthur Avenue closed temporarily at the end of December.

Fordham Bars Increase Security Following Police Crackdown FROM BARS, PAGE 1

NYPD had done what you call undercover buys in these bars,” Carroll reported. “The feedback that we got back from the NYPD suggests that these places were selling large quantities of liquor to underage students. That’s a violation of state laws.” These establishments can be reported for a variety of reasons. “Typically complaints drive the police to take action,” Public Safety Investigator William J. McSorley said, “such as violence, fights, thefts and noise. Then, in this case of suspected sale of alcohol to minors, three undercover buys must take place. After the buys take place, a Nuisance Abatement is signed by a judge. This closes the bar and calls them into trial.” According to the City of New York’s NYPD webpage, Nuisance

Abatement Law is used to address problems such as drug sales in commercial buildings as well as the illegal sale of alcoholic beverages (e.g. unlicensed, to minors or “afterhours”). The Civil Enforcement Unit also obtains closing orders under the Nuisance Abatement Law, meaning the city can close down establishments for a time should these violations be suspected. “Sometimes, there are stipulations where a bar will now have to agree to some conditions, almost like a probation,” McSorley stated. “For instance, they may have to close earlier, or they may need an ID scanner or documented security. There may be a litany of rules put in place after their hearing.” A similar situation ocurred in Hempstead, New York, near Hofstra University last September. Sixteen workers were ar-

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rested for serving minors at three Hempstead bars following a State Liquor Authority investigation, Newsday reported. The three bars were located on Fulton Avenue, just two blacks away from Hofstra University. From the three bars, four workers at Mchebes Bar were arrested, while five workers at the Dizzy Lizard and seven from Bangers Bar were arrested. These employees were charged with violating NYS Alcohol Beverage and Control Law, NYS Penal Law Unlawful Dealing with a Child and Prohibited Sale Alcoholic Beverage. The authorities in several communities are cracking down on the sale of alcohol to minors, especially around college campuses. As a result of the bar’s changes, Fordham upperclassmen’s social scene may be changing in the coming months.

OPINION

Page 6

January 27, 2016

The Fordham Ram

White Privilege Retreats Don’t Meet Intentions

COURTESY OF FLICKR

The Uniserity of Vermont held a white privilege retreat for students to reflect on race relations and privilege.

By JULIA CIRAVOLO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

White privilege can exist without white people’s knowledge of it. The University of Massachusetts, Amherst defines white privilege as “a set of advantages and/or immunities that white people benefit from on a daily basis beyond those common to all others.” It is a societal pitfall, and steps should be taken to uncover ways in which people can help prevent the effects of white

privilege. Recently, students at the University of Vermont gathered for this purpose. The ALANA Student Center (ASC), which aims to support the development of ALANA (African, Latino, Asian, and Native American) and Bi/ Multiracial students, organized a retreat from Nov. 13-15 that gave students who self-identify as white the option to attend Examining White Privilege: A Retreat for Undergraduate Students Who

Self-Identify as White. This retreat was designed to bring awareness to the unearned privileges that accompany being white, the unearned disadvantages that accompany other races and the ways in which one can fight against racism. While the aims of this program were sound and valid, the intricacies of the retreat appeared to be contradictory. First of all, the name of the retreat, Examining White Privilege: A Retreat for Undergradu-

ate Students Who Self-Identify as White, in and of itself contradicts the aims of this retreat. The term “self-identify” implies that different races would be able to attend the retreat as long as they identify as white. Data published on Forbes reveals that 83.13 percent of the student body at the University of Vermont is Caucasian; therefore, the likelihood of someone of a different race identifying as white on that campus is extremely low. Moreover, a picture of the students who attended the retreat was posted on the University of Vermont’s website and not one non-white person attended. While the retreat was designed to bring awareness to the ways in which one could help eradicate racism, the retreat itself appeared to encourage racism. If a restaurant had a sign in its window that read, “white people only allowed to enter,” people would take this to be justifiably offensive and morally wrong. So why should a retreat be allowed exclusively for white people? Its exclusivity is contradictory to the retreat’s aims. This retreat appears to ignore the possibility of a white person as being the target of discrimination. Indeed, this retreat may encourage white guilt. At the retreat, students confronted difficult questions and explored

various topics that ultimately led to the revelation of oppression as a result of white privilege. It is likely that many members of the retreat felt ashamed, guilty and embarrassed about being white. My goal is not to make bold claims about the retreat but rather to point out the details that make the retreat seem contradictory to its aims. Again, while the retreat was designed to bring awareness to the ways in which one could help eradicate racism, the retreat itself appears to encourage racism. It appears to parallel the causes and effects of racism, which is contradictory to the retreats aim. There is no doubt that white privilege is a huge social justice issue and that steps should be taken to dismantle it. People of all races should be treated equally. However, the retreat’s exclusivity and harmful emotional effects mimic racism and discrimination. Therefore, the intricacies of the retreat are indeed contradictory to its aims. If the retreat was open to all races and did not instill a feeling of guilt for being white, then its actions and aims would have been in agreement with one another. Julia Ciravolo, FCRH ’19, is undecided in her major from Bergen County, New Jersey.

How to Diss the Academy in Support of Diversity By NICK DEBELLIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The 2016 Academy Awards are a month away, and yet again the buzz around Hollywood has been shifted from acclaimed films and the color of the ball gowns to the skin color of the nominees. Famous actors, directors, writers and musicians have expressed their support of an “Oscar boycott.” This arose after the Academy nominated only white candidates for the major acting categories for the second consecutive year. Thus, the question becomes whether or not the intended boycotters are justified in their threats to opt out of the ceremony, or whether their motives are self-serving. Do the boycotters want to be recognized for their unique talents and contributions to the industry, or do they expect to be recognized exclusively for their diversity? Perhaps it is both. Nonetheless, these are real and pertinent questions that the Academy, along with those involved in the movie industry, need to address. It is quite possible that the lack of diversity among the nominees is less the fault of the Academy and more so a result of a majority of high quality roles being given to primarily white actors. Viola Davis aptly mentioned this problem in her Emmy-winning speech last year, passionately declaring that you cannot win awards for

roles that do not exist. This is not to say that the movie industry maintains an inherently divisive approach, but producers can certainly improve when it comes to employing more diverse casts when applicable, especially with the growing percentage of minorities in the United States. Unfortunately, the way the scenario has unfolded presents a problem for those who must deal with it. Certainly, the intentions of the dissenters are noble and just in that they would like to see a broader range of people represented in the nominating process. However, the solution to that problem is undeniably more vague. In other words, should the Academy be required to meet certain quotas in reference to the actors and actresses who receive nominations and awards? If so, does that not undermine the concept of the prestigious award show? Should it not be just to distribute awards on the sole basis of merit? It seems as though the solution to the present problem lies within the concept of transparency. According to a 2012 Los Angeles Times article, “the roster of all 5,765 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a closely guarded secret.” The reason for this has never been truly revealed despite the long history of the Academy Awards.

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Many actors and actresses have raised concern over the lack of diversity among this year’s Oscar nominees.

Why not reveal the names of all the members of the Academy who voted and how they voted? This would be a more effective way to determine whether the Academy voters reflect in private what they preach in public. After all, the movie industry does indeed promote itself as a beacon of openness, inclusion and societal awareness. However, it seems as though the Academy’s insistence upon maintaining its current course is indicative of their recent preference for secrecy, seclusion and indifference to an appropriate level of social sensitivity. Perhaps the boycotters would

be better served demonstrating their frustration at the event itself, as opposed to doing so from a distance. The boycotters and their supporters should make themselves available as presenters and entertainers because the issue has to be dealt with directly and on stage. Chris Rock, the African-American host of the event, can make clear to viewers the importance of this year’s ceremony as a defining moment in the Academy’s history. He will have the ideal platform to address the contradictions within the Academy, which proclaims itself to be open but has shown itself to be quite the oppo-

site, much like many American institutions in the past few years. So if the Oscar boycotters believe they have been “dissed” by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — and they may well have been — then they should “diss” them back and do it on stage. At the very least, Rock and the boycotters should challenge the Academy voters to be open to scrutiny. So boycotters, go ahead. “Diss” away. But do it on stage, live with Chris Rock. Nick DeBellis, FCRH ’19, is undecided in his major from Pelham, New York.

OPINION

January 27, 2016

Page 7

Will Service Trips Change After Columbia Tragedy? By SAMUEL FARNUM CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In a display of selfless concern for basic human rights, 28 Columbia University students forwent their winter vacations and instead chose to support access to medical care in one of Central America’s poorest countries: Honduras. Tragically, on Jan. 13, while en route to the Honduran capitol, a bus carrying these students stalled on a steep hill and tragically overturned in a ravine. The accident injured 12 and killed 3. With a growing number of students participating in service programs, concerns of student safety while abroad have become increasingly relevant. These concerns beg the question: how much control do universities have to ensure the welfare of their students? The answer to this question is disconcerting. The response from Columbia University, as well as Global Brigades, the student-run non-profit organization with which Columbia partnered with to organize the trip, was swift. Immediately following news of the accident, Lee C. Bollinger, president of Columbia University, issued a statement stating that “Dr. Samuel Seward, medical director for Health Services, and other Columbia support personnel” were on their way to Honduras to help care for the injured. Steven Atamian, co-founder of Global Brigades, issued a similar statement, promising that his organization would ensure injured students receive the best medical care available. Though responses in the wake of this tragedy were, by most accounts, competent and appropriate, the accident itself has raised questions about the safety of service trips abroad. More specifically, questions have been raised about what universities are doing to ensure the safety of their students abroad.

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Students from Columbia were involved in an accident while abroad.

On the one hand, universities take several measures to protect traveling students. Universities often coordinate with on-site organizations to facilitate movements on the ground, thus confirming the legitimacy of such organizations is one of the most basic ways they ensure safety. Additionally, universities often develop codes of conduct to which students must adhere to while abroad. As Abigail Gibson, FCRH ’16, an active member of Fordham’s Global Outreach community does not feel unsafe when she travels on GO trips. She said that Global Outreach makes safety a priority when planning trips and choosing organizations to pair with. Gibson explained that while on trips, students, leaders and chaperones are expected to follow certain codes of conduct and “worksite rules” that make the trips safer. Gibson also felt that both of her teams possessed a strong sense of community, that allowed for very open communication. “We created an environment where everyone was able to come forward with concerns, whether it was related to being in a foreign country, doing construction work or anything else,” she said. Gibson felt, overall, that Global Outreach priori-

tizes student safety in each aspect of a project. Oftentimes, however, locations that are in the most need of volunteer service inherently pose higher risks to potential travelers or service workers. For example, the State Department’s safety and travel reports for Nicaragua list concerns ranging from civil unrest, violent crime and poorly maintained roads. Even with background checks and codes of conduct, universities cannot hope to account for all the risks involved in this type of international travel. The only way to ensure complete safety would involve restricting trips to international locations of this nature, but, as John H. Coatsworth, Columbia’s provost, stated in an interview last week, “We want our students to engage in the world… There’s no place you can go in the world without risk, including Manhattan, so we’re not going to take the position that the university can tell students where to go and with whom, because that would contradict our mission.” If universities, like Columbia or Fordham, that take pride in ambitious missions relating to community and global outreach were to restrict the movements of their stu-

dents they would pose a troubling ethical contradiction. However, the very suggestion of restricting student movement in the wake of this particular tragedy does not offer much future protection. The nature of the bus accident that took the lives of Olivia Erhardt, Daniella Moffson and Abigail Flanagan this month is particularly troubling by way of its randomness. An email released by Global Brigades following the tragedy stated “the accident is presumed to be a mechanical error caused by an engine stall while going up a hill.” Such a mechanical error could happen anywhere at any time, at home or abroad. In the wake of tragedy, individuals and institutions find comfort in identifying what went wrong, why it happened and making sure such incidents never occur again. In this case, however, the “why” cannot be pinned on the irresponsible actions of the university or the students involved. Like Nicaragua, Honduras has a travel advisory listed for it by the State Department which cites decaying road infrastructure as a cause for concern. Yet, this infrastructure is a symptom of the economic disparity which brought student volunteers to the country in the first place. In the wake of an incident caused by irresponsibility or oversight, proposing and implementing changes for how universities handle future service trips could be discussed in earnest. During this tragedy caused by mechanical failure and bad timing, we are not offered the materials for such a conversation. Instead, we are offered a macabre look at the realities and risks that all volunteer travelers face, abroad or otherwise. Samuel Farnum, FCRH ’16, is an English and music studies major from Ranchester, Wyoming.

What Obama Got Right in Last State of the Union By ELLE ROTHERMICH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In his final State of the Union address, President Barack Obama attacked polarized partisanship with a vengeance. The President protested against growing “rancor and suspicion” and the advent of a domestic political environment “where even basic facts are contested.” While Donald Trump and his fantastical breed of macroeconomics seem to thrive on ever-increasing levels of spite, most Americans are lost in the roaring fog. Obama remained undeterred by this gloom throughout the address, tempering his renewed message of hope and change with a hearty dose of American Exceptionalism. To the eternally frozen wall of Republican countenances (led by Speaker Paul Ryan, who was locked in a staring contest with the back wall of the chamber for the majority of the event) the president offered a vision of a country waxing strong in the face of internal adversity. Though many of Obama’s cited successes — like the current five percent unemployment rate and the United States’s role in fighting Ebola — stand up to rigorous fact checking, the president does not have a sure legacy.

Many of his foreign policy decisions have been characterized as unqualified failures. Few Americans are willing to fully embrace the nation’s economic growth, and the Affordable Care Act remains a point of contention. The next squadron of presidential hopefuls accept the fog, with each candidate promising to be a sort of messianic cleanup force for the ills and shortcomings of the Obama administration. However, the ubiquitous suggestion that the Middle East’s current condition is Obama’s creation neglects both the region’s history and globalism itself. The use of force against ISIL, which Obama called for in his address, is a poor fit for this new type of warfare. But so are his opponent’s alarmist anti-terrorism policies, which draw illogically robust connections between physical threats to U.S. national security and ISIL’s actions in the Levant. Though blaming Obama for the political turmoil in the Middle East is attractive, it is a grand oversimplification that ignores the delicate interplay of countless socioeconomic and political forces. The continuing use of funds and intelligence from Saudi Arabia, a conservative Sunni kingdom, to arm Syrian rebels is a bold counterpart to the

recent deal with Shia Iran. President Obama joked that “gas under two bucks a gallon ain’t bad,” but newly unfrozen Iranian assets could further upset the balance in the oil industry. Even if the U.S. could cut foreign oil consumption 60 percent, as Obama proposed, the country would still feel the impact. China’s attempts to depreciate its currency have sent world financial markets scrambling and many Americans lamenting the state of their 401ks. Although U.S. and European exchanges are again lounging in the sunshine, panic remains in the air. The nation-state may be alive, but isolationist policies are no longer an option. Healthcare is an equally Byzantine affair. According to new analysis by Matt Broaddus and Edwin Park from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the 2014 health coverage gains under the Affordable Care Act are the largest since 1987. 8.8 million Americans, most part of historically uninsured demographics, were insured. However, according to the study, “if the uninsured rate had fallen in non-expansion states at the same rate as in expansion states, an additional 2.6 million uninsured Americans would have gained coverage.” Despite this data, the Republican party continues its fervent quest to

bury the legislation. Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina held aloft the standard in the Republican response, calling the health care plan “disastrous.” Her address nevertheless whispered an uncharted truth: on many fronts, Republicans and Democrats agree. Both the president and Governor Haley lamented the growth of strident factionalism, called for tolerance and pointed to the need for education reforms. Both mentioned indebtedness to America’s forefathers in a grander reference to the United States’ unique virtues. Both applauded the country’s traditional tenacity in the face of a challenge, but few Americans seemed to hear above the howling winds from the extremes of the political spectrum. The current level of partisanship undermines the ability of the United States to engage fruitfully in an increasingly connected, complex and globalized world. Our president believes the state of our union is strong. If we are to continue in strength, we must possess the resources to understand the people and institutions we are trying to lead. Elle Rothermich, FCRH ’19, is a history major from Ridgewood, New Jersey.

Marcelle Meyer Continuing Reform on Racism Last semester was a semester of fear, empowerment, hatred and acceptance in the Fordham community. Our school faced far too many incidents of racial discrimination and hate speech, bringing forth a wave of responses from the student body in the form of rallies, speak-outs and protests. Students came forward to tell their stories of discrimination and marginalization that have been happening on a campus that many of us have always considered a safe space. We were all forced to confront the frightening reality of racism in the modern age, and the Fordham administration was prompted to act against racism in its community. And then, as happens every year at the end of December, everyone went home. We traded in long nights of studying for hours of Netflix, spent time with our family and old friends; and, for those of us who do not live constantly affected by racism in our community, left the fear and hate behind. As a white student returning to Fordham from break, it almost feels as if nothing had ever happened. Each semester is a fresh start and it seems so long ago that I was carrying a “Black Lives Matter” sign at an on-campus speakout. Fordham, we cannot let this happen. If there is one thing we learned last semester as people came forward with their stories, it is that racism on campus did not begin with the incidents of last semester, and it certainly will not stop with them unless we continue to speak out. Many students continue to feel marginalized in our own community every day. We cannot wait for another incident to have a conversation about it. We have already experienced too many this past year. The Fordham administration and the student body must continue to make combatting racial prejudice a top priority on campus, even if it is hidden prejudice that does not incite the indignation that last semester’s events did. As long as Fordham students are being affected by racism on campus, we are obligated to create dialogue about it and work against it. We cannot falter if we are to make true progress. If we do not, then the offenses of last semester will fade away and we will regress as a community in terms of our racial dialogue and consequent responses. Students deserve an administration and a student body that pays attention to these issues, and it is time we had a consistent campus culture of combatting racism that does not wax and wane with each passing semester, and does not only arise because of explicit attacks on Fordham students of color.

OPINION

Page 8

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

Website FordhamRam.com Email Address theram@fordham.edu Mailing Address Fordham University - Station 37 Box B Bronx, NY 10458 Editor-in-Chief Laura Sanicola Managing Editor Drew Casey Business Director Zack Milos Assistant Business Director Tyler Dikun Editorial Director Amanda Giglio Copy Chief Sydney Keen Assistant Copy Chief Tara Martinelli News Editor Erin Shanahan Assistant News Editors Mike Byrne Theresa Schliep Opinion Editors Margarita Artoglou Kristen Santer Culture Editors Bailey Hosfelt Libby Smislova Sports Editor Sam Belden Assistant Sports Editors Pat Costello Jack McLoone Features Editor Cate Carrejo Photo Editors Jack Brennan Andrea Garcia Kate Mackie Digital Team Ellie Bruckner Meghan Campbell Anna Carey Faculty Advisor Beth Knobel Editorial Page Policy The Fordham Ram’s editorial and ramblings topics are selected on a weekly basis and reflect the editorial board’s view on a campus issue. Opinions Policy The Fordham Ram appreciates submissions to fordhamramletters@ gmail.com. Commentaries are printed on a space available basis. The Fordham Ram reserves the right to reject any submission for any reason, without notice. Submissions become the exclusive property of The Fordham Ram. The Fordham Ram reserves the right to edit any submissions. The opinions in The Fordham Ram’s editorials are those of the editorial board; those expressed in articles, letters, commentaries, cartoons or graphics are those of the individual author. No part of The Fordham Ram may be reproduced without written consent.

January 27, 2016

From the Desk | Theresa Schliep

How Everyone Failed Flint, Michigan I never think about water. I drink it out of faucets and bottles, I shower in it, I use it to make my oatmeal if I am out of milk. In the summer, it keeps me cool. In the winter, it allows for fun snowball fights. It is a burden when it coalesces into sheets of rain on my walk to class; it is a blessing after a late night out on the town. Water is ubiquitous. But I still never think about it. What would happen if it were gone or what would happen if it were unsafe? Residents of Flint, Michigan, always think about water. Since 2014, residents in the city have been exposed to lead in their water as a result of negligence by Governor Rick Snyder and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. National media, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and every level of government have failed this city of 100,000. Lead contamination traces back to Flint’s switch from Detroit water to water from Flint’s own river. While Detroit coated the pipes with protective substances like orthophosphate, which prevents lead from leaking from the piping to the water, Flint neglected to do so. Water began to run red from residents’ faucets — not with blood, but with lead. According to a group of Virginia Tech research-

ers, some samples of water tested had enough lead that they were considered “toxic waste” by the EPA. The dangers of lead exposure are severe. There is no safe amount of lead-contaminated water — any amount of ingested lead can result in abdominal pain, constipation, miscarriage, headaches, memory loss and high blood pressure, among other ailments. Additionally, the repercussions of lead poisoning are irreversible and catastrophic for children. They include developmental delays, hearing loss, weight loss, learning difficulties, slow growth, vomiting and abdominal pain. Lead poisoning might also be responsible for the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the county, which resulted in the deaths of 10 people and the sickness of more than 70. Governor Rick Snyder recently apologized for the contamination of lead in the city’s drinking supply, and promised to help purify the water. But the governor cannot reverse the effects of lead poisoning in thousands of children. He cannot reverse years of government shadiness. He cannot regain the trust of his constituents to supply safe drinking water for the city. According to EcoWatch, Snyder knew about the issue as early as February 2015. The Environmental Protection Agency consistently warned Michigan’s Department

of Environmental Quality of the dangers of the water in Flint. Not only was action delayed because of what Michigan considered to be insufficient evidence, but there was no public warning regarding the water. Flint residents didn’t know the dangers of their own drinking water until they had been using it for upwards of 19 months. Many residents now sustain themselves on bottled water, but some cannot avoid using the contaminated water to shower. Flint is a vulnerable community. According to the Washington Post and the U.S. Census, the city is overwhelmingly poor — over 40 percent of its residents live below the poverty line. 56 percent of its residents are black. Education is arguably the most important tool in escaping poverty, but lead poisoning severely inhibits learning and can permanently mentally disable children. Thus, educational disparities will only worsen in Flint. Residents grapple not only with institutionalized racism and poverty, but also with unsafe drinking water. Flint is a vulnerable community. Had this occurred in an affluent, predominantly white area, the situation would have likely played out much differently. The national media would not have ignored the crisis for as long as it did in Flint. Environmental agencies would not have delayed protecting

citizens from lead-poisoned water. The governor would not have said the problems would “fade in the rearview” and delay any significant aid. As long as people remain ignorant of this crisis, it will only worsen. It is inexcusable, it is egregious and it is one of the biggest failures of state government in recent history. Next time you shower, make pasta or throw water balloons, question why some of your fellow Americans cannot even do the most mundane and commonplace activities without significant threats to their health. In 2016, it is our national responsibility to hold the offenders accountable, to help the residents of Flint as much as possible and to prevent this from happening to any other community. This crisis has been ignored for too long.

Editorial | New Year

Incorporating the Year of Mercy into Your Semester Last month, Pope Francis declared this year to be the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, otherwise known as the Year of Mercy. For the Roman Catholic church, it is a period of remission of sins and pardon, with this year focusing particularly on forgiveness and mercy. Pope Francis designated this year as a time for personal reflection. As we enter into a new year and semester at Fordham, the Pope’s words seem particularly fitting. After a semester which saw multiple racial and religious bias incidents, as well as sexual assault and harrassment allegations, the atmosphere on campus has been tense for several months. Racial slurs were etched on student’s doors and university property. Students reported stories of harassment. The university witnessed what quickly proved not to be a series

of isolated incidents, but a disturbing trend of intolerance on and off our campus, sparking protests, vigils and dialogues on racial justice and diversity and capturing the attention of the Fordham community and administration. Students, faculty and administration have made definite progress in addressing these issues. The Undoing Racism Collective held a full-day teach-in in November to educate the community on a myriad of racial issues. The Zero Tolerance for Racism campaign produced armbands and stickers worn by student athletes during their games. Student organizations have been outspoken in their efforts to raise awareness to what underlies these issues. Following the latest account of racial and sexual bias incidents, Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, condemned the

acts as hateful, while expressing his “firm conviction that in the long term we will build a community of greater compassion, respect and genuine affection.” This sort of community cannot be created from roots of bitterness and long-term grudges. By no means are we condoning the actions of the students who committed last semester’s offenses. The acts may not reflect the views of the student body as a whole but they certainly point to a pervasive issue on our campus. It is therefore imperative that the student body stays mindful of last semester’s circumstances and the campus climate. However, we see this year as a year to grow as people and as a community. While this by no means is an excuse to ignore and pardon the incidents of last semester, it is a chance to put those

New Year’s resolutions to the test. In light of recent events, it is easy to be cynical about the start of the new year. There is no telling what the future will hold. However, we at The Fordham Ram feel that the Year of Mercy allows for us to acknowledge past injustices and move forward as a university. Regardless of religious affiliation, we believe it is healthy for the student body and administration to show compassion, charity, kindness and humanity in the face of bigotry. It may prove difficult to balance our need to forgive the acts of racial vandalism and sexual harassment that were committed last semester and remain resolved to combat these issues with all the resources available to us. But, as a Jesuit university, we must try to be merciful for the sake of our own community.

Disagree with our editorial? Let us know what you think. Email us at fordhamramopinions@gmail.com.

OPINION

January 27, 2016

Page 9

Kathryn Wolper Questioning New Safe Sex Feature on Tinder

Updating Gay Hate Crime Legislation COURTESY OF FLCIKR

Even though gay marriage is legal, many states have inadequate protection for homosexual victims of hate crimes.

By JACLYN WEINER STAFF WRITER

Hate crime laws throughout the United States are severely lacking, especially when it comes to hate crimes motivated by a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity. This results in perpetrators of hate crimes being punished to a considerably lesser degree, despite the harshness of the act and its impact on the victim. The government needs to make changes to state laws in order to properly sentence culprits of hate crimes. It is weird that this hasn’t already happened, since new legislation like the national legalization of gay marriage has already occured. There are currently 15 states, plus the District of Columbia, whose hate crime laws include crimes committed due to a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Only 15 states implemented hate crime laws that protect victims targeted due to sexual orientation, but not gender identity. Another 15 states with hate crime laws that cover neither sexual orientation nor gender identity. Five states do not have hate crime laws set in place for any characteristics whatsoever. Many of the states lacking hate crime laws have implemented legislation to correct the laws currently in place, but these bills were ultimately unsuccessful.

The laws currently set in place throughout the United States have far-reaching consequences, including an additional distrust of the police by the victims of hate crimes. A study by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics found that nearly two out of three hate crimes go unreported to the police. It also found that from 2007 to 2011, 24 percent of victims of violent hate crimes did not report to the police because they believed the police could not or would not help. Not only are many perpetrators of hate crimes being undercharged and under-sentenced, but many are not being sentenced at all. This is due to the current culture throughout parts of the country. According to the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than 90 percent of hate crimes are violent in nature. Due to hate crime laws in many states throughout the country, these violent crimes are classified as assault, despite bias motivating the attacks. One example of such a circumstance occurred at Penn State University in early October of 2014. John Mateer, a Queens College student, was visiting a friend that attends the university. They both went to a party at the fraternity house of Sigma Nu. During the party, Mateer went through the back exit of the house to smoke a

cigarette. He encountered an argument taking place where homophobic slurs were being thrown back and forth. Mateer commented on the language they were using, saying that he himself was gay and that the slurs they were using are offensive. Mateer walked off but realized after a short period of time that he was being followed by one of the students that was engaged in the fight on the fraternity lawn. “The guy, whose name I later found out is Matthew Chandlee, grew angry and told me ‘You’re gay! I hate gays!’ I felt almost as if I were in a movie, because I thought nobody was that open with their hate, but before I could even think another thought I saw his fist flying at me and he hit me as hard as he humanly could in my face. My ear immediately began ringing and my vision blurred out and I was just in complete shock,” said Mateer. Chandlee was brought up on simple assault, which is a misdemeanor, and harassment. The details of the sentence will be revealed in February, but Penn State has taken action by placing Chandlee on indefinite suspension. “I found out the next night when I was brought into the police station to pick out my attacker from a lineup that hate crimes in Pennsylvania don’t cover sexual orientation,” said Mateer. “I felt

like I was getting punched all over again. Thinking about how his motives are almost completely irrelevant in the eyes of Pennsylvania.” This is far from the only case of violence against an individual due to sexual orientation. Hate crime laws throughout the country need to be updated. Sexual orientation and gender identity are common motivators for violent hate crimes, and the law should reflect this so victims of hate crimes can be properly protected under the law. Additionally, laws should exist so that potential perpetrators of hate crimes know that this type of harrassment is not condoned by the government. There are currently not sufficient laws to deter possible culprits of hate crimes from committing such acts. While, at times, the United States seems to be heading in the right direction, we are still bogged down by outdated thinking and bigotry. We like to hope that our generation is more tolerant and accepting, but we are still met with stubborn hate. Our society will not be able to universally embrace tolerance unless our governments fully support it. More comprehensive legislation must be passed and enforced. Jaclyn Weiner, FCRH ’18, is a communications and media studies major from Wantagh, New York.

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Tinder has added a feature that promotes safe sex and provides information about STD testing facilities near its users. This change in Tinder’s offerings is a response to a campaign by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), which is based in Los Angeles. AHF’s campaign included billboards around LA that link the use of hookup apps like Tinder and Grindr to the spread of STDs. According to Newsweek, AHF’s campaign led to legal action. Tinder sent the foundation a cease and desist letter in September of 2015, insisting that the campaign was “falsely associating Tinder with the contraction of venereal diseases,” Newsweek reports. This letter, however, did not end the feud. AHF, as an advocate of sexual safety, refused to back down for months. Since Tinder began referring users to its health safety web page, AHF has stopped campaigning against the popular hookup app. Tinder’s new precautions, however, do not go far enough to warn its users of the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. Tinder has only added a link to a page on its website that gives cursory information about STDs, their causes and how to prevent them. The information is not contained within the app itself. Instead, users must follow a link in an information folder in the app. The link is not central to most users’ experiences with Tinder. Although the information provided on the page is helpful and an encouraging reminder for those participating actively in hookup culture, it is largely inaccessible. Information is only valuable if paired with ease of access. In other words, information that few people can find is as useful as no information at all. If Tinder was serious about lessening its relationship to STDs, it would include information about the risks of hookups, as well as advice about communicating openly with potential partners within the app in an easily accessible location. Such reminders would bring thoughts about risk reduction to the forefront of users’ experiences on Tinder. Instead, the measly effort feels like an attempt to appease critics by doing the bare minimum. AHF should recognize the feebleness of Tinder’s efforts and demand more from the app’s developers. Tinder’s creators should wield their success and power in the hookup app market responsibly. Ultimately, responsible and safe sex is the responsibility of Tinder’s users, not of the app itself. Consenting adults should, regardless of the accessibility of STD information in an app, know how to communicate openly about STD status and protection. While apps may encourage and facilitate hookup culture, they are not responsible for its effects on public health.

MEET THE STAFF Laura Sanicola is a Fordham College Rose Hill junior majoring in The Ram, although DegreeWorks will say International Political Economy. On campus, Laura is the Editor-in-Chief — formerly news editor and assistant news editor — of The Fordham Ram, a resident assistant in Finlay Hall, an editorial intern at CNBC and a member of the Rose Hill honors program. Due to her demanding Netflix schedule you probably won’t see her around campus.

Drew Casey is a Fordham College Rose Hill junior from Union, New Jersey majoring in Communication and Media Studies with a minor in Business Administration. Aside from serving as The Ram’s Managing Editor, Drew is also heavily involved with WFUV Sports and can often be heard broadcasting a variety of Fordham sports on 90.7 FM. While his schedule is usually packed, he makes sure to stay up-to-date on Chicago Fire and rewatch Friends. Drew was once allergic to chocolate, but has since outgrown it and has certainly made up for lost time.

Zack Miklos is a Gabelli School of Business sophomore from Lancaster, PA who is majoring in Finance with a minor in Marketing. He is currently the Business Director for The Fordham Ram, after serving as Assistant Photo Editor and, later, Photo Editor. In addition to his work with The Fordham Ram, he is a varsity swimmer for Fordham. He also helps out with media ministry for Campus Ministry. Zack loves photography and passionately playing the latest Adele songs on the piano in his free time.

Tyler Dikun is a Wyckoff NJ, native in his sophomore year at Fordham College Rose Hill. Tyler is majoring in Economics, but also has a keen interest in journalism. His past experience was as the Managerial Editor of his high school newspaper. Outside of his role as Assistant Business Director, Tyler likes to debate sports and politics and can often be found embarrassing himself on the soccer field.

Amanda Giglio is a Fordham College Rose Hill junior from Long Island, NY and is double majoring in English and Sociology. On campus, she is the Editorial Director - former Culture Editor of two years — of The Fordham Ram, a member of Rodrigues Coffee House, Women’s Empowerment and Global Outreach. You can also catch her on weekend late nights driving the ram van or consuming coffee in vast amounts. While she is not entirely convinced in the power of the stars, Amanda is a sagittarius and an INTP personality type.

Sydney Keen is currently a Fordham College Rose Hill junior from Andover, Massachusetts majoring in English with a minor in Philosophy. Aside from being the Copy Chief, formerly the Assistant Copy Chief, of The Fordham Ram, Sydney is a Resident Assistant in O’Hare Hall. In addition to her passion for proper use of semicolons and subject-verb agreement, Sydney is an English Bulldog and Modern Love enthusiast.

Tara Martinelli is a Gabelli School of Business sophomore from Wilton, Connecticut majoring in Accounting. In addition to being the Assistant Copy Chief, she holds a seat on the general board of the Campus Activities Board (CAB) and is a member of Global Outreach. Prior to becoming the assistant copy chief, she was a copy editor for The Ram. In her free time, Tara enjoys running, gallivanting through Manhattan, and bingewatching everything from Friends to Prison Break.

Erin Shanahan is currently a Sophomore at Fordham College Rose Hill from Warwick, NY majoring in Psychology with a minor is Classical Civilizations. In addition to being the news editor of The Fordham Ram, Erin works as a Resident Assistant in Martyrs Court Jogues, researches Non-Suicidal Self Injury with Professor Andover of the Psychology department, and gets served in intramural basketball. Erin has previously served as assistant news editor for The Ram. In her free time, Erin often bakes cookies for mostly herself and sometimes her friends.

Theresa Schliep is an undecided major at Fordham College Rose Hill student who hails from Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey. Other than her staff position as Assistant News Editor at The Fordham Ram, she is also a part of the Residence Halls Association, Women’s Empowerment, and College Democrats. Theresa’s interests include pancakes, politics, Kanye West, pretending she’s not interested in the Kardashians, and discussing the inevitability of death.

Michael Byrne is a Fordham College Rose Hill freshman from Chatham, New Jersey. He is currently undeclared but plans to pursue a degree in English because he believes aimlessness and unemployment build character. He has previously been a columnist for The Fordham Ram and is currently an Assistant News Editor in addition to being an intern at WFUV. Michael loves to hang posters in his dorm, but they keep falling down, so he will gladly accept any help.

Margarita Artoglou is a sophomore majoring in Communication and Media Studies at Fordham College Rose Hill. This is her second time serving as Opinion Editor on The Fordham Ram. She is also a member of the Hellenic Society. She is a big fan of classic rock and is the unofficial music coordinator in the newspaper office.

Kristen Santer is a Fordham College Rose Hill Junior from Stamford, Connecticut, and is majoring in Communication and Media Studies, with a minor in Marketing. She is continuing her position as one of the Opinion Editors from last year. In addition to writing for The Fordham Ram, she also writes for two online film publications: Movies MxDwn and Indiewire. Her devotion to film has given her the impressive, yet nearly useless, talent of knowing which year any film was released.

OF VOLUME 98 Libby Smislova is a sophomore from Silver Spring, Maryland who is majoring in English and concentrating in American Catholic Studies. This is her second year with The Fordham Ram, but her first as Culture CoEditor. She is interested in both Law and Journalism, but also dreams of moving to Paris, where she plans to drink cappuccinos dressed in Dior with Stella her cat.

Bailey Hosfelt is a Fordham College Rose Hill freshman formerly from Wheeling, WV with a new residence in Boston, MA. Wicked. She intends to major in Communications and Media Studies. In addition to being Culture CoEditor, Bailey serves as a mentor for Fordham’s chapter of College Mentors for Kids, watches documentaries with React to Film, and speed walks to FMH. This is her staff debut for The Fordham Ram. Aside from writing and editing in McGinley basement, you can find Bailey flailing her limbs and calling it dancing.

Sam Belden is a Fordham College Rose Hill junior from Guilford, CT and is double majoring in Communication and Media Studies and History. Prior to becoming Sports Editor, he served as Assistant Sports Editor of The Fordham Ram. He also writes for Pro Golf Now, a golf news website. In his spare time, Sam enjoys thinking about baseball and listening to music.

Pat Costello is a Fordham College Rose Hill Junior from Abington, Pat and is majoring in Communications. He serves as the Assistant Sports Editor after writing for The Fordham Ram for two semesters. He is also currently a trainee at WFUV in the sports division. Pat believes wholeheartedly that Tim Raines should not be in the Hall of Fame.

Jack McLoone is a Fordham College Rose Hill freshman from Little Silver, New Jersey. While undecided, he will be majoring in either communications or journalism. Outside of being an Assistant Sports Editor with The Ram, he is also a trainee at WFUV. He wrote for the NFL blog last volume. Jack takes great pride in his Twitter account (@jfmclooney), which has received such rave reviews as “sad,“ unnecessary” and “please stop tweeting.”

Jack Brennan is a Fordham College Rose Hill Junior from Florham Park New Jersey and is majoring in Communication and Media Studies. He will be taking the position as a Photo Editor for this year’s volume. In addition to taking photos for The Ram, he can be found playing intramural soccer and interning for Martha Stewart. He used to be a pizza delivery boy.

Kate Mackie is a Fordham College Rose Hill freshman from Glen Rock, New Jersey who is a Communications major with a double minor in marketing and visual arts. She is joining the Fordham Ram as a Photo Editor. Outside of The Ram, she has her own fashion blog, where she highlights daily fashion finds around campus, and is a blogger for the MODE fashion magazine on campus. For pleasure Kate enjoys drawing, running, exploring new parts of the city, going to museums, and spending time with friends.

Andrea Garcia is a Fordham College Rose Hill freshman from West Milford, New Jersey who is pursuing a Political Science major on a Pre-Law track with a double minor in Spanish and Business Administration. She is joining this volume as Photo Editor. In addition to The Fordham Ram, she is a student-athlete on the Women’s Rowing Team, a member of Fordham Images, and an active member of the Business of Sports Society. When she isn’t holding a camera, you can find her drawing, playing guitar/piano, or watching a Yankees game.

Cate Carrejo is a Fordham College Rose Hill junior, majoring in Communications with a concentration sin Film and Television & Radio, and minors in Marketing, Business Administration, and Psychology (it took a lot of finagling). Originally from Houston, Texas, The Ram’s Features Editor did not ride a horse to school, nor does she want to hear you sing “The Ocean’s No Place For A Squirrel.” In the future, she hopes to travel the world, be the Latina Shonda Rhimes, and achieve omnipotence.

Ellie Bruckner is a Fordham College Rose Hill junior from East Lyme, CT and is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Communication and Media Studies. In addition to serving her second year as Digital Editor at The Fordham Ram, she is also a tutor at the Rosedale Center, a member of the Fordham Food Recovery Network, and a cellist in the Fordham Orchestra. When at home, Ellie can be found perpetually waiting tables at her family’s restaurant.

Anna Carey is a Fordham College Rose Hill junior from Bardonia, New York and is majoring in English with minors in Computer Science and Theology. This is her second year as a Digital Editor at The Fordham Ram, and additionally she tutors at Rosedale Center for Girls and the Higher Education Opportunity Program. Her favorite day of the week is Monday because it means a new Discovery Weekly playlist on Spotify and a new episode of “The Bachelor”.

Meghan Campbell is a Fordham College Rose Hill sophomore from Madison, New Jersey majoring in Communications with a minor in Italian. In addition to being a Digital Editor, Meghan is a member of Circle K and Project Sunshine. Meghan was previously as a copy editor and staff writer for The Ram. In her free time, Meghan is often getting hopefully lost in the city or cramming two hours worth of homework into her 15-minute break before class.

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January 27, 2016

The Fordham Ram

Why We Make New Year’s Resolutions By KATHERINE KELLY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

It is the first week of school and the gym is packed at all hours. Those with New Year’s resolutions occupy every machine. Gym regulars grumble as their studio space is taken over by people who will be long gone come mid-February. This overcrowded occurrence prompts the question: why is our culture so obsessed with fitness? More importantly, why are we so obsessed with making resolutions revolving around fitness and weight-loss? Today’s media-driven culture featuring beautiful, slim models and weight-loss fads makes health-oriented resolutions inevitable, but are these body image goals universal? Research indicates that it is predominantly the fast-food driven, workaholic, social-media obsessed American culture that resolves to workout everyday and eat less ice cream in the new year. Sociologist Isidor Thorner’s surveying uncovered that it is mostly Americans and other English-speaking Western cultures that indulge in the annual resolution-making tradition. Anna Almendrala’s “The Surprising Reason We Make New Year’s Resolutions” in The Huffington Post includes the findings of Thorner, revealing that the American tradition of resolution-making evolved from the Protestant concept of annual spiritual renewal. Secular New

Year’s resolutions originated from night watch services of Methodist churches as a way to obtain spiritual renewal in the New Year as opposed to partying. The night watch services focused heavily on reflection and contemplation of actions, specifically in regards to restraining from indulging in life’s pleasures. Thorner conducted an informal international survey, which revealed that only English-speaking countries like Australia, England and Scotland partake in the tradition of making resolutions. Whether the origins of resolution making began in England or the United States is unknown, but it is evident that the earliest forms of this tradition were heavily spiritual. Surveys indicate that many Americans still declare life-fulfilling resolutions relating to wellness, self-improvement and community participation. However, in recent years, personal health resolutions like losing weight have taken priority over improving one’s character. It might seem reasonable that media-image driven culture like that of Americans is known for making resolutions in an effort to improve their image. But why is “lose weight” most frequently found at the top of resolution lists? This could be attributed to America’s reputation as a country plagued with obesity. Americans resolve to work out more and eat better to avoid this cultural trap. Almendrala

cites sociologist professor Abigail Saguy, who suggests that appearing fit and thin is associated with social power. Only those who have money can afford to buy organic food and gym memberships. Therefore, Saguy argues that those who wish to lose weight also yearn to have (or appear to have) higher social status. Saguy deems such aspirations as selfish. Whether the American fixation on New Year’s resolutions is primarily for an improved image, personal health or an effort to increase social status, the common denominator is a purely personal goal. It appears that the real reason Americans make resolutions is personal in the sense that people are ultimately trying to better themselves, but are doing so in a competitive manner. Saguy’s research suggests that what drives people to make resolutions are those around them. Americans constantly compete to be fitter or richer, which suggests that such resolutions are made not out of personal desire, but as a competitive version of the bandwagon phenomenon. Americans want to lose weight not necessarily to feel better, but to look better than their neighbor. While eating better and working out more may improve personal mental and physical health, they do not guarantee long-term personal success, nor do they contribute to helping others or creating a better

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Many Americans choose to make fitness-oriented resolutions in the New Year.

world. Perhaps Americans should encourage each other to instead make small, positive alterations in one’s personality or habits, in hopes of producing a positive snowball effect on the people and world around them. Losing weight affects no outside parties, but small resolutions like “be more patient” or “help my family more” can benefit those around you. These are hardly grandeur advances to solve world hunger, cure cancer or stop racism. However, small modifications in one’s personality are more closely related to the “spiritual renewal” Protestants and Methodists traditionally strove towards. Saguy

would argue that Americans are so consumed with appearance that they not only neglect others, but fail to obtain a full spiritual renewal. The Methodist and Protestant leaders of the 20th century certainly could not foresee their annual night watch services evolving to its current secular and allegedly “selfish” state. Nor could they predict that losing weight would dominate the goals of Americans come each New Year. Reverting to more “spiritual” oriented goals would strip New Year’s resolutions of their competitive edge, and might prove to be more feasible goals than going to the gym every day.

Dear Readers, The Fordham Ram will soon be sending out a weekly newsletter. Want to get in on the action? Email us at fordhamramonline@gmail.com It’ll be a blast.

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January 27, 2016

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May The Starman Rest in Peace: A Tribute to Bowie Fashion By ISABELLA LIPUMA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As we mourn the London-born David Bowie, we recall a myriad of radicalizing pop music spanning five decades, celestial alter egos such as the beloved Ziggy Stardust and The Thin White Duke and a sense of fabulously unisex fashion. Bowie was more than just a singer. He will be remembered for eclectic hits such as “Space Oddity,” “Little China Girl,” “The Man Who Sold The World,” “Lazarus” and “Let’s Dance,” but was also the androgynous pioneer to the fashion world who inspired artists for labels including Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Dior and Dries Van Noten. Bowie was arguably the first celebrity to do away with gender binary fashion, donning himself with lightning bolts of blue and red face paint, plasticine creepers, white zoot suits and flaming onesies opposed to the mod suits and “moptops” popularized in the mid-60s. There was never anything consistent or predictable about Bowie’s fashion. Not only was he a perpetually enthusiastic singer, but he was a performer in every sense of the word. Four years after an American astronaut landed on the moon, the world was introduced to a new kind of astronaut: Ziggy Stardust, Bowie’s glamorously gender-deny-

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Bowie often dressed in style for his performaces, which were coveted events.

ing alter ego. The Starman set the world on fire with a fire engine red mullet (later to be adopted by singers including Cherie Currie of The Runaways) and outfits including gender-bending platform creepers, high-heeled boots, sequined suits and cardigans. Not to be forgotten was the blue and red lightning bolt that slashed over his right eye and divided his face into a 20th century diptych. Formed from rice powder, colored creams from Indi and Elizabeth Arden’s glossy Eight Hour Cream, the 1973 Aladdin Sane album cover was a perfect example of

a new kind of “coming out.” In the early 70s, the eccentric astronaut revealed his true colors in fringed white silk kimonos, super wide legged pants that were more evocative of a Frank Stella painting than the wears of a pop artist and the iconic blue flaming suit complete with asymmetrical shoulders and red and yellow satin flames rising from his nether-regions. Bowie was arguably the first major icon to do away with gender norms and archetypal notions of capital F “Fashion” by always dressing fabulously. And yet Bowie could also do

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Bowie set the stage for a new look in fashion, wearing androgynous clothing.

the heterosexual male thing — it is at this conjecture that we recall the Thin White Duke, the alter ego that accompanied Bowie’s 1976 album Station to Station. It was with this dashingly shadowy cabaret character that Bowie played “Aryan superman” by critiquing Hitler and fascism in streamlined silhouettes composed of white button downs and unbuttoned vests. The Thin White Duke was a far cry from the outlandish and glittery Ziggy Stardust, the cocaine-fueled, angst-ridden skeleton who appealed more to a dystopian crowd.

So when we recall Bowie, with tears in our eyes, we recall not only the man who sold the world with countless hits, but rather a kind of multi-faceted shapeshifter who influenced music and the apex of style and identity. A quick glance into Bowie’s lopsided irises can only remind us of the many dualisms between man and machine that the Starman exposed to us. In a current fashion climate where style means to take on an archetype (i.e. “normcore,” “babygirl,” “prepster”), we can draw inspiration from a man who defied everything — and succeeded.

Editor’s Pick | Chicago Trilogy

Chicago Makes it to the Small Screen By DREW CASEY MANAGING EDITOR

When great television dramas come to mind, the setting tends to be one of two major coastal cities: New York or Los Angeles. Smaller cities or towns are sometimes portrayed, but it seems that shows are rarely set in the capital of the Midwest: Chicago. For a number of years there has been opportunity for huge network success based on “The Windy City,” and Dick Wolf has answered the bell. Launched in 2012, “Chicago Fire” has been a hit since its NBC premiere. Chronicling the trials and tribulations of Firehouse 51 both on and off duty, the drama keeps the audience on its feet with countless plots and storylines to move to. Whether it is in-house romance, corruption at higher level management or the everyday life of a bustling city, no one can ever tell where the show is going next. Jesse Spencer, formerly on “House” M.D., leads the cast as dicey Lieutenant Matthew Casey. Additionally, Taylor Kinney is a key player in the drama as his character Kelly Severide is always in the midst of conflict whether it be related to love, rank or preference. But that’s not all. Following the great success of “Chicago Fire” in 2012 and 2013, NBC launched “Chicago P.D.,” a logical spin-off. Based on a similar premise, the police drama is largely what one expects in a crime production:

pursuing criminals, cracking cases, connecting with victims and interrogating suspects. The differentiation, though, comes in the Chicago linking. Spin-offs can fall flat, but this one certainly does not. Wolf, especially at first, is sure to have constant crossover with “Chicago Fire” characters interacting in the police drama to build credibility and connect with the audience. Hank Voight, portrayed by Jason Beghe, heads the small, but highly active Intelligence Unit as the team battles through cases, interpersonal relationships and job promotion. Through a gradual easing of integration with “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.” became a highly successful independent entity. The success was so great that NBC ordered another “Chicago Fire” spin-off: “Chicago Med.” Based on the operations and events of an emergency room, “Chicago Med” highly relies on the first two shows of the trilogy for content. Although storylines do not always coincide, “Chicago Med” by its nature requires patient stories to function effectively. In order to gain traction in its first season within the trilogy, “Chicago Med” finds many of its patients through “Chicago Fire” or “Chicago P.D.” connections. Dr. Will Halstead, brother of Detective Jay Halstead from “Chicago P.D.” and played by Nick Gehlfuss, leads the show as a no-nonsense ER senior resident, who does anything for his patients, sometimes at the

expense of other hospital patients. Pregnant Dr. Natalie Manning, played by Torrey DeVitto, specializes in emergency pediatrics care and often contemplates her life as a newly-single mom after her husband was killed fighting in the military overseas. The current triple crown of television, the “Chicago Trilogy,” is a must-watch on NBC. “Chicago Med” airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m., “Chicago Fire” Tuesdays at 10 p.m. and “Chicago P.D.” Wednesdays at 10 p.m.

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The Chicago skyline has now made to TV on three different NBC shows.

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A Student’s Guide to Museums in New York City

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The Met is only one of the many musuems to visit this season in New York City.

By ANNIE DAVID CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Living in New York City, it can be easy to forget how many awesome cultural experiences we have right outside our doors. However, as students, many of us do not have the means by which to spend an exorbitant amount on tickets to these places. This is where your student ID comes in. Did you know that almost every museum will give students discounted ticket prices? Below you will find classic and alternative museums to go to without breaking the bank. Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art is a classic New York City museum. You can see a variety of artwork from artists such as Jackson Pollock and Claude Monet. Now through Feb. 7th, visitors can see a collection of Picasso’s sculptures. Also, every Friday night from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. admission is free for all visitors! 11 West 53rd Street Saturday to Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Students: $14 Friday Night: Free The Metropolitan Museum of Art As the largest art museum in the United States, the Met has something to offer everyone. The current exhibition on the fashion icon Jacqueline de Ribes is beautiful and definitely worth seeing. 1000 Fifth Ave. (at 82nd Street) Sunday to Thursday:10a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Students: Suggested donation of $12 The Cloisters Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cloisters is located in Fort Tryon Park in Upper Manhattan. It is dedicated solely to medieval European art and architecture. The gardens surrounding and inside of the museum are breathtaking and should not be missed. 99 Margaret Corbin Dr. Fort Tryon Park Open Daily March to Oct. :10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. to Feb. : 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Students: $12

Museum of the Moving Image Located in Astoria, Queens, the Museum of the Moving Image showcases the history of film, television and all things digital. The museum currently has an exhibition titled “How Cats Took Over the Internet.” 36-01 35 Ave., Astoria Wednesdays to Thursdays: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free admission: 4p.m. to 8 p.m.) Saturdays and Sundays: 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Students: $9 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Part of the New York Public Library system, the Schomburg Center is a great place to go to learn about the history of Harlem. One of their current exhibitions is a celebration of the American Negro Theater, a small theater company in Harlem that produced stars such as Ossie Davis, Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier. Another current exhibition follows the movement of Afrofuturism through digital media and literature. 515 Malcolm X Blvd. Monday, Thursday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Students: Free Guggenheim Museum The Guggenheim is breathtaking from the moment you set eyes on the building. The renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the modern building. The museum houses exhibits from Impressionism to contemporary art. Its current exhibit titled “Photo-Poetics: An Anthology” is wonderful and cannot be missed. Also, on Saturday evenings from 5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. admission is pay-whatyou-wish. 1071 Fifth Ave. (at 88th Street) Sunday to Friday (except Thurs day): 10:00 a.m. Thursday: Closed Saturday: 10 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Students: $18 National September 11 Memorial & Museum Visiting the 9/11 Museum is one of the most powerful and humbling experiences one can have. This museum is a place everyone should visit and see.

180 Greenwich Street Sunday to Thursday: 9 a.m. to 8p.m. Friday to Saturday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Students: $18 Whitney Museum of American Art The Whitney is comprised entirely of 20th and 21st century American art. For much of its history, the museum was located on the Upper East Side. In 2015 though, the Whitney moved to its new building in the West Village/Meatpacking District. Its current exhibition of artist Frank Stella is mesmerizing and certainly worth seeing. Also, on Friday nights from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., admission is pay-what-you-wish. 99 Gansevoort St. Sunday to Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday: Closed Friday to Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Students: $18 Brooklyn Museum The Brooklyn Museum is a great place to see different types of art. Also, the museum’s building itself is magnificent. The museum is known for its awesome exhibitions, and one of their current ones, “Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland, 1861-2008” is no exception. 200 Eastern Pkwy. Sunday to Wednesday:11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Tuesday: Closed Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Students: Suggested donation of $10 Ages 19 and under: Free Bronx Museum of the Arts Located right here in the Bronx, the Bronx Museum of the Arts is full of amazing art. One of their current exhibitions is the art of Martin Wong. His art discusses issues such as gentrification and the criminal justice system. 1040 Grand Concourse (at East 165th Street) Wednesday to Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday: Closed Free Admission for all

January 27, 2016

Woman of the Hour | Erin Cabrey

Brie Larson Brie Larson’s role in the critically acclaimed drama Room has catapulted her from relative obscurity to the cusp of bona fide stardom. Once a tween movie darling, the 26-yearold has proven herself to be one of Hollywood’s finest young talents, already winning a Golden Globe for “Best Actress in a Drama” and holding the spot of frontrunner for the “Best Actress” Oscar. Small Room, Big Star: In preparation for Room, Larson avoided sunlight and achieved just 12 percent body fat for her role as Ma, a woman kidnapped by a sexual predator at the age of 17 and forced to live in a garden shed for seven years with her young son fathered by her ruthless captor. Though this physical transformation is quite impressive, it is the emotional and psychological dedication to the role that made her performance so honest and compelling, while also solidifying her as a rising force in film. Larson filled three journals at ages 10, 14 and 17, with youthful musings to help her get into the mind of Ma, who was largely robbed of much of her young adult life. To help understand Ma’s emotional and mental state, Larson spoke with victims of sexual abuse and trauma counselors, which was evident in the film’s second act as Ma comes to terms with the abuse she’s experienced while inside the shed. She also formed an incredibly tight bond with her on-screen son, played by the adorable Jacob Tremblay, who could be seen standing on a chair cheering for Larson after her Golden Globe win. Since collecting a slew of awards from various film festivals and critics associations and subsequently gracing magazine covers from W to The Hollywood Reporter, Larson is poised to be Hollywood’s favorite actress. Though she has frequently received comparisons to Jennifer Lawrence (whose career trajectory is remarkably similar), Larson uniquely influences the changing tides of women in film, proving that even those outside JLaw territory can still score dynamic roles. The Brie Breakdown: Larson is no stranger to Hollywood, having played supporting roles in a slew of teen films and comedy hits, though for many years she existed as an actress with a familiar face but an unknown name. She was junior drag racer Courtney Enders in the Disney Channel Original Movie Right On Track back in 2003, as well as an eighth-grade queen bee who drove her squad around to complete an epic scavenger hunt in 2004’s tween classic Sleepover. She was also a “Six Chick” in 13 Going on 30, one of Michael Cera’s ex-girlfriends in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Jonah Hill’s love interest in 21 Jump Street and

most recently, Amy Schumer’s sister in Trainwreck. It was her raw performance in the critically acclaimed 2013 indie Short Term 12, where she had her first leading role as Grace, a supervisor at a short-term foster care facility, that caught the attention of critics, producers and directors. The Wall Street Journal claimed Larson “create[d] a marvelously complex heroine” in her character of Grace, a woman who urged kids at the facility to share their feelings while largely suppressing her own. This sentiment of strong, multi-layered roles is something Larson has focused heavily on when reading scripts, especially after her Short Term 12 role led to an influx of offers for a variety of parts. “A big producer offered me the part of the pretty girl that waits at home for the guy, and I couldn’t do it. That’s not a story I ever want to tell,” Larson told Vulture. She continues this approach off camera as well, refusing to let Prada choose which dress she wore to the Met Gala and hanging out with other strong Hollywood influences, like Shailene Woodley, Amy Schumer and Emma Stone. Room for More: Raw, honest, and captivating roles such as Larson’s are becoming less of a rarity for women in film today. As Kate Winslet noted when she received her Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Steve Jobs, it has been an incredible year for women in film as roles have been more commanding and eloquent than ever before. These are headlined by Saoirse Ronan as an Irish immigrant choosing between her past and her future in Brooklyn, Jennifer Lawrence building a Miracle Mop empire in Joy, Amy Schumer clumsily navigating falling in love in Trainwreck, and Daisy Ridley taking control of the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This year’s expanse of female film roles clearly proves how useless it is to sideline women to parts as love interests or work subordinates. Actresses are at their best when they portray independent women with strength and integrity, a concept that is far from new but is just now beginning to be fully acknowledged in film. Brie Larson is at the helm of a movement urging women to choose roles that truly resonate, thus encouraging writers and producers to create characters which reflect of the caliber of women as not just actresses, but people as a whole. With Larson leading the talented group of actresses seeking strong roles that portray women in a genuine light, she serves as a beacon of hope that a female revolution, which could perhaps even transcend the entertainment industry, is in fact upon us.

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Brie Larson poses with fans after the premeire of “Room.”

CULTURE

January 27, 2016

Page 15

White Celebrities Fight Against Inequality By JOHN CHRISTEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The role of the privileged white person in the struggle to eradicate the remnants of a racially divided society remains ambiguous to the overwhelming majority. It seems that, more than a genuine desire to silently support movements like “Black Lives Matter,” white people keep their mouths shut to avoid being labeled as ignorant about the issue. The over-analyzation of this debate inspires a song like Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’s “White Privilege II,” a self-deprecating, nine-minute sequel to their own “White Privilege,” released in 2005. Hip-hop aficionados beware. This hook-less, interlude-ridden stream of consciousness is not an aesthetically pleasing Kanye West song. However, it is worth listening to for the sake of realizing how little much of the white population understands about their place in the fight for equality: “Am I on the outside looking in, Or am I on the inside looking out? Is it my place to give my two cents? Or should I stand on the side and shut my mouth? ‘No justice no peace’ Oh yeah, I’m saying that. They chanting out BLACK LIVES MATTER. But I don’t say it back. Is it O.K. for me to say? I don’t know, so I watch and stand.” Reflecting upon his own experience marching in the Ferguson protests in 2014, Macklemore explained to his listeners how he questioned whether it was even his place as a straight, white male to contribute to this discussion. Well, is it? Is it acceptable for a white person to express his or her disgust with the incidents of vio-

lence against young black males by police? It is, and it is necessary. Pretending that white people have their hands tied, rendering them inactive but concerned, further separates them from black people, a phenomenon “Black Lives Matter” strives to prevent. Macklemore’s self-flagellation, however, can be mistaken for a negative generalization of the white population. The use of the word “we” creates the illusion that this multimillionaire rapper is equating himself to all white people. That is not his overt intention: “I’ve heard that silences are action and God knows I’ve been passive. What if I actually read an article, actually had a dialogue, actually looked at myself, actually got involved? If I’m aware of my privilege and do nothing at all, I don’t know.” The title of the song alone, “White Privilege II,” understandably provokes controversy. The majority of white people who do not enjoy the luxuries of wealth and high class might argue that they do not understand exactly what their privilege is. If someone is poor, he is poor, regardless of the color of his skin. If someone lives in a socioeconomically disadvantaged location, social mobility becomes stifled, regardless of his race. The automatic reaction to being generalized is to defend oneself. Regardless, white privilege is something that white people need to understand better and be cognizant of. Gina Crosley-Corcoran, a writer from thefeministbreeder.com, explains white privilege agreeably: “Recognizing privilege simply means being aware that some people have to work much harder just to

experience the things you take for granted (if they ever can experience them at all).” White people, by the nature of the United States’ societal structure, are privileged in that they are well-represented politically, culturally, socially and historically. White people can look back through the history of this country and take pride in the fact that people of their skin tone are accredited, often too exclusively, with the foundation and success of this nation. People of color are not afforded this privilege. Their history has often been a struggle for recognition and equality in a country where segregation based on race was enforceable by law 52 years ago. White people must acknowledge this privilege without guilt, and move forward through the celebration of black achievement without patronization. “Black Lives Matter” is a movement that capitalizes on the need for race to no longer be treated as grounds for separation and alienation, but as something every person can be proud of. The “Black Lives Matter” movement has been publicized as a violent string of protests in major cities accompanied by a social media hashtag (#blacklivesmatter) that anyone can use to display their sympathy towards those suffering from this issue. The problem with this depiction is that it creates an “us” and a “them” mentality and stereotypes participants as irrational and destructive. Approaching the issue as though it is a problem that “they” need help suffering through only serves to perpetuate the idea that race divides us. Everyone must be held accountable for their actions and privileges. No one needs to

CARLO ALLEGRI / AP

MATT SAYLES / AP

Macklemore raps about his experience marching in the Ferguson protests.

be generalized or profiled. This is a fight against institutionalized inequality and racism, not each other. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’s lengthy “White Privilege II” is a thought-provoking song,

and it is easily misconstrued as an admission of guilt. It is an example of the confusion much of the white population may feel about their place in the fight against inequality.

Who’s That Kid? | John Shevis, FCRH ’19

ROTC Freshman Adapts To College Life By MICHAEL BYRNE ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

When John Shevis, FCRH ’19, speaks, he does so with a clear, confident voice. It is as if he knows exactly what he wants to say and how to say it. He doesn’t stutter or fumble over his words. He just says them. “I was kind of a softer speaker in the beginning of college, and in ROTC we’d have to get up in front of everybody and talk, and there just is no room to be uncomfortable in ROTC,” he says. “You have just gotta get up there and say what you need to say.” Shevis was born in Monterey, California, but moved to Chesapeake, Virginia when he was seven years old. His home town is not far from Norfolk, the city with the largest naval base on the East Coast. In addition to the influence of the close proximity to Norfolk, Shevis’ father also served as a Marine. He says that he was always pretty certain that he wanted to be involved in some aspect of the military “I am not sure exactly

COURTESY OF JOHN SHEVIS

Shevis has found his voice and learned responsibility in the ROTC program.

what my place will be in the Army after college, but I know I will be happy being there.” Balancing standard extracurricular activities and academics is always hard, but ROTC requires even more commitment from its students. “In addition to the standard course load, we have physical training three times a week, a three hour ROTC class once a week, and other responsibilities such as color guard.” The ROTC class teaches each student leadership skills that they will need in order to be successful in the military and, according to Shevis, life in general. “These aren’t just skills that will help me in the Army. These are things that will help me in every part of my life. It is about learning how to be responsible and how to have good time management skills. Those will help you everywhere you go.” Shevis said ROTC also teaches military tactics, but that the majority of that military-specific learning won’t come until junior year. “Right now, it’s mostly about gaining valuable critical thinking skills.”

He will serve five years in the military after college, which is required of ROTC students, but he, like many students, is not entirely sure what he is going to do with his life. “I want to study political science here, but I don’t really know what exactly I want to do for a living. I’ve always had this idea of being a politician, but I’m not really sure. Though military experience would definitely help me with that.” He believes political science will help him in the military, “The military is becoming a huge political issue, and understanding the specifics of world policy will help me be able to put it in context. We need to be able to follow orders, but we also need to understand why certain decisions are being made,” he said. Shevis said that what attracted him to Fordham was its ROTC program, excellent academic standing and especially its proximity to the city. “So far, I love New York,” he said. “There is always something to do or somewhere to visit. It is a little cold, but I am getting used to it.”

SPORTS

Page 16

Swimming Wins at Home By BRYAN KIEL STAFF WRITER

While most Fordham students were buckling down for a snowfilled weekend, the swimming and diving team competed on Friday in the Bronx against conference rival La Salle and geographic rival Iona. The meet came after a last minute schedule change, when Saturday’s intended meet against the La Salle Explorers and Richmond Spiders in Philadelphia was cancelled. It was the first meet of 2016, and with a seven week break without competition, the Rams were ready to compete. The women’s team presented a balanced attack in all strokes and distances, which led to two team wins against the Explorers and Iona Gaels. Junior Megan Polaha led the way with three event wins in the 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard butterfly and the 400-yard individual medley. Junior Kalena Laurent finished first in both the 200-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle, while seniors Chandler Lulley and Theresa Goehring finished first in the 100-yard freestyle and 200yard backstroke, respectively. Junior Marie Feneron won the 200yard backstroke, while freshman Gabrielle Celia won the 100-yard backstroke. In an interesting finish, freshman Tara Brunner and senior Shannon Lulley tied in the 50yard freestyle with a time of 24.79 seconds, while Chandler Lulley finished just a tenth of a second behind. The relay teams also took first in the 200-yard medley, with Gabrielle Celia, Chandler Lulley, Shannon Lulley and junior Morgan Fairclough, as well as 200-yard freestyle with Fairclough, C. Lulley, S. Lulley and senior Megan Gray. Sophomore Wendy Espina-Esquival continued her impressive season with a win in the three-meter dive with a score of 289.65.

The men’s team was led by top senior Steve Sholdra, who won three events in the 1000-yard freestyle, 200-yard fly and the 400-yard individual medley. Sholdra’s three event wins were the only ones of the meet, but he was backed up by six second-place finishes, including two by freshman Isiah Magsino in the 100-yard backstroke and the 400-yard individual medley. Freshman Colin Esterine-Reid finished second in the one-meter dive with a score of 215.25. The men’s team had enough points to beat Iona, but fell short of the conference win to La Salle. Though there was a large break between competitions, the swimming season has just two meets before the Atlantic 10 Championships in Ohio. Meets like this, however, can be a real indicator of where the team stands heading into the home stretch. “This meet was a tough one,” said Laurent. “Having just come off training trip and the first week of classes, we were all physically and mentally drained, but we handled that well and put out some great races.” While the biggest meet of the season is still a few weeks in the future, being in top form is on everybody’s mind. “In the next few weeks we are going to continue racing tough and get excited for our upcoming Championships,” said Laurent. Meets against conference opponents like La Salle give some indication of how the team may perform, and the loss of Richmond as an opponent gives Fordham less of a chance to see conference action. While the women’s team hopes to continue their balanced attack, the men could also be a formidable team if a few other swimmers step up with Sholdra to help lead the team.

January 27, 2016

Track Off To Strong Winter By ALEXANDRIA SEDLAK STAFF WRITER

Fordham Indoor Track and Field had a successful winter break, as well as a great first weekend of the semester. They competed in several meets at the beginning of 2016, including the Villanova Invitational, the Yale Invitational, the Sean Atkinson Invitational hosted by Fordham University and the Great Dane Classic hosted by the University of Albany. This past weekend, on the Friday before the big snowstorm, they competed in the NYC Gotham Cup. Both the men’s and women’s teams finished the meets with great results, and are looking forward to the remainder of the indoor season. The Rams’ first meet in 2016 was the Villanova Invitational at Staten Island’s Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Friday, Jan. 8. For the women’s team, junior Shanna Heaney and sophomore Merissa Wright had excellent 800m runs, finishing in fourth and fifth respectively, with times of 2:18.73 and 2:18.86. Freshman Kate McCormack finished runner-up in the mile run, with a time of 5:10.23. For the men’s team, freshman Jared Benn finished sixth in the 400m dash with a time of 49.71. Sophomore Thomas Slattery had an excellent runner-up finish in the 3,000m run, with a time of 8:35.9. It was a solid meet overall, with the women finishing in fifth place and the men finishing in seventh. Their second meet was the Yale Invitational at Coxe Cage in New Haven, Connecticut on Saturday, Jan. 9. This meet saw huge successes in both the men’s and women’s distance medley relay teams. The men’s relay team consisted of sophomore Brian Cook, freshman Jared Benn, freshman Sean Phillips and sophomore Thomas Slattery. These Rams finished third in their race, with an IC4A qualifying time of 10:14.88. The women’s relay team was composed of freshman Kate McCormack, sophomore Merissa Wright, senior Danielle Rowe and junior Shanna Heaney. These young women set a new school record in this race, with a time of 11:50.88 placing them in third place and qualifying them for the ECAC. On Fordham’s home track, the Rams competed in the Sean Atkinson Invitational on Friday, Jan. 15. It was a meet between Fordham, Stony Brook and Fairleigh Dickinson, with both of Fordham’s teams finishing in third place. Junior Jake Duckworth was the victor in the mile with a time of 4:26.93, while freshman Neve Devine won the high jump event with a jump of 5’3.” The next day the Rams were in Staten Island at the Great Dane Classic hosted by the University of Albany. This was a great meet for the ladies, as many set new personal records. Freshmen Mary Kate Kenny and Morgan Menzzasalma set career-best times in the 400m run. Freshman Kate McCormack fin-

ANDREA GARCIA/THE FORDHAM RAM

The indoor track team has stayed busy through the first few weeks of 2016.

ished seventh in her first collegiate 1,000m run with a time of 2:58.01. Junior Shanna Heaney finished the 1,000m with a new personal best of 2:57.39, earning her sixth place. Overall, the women Rams ended the meet with a 15th place finish out of 26 teams. The Rams’ final and most recent meet so far was the NYC Gotham Cup that took place on Friday, Jan. 22. This meet had many debuts and career-bests, though there was no team scoring. For the men, Slattery’s time of 2:32.08 in the 1,000m gave him a seventh place finish. Benn finished in 12th place for the 400m with a time of 49.93. Sophomore Michael Campbell finished the 800m in 14th place with a time of 1:58.81. Freshman Sean Phillips finished his mile in 17th place with a time of 4:20.58, a new personal record. Sophomore Ryan Riviere was the only Ram to compete in the pole vault event, where he came in 10th with a vault of 13’3.5”. For the women, freshman Angelina Grebe made her debut in the 5,000m, finishing in fifth place with a time of 18:17.54. Sophomore Stephanie Leo also debuted in her first 3,000m, with a time of 10:34.20 placing her in 27th. In the 400m dash, Wright, who came in 15th with a time of 57.89, Menzzasalma, who

came in forty-second with a time of 1:00.12 and Siller, who came in 50th with a time of 1:01.28, all ran personal bests. Finally, freshman Mary Kate Kenny was the only Ram to participate in two events at this meet. In the 200m dash she set a new personal record of 26.08, which gave her a 17th place finish. She also matched her personal record of 7.99 seconds for the 60m dash, putting her in 33rd place. “Overall I thought the meets over winter break went well for the most part,” McCormack said. “We had a good start to a very long season.” The Rams have had a successful season so far, and they hope to continue to do so. Junior Brianne Roche looks forward to the rest of the season. “We had two weeks of solid training together as a team before classes started up, getting in some really good workouts,” she said. “We’ve definitely seen some great performances already, and I’m sure there will be more to come now that everyone has had their ‘rust-buster’ races and we’ll be at more competitive meets for the second half of the season.” Catch the Rams in action again this Friday and Saturday as they compete in the Terrier Classic at Boston University.

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PATRICK DOHERTY/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham Swimming won three of four head to head matchups on Friday.

Stop by McGinley B-52 next Monday, 8 p.m. We’ll show you the ropes.

SPORTS

January 27, 2016

Page 17

Pat Costello

Stephen Fragano

Remembering Johnny Bach

The NHL Milking the ASG?

Great basketball minds are hard to come by. Guys like Greg Popovich and Phil Jackson immediately spring to mind, but recently we lost one of the best. On Jan. 18, the basketball world lost the great Johnny Bach. Bach had a long, fascinating career, both as a player and as a coach, and encountered some of the best basketball players of all time along the way. In 1942, Bach enrolled as a freshman at Fordham and joined the basketball team. He bounced around between a few schools before landing back at Fordham for the 1947-1948 season, during which he became the team MVP. Following his collegiate career, Bach was drafted by the Boston Celtics, signing for $5,000. He only ended up playing in 24 professional games before deciding to get into other aspects of the game he loved. Bach became one of the youngest head coaches in the country in 1950 when his alma mater, Fordham, decided to go in a different direction than Frank Adams. Bach immediately got Fordham back to its winning ways. Within his first five seasons, the Rams had two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Bach continued his success until 1968. During the rest of his tenure, the Rams reached an incredible five NIT tournaments. To the modern basketball fan, the NIT isn’t that important, but at the time it was just as good, if not better than the NCAA Tournament. The seven banners garnered by Bach’s teams still hang in Rose Hill Gym to this day as a reminder of when Fordham was still great. After the 1968 season, Bach coached at Penn State. When the 1972 Olympics rolled around, he was asked by the legendary Henry Iba to be an assistant. That team, led by Doug Collins, is remembered for the controversial ending in the gold medal game and for never accepting their silvers. After a ten year career in Happy Valley, Bach made the leap to the NBA, and coached the Golden State Warriors for a number of years. His biggest success came as an assistant under Collins, and later, the aforementioned basketball genius Phil Jackson with the Chicago Bulls. Bach entered the league during one of the golden ages of basketball, which included the culmination of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry, the “Bad Boy” Pistons and the first Bulls threepeat. Bach continued to coach for the next decade, including a brief stint with the Wizards from 2001-2003. That team, which was coached by Collins, was led by Michael Jordan, who came out of retirement for the second time. In 2006, Bach retired to Illinois, where he lived out the rest of his life. He was never shy about sharing the stories from his historic career. Johnny Bach’s legacy is one of greatness. He may be gone, but his accomplishments remain visible in the rafters of Rose Hill Gym, the United Center in Chicago and in whichever box contains those silver medals. Upon hearing of the passing of his friend, Phil Jackson shared this: “Tonight I’ll think of him and that spirit he embodied, especially his motto after a late night on the road. ‘What? You can’t be tired, you can sleep in the grave.’ Sleep well, Johnny.”

The 61st NHL All-Star Game will take place this upcoming Sunday, Jan. 31, at Bridgestone Arena. This year, the NHL is going to switch up the format a little bit… actually, quite a bit. Rather than the normal 60-minute game divided into three 20-minute periods, there will be three 20-minute games conducted in a playoff fashion. In the first game, the All-Stars of the Atlantic Division will play the Metropolitan Division All-Stars. Likewise, the Central Division All-Stars will battle the All-Stars of the Pacific Division in the second game. The winning team of the first game will play the victors of the second game in the third and final mini-game of the night. If any of the games remain tied at the end of 20 minutes, there will be no overtime. Everything will be decided with three-round shootouts. And here’s the kicker – every game will be played in a 3-on-3 format. It seems as though the NHL has been a bit gung-ho with the 3-on-3 format this year. The decision to play the All-Star Game with teams of three skaters per shift comes not long after the decision to instate the 3-on-3 format in the overtime period. It seems like a good idea to make the overtime period 3-on-3. No one wants to see the fate of a close, hard-fought game fall on the shoulders of a shootout, and so far, this format has seemingly reduced this outcome. According to Adam Gretz of CBS Sports Network, 67 percent of the games that went past regulation in the first three months of the season were settled before the shootout. That percentage is up from the 40 percent we saw in the first three months of last season when OT was 4-on-4. That trend has seemed to hold in recent months, too. However, I’m not so sure about the NHL’s intentions of instating the 3-on-3 format in the All-Star Game. With a combined total of six players on the ice, there will surely be a larger amount of open ice for offensive play, and consequently an increased chance for goals. However, last year’s All-Star Game was already high-scoring. The crowd at last year’s All-Star Game in Columbus, Ohio saw the team captained by Jonathan Toews outscore Nick Foligno’s team 17-12. You don’t have to know much about hockey to understand that that is not a normal scoring pace. Both the New York Islanders’ John Tavares and the Philadelphia Flyers’ Jakub Voracek had four goals during that game. If the NHL is trying to attract more viewership with a high-scoring, 3-on3 format, this tactic seems a bit deceptive to me. If a person unfamiliar to hockey was to see insane action like that, it’s almost like a false reading and false promise of what the league and the sport truly are. Lately, it’s as though many sports milk their forms of an All-Star Game for publicity rather than for honoring the sport, the players and the fans. Too often, leagues try to boost offense to attract viewers, but skillful defense, if understood and appreciated, can be just as impressive. But who knows, the playoff format may be interesting. It shakes up the system, and if you have an allegiance to your favorite team’s division, you’ll be forced to root for players on divisional rival teams. Imagine that.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

The Mets’ surplus of young pitching should serve them well in the new season.

Mets are Favorites in the NL East By PETER VALENTINO STAFF WRITER

The Hot Stove is cooling down, and pitchers and catchers will be reporting next month. Spring training is slowly getting closer, and more questions are appearing as the baseball season approaches. Many of those questions come from the NL East, a division boasting the NL MVP and the NL Champions. The Mets and the Nationals are considered the frontrunners for the division, but these two teams are clearly on different levels. With the signing of outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets have made it known that this is their time to dominate the division. The NL East has clearly favored the Mets this offseason, but how does the rest of the division shape up? The Mets have, without a doubt, the best rotation in baseball. Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob DeGrom and Steven Matz are four pitchers who could be aces on any staff, and will most likely be elite pitchers for years to come. Zack Wheeler, another possible ace coming back from Tommy John, and 42-year-old wonder Bartolo Colon round off a staff that is the MLB’s best. The lineup looks almost identical to the one that played in October. Daniel Murphy was replaced with Neil Walker, who will be an improvement fielding at second base. In the biggest surprise of baseball’s offseason, the Mets resigned Yoenis Cespedes for three years, with an opt-out after this year. With the signing of Antonio Bastardo, the bullpen looks incredible. This team isn’t just the leading candidate to win the NL East but could very well be back in the Fall Classic with the mindset of finishing what they started. The Nationals are an anomaly of sorts. They lost Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister, Denard Span, Drew Storen and eventually Ian Desmond, while adding Daniel Murphy and Ben Revere. The bullpen is still in complete shambles and the team is declining, considering the players they will be losing in the next few offseasons. However, this team could have one last run in them. They have an above average rotation led by Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez. They have reigning MVP Bryce Harper, streaky first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and a few other solid

players. Though the team could go on a run and steal the division (like the Mets did to them last year), or they could end up at .500. It’s tough to tell, but for now, they don’t look drastically different from the team that collapsed last year. The Marlins are intriguing. The team didn’t really lose anyone this offseason, mostly because they didn’t have anyone notable to lose. They went 71-91 last year, but could’ve added more wins with healthy ace Jose Fernandez and Giancarlo Stanton. The team added some pieces with Wei-Yin Chen and Edwin Jackson, along with Don Mattingly and Barry Bonds as coaches. They have a lot of young talent, like Dee Gordon, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, Justin Bour, Adeiny Hechavarria and so many others. If I had to name a weakness for the team, it’s their youthful inexperience. With the Mets fresh off a pennant run, I can’t see this young team competing with them. They’ll be a tough team to play, but I can’t see them winning their first division title (both championship runs in 1997 and 2003 were as wild card teams). However, a wild card berth is very much in the picture for this team, and it would be really cool to see Jose Fernandez pitching in a one game playoff. This team is intriguing, for now, and should be seen as buyers towards the trade deadline. As for the other two teams, the Braves and the Phillies are in epic

rebuilding mode. While success is a few years away, both teams made trades this offseason in order to obtain recent first overall picks. The Braves got 2015’s SS Dansby Swanson (and the D-backs number two prospect Ender Inciarte) for Shelby Miller and the Phillies got 2013’s RHP Mark Appel for closer Ken Giles. While the Braves are a bit further along in their rebuilding process after acquiring prospects in a trade with Andrelton Simmons, the Phillies are building a nice young pitching rotation for themselves with Appel, Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff and Alec Asher. They also hold the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, while the Braves hold the No. 3 pick. The present is abysmal, but these teams have both made great strides toward being competitive in a few years — their fans will need to be patient. If this article was written a week earlier, I would say that the division was a three team race. After the Mets signed Cespedes on Friday, however, there is a clear frontrunner. If Cespedes doesn’t opt out of his contract after this year and stays for the next two, this team could be remembered in history. A lethal young pitching staff, a World Series-caliber lineup and a shutdown bullpen should be enough to push the Mets to the top of the division once again. From there, anything is possible—including the franchise’s first World Series title in 30 years.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Max Scherzer and the Nationals will look to rebound in 2016.

SPORTS

Page 18

January 27, 2016

Cubs, Red Sox Look Primed for Success By BRENDAN O’CONNELL STAFF WRITER

With pitchers and catchers set to report to spring training in about three weeks, the Major League Baseball offseason is just about over, with the exception of a few late signings and likely tweaks still to come to rosters across the league. Nevertheless, the biggest moves have certainly been made, and so it is time to look back at what transpired — and look ahead to a possible shift in power in the league’s most competitive division. The American League East ballclubs were among the big winners of the offseason. Under the leadership of newly installed President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski, the Boston Red Sox bolstered their pitching staff with the signing of ace David Price and the acquisitions of bullpen studs Carson Smith and Craig Kimbrel, while still keeping much of their budding core. The New York Yankees traded for closer Aroldis Chapman and the Baltimore Orioles locked up slugger Chris Davis to a long-term deal that will keep him with the club for the foreseeable future. The Toronto Blue Jays, fresh off their first division title in more than 20 years, also look like a good bet to contend. The team recently fortified its bullpen by trading for deposed Washington closer Drew Storen. With perennial power threats like Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson and Edwin Encarnacion, this is still one of the American League’s teams to beat. As for the losers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, who currently have a $230 million payroll and are notorious for spending ungodly amounts to acquire the best players money can buy, failed to nab any of the top-tier free agents, including their own Zack Greinke, now with the Arizona Diamondbacks. With Scott Kazmir being the club’s only notable signing, the Blue Crew and its fans have to be disappointed, as they surely expected more from their relatively fruitless offseason. The same can be said of the Cincinnati Reds,

who, while clearly in a transitional rebuilding period, dealt off some of their most major assets in Chapman and Todd Frazier for less than they would have hoped. All things considered, however, the most significant developments of the MLB winter may have come in the NL Central. The perennial powerhouse St. Louis Cardinals, winners of 100 games last season, lost Jason Heyward and John Lackey to one of their rivals, the Chicago Cubs, in free agency after losing the NLDS to Chicago in October. Heyward and Lackey, who were first and second, respectively, for the Cardinals in Wins Above Replacement in 2015, joined the versatile Ben Zobrist as the newest members of the Cubs. President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein and General Manager Jed Hoyer have orchestrated a brilliant rebuild of the Cubs thus far. After several dreadful seasons at the start of the 2010s, last year featured a promising young core spearheaded by Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant, MVP candidate Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber and Jorge Soler, among others, as well as a troop of reliable veterans such as Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, Miguel Montero and Dexter Fowler. The Cubs surged back to prominence, finishing with 97 wins and reaching the NLCS. The team looked primed and ready for years of success, and it seemed like it could provide the franchise its best shot yet at a World Series title since 1908. Despite all of this, the front office made splash after splash this offseason, and the team now stands as the most likely contender to win the 2016 championship according to Las Vegas, with online sportsbook Bovada listing them as the favorite at 6 to 1 odds. Though the Cardinals lost some of their top players, the Cubs picked them up, which could lead to a crucial power swing in the NL Central. If nothing else, the work done in Chicago this offseason has made the Cubs the biggest winners this winter — and therefore the team to beat in 2016.

By SAM BELDEN SPORTS EDITOR

New York Mets fans have gotten pretty used to disappointments. They can’t complain too much—the franchise did just win its first National League pennant in 15 years. But the rosters in those interim years were mostly terrible, and between the lateseason collapses, the financial struggles and all those Luis Castillo plate appearances, fans of the orange and blue have learned to expect the worst from their team. That’s why it wasn’t surprising when the Mets lost second baseman and postseason hero Daniel Murphy to a division rival, the Washington Nationals, last month. Granted, they didn’t make much of an effort to bring him back, and they even found a capable replacement (Neil Walker, formerly of the Pittsburgh Pirates). The point, however, is that it was all so eye-rollingly predictable. Murphy’s new deal with Washington will likely be an overpay, but good teams run that risk all the time. It was frustrating that the Mets front office refused to deviate from its pennypinching ways, even for a franchise icon. All of this made it that much more incredible when the news broke that the Mets had re-signed superstar outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. The deal, which has yet to be confirmed by the club, will run for three seasons at around $25 million per year and includes an opt-out clause after the first year. While it was a bold move by the Mets, Cespedes also made a big statement by coming to terms, and fans will benefit from both sides’ willingness to compromise. Cespedes, a native of Cuba, has been a well-traveled player in his four year big league career. After spending two-and-a-half seasons with the Oakland Athletics, he was flipped to the Boston Red Sox at the 2014 trade deadline, who flipped him to the Detroit Tigers at the end of the year. After a great four months in the Motor City, Cespedes was traded once again — this time to the Mets, who needed an offensive boost in their quest to win the National League East. He put up a monster performance, slashing .287/.337/.604 and hitting 17 home runs in 57 games. Despite the

brevity of his National League stint, he finished 13th in MVP voting. Unfortunately, the glory days soon ended. Cespedes cooled off in the playoffs, and his contract expired at the conclusion of the World Series. This offseason’s free agent class was top notch, and like his fellow free agents, Cespedes wanted to cash in. The problem was that he was after a five-year deal, and no team was willing to bite — at least, not until the outfielder market developed a bit more. Meanwhile, the Mets traded for Walker and signed free agents Asdrubal Cabrera and Alejandro de Aza: decent moves, if a little unexciting. They seemed to be in no rush to offer Cespedes anything close to his desired contract length. Enter the Nationals. A popular pick to win the World Series at the outset of the 2015 season, the club was hampered by injuries and poor play and ended up missing out on the playoffs. Despite their surplus of outfielders, the Nationals badly wanted Cespedes and offered him what he was seeking: a five-year contract. Meanwhile, the Mets refused to go above three. From an economic perspective, the Nationals were the logical choice, but Cespedes bucked the trend and chose to stay with the Mets for less guaranteed money. While he loved his time in New York City and want-

ed it to continue, there was more at play here. In fact, this year’s oversaturated outfield market damaged Cespedes’ value; the addition of an opt-out clause gives him the option to test free agency after this season, when there will be fewer premium players available. In other words, he’s forgoing a massive payday now for a potentially greater one next year. The Mets front office knew that it had to act. There was no better time to be aggressive in free agency, and team officials knew that fans would be livid if they lost their best position player to a division rival. The loss of Murphy stung and will continue to sting, but the infielder was worth 1.4 Wins Above Replacement last year. Cespedes was worth 6.3. They’re in two different leagues (figuratively speaking, anyway). Credit to the Mets for recognizing that and acting accordingly — and for not backing down when Cespedes’ defection to Washington looked like a sure thing. In the end, both Cespedes and the Mets organization made concessions in order to achieve a mutually desirable outcome. The real winners are the fans, who finally got to see their team flex some financial muscle and retain a marquee player. The front office has been doing its due diligence in turning the Mets into a competitive club. For that, long-suffering supporters should be grateful.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Yoenis Cespedes provided a big offensive boost for the Mets last season.

Varsity Calendar HOME AWAY

Thursday Jan. 28

Friday Jan. 29

Women’s Basketball

Rhode Island 2 p.m.

Indoor Track

Terrier Classic

Swim and Dive

UMass 1 p.m.

Squash

Lehigh 7:15 p.m.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Penn State 8:30 a.m. Saint Peter’s 2 p.m.

Men’s Tennis Women’s Tennis

Sunday Jan. 31

Monday Feb. 1

Tuesday Feb. 2

Wednesday Feb. 3

UMass 12 p.m.

Men’s Basketball

The Cubs’ acquisition of Jason Heyward shifts the balance of power in the NL.

Saturday Jan. 30

Drexel 12 p.m.

GW 7 p.m.

St. Francis 6 p.m.

SPORTS

January 27, 2016

Varsity Scores & Stats

Anthony Pucik Great Scott! In every sport, All-Star games aren’t really meant to be taken seriously. Outside of MLB’s, which ends up counting for home-field advantage in the World Series, the NBA, NFL and particularly the NHL don’t place much stock in their respective All-Star games. If anything, they are just a collection of the league’s best players playing for fun in a game that ends up being all offense and no defense. While this is all well and good, even a meaningless All-Star game should warrant some credibility from the league and even its fans. Take last year for example. In the NHL, fans are allowed to vote for their favorite players to get into the All-Star game. Naturally, players like Chicago Blackhawk Patrick Kane and Montreal Canadien PK Subban made it based on their good play and respect from opposing fans. Then there were a few outliers, like Buffalo Sabre Zemgus Girgensons, who not only managed to make the All-Star game but received the highest amount of votes. Girgensons, a Latvian, received a great deal of support from his home country despite having only 13 goals and 22 points at the time of the All-Star break, which then prompted the rest of the hockey world to vote him in, as well. Girgensons seemed very out of place in the All-Star game, as he should have. He didn’t belong there. Fast forward to 2016 and there’s another obscure name atop the NHL ballots: John Scott. Scott, who at the time was on the Arizona Coyotes, was actually on their AHL team because he was not deemed to be enough help to stay on the team’s roster. Not only does Scott have just one assist this year, but also just 11 points in 256 games in his NHL career along with 542 penalty minutes. These numbers don’t exactly scream All-Star talent, but NHL fans thought it would be hysterical if a “goon” like Scott made the All-Star game, which this year is switching to three-on-three games in a tournament-style bracket. As I said above, there’s no real significance to the NHL All-Star game, but that doesn’t mean the NHL and the fan base wouldn’t want the game to have some dignity attached to it, and having Scott be the captain of the Pacific Division certainly does away with any of that. The NHL and the Coyotes realized that this was absurd and asked for Scott to decline the invitation to the All-Star game. He refused, which left the Coyotes no choice but to package him in a trade to the Montreal Canadians, who are in the Eastern Conference and a completely different division, so that Scott would be forced not to participate in the All-Star Game. However, fans were outraged at the fact that Scott potentially wouldn’t be playing because of the trade, and the NHL eventually announced that he would still be the captain of the Pacific Division. Since a player voted in was someone the NHL didn’t like and because he doesn’t exactly portray a good image for the league, the NHL wanted to step in and override the fan vote. It doesn’t work like that, NHL. You can’t have a vote and then want to change the results if they make you unhappy. This is your bed and you have to sleep in it.

Page 19

Men’s Track NYC Gotham Cup 1,000 m Slattery 7th- 2:32.08 400 m Benn

Men’s Basketball Fordham 73 George Mason 62 (FOR) Anderson 23 pts (FOR) Sengfelder 16 pts (GM)Moore 18 pts, 6 ast

12th- 51.12

Pole Vault Riviere

10th- 13’3.5”

Women’s Track NYC Gotham Cup 5,000 m Grebe 5th- 18:17.54 800 m Rowe

12th- 2:16.80

400 m Wright

15th- 2:18.10

Dayton 64 Fordham 50 (FOR) Rhoomes 14 pts (FOR) Thomas 11pts (DAY) Cooke 26 pts, 3 stls

Women’s Basketball Davidson 69 Fordham 51 (FOR) Holden 14 pts, 3 ast (DAV) Latt 19 pts (DAV) Dukes 19 pts

Men’s Swim Fordham 182 Iona 105 1,000-yd Free (FOR) Sholdra 1st- 9:20.82 LaSalle 106 Fordham 188 200-yd Fly (FOR) Sholdra 1st- 1:51.18 Women’s Swim Fordham 181 Iona 88 100-yd Fly (FOR) Polaha 1st- 58.44 Fordham 189 LaSalle 98 200 yd Free (FOR) Laurent 1st- 1:54.82

Athletes of the Week Steve Sholdra

Megan Polaha

Senior

Junior

Swimming

Sholdra led the way for the aquatic Rams last Friday with his three individual wins. He captured the top spot in the 1000-yd freestyle, the 200-yd butterfly and the 400-yd individual medley, which was key to the team’s victory over Iona.

Polaha cut through the water against Iona and LaSalle, tallying three wins in total. Her wins came in the 1000-yd freestyle, the 200-yd butterfly and the 400-yd individual medley. Megan’s domination helped propel her team to victory.

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

News & Notes • Fordham Defeated by Day-

ton While most students were stuck in their rooms from the snow, the Rams had their own blizzard to deal with in the form of the Dayton Flyers. The Flyers shot 38.1 percent from beyond the arc, while the Rams shot a lowly 20 percent. 37 points in the first half was too much to overcome for the Rams, and they ended up falling 64-50. Dayton was spurred on by a 26 point effort from Charles Cooke, which allowed them to push their A-10 record to 6-1. Fordham’s loss caused them to fall to 2-5 in the league, but are 11-7 on the season.

• Men’s Basketball Visits PS 205 Students After a win over

George Mason late last week, five Fordham basketball players swapped their playbooks for something different. The Rams volunteered to read to students at PS 205, a local elementary school. The attentive audience asked questions and even got autographs from the players. The kids will return the favor and visit the Rams when they take on UMass on Feb. 17.

• Edmonds and Mayweather, Jr. Named to CSN Fabulous Fifty All-America Team Edmonds, who was the FCS Of-

fensive Player of the Year, had an outstanding season. He rushed for 1,648 yards and 20 touchdowns on 251 carries. He also caught 31 passes for 383 yards and five scores. Mayweather has been a staple on the Fordham offensive line, helping lead the team to 36.8 points per game, as well as garnering himself First Team All-Patriot League honors.

•

Men’s Soccer to Host Alumni Game April 2 The

Men’s Soccer team is hosting an Alumni Soccer game on April 2. The goal of the game is to allow former players to reconnect with their former teammates, as well as give them an opportunity to meet the current players and coaching staff. Game time is set for 11 a.m. on Murphy Field.

– Compiled by Pat Costello

Alvin Halimwidjaya

Where Do the Cavs Go From Here? This past weekend as the snow storm hit New York, a different kind of storm hit the Cleveland Cavaliers. Head coach David Blatt was fired after plotting the Cavs’ course to the NBA Finals last season, as well as a 30-11 record this season, good for first in the Eastern Conference and third overall. Though ‘His Majesty,’ none other than Lebron James, claims to have known nothing about the coaching change, it seems unlikely that the Cavaliers management did not run the decision by James before they let Blatt go. The truth is that there is only one priority in Cleveland, and that is Lebron Raymone James. It’s certainly not a coincidence that the team’s new head coach is Tyronn Lue, of Allen Iverson-steppingover fame and a coaching figure that Lebron James is particularly fond of. It’s no coincidence that during an interview with David Blatt at practice, he was holding a list of plays, half of which were specifically dedicated to Lebron. Despite efforts to incorporate Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love into the Cavs offense, the problem for them is that the main option on offense will be Lebron. The system will constantly revolve around James in isolation trying to work his defender. That doesn’t work well for Kyrie Irving and it most certainly doesn’t work for Kevin Love. Without the freedom to work in the post or on the elbow, something that Coach Lue has admittedly ensured to focus on in his tenure, Love simply doesn’t get the shots he needs to contribute to the offense, and with him constantly on the perimeter, he is in a more disadvantageous position to grab offensive rebounds. Because of Irving and Love’s defensive deficiencies, it’s imperative for them to play a significant role in Cleveland’s offensive production in order to justify giving them a star’s amount of minutes. The comparisons between the Cavs and the Heat of the past are always going to be there, but should they? Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh reinvented themselves to a certain extent, making way for Lebron to get the possessions he needed and still make an impact on the game in the isolation-based offense. Presently the Cavs, Irving and Love aren’t the same on offense, and not nearly as good on defense. Granted, times are different with the premium of ball movement in today’s NBA and the almighty Warriors and Spurs reducing every other team’s scheme to ashes. However, Lebron’s presence causes everyone to automatically assume that Cleveland is a championship contender of the same caliber. Whether they’re right or not, the Cavs have high expectations to fulfill and they’re currently underperforming. Once again, Lebron’s blessing and curse is that all the responsibility falls on his ridiculously broad shoulders. Though he is enjoying a super individual season, the only thing Lebron is working towards is bringing a championship to Cleveland. The Cavs have changed coaches in yet another decision catered toward Lebron. It is now up to him to carry the Cavs to the promised land.

SPORTS

Page 20

January 27, 2016

The Fordham Ram

Men’s Basketball Splits Home Stand By JACK MCLOONE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

After a rough winter break, the Rams recovered by taking one of two games at home. The Rams played six games over the winter break, and they did not fare well. Starting off with a neutral site game at the Barclays Center against Boston College on Dec. 22, the team lost 64-55. They then opened up Atlantic 10 conference play at George Washington University, their first true road game since the season-opening loss at University of Texas at Arlington. The Rams lost this game as well, 69-63. The Rams returned home on Jan. 6 and played La Salle, which resulted in a 66-61 Rams victory that extended their home winning streak to 10. That streak would be snapped in their very next game, when they hosted University of Richmond, and lost 93-82. The Rams closed the winter break with two more away games that resulted in two more losses, an 88-54 drubbing at the hands of Virginia Commonwealth University, and another against Saint Joseph’s, 80-55. At the end of the break, the Rams were 10-6, but just 1-4 in A-10 play. The Rams were hurt in two separate ways over this stretch. Firstly, their defense was clearly lacking. The Rams gave up 93, 88 and 80 points respectively over the last three games of their winter break. This lapse is out of character for this season’s Rams, as head coach Jeff Neubauer has had the team playing inspired defense all season. The other issue hurting the Rams was the injury of freshman guard and two-time A-10 Rookie of the Week Joseph Chartouny, who missed all but the Boston College game. Coach

JACK BRENNAN/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham Men’s Basketball beat George Mason on Wednesday, but fell to Dayton on Sunday to fall to 11-7 overall.

Jeff Neubauer put it simply, and best: “Having him on the court makes us better.” The Rams seemed to be rejuvenated, however, by a return to Rose Hill in front of the rest of the student body on Wednesday, where they took the lead early against a weak George Mason team and never relinquished it. On the first possession of the game, sophomore guard Antwoine Anderson threw down a dunk to take a 2-0 lead, a lead the Rams would never give up. Anderson, who had been starting in place of Chartouny, played well enough to start even with Chartouny’s return to the court. “I learned a lot [while starting],” Anderson said. “Basically, just trying to keep everyone positive and trying to be a leader on the court.” He led all scorers with a career high 23 points on 9-10 shooting, including 2-3 from three, and 3-3 from the foul line. “Antwoine played terrific,” commented Coach Neubauer. “It’s the best I’ve ever seen him play, probably the best he’s ever played in his life”.

The Rams pushed the lead to as much as 12 with 2:33 left in the first half off one of sophomore forward Christian Sengfelder’s two three point baskets. The second half was more of the same, starting with a steal by Chartouny, who then fed Sengfelder for a basket. George Mason eventually went on a brief run, cutting the lead to just four with 4:59 left in the second half. However, Anderson once again took control, scoring 10 more points over the rest of the game, including a three pointer with 16 seconds left to ice the 73-62 win. The Rams also returned to their defensive strengths against George Mason, forcing 17 turnovers while turning it over just five times themselves. Chartouny’s return to the court did not beget much offensively, but he still contributed. “He certainly will play better,” said Coach Neubauer. “We want him shooting the ball, but obviously… he helped us in other ways,” He finished the game with five rebounds, and led the team with five assists and three steals.

Outside of Anderson and Chartouny, Sengfelder also played a big role with one of his best games of the season, scoring 16 points on 5-9 shooting, including 2-4 from deep. With this victory, the Rams seemed to be turning things around. On Sunday, the Rams faced a different level of competition, when the Dayton Flyers visited the Rose Hill Gymnasium. Dayton came into the game having received nine votes in the AP Poll, were 10th in RPI and in second place in the A-10. They certainly performed like it. The game played out much like Fordham’s game earlier in the week, but this time the roles were reversed. The Flyers scored on a fast break layup just over a minute into play to start the scoring, and led until the final buzzer. The game slipped away early, with Dayton leading 15-2 before the fans had fully settled in their seats. Most of this deficit was the result of turnovers by Chartouny and freshman forward Jesse Bunting. Dayton ended with 15 points off turnovers in the game. “To beat Dayton — this is the

team picked to win the league — we can’t have any live ball turnovers for the game,” said Neubauer. “And we had at least three live ball turnovers in the first four minutes.” The Rams would end the game with 14 turnovers. While they did lose, the Rams did not play that poorly overall, but they just could not recover from the early deficit. Fordham repeatedly rebuffed Dayton’s attempts to pull away, cutting the lead to just seven on a dunk by senior forward Ryan Rhoomes with 2:32 left to play. However, that was as close as they would get. The real offender here was the Rams’ offense, as their defense was rather solid. “I loved our half-court defense in both halves,” commented Neubauer. “Both defenses… man to man and zone, were terrific.” Fordham managed to force 15 turnovers, and held Dayton to 38.1 percent shooting from the field in the second half. Rhoomes had a solid game for the Rams, leading the effort with 14 points and six rebounds. This was Rhoomes’ 17th game with double digit scoring out of the 18 played. The rest of the offense did not rise to the occasion, however, shooting only 37 percent from the field, and just 27 percent from three. Senior guard Mandell Thomas took 12 shots from beyond the arc, but only sank three, and a still rusty Chartouny was just 3-8 from the field. With the split home stand, the Rams sit at 11-7 overall, and 2-5 in conference play. This is Fordham’s first time reaching 11 wins since the 2007-2008 season. The Rams will look to get their first road win when they travel to take on the University of Rhode Island on Wednesday Feb. 22, at 7 p.m.

Women’s Basketball Falls to Davidson By SAM BELDEN SPORTS EDITOR

For most students, winter break is a time of rest and relaxation, but that did not hold true for members of the Fordham women’s basketball team. Head coach Stephanie Gaitley’s squad played eight games over the four-week period, posting a record of five wins and three losses. Notably, the Rams began their slate of Atlantic 10 matchups, which runs until the end of the season. They came up short against St. Bonaventure and Duquesne but pulled off wins over Davidson, George Mason and Saint Joseph’s. Last Wednesday the Rams traveled down to North Carolina for a rematch against Davidson, this time in the home team’s Belk Arena. Like the first time the two teams squared off, the game was not especially competitive, but this time it was the Wildcats who came out on top. In the entire game, they trailed for just 87 seconds, beating Fordham into submission by a final score of 69-51. The game started off well enough for Fordham. Freshman guard Lauren Holden hit a jumper for the first score of the game. Thirty seconds later, junior forward Danielle Burns scored from beyond the arc to give the Rams a three-point advantage.

THE RAM ARCHIVES

Fordham Women’s Basketball went 3-2 over winter break to start Atlantic 10 play, but fell to Davidson on Wednesday.

That was their high-water mark. Davidson went on a 7-0 run to open up a lead it would never relinquish. Still, Fordham remained competitive and trailed by just two at the end of the quarter. Fordham and Davidson traded blows throughout the second period, with the latter’s lead remaining at two with 5:26 until halftime. However, a three-pointer from forward Mackenzie Latt sparked a 9-0 run for the Wildcats, putting them up by 11. Fordham, meanwhile, missed three shots over that stretch. A three-pointer from Holden put the Rams back within eight, and the

halftime score was 31-23. Another three from Holden put Fordham within five to start the third quarter, but Davidson once again wasted no time in finding its groove. While the Rams missed a pair of long-range shots and turned the ball over twice, the Wildcats went on another 9-0 run, putting the deficit at 16. Thanks in part to three-pointers from Holden and junior guard Hannah Missry, the Rams moved back to within eight, but Davidson responded and held a 12-point lead through three quarters. Fordham would never be as close

to the lead again. Davidson scored the opening two buckets, and while another three from Holden put the Rams back within 13, they were simply unable to keep up. The Wildcats extended their lead to 20 points before the quarter was halfway done. Late-game three-pointers from Missry and sophomore guard Britt Zappeij cut into the deficit, but it was too late. Davidson won the game by a margin of 18 points. Holden was the biggest contributor for Fordham, scoring 14 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists. Senior forward Samantha Clark also played an important

role, scoring 10 points and adding a block and two steals. On the other side, Latt and forward Dakota Dukes delivered for Davidson, scoring 19 points each and combining for 15 rebounds. Ultimately, poor shooting was the biggest reason for Fordham’s loss. The Rams shot just 30.6 percent from the field and 23.7 percent from beyond the arc; those numbers contrast sharply with Davidson’s 47.3 and 55.6 percent. In addition, Fordham was better with holding on to the ball, committing fewer turnovers than Davidson, but was unable to take advantage. In the end, the result was a big win for the Wildcats, one that evened the season series. With the loss, Fordham moved to 3-3 in conference play, currently tied for fifth place in the A-10. The Rams face a tough road ahead: George Washington, St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis and Duquesne are currently a combined 24-3 in conference play, and all but the latter lie ahead on Fordham’s schedule. This Wednesday, the team will travel to Virginia to face off against the VCU Rams, currently 2-4 in the A-10. Then, Fordham will return to Rose Hill Gym for a Saturday home game against Rhode Island.