The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 Volume 98, Issue 15
To Be Muslim On Campus By YASMIN MERCHANT STAFF WRITER
In early September, New York witnessed a series of Islamophobic attacks — mostly against women. In Brooklyn, two Muslim mothers were pushing their children in strollers when they were attacked by a woman telling them to “get the **** out of America ****.” Days later, a man set fire to a Scottish Muslim tourist’s clothes while she was shopping on Fifth Avenue. For some Muslim students on campus, the fear is, especially for those who are more visibly affiliated with the religion by wearing garments. “Whenever there was an attack, I’d be afraid that if I go downtown, I may be a victim of a hate crime,” said Muslim student Raaheela Yusuf, FCRH ’20, who wears a hijab, in an interview with The Fordham Ram. “My mother would always tell me to be careful and to be aware of my surroundings.” She remembers a friend who began wearing a hijab in high school, and the extra measures her friend went to keep herself safe. “She has been carrying around pepper spray with her everywhere she goes,” Yusuf said. For Sumaiya Islam, FCRH ’19, formerly a practicing Muslim who donned a hijab, the question whether to wear it at Ground Zero when she went to visit with her family was obvious. “I was scared of hate that I would receive because of it,” she said. Recent events have only exacerbated her anxiety. “When I found out about the woman whose hijab had been set on fire on Fifth Ave, I felt sick,” Islam said. Even though Islam herself is no longer practices her faith, she fears discrimination and how it could affect her and her family. “That could’ve been my mom, my friends, any of my relatives or people I know,” Islam said. Joan Cavanagh, director of Interfaith Ministry, said this fear is common and justified. “WhenevSEE ISLAMOPHOBIA, PAGE 3
in this issue
Opinion Page 7 Expensive Access Codes Burden Students
Culture Page 12
The Role of Social Media in Political Campaigns
Sports Page 20
Football Beats UPenn 31-17 in Homecoming Game
FordhamRam.com
September 28, 2016
News Analysis
Faculty Senate Invites Expert to Assess Spending
An Insight Into Fordham’s Finances By LAURA SANICOLA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
In the midst of an ongoing dispute between the Faculty Senate and administration over the legality of the faculty salary imposition, the Faculty Senate sponsored a comprehensive analysis of Fordham’s financial condition directed by Dr. Howard Bunsis. Bunsis, the chair of the Collective Bargaining Congress of the American Association of University Professors and Professor of Accounting at Eastern Michigan University, has audited more than 10 universities and colleges including Rutgers University, San Jose State University and Portland University. Fordham Faculty Senate hired Beth Margolis, JD, counsel, according to Faculty Senate president Dr. Anne Fernald. According to Bunsis, the univeristy holds its own financially.“They’re in solid financial shape and I don’t think [administration] would argue difSEE FINANCES, PAGE 6
Political Clubs Join For Debate By THERESA SCHLIEP CO-NEWS EDITOR
Political organizations on campus such as the Fordham Political Review, United Student Government, College Democrats and College Republicans co-sponsored a screening of the debate between presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The room was packed to capacity with students who hollered at Trump’s demand for Clinton to “release her emails” as well as Clinton’s jab that “[A] man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his fingers anywhere near the nuclear codes.” Some students said the debate only solidified who they plan to vote for. “Well, I was already planning on voting for Hillary, and my decision was only reaffirmed,” said Parker Bartoloni, FCRH ’20. “I don’t know why anyone would ever vote for Donald Trump, if anything I think he did a good job imploding himself. She just kind of sat there and
SEE DEBATE, PAGE 3
JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM
Dr. Bunsis broke down Fordham’s audited financial statements to explain where money was being spent.
Grad Assistant Plan Unionization Efforts By ANDREA GARCIA PHOTO EDITOR
As a recent National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision in favor of graduate student workers continues to echo amongst private universities, the Fordham graduate student workers have begun their drive to unionize with a town hall this past Friday, Sept. 23. Present at the meeting were undergraduate and graduate students from various academic departments. Boyda Johnstone, a graduate student and current postdoctoral teaching fellow defined a union. Prior to the NLRB’s decision in
August, graduate students were legally considered apprentices rather than employees. Therefore, they could not unionize. Now that graduate students in private universities are considered both students and workers, Fordham graduate students have the opportunity to voice their opinions on working conditions without the threat of losing their jobs. “The work we do here is legitimate and important on its own terms. We are research assistants, writing center tutors and teachers,” Johnstone said. Because the apprenticeship model is outdated, many Fordham graduate students spend their time putting in not only manual, but also emotional labor in their deal-
ings with undergraduates and faculty members. “While everything we do in the university could be considered a labor of love, it is still labor,” said Johnstone. The graduate student community found out at the State of the Graduate School of Social Sciences meeting that health care subsidies will be removed in the upcoming year. Many students in the program do not receive family leave and depend on their partners for a sustainable income. Johnson hoped the unionization can foster better relationships and solidarity in releasing future grievances. SEE UNION, PAGE 5
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PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS Sept. 20 The Marketplace 3 p.m. A student lost his wallet in the McGinley Marketplace. The credit card in the wallet was then used to purchase Metro cards at the 3rd Avenue station. The student received text messages from his bank notifying him of the purchases and contacted the bank alerting them that he was not the one using the card.
September 28, 2016
Journal From Abroad
A Student Learns Leisure in Aix-en-Provence, France
FROM DEBATES, PAGE 1
Sept. 21 Campbell Hall 7:30 p.m. Student activated a fire alarm by burning food on the stove. Building supervisors responded along with the FDNY. The building was evacuated and the alarm was reset. There were no injuries or damages. Sept. 22 O’Hare Hall 7:30 p.m. A smoke alarm was activated in the fifth floor stairwell of O’Hare Hall. Public Safety and the FDNY responded, and the building was evacuated. FDNY determined that the alarm was activated by someone smoking in the stairwell. Sept. 23 Alumni Court South 11:05 a.m. Two students got into a fight on campus. The students both received minor cuts, but only one was brought to St. Barnabas Hospital by FUEMS where he was treated and released. The other student refused medical aid. Sept. 26 Times Square 7:30 p.m. A student left his bag on a bench of a subway platform before boarding the train. He returned to the station to find his bag missing. The bag contained the student’s Mac laptop. With the help of NYPD, the student tracked the computer to a location, and the NYPD is currently investigating. — Compiled by Michael Byrne
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Clubs Screen Debates
COURTESY OF FLICKR
Writer Helen Ziminsky discovered a Parisian attitude of leisure while studying abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France.
By HELEN ZIMINSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In the little French university town of Aix-en-Provence, known as the City of a Thousand Fountains, the phrase “in a square near a fountain and a cafe” describes pretty much every single place one could possibly be. So far, I have been perpetually lost, which has resulted in many conversations like this: “Where are you?” “Um… I’m not sure, in a square near a fountain and a cafe?” Growing up, I thought all cities were like New York: huge with mile high buildings set on a nice, predictable grid plan. I thought they were cities where there is never a reason to feel lost because any and every street sign pinpoints your exact location on a map. Today, sitting in Aix, a town in the south of France, I can’t help but laugh at myself. Here, the city streets are narrow and winding, playing tricks on my already feeble sense of direction. Oftentimes I find myself walking in a circle without even realizing
it. I weave through tiny squares crammed with cafe tables, certain I’ve never seen this part of the city, just to round the corner and be right in front of my most visited patissiere. There is simply no getting from point A to point B, a stark and jarring difference between the medieval Aix and the Bronx. Over the past few weeks, Aix has forced me to become comfortable feeling lost. I knew going abroad was going to force me out of my admittedly narrow comfort zone. I knew I was going to be living with a French family, speaking exclusively French and attending classes taught entirely in French. However, I never anticipated just how disorienting it would be to live in a French city. The way Aix is constructed seems to reflect the way in which the Aixoise live, contextualizing and slowly revealing the intricacies of French culture. The streets are brimming with life, cafes spilling out their doors and into the cobblestone roads, which are built just as much for pedestrians as they are for cars. It’s clear to my New Yorker eyes that these streets were not built for efficiency, as was my beloved grid
plan. But why would they be? The people here are not concerned with finding the most efficient route from one place to another, and of, course their city would mirror that. Every morning, I’m forced to find a new path using my few homebases (home, school, the telephone store where I have wifi) as rough orienting points and from there it’s dead reckoning. As long as I know vaguely where I am and where I need to be, I go. It’s taken all of three weeks for me to finally learn to appreciate that. The city encourages a leisurely pace, offering a new and quintissential French view around every bend. The tiny cobblestone streets dotted with people enjoying their city from a cafe in plain air or perched on the edge of a babbling fountain, taking their time to truly appreciate their city, remind me to be where I am in the moment rather than speeding, head-down toward my destination as I’ve become so used to in New York. These narrow, illogically laid and undeniably beautiful streets, lined with the signature yellow buildings of southern France are just as much for living as is one’s destination.
not politically active to participate in democracy. “It gets people who maybe don’t realize the importance of elections and how important it is to vote,” said Werner. The treasurer of College Democrats, Sean Todd, FCRH ’19, said the importance of co-sponsored events lies in discussion between college democrats and college republicans. “We never really see each other,” said Todd. “So it’s pretty cool that we get to come together.” “It shows we can still have a civil and political conversation,” said Thomas Palumbo, FCRH ’17. “As heated and polarizing as this can get, we’re still capable of sitting down and talking about the issues and being in a room together without it exploding.” Matthew Johnson, FCRH ’17, and vice president of college republicans said he felt this program showed that members of College Democrats and College Republicans are one entity. “We have class together, we live together, its not like we’re two separate entities,” said Johnson. “We’re all Fordham students. It reminds us we don’t have to hate each other, even though we have opposing political views. Johnson also said events like might encourage quieter students to not feel isolated because of their political ideology “Every class has that one kid who always answers every question and is always talking to the professor,” said Johnson. “I feel if they’re an outspoken member of either side of the party, the less introverted people may not have the courage or feel unable to speak up, especially as a Republican on a college campus. Opportunities like this provide discourse and conversation.” Though he finds the election frustrating, Johnson said he had not yet lost any friends over the election. “Tom and I can still hug,” said Johnson. The next presidential debate is Sunday, Oct. 9 at 9 p.m.
This Week at Fordham Wednesday Sept. 28
Thursday Sept. 29
Friday Sept. 30
Monday Oct. 3
Tuesday Oct. 4
Student Life Council Meeting
Say Their Names: Prayer and Action
Free Cake for Every Creature
CAB Presents: Star Trek Beyond
Rita Cassella Jones Lecture
The Theology Department, ASILI, Fordham Students United and other groups will hold a prayer and action for racial justice at the University Church.
Rodrigue’s Coffee House will hold their first concert of the fall, featuring Free Cake for Every Creature and other performances from student groups.
Campus Activities Board will show Star Trek Beyond, a 2016 science fiction film starring Chris Pine and Zoe Saldana and produced by J.J. Abrams.
Barbara Reid, professor of New Testament studies, is presenting her annual lecture in which she discusses a feminist interpretation of the New Testament.
Bepler Commons 2:30 p.m. — 4:30 p.m.
The Student Life Council Executive Board is hosting a town hall in which all students are welcome to attend. The agenda includes dining services and diversity month.
University Church 1:30 p.m. — 2:30 p.m.
Rodrigue’s Coffee House 3 p.m. — 4 p.m.
Keating First 8:30 p.m. — 11:30 p.m.
Tognino Hall 6 p.m. — 8 p.m.
NEWS
September 28, 2016
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Muslim Students Voice Concerns for Safety FROM ISLAMOPHOBIA, PAGE 1
er there is an attack perpetrated by a Muslim, the women who wear hijabs have told me in the past they have gotten some comments which have been uncomfortable,” she said. Comments made by presidential candidate Donald Trump cause Yusuf to feel uneasy, particularly after his call for a ban on Muslims entering America. “One of my biggest fears is that [Trump] will become president,” Yusuf said. “I’m afraid that he will find a way to kick us out and we will have nowhere to go. We will become like the refugees that no one wants.” Islam wants to perpetuate knowledge about her former religion and dispel the notion that it is intrinsically associated with ISIS. “I wish people weren’t so hateful and ignorant,” Islam said. Before 9/11, Muslims were one of the least targeted irreligious in America. According to the FBI’s annual hate crimes report, hate crimes targeting Muslims jumped 1,600 percent from 2000 to 2001. Over a decade after
9/11, hate crimes against Muslims are still five times more common than they were before 9/11. “Education is key in fighting Islamophobia,” Cavanagh said. “This election and some of the things that are said by some of the candidates have elevated the necessity for education.” Part of Cavanagh and the MSA’s efforts to encourage conversation include an Eid celebration, also known as the Sacrifice Feast at 7 p.m. in the McGinley Ballroom on Sept. 30. The event will include an explanation about what Eid represents to Muslims and how it connects it to Christianity and Judaism. Amira Admani, GSB ’19, a member of the MSA, said though she fears for her safety, she believes the university is a safe space for her. “Living in a society of western culture as a Muslim has become more fearful each day,” she said. “I know that I am safe within the gates of Fordham University, a school where I recognize vast diversity and a sense of acceptance amongst those who are different in ethnicity, religion and culture.”
COURTESY OF FLICKR
Some Muslim students fear for their safety in New York City as they see a culture of Islamophobia increasing.
Debate Brings Political Clubs Together FROM DEBATE, PAGE 1
watched it happen, she didn’t have to do too much about it.” Bartoloni said there is an obligation among students and political groups to vote and to educate, respectively. “I think everyone has an obligation to vote, no matter how they vote, so I think it’s important for these events to happen,” said Bartoloni. “It is really important for colleges to hold events like this because I
think it gets dialogue open and it helps clubs talk to each other,” said Eleanor Werner, FCRH ’18, vice president of College Democrats. “It helps college democrats and college republicans come together and remember we’re here for a bigger purpose.” Werner also said events like these encourage people who are not politically active to participate in democracy. “It gets people who maybe don’t realize the importance of elections and how important it is to vote,” said
Werner. The treasurer of College Democrats, Sean Todd, FCRH ’19, said the importance of co-sponsored events lies in discussion between college democrats and college republicans. “We never really see each other,” said Todd. “So it’s pretty cool that we get to come together.” “It shows we can still have a civil and political conversation,” said Thomas Palumbo, FCRH ’17. “As heated and polarizing as this can get, we’re still capable of sitting down
and talking about the issues and being in a room together without it exploding.” Matthew Johnson, FCRH ’17, and vice president of college republicans said he felt this program showed that members of College Democrats and College Republicans are one entity. “We have class together, we live together, its not like we’re two separate entities,” said Johnson. “We’re all Fordham students. It reminds us we don’t have to hate each other, even though we have opposing political views.
Johnson also said events like might encourage quieter students to not feel isolated because of their political ideology. “Every class has that one kid who always answers every question and is always talking to the professor,” said Johnson. “I feel if they’re an outspoken member of either side of the party, the less introverted people may not have the courage or feel unable to speak up, especially as a Republican on a college campus. Opportunities like this provide discourse and conversation.”
Don’t Forget: Recycle The Ram
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NEWS
Annual Festivus Fordhamensis Showcases Student Talent
By HANNAH GONZALEZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER
On Sept. 21, various vocal groups and a hip hop club demonstrated their talent in the Club Showcase. The event was part of Fordham’s annual Festivus Fordhamensis, a series of pre-homecoming festivities leading up to Saturday’s homecoming football game. “I’d say that primary goal [of Festivus Fordhamensis] is to get students excited about homecoming weekend,” said Allison Kilbride, GSB '19, United Student Government vice president of student life. Kilbride was responsible for putting together this year’s Festivus. “Students are excited,” she said. “We all come out and enjoy the nice weather. It’s a fun week.” The showcase was held on the steps of Keating. To start off the
entertainment, Stephen Kipp, FCRH ‘18, of the the Fordham Experimental Theatre club, was the first to take the stage. “I’m the only one here from my club. Everyone else is off experimenting,” Kipp said. After a brief comedy routine, he introduced the second act of the show. The b-sides performed “Pillowtalk” by Zayn Malik and “Wait for It” from Hamilton. Next up was the Satin Dolls, the only all-girl group in the showcase, who sang Meghan Trainor’s “The Best Part” and Gallant’s “Weight in Gold.” The Hot Notes performed throwback hits “The Way You Look Tonight” and “Mercy,” as well as “Hotline Bling.” The showcase’s sole non-vocal group was Fordham Flava, who performed a student-choreographed number. Finally, the show closed with a performance by Fordham’s lon-
Photo of the Week
September 28, 2016
COURTESY OF UNITED STUDENT GOVERNMENT
United Student Government hosted the event, in which peformance oriented groups showed off their skills.
gest-standing club, the Ramblers, who belted out “Short Skirt/
ANDREA GARCIA/THE FORDHAM RAM
The view of Manhattan from Pier A, a park and popular site in Hoboken for free movie screenings and picnics.
Long Jacket” and “Dancing in the Moonlight.” Attendees of the festival were impressed by the assortment of talent showcased throughout the evening. “The talent of some of the people was pretty outstanding,” said Gabriela Christensen, FCRH ’20. “I liked hearing different genres covered by the a capella groups, and I really enjoyed the different styles of hip hop from Flava,” said Kaylee Kurkierewicz, FCRH ’20. The annual Club Showcase is part of USG’s effort to demonstrate the value of student involvement in the Fordham community. “[The festival] is focused on student involvement,” said Kilbride. “We want students to see how it really adds to their experience as a whole to be involved in the community.” This purpose was not lost on a number of students in attendance. “After seeing Flava kill it, I think it’d be awesome to be on a team like that,” Kurkierewicz said. Performers had messages of their own to share. “We want to show our audience different perspectives of songs and how they can be performed,” said Brendan Caulfield, FCRH '17, of the Hot Notes.
Fellow Hot Notes member Claire Becker, FCRH ‘19, expressed satisfaction about how the evening went. “All of it was really fun stuff. And getting to debut was great,” said Becker. Kilbride was equally pleased with the showcase, stating, “We definitely had a lot more people in attendance than in previous years, which was amazing.” The festivities continued with Maroon Zone on Thursday and the President’s Ball on Friday, all culminating in Saturday’s football game against University of Pennsylvania.
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Campus Briefs & Bites Justice Ginsburg Speaks at Law School
Panel Discusses Issues of Intersectionality
Lincoln Center Opens New Student Facility
University Holds Annual Convocation
More than 300 people gathered on Tuesday, Sept. 20 to watch U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg discuss her experiences in the field of law. The discussion was moderated by Fordham Law School professor Aaron Saiger and sponsored by the Fordham Law Review as a part of the Robert L. Levine Distinguished Lecture Series. Ginsburg was appointed a Supreme Court Justice by former President Bill Clinton, and is the second woman to work in the position. Ginsburg spoke about her previous work as the director of the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project and as a distinguished judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Ginsburg spoke about the issue of gender equality in America and in the legal field. Ginsburg also discussed her friendship with the late Justice Scalia. She also told the audience that she hoped the Senate would allow a ninth judge to be affirmed by the end of the current term.
On Sept. 23, various departments at Fordham and the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation hosted the conference, “After Obergefell: Religious Communities, LGBTQ People, and the Possibilities for Reconciliation.” As a part of the conference, activists and scholars came together for a panel on the topics of race, faith and sexuality. Rev. Cedric Harmon, co-director of Many Voices: A Black Movement for Gay and Transgender Justice, was on the panel and spoke of his experiences during a recent trip to Liberia. Justin Lee, executive director of Gay Christian Network, was also on the panel and discussed the issue of racism within the gay community. Panelist Amina Wadud, Ph.D., an adjunct professor at the Starr King School for the Ministry, spoke about how people should be wary of applying Western values to non-Western traditions, such as seeing Muslim women wearing burkas as oppressive.
Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus has opened the Quinn Library, a new area that can be used for study purposes. The space is located at 140 West 62nd Street, and was once the Fordham Law School. The facility includes a three-story library, a lounge and cafe for students, open space for possible class activities and centers for career counseling and health counseling. The area will also house Lincoln Center’s Gabelli School of Business and contains lecture halls, labs and a trading room with financial data terminals. The space was designed with the purpose of being energy efficient and allowing for natural light. The facility also contains group study spaces and larger event areas that can be used for speakers and by clubs. The space also allows students to socialize and use ample space for studying. Ultimately, 570,000 square feet was added to Fordham Univeristy Lincoln Center.
Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, addressed the university community in the annual convocation. Held at both Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses on Sept. 19, he discussed Fordham's 175 year history and the university's founder, Archbishop John Hughes. He also said that the Middle States Association accredited the university without further recommendations nor follow up visits. Additionally, he discussed increases in applications and enrollment in both the undergraduate schools and in some of the university's graduate schools. McShane noted the opening of 140 West at Lincoln Center and said there are renovations planned for the Rose Hill Campus. He detailed plans for the celebration of Fordham's dodransbicentennial, including a second mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral and a football game against College of the Holy Cross at Yankee Stadium.
September 28, 2016
LGBTQ Community Responds to Harassment By VICTOR ORDONEZ and MIKE BYRNE Progressive Students for Justice: Women’s Empowerment (PSJ: Women’s Empowerment) hosted “SpeakOut Against Homophobia” on the McGinley lawn. Students and allies of the LGBTQ community voiced their concerns about the Sept. 23 incident in Finlay Hall, where three LGBTQ roommates found a harassing comment written on their door’s whiteboard. During the speak-out, students discussed fears for their safety, as well as acceptance among the Fordham community. Some students said the speak-out was an effective medium to voice the concerns of the community. General Coordinator of PSJ: Women’s Empowerment Tina McCain, FCRH ’18, spoke about the purpose of the event. “I think the speak-out was a crucial way to address instances of homophobia on campus, specifically the incident in Finlay,” McCain said. “It was a way for allies and LGBTQ folks at Fordham to come together in solidarity against attitudes of hate and oppression.” Gina Foley, FCRH ’18, said there is an element of exclusion in the Catholic church as well as at the university. “It feels like Fordham doesn’t want us here,” Foley said. “I know that I belong in the LGBTQ community and at Fordham. I know that I belong in
the Catholic community, but they don’t want me here. I see this all the time, and it hurts.” Foley also said there are allies of the LGBTQ community at Fordham, but who there is no one in relative power that would stand up and speak out for this community on campus. Christopher Rodgers, dean of students, was in attendance. Rodgers did not speak at the event, and club member Becca Erwin, FCRH ’18, found his presence to be unhelpful. “He could have had a good presence here,” Erwin said after the event. “He could have gotten up and spoken as a representative of the administration… instead he just stood there.” General Coordinator of PSJ: Women’s Empowerment Sarah Lundell, FCRH ’17, spoke about the attitude of the greater Fordham community. “While it was refreshing to see our community and allies organizing and speaking openly about the difficulties they face both at Fordham and in their day-to-day lives, the rest of the student body has remained apathetic,” Lundell said. “From the lack of representation in core curriculum to housing policies that ignore or even endanger queer students, it is clear that although Fordham claims to be a welcoming Jesuit university, it fails to uphold cura personalis for LGBTQ students and other marginalized identities.”
ANDREA GARCIA/THE FORDHAM RAM
Students held a speak-out against homophobia on the lawn of McGinley.
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ANDREA GARCIA/FORDHAM RAM
Fordham has adopted a new phone app in order to make buying food at the university’s vendors more efficient.
University Adopts Mobile Ordering App By KATHRYN ROBERTS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Fordham has adopted a new app in order to make ordering food at the university’s food vendors more efficient. In the wake of changes to its food service provider, Fordham has launched free mobile ordering for various venues on campus via a free cell phone application called Tapingo. After downloading Tapingo, customers enter basic information, select Fordham University as their campus and scan their credit or debit card. Students can then order food on the application from Urban Kitchen, Cosi, A Crust Above and Salt & Sesame. The eateries’ list their full menus, along with pricing information. Available payment options include dining dollars, debit cards and credit cards. Once customers choose their
meal selections from the app, the app provides a wait time until their meals are ready to be picked up. According to Deming Yaun, Fordham University dining contract liaison, Tapingo has had up to 451 registrations since its launch on campus this fall. Yaun said Cosi and Urban Kitchen are the most popular eateries used by Tapingo. Recently, many U.S. colleges and universities adopted the app on their respective campuses. These colleges include Syracuse University, The George Washington University and New York University. The objective of the app is to provide easier ways for college students to get food. “People waste too much time waiting, worrying and wondering what could have been. We think there’s a better way,” Tapingo’s website reads. The company is in the process of expanding its boundaries
beyond of the universities and colleges it currently manages. While a majority of the company’s reviews remain positive, some are not sure they would use the application based off of struggles with the processing of orders. “Imagine you’re starving, but you only have 15 minutes to get a buffalo wrap you’ve been craving all day,” said Daniella Christ, GSB ’18. “You get to Urban Kitchen and they haven’t checked the app to process your order yet.” Reviews for the application are mixed. According to The Daily Wildcat, Arizona University’s school newspaper, some students view the app unfavorable as many have claimed an increase of Tapingo users at the university has not decreased wait times at all. However, many Fordham students are already taking an interest in the app. “I think it’s useful and I could see myself using it,” said Isabella Mascio, FCRH ′20.
Graduate Assistants Make Plans to Unionize National Labor Relations Board Ruling Echos on Campus FROM UNION, PAGE 1
“There is also a Jesuitical basis for unionization. If workers can join together for the common good, they can fight for a broader social justice, which is within the Jesuit principles on which our university rests,” said Johnson. To give an insight on the unionization process, Ella Wind, a second year graduate student in sociology at New York University (NYU) devoted her time to the town hall. Serving as NYU’s bargaining chair and unit co-chair in the first year of contract, she advised the union needs to be “organized, persistent and strategic” to
make future plans successful. In NYU’s case, there was a previous union contract at NYU that only protected specific graduate students. Among those excluded were a group of international engineering students who lacked proper visas could only work for the university. They were paid $10 per hour by the university for completing the contracted work of private companies. This led to a union contract. Wind accounts how the student’s salary increased to $15 in the first year of contract, and effectively doubled in the second year. Wind said there are more battles
to be won after a union contract falls in place. At NYU, this plague fell in the form of a three-year-tuition remission. Upon registration, students had to pay out of pocket for a one credit doctoral advising free to stay enrolled in the university’s graduate program. This “ghost course,” as Wind calls it, resulted in an official grievance presented to the administration. Within this past month, the graduate students won their case, and there are no more advising fees at NYU. The growing trend of union density in metropolitan areas shows that Fordham graduate students
are not alone in their initiative. “And that’s why I’m really excited to be speaking here at Fordham,” said Wind. “It would be really exciting to see NYC as a totally unionized area. It becomes more than the sum of its parts.” Philosophy P.h.D Student Nicholas Berry continued the discussion to elaborate on what the specific details of the contract would be. He pointed out nine individual clauses to define contract coverage, financial details, health and personal benefits, and a procedure to file potential grievances. These specific terms will evolve as the union drive progresses.
The Fordham Student Workers Organization put forward the statement in regards to future action: “We look forward to this conversation growing and deepening in sophistication and effectiveness as we move forward with the support of all of Fordham’s students, adjuncts and full-time faculty,” Berry said. “Our progress depends on intercampus and interdepartmental solidarity, as well as future organizing efforts.” Following this town hall discussion, the organization will be hosting biweekly meetings to revisit the current state of its progress.
NEWS
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September 28, 2016
Faculty Members Look Into Fordham’s Financial Situation FROM FACULTY, PAGE 1
ferently.” Fordham has the sixth highest bond rating (A2) out of 22 categories, according to a Moody’s report in March 2016. The report cited that Fordham was in a “very good market position as a prominent Jesuit institution” and that it had “consistent growth in net tuition revenue” and “strong fundraising to support capital investment and operations.” The university has $569 million in operating expenses in 2015, according to audited financial statements. Moody’s cited Fordham’s
challenges as “thinning operating margins,” “high leverage” and “heavy dependence on student charge revenue in a competitive market.” The university has a 55 percent debt ratio index, which Bunsis described as “high.” He attributed the debt ratio to the university’s borrowing to finance a “building boom.” From 2008-2015, the university spent $550.6 million on capital assets and buildings, according to audited financial statements. The university has also shifted much of its portfolio into the riskiest securities, including nonpublic equity funds, hedge
funds and private equity funds. By 2015, 2/3 of the university’s portfolio was in the riskiest securities, according to Bunsis’ analysis of Fordham’s audited financial statements. In the same time period, Fordham’s portfolio under performed the S&P 500 by 2.5 percent. Revenue Sources According to Bunsis, student tuition increase continuations to be the largest revenue generator and has remained at an average of 72 percent of total revenue for the last 6 years. Auxiliaries, such as housing, dining, bookstore, student union, parking, athlet-
ics, account for 13 percent of the revenue. The remaining 15 percent of revenue comes from investment income, grants and contracts, contributions and gifts. Spending In 2015, Fordham spent 38 percent of its expenses on instruction, which includes the salaries of those who teach classes. Institutional support, which includes upper level administration, received 12 percent of the budget. Auxiliaries received 15 percent, and student support, including admissions and student organizations, received 13 percent. Academic support, including deans salaries, library services and advising, received 13 percent. Public service and research received 3 percent of the revenue each. Faculty Concern While the percent of instructional salaries and benefits of the total salaries for Fordham employees has decreased from 54.1 percent in 2008 to 51.8 percent in 2015 — a differnece of 2.3 percent, instituitonal support salaries as a percent of total Fordham salaries increased from 12.2 percent to 13.7 percent during that same time period - a difference of 1.6 percent, according to data from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is a system of interrelated surveys conducted annually by the National Center for Education Statistics(NCES). The faculty senate proposed a 2.7 percent increase in their salaries
for the 2016-2017 academic year and received a 2.1 percent increase. Larger total salary increases for administration than for faculty every year but one since 2008, and of the President’s 12-member leadership team, only one represents the academic voice. The faculty also took issue with the composition of the president’s leadership team, which includes 12 upper level administrators and vice presidents. Only one administrator — the provost — represents the voice of the faculty. Administrative Response Bob Howe, vice president of communications, said he has not yet reviewed Bunsis’ analysis but provided the following statement. “More than 90 percent of Fordham’s operating budget derives from tuition and other student funds (to put Fordham’s finances in perspective, our endowment is only 4.5 percent of the average Ivy League endowment). Among the many other demands upon the operating budget are three that the student press has recently written or inquired about: full-time faculty salaries, adjunct faculty pay, and tuition increases. It’s fairly obvious that those three issues are interrelated. The University’s task is to find a balance among those three items, as well as all the other demands on the University.”
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OPINION
Page 7
The Fordham Ram
Pricey Digital Codes Don’t Access Educational Benefits By MARGARITA ARTOGLOU OPINION EDITOR
Last semester, I took several classes where the assigned readings were almost all available as PDFs on Blackboard or ARES. In fact, other than a couple of small, used books, I barely purchased any reading materials at all. I would have spent under $50 that semester, had it not been for my Spanish class’ required digital access code. Anyone who has taken Spanish here at Fordham understands the torture that is MySpanishLab — a seemingly innocuous program that becomes the bane of any Spanish student’s existence by the end of the semester. The pain is magnified when you remember that you have spent close to $100 for the program. Sure, the access code is packaged with the specially-madefor-Fordham textbook, but the physical book is so flimsy that it is impossible to imagine the cost of production is anywhere near the sticker price. The real cost is for the MySpanishLab access code, which is not supplemental nor shareable — every student needs his or her own unique code in order to complete the homework, which counts for part of the final grade. Digital access codes are required in every sense of the word. When I see required books on my syllabi, I usually do a bit of searching for the book in the library or for a free online version. On one occasion, when only a couple of chapters were needed from a particular vol-
ume, I asked a classmate if I could borrow his or hers. I do everything in my power to not have to drop a ton of cash on books. But I could not work my way out of buying access codes. No Fordham student can, because the homework assigned on these online platforms usually accounts for five to 10 percent of one’s final grade. These codes are usually required for core curriculum classes as well, so they are unavoidable. These codes do not come cheap, presenting a problem for students who already face sky-high costs. Colleges should move away from access codes, especially when they do not have any clear purpose other than to increase revenue for the campus bookstore. There are so many ways around these digital access codes. Instructors usually assign homework from the book anyway, which is often more helpful than the online homework. MySpanishLab was often more of a headache than a help. In my Spanish classes, we never went over the homework that had been done on MySpanishLab. Instead, we discussed assignments from the textbook and additional sources. Sometimes, the preset assignments on MySpanishLab would fall out of sync with the lessons we did in class, resulting in assignments I was unequipped to complete that were due at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday night, despite the fact that I would not learn how to conjugate in the particular tense necessary for the assignment until Friday.
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On top of having to purchase expensive textbooks, many college students are burdened with paying for access codes.
Even if the codes are used to the greatest of their ability, the payoff is low. All of the actual learning happened in the classroom during discussions and lessons, while the online homework assignments were a way to practice what we learned. However, the assignments were short and redundant. They were simple and not revolutionary in any way. I still ask myself why it was necessary to pay $100 to do a few weeks of Spanish fill-in-theblanks. Some might argue that $100 for an access code is a mere drop in the bucket compared to the cost of other academic materials, tu-
ition and residential fees. While that might be true, access codes are completely unnecessary, since the class focus is almost always on book material rather than online material. Getting rid of access codes would make it financially easier on college students and would also allow instructors to focus on one kind of assignment instead of trying to split their attention between online and on-paper grades. Access codes are probably not leaving anytime soon, especially because students cannot buy these school-specific materials on Amazon or Chegg and are forced
to drop some cash at the campus bookstore. If schools are going to be insistent about access codes, there should be a compelling reason for doing so. So far, my Spanish classes are the only ones that have required an access code, but other students have not been as lucky. In order to justify such high price tags, Fordham and other schools that implement access codes should find programs that truly improve the course and the learning process. Margarita Artoglou, FCRH ’18, is a communication and media studies major from Queens.
Condesending to Millennial Voters Through Social Media
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Snapchat and TurboVote partnered to roll out a program targeted at helping millennials register to vote in the election.
By KRISTEN SANTER OPINION EDITOR
“How does your student loan debt make you feel? Tell us in three emojis or less.” This August tweet from Hilary Clinton immediately evoked public back lash. Although the tweet was sent over
a year ago, this type of rhetoric has been infused throughout the 2016 presidential election in the hopes of convincing millennials to vote. While emojis and memes are hysterical and will certainly be our defining contributions to pop culture, tweets such as this are condescending.
The latest ploy derives from the popular millennial app Snapchat, which offers one-minute voter registration. Celebrities such as Dwayne Johnson and Jimmy Fallon recorded videos demonstrating how to use the app, encouraging young people to vote. This marks one too many patronizing attempts
from older generations that are convinced that millennials only communicate through social media and memes. Tumblr also recently included banners on their website that reminded users of National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 27, which offers encouragement to millennials without seeming condescending. Conversely, Snapchat advertised the streamlined registration and celebrity endorsement, as if millennials would not be interested in registering to vote unless the process was as short as possible and has our favorite celebrities to entertain us along the way. A one-minute voter registration tactic will not convince disillusioned millennials to become involved in a political system that they feel treats them as unimportant and childlike. We are not so easily swayed despite the inherent charm and appeal of Dwayne Johnson. This may come as a shock to everyone over the age of 35, but may millennials actually do want to be politically involved and keep themselves up-to-date with the current events and trends. We, like every other generation, have our own set of grievances that we would like to see addressed in the current election, including rising
student debt and justice for police shootings. A lot of support for Sanders derived from his forthcoming and sincere platform that addressed millennial concerns like the increasing student debt without seeming condescending or patronizing. As a result, Bernie Sanders received his biggest support from millennials, who convened in the thousands to see him during his campaign. Many people were surprised that a 75-year-old Jewish man from Brooklyn connected most with the millennial audience. According to a Gallup poll in May, 55 percent of millennials had a favorable opinion of Sanders, whereas 38 percent had a favorable view of Hillary Clinton and 22 percent of Donald Trump. Gallup categorized millennials as ages 20 to 36. I am tired of being pandered to and hearing words like “adulting” and “entitled millennials.” Our generation recognizes that the game is full of broken promises, and we are fed up with it. I encourage everyone to vote come November, but dumbing down the election is not what should be done to the rising generation. Kristen Santer, FCRH ’17, is a communication and media studies major from Stamford, Connecticut.
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.
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Editor-in-Chief Laura Sanicola Managing Editor Erin Shanahan Business Director Zack Miklos Copy Chief Tara Martinelli Editorial Director Amanda Giglio Assistant Business Director Tyler Dikun Assistant Copy Chief Amanda Maile 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 Photo Editor Andrea Garcia 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 fordhamramopinions@ gmail.com. Commentaries are printed on a space available basis. The Fordham Ram reserves the right to reject any submission for any reason, without notice. Submissions become the exclusive property of The Fordham Ram. The Fordham Ram reserves the right to edit any submissions. The opinions in The Fordham Ram ’s editorials are those of the editorial board; those expressed in articles, letters, commentaries, cartoons or graphics are those of the individual author. No part of The Fordham Ram may be reproduced without written consent.
September 28, 2016
From the Desk | Andrea Garcia
Why I’m Not in Love with Marriage We grow up with a conventional expectation that you go to high school prom, complete your college degree and find a career to set you up through retirement. Somewhere along the way, you’re meant to find the right person to climb all the other steps of life with you. So, you spend thousands of dollars on the Disney wedding you’ve been planning for — because your prince (or princess) finally came. The overlyelaborate wedding cake is topped with the cherry of a marriage certificate as functional as a framed college diploma. However, there’s a stigma that follows choosing to hide from the bandwagon of Pinterest wedding boards and the greedy $54 billion industry. Is it so cynical to believe that someone could aspire for a happilyever-after alone? Well, I do. I’m not saying that I don’t believe in love and relationships, but I don’t think it’s always possible to be with someone for the rest of one’s lifetime. It shouldn’t be so hard to believe when according to the Huffington Post, divorce
rates are only now crawling down, a percentage at a time, from over 50 percents after a 25 year spike, (and yes, that does now include Brangelina.) But the reason for this — that us millennials started getting married at later times in our lives — shows us how people find successes in other aspects of life outside of relationships. Prioritizing other facets of life, such as an education, over marriage should not be seen as selfish. As the average age of married couples continues to increase, so heightens the level of education women pursue. This includes law and medical professional degrees. Speaking as a girl who took notes from Elle Woods, I too would prioritize my law degree over marrying Warner. Establishing one’s professional life is something everyone should ardently pursue, single or not. If I spend six or seven years in school to acquire a law degree, then it’s my focus afterward to put my education to use. Shame on anyone who would try to convince their significant other differently; that just isn’t love. But so it also goes that people
simply change as time goes by. The average age to meet “the one” is somewhere between 17 to 25 years old. That’s only in the first quarter of an individual’s expected lifespan. For better or for worse, the person you fell in love with is not the person they grow to be in the other three quarters of life. And sure, part of marriage is vowing to develop with and to cherish that person anyway, but why make a promise you can’t necessarily keep? If both sides of a relationship truly support each other as individuals and share a strong enough bond to last a lifetime, then that commitment shouldn’t need the validation of a marriage certificate. The patriarchal institution itself has become outdated as the traditional roles of marriage are dissolving. Long gone are the days of “honey, I’m home!” and deciding who will bring the kids from school to soccer while chugging coffee on the way out the door. Just like there are failed legal marriages, there exists successful relationships who don’t
confine themselves to a marital status. What has to change is this idea that marriage is a milestone everyone should reach. I would be happier with a successful career that I can ultimately control than with a relationship that may or may not last. That shouldn’t be looked down upon, and it shouldn’t equate me with some lonely aunt from a Lifetime movie. It only means I have my lifetime to focus on my happily ever after.
Editorial | Media
Putting our Trust Back Into Journalism and the Media
It may seem obvious that the media would defend itself against the never ending stream of criticism hurled in its direction. It may feel painfully trite for us student journalists to defend our profession with fervor, but we will anyway, because it’s important to us and important for you, too. We, in “the media,” received the message: you don’t like us and you don’t trust us. A Gallup poll earlier this month found that Americans’ trust and confidence in the mass media “to report the news fully, accurately and fairly” has fallen to its lowest level in polling history, with a mere 32 percent reporting they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the media. Less than 15 percent of republicans trust the “liberal media.” Articles such as “How to Avoid Picking Up Prejudice from the Media” in the Huffington Post reinforce the notion that media exists to push a single agenda and dupe the American public. As student journalists, we don’t
mind leveling with you. Sometimes members of the media lob softball questions at presidential candidates. Headlines can sometimes be overly click-bait material. Editorialization occurs more frequently than it should. But not all media is made the same, and categorizing all outlets with one term (uttered in a derogatory tone) prevents you from the quality reporting is fighting for recognition in the vast depths of the internet. The Fordham Ram is frequently under similar scrutiny not to yield to a particular narrative and represent all sides of an issue, even if one side is more vocal than another. As a student publication, we have certain advantages that national and local media do not. We are not vying for clicks to fund our publication. Therefore, we do not need to tailor our content to “viral” content. While we want to serve the interests of our readers, we take pride in our mission to serve as a journal of record.
Professional publications do not have that luxury. They must publish native advertising to supplement declining print sales and pay their reporters. They cannot afford to fund extensive investigative pieces as frequently as they used to. The internet has both proliferated knowledge to an unimaginable extent and destroyed the business model of traditional news, a transition that “the media” are still clumsily recovering from and adapting to. Social media has not assisted our industry in our attempts to convey an image of neutrality. News reporters have twitter pages with sizable followings, allowing journalists to interject their opinions in situations where their opinions traditionally would not be heard. Readers are often unaware of the role they play in the news cycle. Editors produce more content that readers click on in an attempt to salvage revenue and maintain a reader base. Some have argued
that this process has exacerbated the political crisis within our country. It takes two to engage in that argument, and two to feed into that system. We ask that you stop and think before decrying “the biased media” with an angry fist. This vague term includes thousands of publications and networks, each with their own, unique form of news. With millions of unique people with unique goals involved in the daily process of producing media content, how can one’s opinion boil down to not trusting the entirety of “the media?” Regaining the respect of a highly critical audience will be nearly an impossible task, but one that journalists must take seriously if they value their professions. Readers turning their backs on news has a dangerous prospect. Despite our obstacles, it is still our job to sift through the rhetoric and rumor in the rubble and expose the truth.
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OPINION
September 28, 2016
Page 9
Marc Jacobs Plagued by Misguided Cultural Appropriation By KATHLEEN QUINLISK CONTRIBUTING WRITER
While sky-high platform heels and vibrant palettes made a splash at Marc Jacobs’ New York Fashion Week show, it was cultural appropriation that ultimately stole the show. The show received critical acclaim and featured several unifying themes: platform heels, patterned thigh-high socks, metallic neutrals and — most notably — primarily white models sporting multi-colored, dreadlock-embellished and punk rock updos. Photos from the show surfaced online, and angry headlines followed. The question of whether or not Marc Jacobs’ stylistic use of dread locks was an exploitation of oppressed minority culture also dominated social media in the days following the show. It may seem tempting to dismiss the accusations fired toward Marc Jacobs’ Spring 2016 show as just another incident of political correctness hampering creativity. However, upon closer examination of the show, these accusations actually hold some weight. A world where cultures exist in social hierarchies and systems of inequality, it breeds cross-cultural interaction. Cultural appropriation occurs when a socially privileged group that claims the style of an oppressed group without recognizing the significance or legitimacy of that style in the context of its mother culture. Marc Jacobs is undoubtedly guilty of culturally appropriating dreadlocks. Though the exact history of dreads is factually muddled (as the histories of styles this old typically are), CNN reported that dreads likely first appeared in Ancient Egypt, popularized by Jamaican Rastafarians. They were
Joe Moresky A Win at Hofstra Doesn’t Mean Much The art of debate is an intellectual crucible. Schools of thought clash over points of in a civilized form of cerebral warfare, attempting to persuade. Presidential debates are another beast. Candidates strive to project a calculated image of leadership to accentuate their credentials, articulate general themes to showcase a coherent vision for the nation and finally delve into specific policy issues to display competency. Candidates endure hours of intense preparation during which complex topics must be gruelingly distilled into a few points, which candidates must be able to remember and recite under intense scrutiny. After months of intense anticipation, American voters finally witnessed Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton stand together on the same stage. No crowds,
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This season’s Marc Jacobs fashion show got attention for its use of colorful dreadlocks worn by white models.
worn not as simply an aesthetic style, but rather as a symbol of their African heritage and a tribute to their deviation from “Babylon,” a word they used to refer to “a historically white-European imperialist structure that has oppressed blacks and other people of color since way back when.” Since their Jamaican popularization, dreads have become a significant feature of the black identity. While dreads have been absorbed stylistically into the grunge and punk-rocks scenes, the style cannot be divorced from its historically black origins. no aides and no teleprompters, just the candidates and their competing personas. What occurred was an event in which character distinctions overpowered issue specificity. The inadequate moderation from NBC’s Lester Holt aided in this and ensured that each candidate could easily drift off topic. The onset of the debate mirrored the experience of the viewer, with Trump and Clinton seemingly unsure of how the night would unfold. Trump began with a considerably higher degree of composure than voters have been accustomed to but also appeared to be uncomfortable, noteed by frequent drinks of water and a mysterious bought of sniffling. Ironically, as the event progressed and his confidence grew, Trump’s newfound sense of maturity gave way to his familiar, bombastic self. Interruptions were frequent, and denials the preferred form of rebuttal. However, he scored points through challenging the Obama administration’s handling of the withdrawal from Iraq and was able to criticize Clinton’s use of a private e-mail server without devolving into name-calling. His rhetoric on trade likely resonated with rust-belt voters, which may
The origins of the multi-colored dread extensions used in Marc Jacobs’ show are distinctly non-black, in fact. White Etsy vendor Jen Counts, was recruited by wildly renowned Guido Palau, the hair stylist for the show, according to New York Magazine. Counts, a Floridabased producer of homespun, hand-dyed hair extensions, worked to create over 300 color variations of the dreads specifically edited by Marc Jacobs himself. With the help of her daughter, Counts crafted 55 dreads for each model in the show.
By recruiting a non-black artisan, Marc Jacobs made the production of his dread accessory non-black, and by hand-picking the color of each dread, he made his dread accessory visually non-black. The designer further bleached his dreads by casting a majority of white models in his show, one Jourdan Dunn to every group of Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Karlie Kloss, Taylor Hill and Stella Maxwell. Marc Jacobs’ Spring 2016 show featured this season’s cut of cultural appropriation. This verdict of guilt may seem like excessive
politicization, but it is difficult to depoliticize fashion when Vogue describes this whitened runway style as “1970s halos of dreadlocks.” Even “Fashion Police” host, Giuliana Rancic, speculated that Zendaya’s dreads “smelt of patchouli oil or weed” on the 2015 Oscars red carpet. Though it may seem trivial, coming down hard and decisively on incidents of cultural appropriation is extremely important, and dismissing then can be dangerous. For example, stylist Guido Palau attempted to defend Marc Jacobs. In Harper’s Bazaar, explaining the varied influence behind the dread look. “We were also looking at other girls that were inspiring to Marc, and certain types of cultures, like rave culture, club culture, and acid house,” Palau said. At first, this seems reasonable. After all, no style can maintain perfect cultural purity in today’s global world. Dreads have made their way into other scenes. But Palau’s response raises some tough follow up questions. Why club culture over black culture? Why are you more inspired by blond rave dreads than black dreads? If dreads are a cornerstone style of both black culture and punk-rock culture, why is one more runway worthy than the other? These are the questions that make accusations of cultural appropriation extremely difficult to dismiss as cases of oversensitivity or excessive political correctness. Marc Jacobs reclaimed dreads as his own, and severed them from their black cultural context. Kathleen Quinlisk, FCRH ’18, is an English major from West Chester, Pennslyvania.
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Although Clinton’s performance may have out-trumped the competition, it is unlikely she will sway any Trump supporters.
help consolidate a base of working class support in states like Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. But base consolidation was not what Trump had to accomplish Monday night. Instead of projecting a newly-presidential demeanor and attempting to draw in disaffected moderates and undecided voters, Trump stuck to his status quo. Clinton’s unimaginative performance was much more articulate, substantive and direct in comparison to her opponent. She displayed a tight command on the is-
sues and was able to develop a far more coherent vision for how the country ought to move forward. By conventional standards, Clinton might have been judged the clear-cut winner. Regardless of the “winner” of last night’s debates, previous ones have done little to statistically impact presidential races, according to NBC News. Whatever polling bumps occur usually self-correct after the conclusion of the final contest. A general rule of thumb is
that candidates cannot pick up sustainable momentum from debates, but costly gaffes have the potential to bring about lingering doubts and an accompanying negative poll impact. Monday’s debate lacked such a standout moment and as a result the overall tenor of the race can be expected to remain much the same. Although Clinton may have had the superior showing, the probability that her performance will translate into positive polling is small.
OPINION
Page 10
Faustino Galante
September 28, 2016
How to be a Good Sports Fan I was born into one of the best fan bases in all of sports: I was raised a Buffalo Bills fan. Call me biased. If you think your fans are better than Bills fans, though, I have a challenge for you: go watch the Bills-Pats game at McFaddens Tavern in Manhattan next week. You won’t be disappointed. Durring my first four weeks at Fordham, I have found that many people root for random teams across the country. Some have good reasoning for not rooting for their “home team.” What enrages me is the fact that many pick other sports teams for no reason. A week ago I was talking football with a guy during the Thursday night Bills-Jets game. “So you must be a Jets fan?” I asked. He said no. Logically, then, he was a Giants fan. Guess again. He revealed to me that he was an Arizona Cardinals fan. I, then, proceeded to ask him if he had family there only to find out that he didn’t. “So, why a Cards fan?” I asked.
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The Buffalo Bills, the author’s home team, are known for having an extremely loyal and enthusiastic fanbase.
“Because they are good,” he responded. I almost stopped talking to the kid. In my eyes, it is sports blasphemy. A valuable lesson here, if you want to be a good sports fan, do not, and I can’t emphasize this more, be like the Cards fan I described above. Regardless of the sport, there are a few main qualities which all good fans carry. The first, and arguably the most important, is loyalty. Good sports fans root for their teams through thick and thin and never even consider changing their allegiances. Secondly, good sports
fans practice tradition. Those who don’t execute and support their team’s traditions are not true fans. Thirdly, sports fans must have a reason for liking their team. Bandwagon fans are the worst kind of fans. One should not ever consider acting like one. Three fan bases stand above the rest when it comes to loyalty: Buffalo, Cleveland and New York sports. All three of these fan bases have had to deal with a lot of disappointment over the years. Those in Cleveland’s case though, the years of disappointment finally paid off this year.
Regardless of how bad the heartbreak, fans of these sports teams have never given up. I have never seen the Bills in a playoff game, but nonetheless watch them play every Sunday. It’s always annoying to see good sports organizations whose fans couldn’t care less about their teams (I’m looking at you, Seattle). Furthermore, fans who abandon their teams when they play poorly are no better. 49ers fans have basically gone into hiding in the past three years. The same could be said about Arizona Coyotes support-
ers. Through thick and thin, good fans will always watch their teams, whether they have winning or losing seasons. Tradition is another important aspect of sports and fans. Sports teams may hold some of the most peculiar and bizarre practices, but it is the fans’ duty to support them. Look at the Detroit Red Wings, for example: at certain home games, fans will bring octopi to throw on the ice. Why? Because someone did it in 1957 and now it’s something they do. The Bills hold a strange tradition as well. Unlike the Red Wings’, this one is a bit newer. One of the new tailgating practices of Buffalo Bills fans is jumping onto party tables and splitting them in half. Usually, this tradition is practiced under the influence. Does it make sense? No, but I absolutely support it. Whether it’s something as simple as singing your teams song or throwing an octopus on the ice, to be a good sports fan you need to practice your teams’ traditions. All in all, I challenge sports fans to live by these three principles. I’m not telling you to be a fanatic but just to root for your teams responsibly. Don’t leave them when they’re losing, don’t stop practicing tradition and don’t be like the Cardinals fan. To end this article, I would like to highlight one more important point: GO BILLS!
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Page 11
CULTURE
Page 12
September 28, 2016
The Fordham Ram
Social Media Changing Campaign Etiquette By EMMA CAREY STAFF WRITER
Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump had their face-off debut at the first 2016 presidential debate this past Monday. However, as many Americans have witnessed this election season, this was not the first conversation between the two. While Clinton and Trump have both led two of the most unique campaigns in U.S. history, one distinct factor in this year’s ground-breaking campaigns is their incorporation of social media. With a technological shift evident within U.S. communications in the past four years, it comes as no surprise to many Americans that social media has become a major lever in this year’s presidential election. In fact, according to a January 2016 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 44 percent of U.S. adults and two thirds of Americans aged 18 to 29 claimed to have used social media in the past week in order to learn more about the 2016 presidential election. In addition, 24 percent of american adults said they had turned directly to the personal accounts of the candidates for such information. These statistics are particularly significant when taking into account the additional 15 percent of adults who claimed to have turned to candidates’ websites or e-mails. Clinton and Trump, perhaps better known as @HillaryClinton and @realdonaldtrump to the masses, have both chosen to use this clear draw toward social
MARY ALICE BROWDOWSKIW/THE FORDHAM RAM
In the 2016 Presidential election, social media has played an important role for both candidates’ campaigns.
media to their advantage. Upon a single visit to each candidate’s Instagram or Twitter profiles, one’s smartphone screen is filled with campaign content. The “aesthetic” of these posts? Gloves off. It seems that virtually nothing has settled between the two since Clinton’s “Delete your account”-heardround-the-world this past June. Recent posts on Trump’s Instagram account, such as “Hillary Clinton: Failed All Over the World” and “Hillary’s Bad Tax Habit,” each promote a fast-factformatted advertisement in opposition to Secretary Clinton.
Clinton, on the other hand, sports a “meme”-esque video of herself, captioned “When Donald Trump says he’s more temperamentally fit to be president than you. #DebateNight.” Within this snippet of each candidate’s condensed accounts, a Candidate diverges from traditional campaign etiquette. However, as researchers have come to conclude, this shift from press releases to re-tweets might be the future of presidential elections as we know them. If a direct correlation exists between Twitter presence and the
popular vote, Trump might be trail blazing this movement. “One thing that Trump does is he will combine two or three issues in a single statement or proposal,” said Frank Speiser, SocialFlow’s co-founder and chief product officer in an April edition of the San Francisco Chronicle. “Now, he may be muddling them, but it doesn’t matter because it activates groups that are interested in all of the above.” By simply stirring the pot on a candidates are given the opportunity to grab voters’ attention and involvement. With approxi-
mately 1.6 billion monthly active Facebook users and 385 million monthly active Twitter users today, such strategies could mean a serious expansion in candidates’ campaign teams. What these campaign teams will be effective ultimately lies in the demographics of this year’s voters. With such a clear gap between the involvement of millennials and adults on social media throughout this year’s presidential election, the effectiveness of a social media campaignis still highly up for debate. Traditional campaigning strategies, such as TV advertisements, could still very well dominate the 2016 presidential campaign — that is, depending upon who shows up to the voting booths. If millennials choose to take their newfound voting rights and run with them, the outcome of this year’s election could very well be highly affected by Clinton and Trump’s social media efforts. This campaign will be a major test run for what could be an entirely new approach to presidential campaigning. Social media, while a significantly less reliable source than most traditional campaigning mediums, provides candidates a cost-effective and efficient way to reach voters. A candidate’s preference for shock value over quality in social media content has and could continue to seriously skew presidential elections if social media does take the reigns. Candidates, press and potential voters will all have to adjust to these new strategies accordingly in order to make for an educated and fair presidential election.
Review | Film
Magnificent Seven Makes Its Second Debut By ELIZABETH SMISLOVA CULTURE EDITOR
As I took my seat in the Landmark Theatres Sunshine Cinema in the East Village and watched the lights go off and the show begin, the skyscraper-filled and fast-paced New York melted away and the Old West appeared. It was a screening for The Magnificent Seven and the audience (including myself ) eagerly waited for its sneak peek of Denzel Washington’s performance as bounty hunter Sam Chisolm. Personally, I was not disappointed. However, I felt guilty about not having first seen the original 1960 film, which has an excellent original soundtrack. Afterwards, you might feel a little better about spending the price of lunch on a New York City movie theater ticket for a remake of a classic film. After all, the chance to see Denzel Washington on the big screen is always priceless. I am not a big fan of action movies, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed
The Magnificent Seven. The film showcases Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett), who takes it upon herself to save her mining town, Rose Creek, from the cruel industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard). Bogue kills Cullen’s husband in cold blood after he tries to speak out against the corruption taking place. This fuels Cullen’s thirst for justice and revenge. She then goes with her friend Teddy Q (Luke Grimes) to look for help. The two meet Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington), who rounds up six other men with outstanding fighting skills and incredible character. These seven — the Magnificent Seven — try to defeat the almost impossible odds and take on Bogue’s men and resources with just themselves and the farming people of Rose Creek. The first in the group is Josh Faraday (Chris Pratt), a gambler who provides plenty of comedic relief — something necessary in a death-filled plot. The next is an old friend of Chisolm, Goodnight Robicheux (Ethan Hawke),
a renowned sharpshooter from the Civil War. With him is Billy Rocks (Byun-hun Lee), an assassin who is remarkably skilled with knives. Chisolm also recruits the hilarious tracker Jack Horne (Vincent D’Onofrio) and the Mexican wanted criminal Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo). The last of the magnificent group is Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier), a Comanche warrior. The dynamic of the diverse group make the movie worth seeing. Their personalities differ vastly, but when they come together to take down the common enemy, Bogue, their similarities outweigh all else. Suddenly, the fate of the little town Rose Creek comes before their own lives. The plot is simple but wholesomely American and feel-good. Plus, a strong female character who has more courage than most of the men in the movie is always something to celebrate. The Magnificent Seven received a 7.2 out of 10 from IMDb and a 63 percent from Rotten Tomatoes. I think these scores ac-
COURTESY OF FLICKR
The diverse cast of Magnificent Seven made an okay movie plot better than average.
curately reflect the movie: entertaining and worth seeing, but not revolutionary or life-changing. That being said, as I left the theater and got on the busy subway
for the ride home, I could not help but wish I was on a horse out in the Old West, riding along with the cowboy Denzel Washington (a girl can always dream).
CULTURE
September 28, 2016
Page 13
Woman of the Hour | Erin Cabrey
Live From New York, It’s Melissa Villaseñor One of the hardest parts about being away from New York this semester is missing the city’s most classic comedy institution, “Saturday Night Live.” While I’ll be scouring the internet on Oct. 2 for a sketchy link to the season 42 premiere, Americans watching live on Oct. 1 will notice cast shake-ups: veterans Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah will be nowhere to be found in 8H, while three fresh faces will be making their debuts. Among them is Melissa Villaseñor, “SNL”’s first Latina cast member. Live From New York Melissa Villaseñor joins the ranks of six other hilarious ladies at 30 Rock: Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, Aidy Bryant, Vanessa Bayer and Sasheer Zamata. After the cast lost Taran Killam, Jay Pharoah and Jon Rudnitsky, two of the these spots were filled by new men, Alex Moffat and Mikey Day, though neither of those casting choices generated as much buzz as that of Villaseñor. This announcement comes only a few years after the cast of “Saturday Night Live” faced heavy criticism for its lack of black women. This eventually led to the hiring of Sasheer Zamata and Leslie Jones, the latter of whom has proved to be a rising star far beyond sketch comedy. Despite the lack of Latin American players in the cast (Fred Armisen and Horatio Sans are the only Latinos in the show’s 42-year run), far less outcry was heard from the Latin American community. This changed, however, after last fall’s ill-received Donald Trump episode. The Washington Post reported that following its airing, “SNL” writers met with Latino advocacy group The National Council of La Raza, which criticized “SNL” for providing Trump with a platform to reach the American public after his bigoted comments toward Mexicans. The show vowed to open its
casting up to more diversity, which ultimately resulted in the casting of one of the funniest untapped talents in the business, Melissa Villaseñor. Imitation Game So who exactly is Melissa Villaseñor, and what made her catch the eye of the comedy god Lorne Michaels? If you’re looking for proof of her comedy chops, look no further than her celebrity impressions. She is perhaps best known for her mindblowing Owen Wilson impression, which is so spot on that it’s a little freaky. Villaseñor’s comedy breakthrough came in 2011 at the age of 23 when she reached the top 16 on “American’s Got Talent,” cracking up the judges with impressions like Wilson, Kathy Griffin and Miley Cyrus. She’s a seasoned vet when it comes to impressions, citing in a Daily Dot interview that she cultivated her talent at the age of 12 at her all-girls school in Alhambra, California. She said she grew up listening to pop stars like Britney Spears and learned she could mimic these voices, something she exhibited at her high school talent show. More recently, Villaseñor has shown off her talents on the Youtube Channel “Más Mejor” created by Armisen and Sans for the Lorne Michaels-owned Broadway Video. Her series “Daily Itineraries” features impressions that range from Hillary Clinton and J.Lo to, of course, Owen Wilson. Her hilarious performances caught Michael’s eye, giving her a much buzzed-about spot in this season’s cast. Ladies Night The cast of “Saturday Night Live” has been historically male-dominated, producing extraordinary talent from Bill Murray to Bill Hader. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Andy Samberg’s “Get in the Cage with Nicolas Cage” and I can probably re-
cite every Stefon segment by heart. I am glad women are finally taking over the show. That’s not to say that the show hasn’t already seen astoundingly hilarious ladies perform in 8H. Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon and several others have all created iconic characters, from Wiig’s Target Lady and Shannon’s Mary Katherine Gallagher to Nasim Pedrad’s deeply underrated Bedelia. Most of these memorable roles appeared in approximately the last 15 years, so though it took awhile, it’s clear we’re making progress. And now, in 2016, women have begun to completely steal the show on and off the “SNL” stage. Just look at the starpower of some of the female players: Leslie Jones killed it in Ghostbusters this summer and started the #LoveforLeslieJ trend after confronting Twitter trolls, Emmy winner Kate McKinnon’s iconic Hillary Clinton has become on par with Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin and we
all saw Aidy Bryant’s work ourselves last Spring Weekend. This cast of women is funny not only because they’re crazy talented, but also because they are diverse, allowing different voices to stand out while also working together to create something great. The addition of Villaseñor will further solidify the female takeover on “SNL,” with a fresh, unique voice that is incredibly adept at imitating other ones. I was lucky enough to see “SNL” my freshman year (after a crazy night of sleeping on the streets in line) and I’ll never forget seeing Kate McKinnon play the offbeat volunteer Barbara DeDrew at the Whiskers R We Cat Shelter and Leslie Jones make aggressive passes at Colin Jost on Weekend Update. These are women that I look up to not only for their quick wit, but also for their unabashed self-assurance, and when the clock strikes 11:30 on Saturday, Oct. 1, I’m sure Melissa Villaseñor will join the ranks of these “SNL” comedy idols.
COURTESY OF FLICKR
Known for her spot-on impressions, Villaseñor will fit in well on the cast of “SNL.”
For Students Who Stream, Spotify Prevails By MEGAN BRONNER STAFF WRITER
In today’s digital age, students encounter multiple easily accessible streaming platforms. Long gone are the days of paying 99 cents for songs on iTunes. But the questions remains as to how much are students willing to pay. The New York Times recently analyzed the four major music streaming services on the market: Amazon, Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music. The average rate for these streaming services runs about $10 a month, but Spotify and Apple Music both offer a student rate for half that price. Amazon is expected to come out with a new streaming service later this year that offers a full catalog of music for 10 dollars a month, making it very similar to its competitors. Pandora is also revamp-
ing its service in an effort to bring in more subscribers and compete with similar streaming companies. At $5 a month, Spotify Premium is the cheapest option for students. Spotify Premium gives them access to thousands of songs, pre-made playlists, offline listening, unlimited skips and no ads. At the same discounted rate, students can also stream Apple Music, which offers similar services to Spotify but also gives subscribers access to music videos, concert films and live shows. “I subscribe to the service mostly because of the offline listening feature,” Lindsey Garibaldi, FCRH ’17, said. “It’s nice to have access to your music without having to be connected to wifi or using your data. Online listening downloads the songs so that users can always have access to their music while on the go.
COURTESY OF FLICKR
Many students take advantage of Spotify’s $5 student discount.
Another noteworthy feature included in Spotify Premium is the ability to skip songs and listen without ads. For this reason, Caroline Dunn, FCRH ’17, upgraded her Spotify to Premium after completing the free trial. “Paying for Spotify is definitely worth it,” said Dunn. Eleni Koukoulas, GSB ’17, does not currently pay for any music streaming service. She takes advantage of the free version of Spotify and uses Pandora on occasion. “If I were to choose a streaming service to pay for, it would be Spotify Premium,” Koukoulas said “A Pandora subscription doesn’t seem as necessary, because you don’t have direct access to the music and can’t choose what songs you want to listen to.” Overall, streaming services appear to be worth the price for students. With Spotify a clear frontrunner and Apple Music gaining substantial traction due to recent album releases exclusive to the service, listeners are taking advantage of student discounts. In order to compete, Amazon and Pandora Media are trying to bring in more listeners by making
their respective streaming services more affordable for people who are not avid music listeners. Pandora online radio launched Pandora Plus on Sept. 15, which, at five dollars a month, provides users with unlimited skips and the ability to replay songs ad free. This premium tier of Pandora has offline listening as well. For students, this service costs the same as Spotify and Apple Music. However, for those who have already graduated, Pandora’s latest service may have new appeal. Amazon Prime members can currently listen to a limited selection of music through the website. However, the company is looking to introduce a full-fledged music service soon and charge $10 for each month of streaming. Time will tell if Pandora and Amazon can gain more subscribers and influence the stronghold that Spotify and Apple Music currently have over the streaming market. For now, these three juniors are satisfied with the current streaming choices for students. Garibaldi and Dunn do not seem like they will be giving up their Spotify Premium subscriptions any time soon.
Review | Comedy
“Oh Hello” By GABBY GILLESPIE
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Broadway met Gil Faizon and George St. Geegland as they opened for previews in their new show, “Oh Hello” in Sept. The brainchildren of John Mulaney of “Saturday Night Live” and Nick Kroll of “The Kroll Show,” on which the two were recurring characters, Faizon and George are two bachelors who have been working in theater and living together on the Upper West Side for 40 years. To describe the essence of the pair, ask John Mulaney himself: “You know when you walk by a travel agency and you’re like ‘What?’ Well, when they walk by a travel agency, they’re like ‘Oh, sure.’” Although the men have been performing as the two for years on television, and recently in shows across the country, their first night of previews had the loose kinetic feeling of great live comedy, with the two making each other break and laugh regularly throughout the show. The show starts with an extended introduction to the pair where the audience learns important details, such as that St. Geegland’s three wives all died on the same set of stairs and that Faizon is afraid of raccoons because they are so easy to fall in love with. Like all great characters, they are devotedly imbued with many particular mannerisms, such as their mispronunciation of words and references to their favorite artist Steely Dan. The loose plot is based on a play-within-a-play St. Geegland and Faizon are putting on, and they often stop to confer with each other on how their show is going and to yell at their intern who is working the lights. The play tells the story of their friendship and the development of their show “Too Much Tuna,” from its public access roots to when they “sell out” to New York One. “Too Much Tuna” is the show’s signature because of the tradition of inviting other comedians onstage to participate. For the first night of previews, the guest was Will Forte of “Saturday Night Live” and “Last Man Standing.” Mulaney and Kroll have deep roots in comedy, so you never know which of their friends might be getting pranked with an overstuffed tuna sandwich when you go. While the mystery guest is exciting, the night belongs to St. Geegland and Faizon and the men who breathe them life. Fans of Mulaney and Kroll know that although they are in character, the two’s signature styles are both working here to great effect. They utilize their respective gifts for observation and parody of pop culture as they take on the tropes of theater. They also bring a unique utilization of improvisation to Broadway, such as when they comment on how a dream sequence’s smoke effect was nailing the front row or when Faizon stormed off into the audience and said goodbye to audience members (“Goodbye, goodbye, if you’re not father and daughter, that makes me sad, goodbye”). All in all, “Oh Hello” is an exciting shake-up and send-up to the Great White Way, and any fan of comedy or theater should consider checking out their limited engagement before they close on Jan. 8.
CULTURE
Page 14
September 28, 2016
Theater Talk | Claire Del Sorbo
Sara Bareilles Becomes Broadway Composer for “Waitress” Sara Bareilles has always been one of my favorite musicians. I admire her integrity and how she chooses to be true to her craft rather than lucrative. She has a lovely voice and her songs are catchy. In the musical “Waitress,” currently playing at the Brooks Atkinson in Manhattan, she showcases her versatility as a songwriter. “Waitress” is a musical directed by Diane Paulus based off the 2007 Adrienne Shelley movie of the same name. Protagonist Jenna Hunterson (Jessie Mueller) lives in the American south working as a waitress in a diner. Feeling suffocated in an unhappy marriage to husband Earl (William Popp), she looks to a pie contest with a $20,000 cash prize as a way out. After discovering she is pregnant, Jenna withholds the news from Earl in hopes of escaping her marriage and starting life anew with her unborn child. This is when she meets Dr. Jim Pomatter (Drew Gehling), a smart, handsome, witty and successful man with whom Jenna begins an affair with. Her friendships with coworkers Becky (Keala Settle) and Dawn (Jenna Ushkowitz) and diner regular Joe (Dakin Matthews), as well as the birth of her daughter
COURTESY OF FLICKR
With music and lyrics written by Sara Bareilles and a beautiful perfomance by Jessie Mueller, “Waitress” is a must see.
Lulu, give Jenna the hope she needs to begin a new life. Jessie Mueller’s touching performance as Jenna is one of the highlights of this musical season. At the beginning of the show, the audience is introduced to her dilemmas: discovering her pregnancy and the uncertainty that she faces with it. Her circumstances are heartbreaking, yet the way she rises above them is remarkable. Her story is familiar to some, especially for the many women who
Editor’s Pick | Coffee
The Taste for Fall By ZACK MIKLOS
A Modern Day Music Man CULTURE EDITOR
COURTESY OF FLICKR
Although coffee is a popular beverage of choice during every season, it fits perfectly with the fall weather.
enjoy drinking coffee is because it has the perfect amount of caffeine. As the hours of daylight continue to decrease, some people may find that it becomes increasingly difficult to stay awake and focused. Coffee can provide a necessary jolt that keeps you focused for much longer. This is particularly relevant at this time of the year. As classwork begins to pick up and students are required to devote more time to their studies, so does the need for coffee. It is a great stimulus for late night cramming. I find it pretty clear coffee is simply better in the fall. There are a lot of contributing factors that diverge at this point in the year. It reminds me of cozy spaces and acoustic music and it tastes and smells like typical, delicious autumn flavors. It gives me that extra kick of caffeine that motivates me and makes me more productive. What more can someone ask for? I urge you to perform your own research, whether it be at your next class or an actual café, and confirm the relationship between this common drink and an ordinary season. Think about it over a nice cup of coffee. I highly recommend it.
able actors. However, that’s their sole purpose: to be entertaining in the midst of drama. Bareilles’ musical debut exceeded my initial expectations. As a pop artist, Bareilles is used to working within the confines of producers to make popular music. However, writing a musical gives her complete creative freedom over the music. Bareilles seized this freedom. The score is wonderful, inspired largely by the sounds of the American south, but
Who’s That Kid? | It’s PJ Cruz, FCRH ’18
By ELIZABETH SMISLOVA
BUSINESS DIRECTOR
As the sweltering summer temperatures finally dwindle to tolerable levels, many steamy new beverage return to coffee shops. Whether you prefer the classic pumpkin-spiced latte, like mixing things up with a chili mocha, or have a taste for something simpler, the level of excitement for these caffeinated concoctions always seem to escalate during the autumn months. After conducting some research at my nearest Starbucks and my 8:30 a.m. accounting class, I have collected a few points that can help explain this phenomenon. First and foremost, students like drinking coffee because it brings them to a warm, cozy space. While the summer heat keeps many people huddled around air conditioning units and box fans, the fall typically compels people to seek out soft blankets and their favorite cup of coffee. The feelings and emotions manifested in light, catchy acoustic music and toasty wood fireplaces get bundled into the descriptions of this coffee wonderland. Deeply rooted memories of comfort, relaxation and peace contribute to the drinking experience and leave you wanting more. Students are also fond of the bitter, nutty taste and earthy aroma coffee offers. I find the flavor profile of an unflavored bean is relatively autumn-inspired. While it can surely be consumed any time of the year, I like to think fall is its most assessable, adaptable, and accepted season. Its complementarity with traditional fall flavors such as hazelnut, nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin exemplify this notion. Between the warming memories and fall flavors, coffee can really make your day. A third and final reason students
have had to find their strength in order to leave unhappy marriages. Mueller’s performance transcends any imperfections “Waitress” has, one of which being that Jenna is the only character with any true depth. Most of the other characters provide comic relief in between Jenna’s weighty story arc. The sassy Becky, geeky Dawn and lecherous Ogie (Christopher Fitzgerald) are fun yet corny stock characters played by commend-
also containing some traditional Broadway ballads. The Supremesesque “When He Sees Me” and the rockabilly “Bad Idea” are some memorable songs, but my favorite of the show has to be “She Used to be Mine.” In this emotionally charged song, Jenna is on the outside looking in, analyzing her character and her complexities: “she is messy but she’s kind, she is lonely most of the time.” In doing so, she frees herself from all of the mistakes that have undercut her own happiness. Mueller’s heart wrenching performance of this song swept up the audience in a flurry of emotions and was the uncontestable pinnacle of the show. In a season dominated by juggernaut “Hamilton,” “Waitress” has done exceptionally well. Supported by a remarkable leading performance by Mueller and a delightful score from Bareilles, it can absolutely hold its own as a whimsical, pleasant musical. Altogether, “Waitress” is a show about life and overcoming personal obstacles. Much like Jenna, the show tries to go to places it can’t quite reach, but it also shows that the sweetest moments are the simplest.
Some people use the cliched phrase, “I’m in a band,” as a pickup line or a way to momentarily embody a childhood dream. However, for Peter Anthony “PJ” Cruz, being in a band was always a reality to achieve. Not only is Cruz in a band, but he also arranges the music for an a capella group and cheers for Fordham teams in the pep band. Currently, Cruz spends most of his time working on the band he formed last spring, “Free Advertising” with members Greame Anderson, FRCH ’18 and Brian Reynolds, FRCH ’17. Cruz is the guitarist and vocalist for the group, which covers bands like Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Kooks and Arctic Monkeys. One of Cruz’s favorites is “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child that he arranged in a new way. Cruz has also written songs. “Bedroom Blues” is the one he said people tend to enjoy the most. “Free Advertising” has played at “Rams Got Talent,” the Asian Culture Exchange’s events and at Rodrigue’s. Looking to the future of his newly formed band, Cruz alluded to the prospects of participating in Fordham’s Battle of the Bands. Cruz is also the musical director “B-Sides,” an a capella group he has been a part of since his freshman year. He has also been in the University Band and the Pep Band since his sophomore year. “It take a lot of energy to play the snares in the sun, while also having to be a catalyst for the team and for the band,” Cruz said. On top of that, Cruz plays jazz weekly at Fordham Lincoln Center’s campus after inspiration from a musical improvisation
class last semester. While such a packed schedule would scare or tire many other full time students, such a busy life surrounded by music inspires Cruz. His dream is to be a touring artist. “If everyone has a dream job, why can’t that be mine?” Cruz said. However, if a career in music does not work out, Cruz has a backup plan: medicine. It is not common for a student to double major in biology and music. “Studying biology allows me to see art in a different and more analytical way,” Cruz said. “Studying music also helps me to study science. Having that music background enables me to better understand different patterns and concepts in science.” While PJ enjoy biology, it’s clear that music is his true passion. “Music is something I do every day,” he said. “Whether it’s singing, playing guitar or piano or doing music theory homework.” Cruz originally wanted to be a philosophy major on the pre-law track. This aspiration was one of the reasons he chose Fordham. “I love the Jesuit’s liberal intellectual strategies; Becasue of this Fordham felt right for me,” Cruz said. Even though Cruz’s collegiate
plan took an unexpected turn, he does not regret his path. “I couldn’t be happier. I love New York and the opportunities here,” Cruz said. It’s a good thing that Cruz loves Fordham and New York, because it’s a bit of a hike for him to visit home. “I love getting asked, ‘Where are you from?’ For a while, I said D.C. because it’s easy, but I can’t ignore my childhood growing up in Saudi Arabia for 15 years,” Cruz said. “Being raised overseas gave me a large world view. Nothing is going to surprise me. You can’t be so sure with people who grow up here.” Although Cruz acknowledges the special connections he made in Saudi Arabia, he does not have a plan to return any time soon. “I think the culture is cool and I definitely miss the people I met there, but life goes forward,” Cruz said. “I can’t say those were the best year of my life, because I don’t know when they are going to be.” With all of Cruz’s charisma and enthusiasm for music, those “best years” could be just around the corner. “New York is my home—I spend most of my time here,” Cruz said, “Despite living in a dorm room, this is my home.”
COURTESY OF PJ CRUZ
Cruz proves that a schedule is never too busy if it is filled with passion.
SPORTS
September 28, 2016
Men’s Soccer Wins in Overtime By TYLER FREIRE STAFF WRITER
The Fordham men’s soccer team welcomed the Columbia Lions to Jack Coffey field in the opening event of Homecoming weekend. This match certainly made an impression on the alumni, family and friends in attendance, as they witnessed a thrilling finish in the Bronx. Columbia started off the match as the aggressors on both sides of the pitch, netting a goal in the 12th minute of action. John Denis lined up a free kick from about 20 yards out that squeezed just inside the right post for his first goal of the year, giving the Lions a 1-0 advantage. Fordham head coach James McElderry was not particularly happy with his team’s play in the first half. “We did not connect on enough passes and allowed Columbia to dictate the pace of the game,” he said. “At half time we simply told the players to be more confident in their abilities and to look to play to our forwards quicker, as we thought we could bypass their midfield as they wanted to press our team.” The score remained in favor of the Lions until the 50th minute as Columbia was called for a handball, which gave the Rams a free kick around 20 yards out. Sophomore midfielder Janos Loebe took the free kick for the Rams and drilled a low liner into the left corner of the net for his second goal of the year. After both teams exchanged
free kick goals, neither side could find the back of the net for the rest of the match. In the first session of extra time, both teams buckled down on the defensive side of the pitch, leaving the score to remain at 1-1. It was much of the same in the second session of extra time until the very last moments, as Janos Loebe made a longshot attempt that Zach Alder of Columbia stopped. However, Alder could not maintain control of the ball, and it fell right to Fordham’s junior midfielder Eric Ohlendorf inside the 6-yard box. The Long Island native converted for his second goal of the year, giving the Rams a 2-1 Homecoming victory and sending the fans, family and alumni home as happy campers. In net for the Rams, sophomore Rashid Nuhu made five saves to help secure the victory for Fordham. “In overtime we felt we had the advantage. Our players looked fresh and really wanted to push for the win,” head coach James McElderry said. “On the last shot from Janos, their keeper fumbled the ball, but give credit to Eric Ohlendorf for putting in the effort to capitalize on the mistake. There are always mistakes in games, but there has to be someone there to punish them for the mistake. This is great for Eric and our team.” The Fordham men’s soccer team will next be in action on Saturday, Oct. 1, when the Rams open Atlantic 10 action at George Washington at 2 p.m.
Page 15
Water Polo Notches Historic Victory By TOM TERZULLI STAFF WRITER
Fordham Water Polo’s threegame road trip this past weekend culminated in history. With Saturday’s thrilling 14-13 overtime victory over Navy, the Rams topped the Midshipmen for the first time since 1981. “Historically, it was something we have never done,” said head coach Bill Harris. “This team has surprised me with how well they’ve played this season with so many freshman.” However, that win was not the only game of the weekend, as Fordham had two contests to prepare them for the Sunday showdown in Annapolis. The first took place less than an hour away in Baltimore, where the Rams outlasted Johns Hopkins 8-7 in a gritty and defensive affair. “We really just played a great defensive game. We had I think 17 steals, which is one of the highest numbers I’ve ever seen in the years I’ve been at Fordham,” said Harris. “The pool is not extraordinarily wide, so you’re always in close proximity of each other and the guys took advantage of that.” Freshman Jake Miller-Tot, sophomores Magnus Sims and Ian Watson and senior captain R.J. Simmons led the way at two goals apiece. In net, junior keeper Alex Jahns had one of his better games in net, swiping away 10 shots and allowing only seven scores. Coach Harris has come to expect that kind of play from Jahns, saying he “had a good game, which is commonplace for him. He’s a solid goalie.” Next up was a tough matchup with the George Washington Colonials, the 16th-ranked team in the country. The Rams got off to a quick start, taking an early 2-1 advantage on first quarter scores from Simmons and Sims. That would be their last lead of the game however, as the Colonials went on to outscore Fordham 17-4 over the next three quarters for a 18-6 victory. Coach Harris tried to stay constructive even in defeat. “We came out strong, then they started to take advantage of us playing the second game of the day and being on the road,” he said. “When the score started to slip away from us, I realized the best decision I could make was to get everyone on the team at least some playing time to get some hardcore experience and rest some guys for the Navy game, which we knew would be a tough one.” Simmons and Sims went on to score another goal apiece to put
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Alex Jahns saved 10 shots and only let up seven in the Rams’ stunning victory.
their totals at two. Goals five and six came courtesy of Miller-Tot and sophomore Sam Varshisky in garbage time. After a hard-nosed battle with Hopkins and a blowout defeat against GW, it was time for the main event: a showdown against Navy. The game was deadlocked at eight going into the final frame, with the Rams looking for the first victory in their last 25 chances against the Midshipmen. Fordham struck first to go up 9-8, before Navy converted on a five meter penalty shot to tie it. With 52 seconds remaining, Jared Castillo gave the Midshipmen a one point lead. After a little back and forth, the Rams had one chance left to tie with 11 seconds on the clock. A beautiful loft shot from Simmons did the trick, hitting the top right corner of the net to send the game into overtime. “I don’t want to give R.J. a big head but that was a heck of a shot. The way he lofted it was like a changeup in baseball. About 99 percent of the game he was throwing up some heat and to have the confidence to throw up a lob shot and get it in, he’s a natural athlete,” said Coach Harris. Three minutes into the extra
frame Navy was on top 12-11. With 1:44 left, Fordham tied the score at 12 on a strike from MillerTot. Seconds later, Simmons gave the Rams the lead with a man-up goal. The Midshipmen would not go down easy though, as Nik Galvan tied it at 13 with just 47 seconds to play. But, it was by the hands of Sophomore Cole Donnelly that the Rams ended the 35 year drought, a goal with 29 seconds left sealed it. After the shock wore off, Harris went back into coach mode and looked for things his team could have done better. “The way we played was below our level, it was a great win... But, we had a dug a hole for ourselves and we had to work extremely hard to tie and retake the lead. If we can play to our level, I’m hoping that this coming weekend we can take a lead on Navy and hold it.” The Rams will indeed get another shot at the Midshipmen along with three other squads in a fourgame homestead this weekend. They have a rematch with Johns Hopkins and Cornell at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday. Followed by a pair of rematches with GW and the aforementioned Navy at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. the next day.
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fordhamramsports@gmail.com ANDREA GARCIA/THE FORDHAM RAM
Ole Sandnes and the Rams’ defense held strong against an aggressive Lions offense.
SPORTS
Page 16
Sam Belden A King of the People “In a sport that was high society, Arnold Palmer made it ‘High Noon.’” These are the words of Vin Scully, one of Fordham’s most distinguished alumni and perhaps the single most venerated sports broadcaster in history. But even that sentence, which so effectively describes the impact that Arnold Palmer had on the game of golf, feels hollow now. For a man with a legacy like his, mere words just don’t seem like enough, yet they’re all I have to give in this space. Palmer passed away in a Pittsburgh hospital on Sunday night. At the age of 87, we knew he was slowing down, but no one expected a bombshell like this. Even in his old age, he was one of the game’s most brilliant lights, delighting fans and players alike with his infectious smile and keen sense of humor. The son of a groundskeeper hailing from Western Pennsylvania, Palmer played college golf at Wake Forest and served in the Coast Guard before joining the PGA Tour in 1955. When he picked up his first professional win at that year’s Canadian Open, no one could have guessed that it would be the first of 95. Palmer quickly established himself as a cut above the rest. Not in a technical sense, of course — his signature helicopter finish would make any swing coach grimace, and his putting technique strayed far from the textbook. But the man won. He won and he won and he won. Palmer picked up 21 PGA Tour triumphs through his first six seasons, including his signature win at the 1960 U.S. Open. There, he torched Cherry Hills for a final round 65, pulling off a terrific comeback victory over future rival Jack Nicklaus. Thanks to his winning ways and his equally winning personality, Palmer endeared himself to many a gallery. For years, he was the longest player on the PGA Tour, bar none. His booming drives and thrilling victories earned him legions of fans, whom he would gladly oblige with autographs and well-wishes. Rooting for Arnold Palmer, the first golf star of the television era, became a national phenomenon. Before there was the 12th man, there was Arnie’s Army. Prior to Palmer’s arrival, golf was a sport for country clubbers and business associates. Almost single-handedly, Palmer opened it up to people from all walks of life. The level of excitement he brought to the game led city boys and farm boys alike to dream about Masters glory for the first time in their lives. Even today, golf continues to struggle with making the game accessible to those who struggle financially, but Palmer was always an ally in the fight to spread golf to the masses. Even the most casual of modern sports fans recognize his name, even if it’s only from a beverage container. I could write pages about Palmer’s titanic legacy, but with my space running out, I’ll leave you with this: go play. Call your friends, grab your clubs and head to your local course or driving range. There’s no better way to honor someone who brought the game of golf to so many people.
September 28, 2016
Senior Profile | Kevin Anderson By JACK McLOONE
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Kevin Anderson, a business administration major in the Gabelli School of Business from Boca Raton, Florida, was handed the reins of the Fordham Football offense last season and has been incredibly impressive as its starting quarterback. Last season, he was named the Fordham Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Patriot League in passing touchdowns with 32 (good for third in the FCS) and completion percentage with 67 percent completed. This season, he is trying to lead the Rams back to the top of the Patriot League after falling short last season. The Rams are currently 2-1. Anderson’s season numbers through the three games are 62-106 (58.5 percent) for 758 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions. He sat down with The Fordham Ram to discuss his journey to this point, his game preparation and the story behind his famous hair. The Fordham Ram: When did you start playing football? Kevin Anderson: I played my whole life with my dad and brothers in the street. But I didn’t play organized tackle football until seventh grade. TFR: Did you want to play before that? KA: I always wanted to play. My dad played his whole life. My dad was a Division I athlete in college basketball. He made it that me and my brother weren’t allowed to play football until seventh grade because he wanted us to mature and not take as many shots to the head. When you’re playing at a young level, it’s just for the experience and the camaraderie, because schematically, when it comes to skill and technique, when you’re a pee wee you’re just running around with your head cut off. You don’t actually know what’s going on. TFR: You spent your freshman year at Marshall. Can you describe why you chose to transfer to Fordham, and what that transition was like? KA: Honestly, it wasn’t great. I was in a dark place at Marshall. I had never really been hurt, I didn’t really play that much. Back home, I was highly recruited and highly touted as one of the better quarterbacks in the area. I shattered my collarbone my senior year in week three and our team didn’t win another game the rest of the year and we were projected to be ‘the team’ that year. It was our year. I had never had a winning season in high school, had no high school success, and that was our year. So that was rough. I graduated early and then went to Marshall. I was hurt still, so I was put in the position where I was just coming off of injury, didn’t really rehab it the right way — I didn’t get a chance to train with my quarterback coach back home, teach myself how to throw again — so I was just in a spot where I wasn’t playing well, wasn’t doing well. The guy that recruited me left when I got there that first semester and my quarterback coach also left. So a new coach came in and we just didn’t mesh as well. He liked different guys better than I did, and I wasn’t playing to the standard that I have for myself. It was a really scary place for me, and I was just like ‘Alright, I don’t really know what’s going to happen with my future with sports. I am down on myself, and I had always
had confidence in myself. So I want to go somewhere where I can get the best education football will give me.’ So I reached out to all the Ivy League and Patriot League schools, sent out my release from my scholarship — the compliance at Marshall, I gave them a list and they sent it to other compliance members at the schools. Within the first week, I reached out to Fordham as a followup because they had emailed me. I got on the phone with Coach Breiner, he was the OC and quarterbacks coach, and we talked for about an hour and a half and then he invited me up for that weekend to visit. I came on the visit and it was great because my family is very religious. My grandma is die-hard Catholic, I went to a Catholic middle school. I came up here and really liked the atmosphere. Where I was at in my life spiritually and being down in confidence, it felt like everything was gravitating me towards coming here. I was in a situation where [Marshall] didn’t want me really. I wasn’t playing well. So then you have a coach like Coach Breiner tell you that they had four senior quarterbacks. That I would have to come in a year, learn the system, sit out and then they would build the program around me. That’s what he told me and literally that’s what has happened and it’s the best feeling ever. To have people back you and give you that kind of confidence in a big city, great academics, great religious atmosphere, is everything I wanted. I committed a week after. I was still moving stuff from West Virginia back to Florida. I didn’t go on any other visits, talk to anybody else. It was a perfect situation. TFR: What has it been like transitioning to Coach Breiner as a head coach in your senior season? KA: It’s been great. It hasn’t been hard because he was someone that I dealt with on an every day, every second basis. If I’m not in, say it’s not my turn to take the reps at practice, I’m on the sideline with him. He’s talking to me. He was my personal coach. Him becoming the head coach was the easiest transition for me out of everyone. Now it honestly just makes it better for me, because now the guy calling the plays is literally the guy I’ve learned everything from. We have a great rapport, great relationship. We butt heads, we both have super similar personalities, but we always at the end of the day love each other and work hard together and we just want to make this thing work. TFR: Running an offense is something that many people don’t realize is incredibly difficult. What is your process during the week to prepare for games? KA: It’s almost more of a gradual thing. I don’t exactly have to teach myself how to play football every week. We have camp for four weeks straight where we install so many variations of plays, and we have eleven guys doing a ton of different things, that it’s endless combinations and possibilities. Getting all eleven guys in sync and one motion is something that takes a lot of time. For a week-to-week basis for me is just practice as hard as I can, watch film, take coaching and then after practice when I’m home by myself I have to study the opponent. We’re given a test by our coaches — about four or five pages long and takes about two hours — at the end of the week to explain all the knowledge that we know, that we need to
Brendan O’Connell The Return of Tebow-mania?
On Sept. 19, Tim Tebow reported for duty. This time, however, he was beginning a completely new journey. No longer was he a transcendent, Heisman-winning college football player at the University of Florida, an awe-inspiring, comeback-orchestrating NFL quarterback, a college football television analyst or a religious icon and pop culture phenomenon. Tebow has emerged from the shadows. The New York Mets signed him to a minor-league contract following a workout he had on Aug. 30 for maCOURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS jor league scouts, and he is attending Anderson is in his third season as a Ram. their fall instructional league. Despite being out of the public eye know. Honestly if it were a class, it for a time and being written off by would be a six-credit class. It’s the many as a failure or has-been, Tebow hardest class for sure for me. That’s has resurfaced under a new guise, all it really is, just watching film and pursuing a different passion, yet still applying it to practice. generating the same amazing buzz he TFR: You and Chase [Edmonds, did while throwing and running for junior running back] are the focal touchdowns on the football field. points of the offense. Can you talk In the first day it was available, a little bit about your relationship? Tebow’s No. 15 jersey sold at the KA: Chase is one of my best third-highest clip in all of baseball — friends. He’s a brother of mine. He’s unheard of for a minor-leaguer. Fans somebody that’s going to be in my and media members wait with baited life for the rest of my life. He was my breath to catch a glimpse of Tebow at roommate last year, he’s going to be every passing turn, and everything he my roommate next year. We didn’t says or does is quoted, photographed room together this year. He’s a very and analyzed. He is polarizing, enterclose friend of mine, someone that I respect highly. He works his butt off taining, invigorating and impossible non-stop — one of the best football to ignore, no matter how annoying players I’ve ever played with and a or ridiculous the fanfare surrounding great dude. He’s just a great person. him becomes. He has a deep faith with God. I’m Perhaps the most famous athlete close with his family. He’s just my to take his talents from the gridiron brother, there’s nothing else really to the diamond since Bo Jackson or to say. Deion Sanders, Tebow faces a multiTFR: What are your post-Fordtude of skeptics. ham plans, looking down the road? For one thing, Tebow has not KA: I’m not sure. I’m trying to played organized baseball since 2005 see if this football thing will work — his junior season in high school. out. I’m trying to get as much recEleven years later, at 29 years of age, ognition from the NFL and see if I he has much to improve upon after have a shot. If I keep having success, such a long lay-off. hopefully that will happen, we’ll As was the case in the NFL, Tebow see. If not, I plan to go to law school. has been criticized for having a weak, Maybe even Fordham, or end up inaccurate and inconsistent arm — a back in Miami, I would like to go to problem that could again prove fatal the University of Miami Law School for the outfield hopeful. He lumbers as well. But down the road, I don’t around the outfield, sizing balls up really know. There’s a lot I want to awkwardly and looking awkward get into. It’s kind of weird now, tranwhen making catches. sitioning. I only have so much time On the other hand, at six-feet threeleft. When you’re an athlete, it’s inches tall and 260 pounds, Tebow been part of my life my whole life. is a monster with rare physical attriIt’s all my family talks about, all the butes. He runs the bases with speed people back home know me for. So and is an imposing force with the bat it’s like I’m going to have post-trauin his hands. Though he needs more matic stress for sure. I don’t know work against live pitching, Tebow what I’m going to do with myself. showcased tremendous power at the I am excited to see other things. I plate in his August workout, smackreally like photography, I really like ing a few blasts well over the fence. law, I really just want to travel. So Many scouts deemed Tebow a there are things I definitely want to waste of time or a fruitless project dabble with, I just don’t really know not worth investing in, but the Mets yet. But law is the main focus. are giving Tebow a chance, and he is TFR: I kind of do have to ask: thankful for that. He insists that his When did you decide to grow out foray into baseball is not a publicity the hair? stunt, but rather his quest to achieve KA: My hair? [Laughs] It was a a lifelong passion. gradual thing. I just kind of got an“I’m doing it to pursue what’s in my noyed getting haircuts, I got lazy. I heart and live out a dream and live life actually had short hair when I first to its fullest,’’ Tebow said in a press got here. My ID picture is way difconference following his first day of ferent. Everyone sees that and they work with the Mets. laugh. There was no rhyme or rea“I’m part of the Mets family,” he son. It just kind of started getting later said, dismissing the idea of a relonger and I didn’t cut it, and I was turn to football. like, ‘Let me just see how long this The odds are stacked against him, can go,’ and I didn’t cut it for an enbut Tebow’s drive and will to work tire year. Not a trim, nothing. My hard just may lead him to the big sisters liked it, my girlfriend at the leagues. Who knows? Maybe sometime liked it and my mom hated it, day we will see him “Tebowing” in so it was kind of the perfect comthe on-deck circle at Citi Field. plexity really.
SPORTS
September 28, 2016
Page 17
Women Compete at Army By SAM BELDEN SPORTS EDITOR
The women’s tennis team hit the road for the second weekend in a row last Friday, traveling upstate to participate in the West Point Invitational. There, the Rams found plenty of individual success, gaining some momentum as they move through their sprint of a fall schedule. Sophomore Gianna Insogna was the top performer for Fordham. The native of Westlake Village, California won the C singles flight, taking down several seeded players along the way. Forced to take on fifthseeded Layla Rodriguez of Quinnipiac in the opening round, Insogna made short work of the match and charged to a 6-0, 6-3 win. Her second round match against NJIT’s Amanda Helminsky gave her even less trouble, as she cruised to victory, 6-0, 6-1. In the quarterfinals, she faced fourth-seeded Danna Funaro of Army West Point, the tournament host. The first set was relatively even and reached a score of 5-5, but Insogna managed to win the last two games to take it. She rolled through the last set, securing the 7-5, 6-2 victory and punching her ticket to the semifinals. There, she faced her toughest test of the weekend: a match against Gloria Son of Army, the top-seeded player in the C flight. Insogna was on fire, however, dropping just two games as she took the first set. The second set gave her more trouble, but she managed to pull it out once again and claim the victory, 6-2, 7-5. Her opponent in the final was Nicole Katzarkov of Quinnipiac. While Insogna ended up claiming victory for Fordham, she had to work for it. She dropped her first set of the weekend right out of the gate, losing a heartbreaking 1-7 tiebreaker. However, she won the second set and charged to victory in the third, taking the flight by virtue of a 6-7 (1-7), 6-4, 10-6 score. Insogna’s victory in C singles came on the heels of her consolation triumph at Quinnipiac the week
before, establishing her as the Women’s Tennis underclassman to watch. Sophomore Alexis Zobeideh also competed in C singles. She knocked off Colgate’s Kaelin Brittin, 7-5, 6-1, in the opening round and Seton Hall’s Thandy Kangwa, 6-4, 6-7 (75), 10-6, in the second round before getting a free pass through the quarterfinals thanks to an injury withdrawal. Zobeideh squared off with Katzarkov in the semifinals, who beat her 6-4, 4-6, 10-6. High finishes in the C flight were not the only Fordham successes from the weekend. Junior captain Estelle Wong advanced to the quarterfinals in the A singles flight, beating Lauren Hyland of Colgate and Christina Auyeng of Lehigh before running into Boise State’s Hanna Kantenwein, who beat her 6-1, 7-5. Senior Mayu Sato also advanced to the quarterfinals, where she fell to Binghamton’s Michelle Eisenberg 6-3, 6-2. In B singles, sophomore Carina Ma advanced to the semifinals. She opened the event with wins over Jordan Williams of Colgate and Jennifer Lu of Quinnipiac before falling to Milena Toseva of Boise State, 4-6, 7-5, 10-6, in the final four. Freshman Maia Balce, the fourth-seeded player in the B flight, lost to Sydney Young of Quinnipiac, 7-6 (7-5), 6-0, in the round of 16. In D singles, senior Destiny Grunin made a run at the title but ended up falling to Katie Kim of Seton Hall, 6-4, 6-2, in the championship match. Those were her first dropped sets of the weekend. Sophomore Whitney Weisberg was not as successful in D singles, but she did advance to the finals of the consolation bracket. The Rams did not fare so well in doubles. They sent out three allFordham duos (as well as junior Carolina Sa, who teamed up with Allison Roma of Binghamton) across two flights, but none advanced past the second round. The team will continue its season this weekend at the Lehigh Invitational in Pennsylvania. Play is set to get underway on Friday, Sept. 30.
By JACK McLOONE
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
No one had more fun playing baseball than Jose Fernandez. The fact that I am talking about a 24-year old in the past tense is the saddest thing I have ever had to write. When writing about any hot button topic, especially an untimely death, it’s hard not to sound like you’re piling on, trying to cash in on a tragedy for page views. And while I try not to shout into the ether, I think there’s an important sect of baseball fans who often are talked about but don’t always speak for themselves and to whom Jose Fernandez was the brightest beacon: the young baseball fan. Jose Fernandez is going to be remembered for a lot of things. Pedro Martinez described him as “a better talent that I was.” Pedro was a first ballot Hall of Famer. And baseball statistician Ryan Spaeder tweeted: “Jose Fernandez struck out 31.2% of batters he faced. No starting pitcher in history recorded strikeouts at a greater rate.” But I’ll be honest, there have been plenty of otherworldly baseball players. There was only one Jose Fernandez. “I have observed that baseball is not unlike war,” said Ty Cobb a long time ago when the biggest skill a player could have was his machismo. Fernandez had enough trauma just trying to get to the U.S. He and his mother tried three times to reach Miami from their native Cuba, but failed each time. On their fourth attempt, they made it to the US by way of Mexico, but not before Fernandez jumped in the water to save his drowning mother from the rough surf. It seems as though once he finally got to the ultimate destination of the majors, he decided he’d had enough serious moments for a lifetime. During Fernandez’s 2013 Rookie of the Year season, I heard bits and pieces about some kid in Miami looking like the next big thing. But that wasn’t what I saw the first time I watched him. The first time I remember seeing Jose Fernandez is maybe his most famous moment, and he wasn’t even on the mound: it was him celebrating in the dugout after a mammoth, game-tying home
run from fellow Cuban and Marlin Giancarlo Stanton in the bottom of the ninth. Watching Fernandez bang on the banister and yell from some primal place inside of him, I just remember thinking that he was someone who was going to have fun, no matter what. Later that season, Fernandez hit his first career home run. And as any 20-year old who hit his first Major League home run is wont to do, he watched it soar over the left field wall before beginning his trot. This being baseball, that irked the Braves, particularly old-school catcher Brian McCann, leading to the benches clearing. The lasting image from that dustup? Fernandez being pulled out of the circle with the biggest smile on his face, the smile of a kid still elated over his first home run despite literal push back from the “old guard.” “When I think about Jose, I see such a little boy,” said Marlins manager, Don Mattingly, in a tearful press conference on Sunday. “The way he played, there was just a joy with him. When you watch kids play Little League or something like that, that’s the joy that Jose played with.” He was someone a younger generation of baseball fans could latch on to. Yes, there are other young, incredible baseball players and there will always be more. But Jose Fernandez felt like ours because those of us who somehow found a way to
find fun in the game knew he had found it too; he was just a lot better at it than the rest of us. A big kid in the Big Leagues, he treated playing baseball on the biggest stage exactly as we would if we were in his cleats. He literally laughed in the face of baseball’s old school, way-too-serious culture. Jose Fernandez has joined the pantheon of baseball “what-ifs” alongside Munson, Clemente, Adenhart, Taveras and too many others. But I won’t spend my time thinking about the records he could have held. What gets me is how many more times he would have made me and so many others laugh, how many more kids he would have convinced that baseball could be fun. In his too-short four-year career and too-short 24-year life, his biggest accomplishments were only tangentially related to his remarkable success on the field. On Sunday, I watched the video of Fernandez seeing his grandmother in 2014 for the first time in years and I cried. This was the first time I had cried about anything sports related since the Helmet Catch. I felt better the day after 18-1. I do not feel better today. Jose Fernandez was an icon, an incredible talent and above all, a friend, son and grandson. I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing him, but I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that it sure felt like I did.
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA
Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was one of baseball’s brightest young talents.
Varsity Calendar HOME AWAY
Thursday Sept. 29
Friday Sept. 30
Football
Monmouth 1 p.m.
Men’s Soccer
GW 2 p.m.
Women’s Soccer
Rhode Island 7 p.m. JHU 12 p.m.
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Junior Estelle Wong advanced to the quarterfinals of her singles flight.
GW 7 p.m.
GW 11 a.m.
GMU 7 p.m.
Men’s Tennis
Quinnipiac Invitational
Women’s Tennis
Lehigh Invitational
Golf
Monday Oct. 3
Tuesday Oct. 4
Wednesday Oct. 5
Dayton 7 p.m. Saint Joe’s 1 p.m.
Water Polo Volleyball
Sunday Oct. 2
Saturday Oct. 1
MacDonald Invite
SPORTS
Page 18
Varsity Scores & Stats
Matthew Kelly
Patriots Win In Week Three Week 3 in the NFL brought the third week of football in New England without star quarterback Tom Brady, with the team at home facing the Houston Texans this past Thursday night. With Brady serving a four game suspension for his alleged involvement in the Deflategate scandal and backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo injuring his shoulder against Miami in Week 2, rookie Jacoby Brissett had to lead the Patriots offense on Thursday. Despite having less than four days of preparation and also having never played a single down in the NFL, Brissett orchestrated a dominant performance over J.J. Watt and the Texans defense as New England blanked Houston 27 – 0. Brissett threw for 103 yards while also rushing for 48 yards and a touchdown. As impressive as these numbers are, Brissett’s performance becomes even more remarkable after it was revealed over the weekend that the rookie suffered a torn ligament in his thumb during the game. The Patriots find themselves in a precarious situation: all three quarterbacks on their roster are either ineligible or injured, which means their current quarterback is . . . Julian Edelman? The veteran wide receiver, who started at quarterback for three seasons at Kent State University, is now being seriously considered to see a few snaps under center next week against the Buffalo Bills. Though Edelman has only started at wide receiver during his time in New England, he might not be a bad fit at quarterback. His only pass thrown in the NFL resulted in a 51-yard touchdown during the 2015 AFC divisional playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens. Bill Belichick and the rest of New England’s coaching staff are hoping that Garopollo and Brissett can recover from their respective injuries in time for the game against Buffalo next week, but if not, Edelman may be the man calling the shots. On top of the revolving door situation at quarterback, the Patriots have also been understaffed elsewhere on the field. Injuries have sidelined middle linebacker Dont’a Hightower and defensive end Trey Flowers on the defensive side of the ball, while veteran probowl defensive end Rob Ninkovich has been suspended for the first four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. In addition, tight end Rob Gronkowski sat out the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury and saw limited playing time against Houston. Despite these injuries and more, Bill Belichick has navigated New England to a 3— 0 start, which many believed to be nearly impossible given the numerous obstacles facing the team. Taking the difficulty of the Patriot’s schedule into consideration, this team continues to make fans, opponents and NFL pundits alike look foolish forever doubting them. Looking to push past the Buffalo Bills next weekend, the Patriots will welcome back Tom Brady for Week 5 at home against the Browns.
Septermber 28, 2016
Volleyball Fordham La Salle (FOR) Fairchild 18 kills (FOR) Morley 10 kills (LAS) Sharrits 16 digs
3 1
3 1
Duquense Fordham (FOR) Williams 17 digs (FOR) Walsh 39 ast (DUQ) Davet 23 kills Golf Quechee Club Challenge Fordham- 12th (FOR) Schiller +2 (FOR) Madarang +9 (FOR) Trim +10 Softball Fordham Dominican
Football Fordham 31 Penn 17 (FOR) Andersen 231 yds, TD (FOR) Edmonds154 yds, 4 TD (FOR) Dawson 12 tck, Int
Men’s Soccer Fordham 2 Columbia 1 (COL)Denis goal, ‘12 (FOR) Loebe goal, ‘50 (FOR) Ohlendorf goal, ‘110
Water Polo Fordham John’s Hopkins (FOR) Sims 2 goals (FOR) Miller-Tolt 2 goals
Women’s Soccer UConn 4 Fordham 1 (CONN) Vinciguerra goal, ‘13 (CONN) Ribeiro goal, ‘49 (FOR) Natale goal, ‘70 (CONN) Casimiro goal, ‘82 (CONN) Hill goal, ‘88
8 7
George Washington 18 Fordham 6 (GW) Destici 6 goals, 4 ast (FOR) Simmons 2 goals Fordham 14 Navy 13 (FOR) Miller-Tolt 4 goals (FOR) Simmons 4 goals (NAVY) Williams 13 saves
14 6
Women’s Tennis West Point Invite C Singles Championship
(FOR) Insogna 6-7 (7-1), 6-4, 10-6
D Singles Championship (FOR) Grunin 4-6, 2-6
Athletes of the Week Max Roberts
Gianna Insogna
Freshman
Sophomore
Football
Tennis
Roberts played an instrumental role in the Rams 31-17 win over Penn during Homecoming. He recorded 10 total tackles, five of which were solo, as well as three sacks. He also forced two fumbles, both of which were recovered by Fordham. His effort earned him Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors.
Insogna came out on top of the C singles flight during last weekend’s West Point Invitational. She didn’t drop a single set in any of her matches leading up to the Finals, before having to make a come back against Quinnipiac’s Nicole Katzarkov, winning 6-7 (7-1), 6-4, 10-6.
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 • Vin Scully’s Broadcasting
Career Comes to an End
Vin Scully’s long and storied broadcasting career has finally come to an end. Scully, who is 88 years old, called his last Dodgers game on Sunday. Corey Seagar sent the legend away in style, hitting a division-clinching 10th inning walk-off homerun, a fitting end to Scully’s 67 year career. He has been the voice of some of the most important moments in baseball history, such as Hank Aaron’s 715th homerun, Kirk Gibson’s memorable homerun in the 1988 World Series and the infamous Bill Buckner play in the 1986 World Series. He also served as an assistant sports editor for The Fordham Ram during Volume 28.
• Football to Recognize Two Alumni at Annual Dinner Peter Signori, GSB ‘68, and John Constanti-
no, GSB ‘67, have been chosen to receive the Mara Family Award and the Walsh Award, respectively. The awards are given to members of the Fordham football family for their dedication and contributions to the football program. They will be given their awards at the annual Fordham Gridiron Club Dinner, which will be held on Nov. 10 at the Yale Club in Manhattan.
• A-10 Schedule Announced For Women’s Basketball The Atlantic 10 has officially released its confer-
ence schedule for the women’s teams. Fordham is slated to play two nationally televised games, both on the NBC Sports Network. Six of their games will come against teams that played in the NCAA Tournament — Albany, Duquense, St. John’s, Iona, George Washington and St. Bonaventure — and could potentially play more if they are able to win some key games. Fordham will open their conference schedule on Dec. 1 against Duquesne, who came in second in the A-10 tournament and lost to the UConn Huskies in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
•
Baseball Team to Help in Collecting Equipment for Loukoumi Foundation
The baseball team plans to help the Loukoumi Make a Difference Foundation collect new or used baseball equipment. Donations will benefit The Bethel School, which is located in Jamaica. The Fordham players are also going to record instructional videos for the Jamaican students. The collection will take place on Oct. 22 during the Fordham-Georgetown football game. – Compiled by Pat Costello
Alvin Halimwidjaya NBA Southeast Division Recap With summer drawing to a close, various trades and signings have shaken up the NBA landscape. In anticipation of the 2016-2017 season, here are some of the highlights of the offseason in the Southeast Division. The Miami Heat and Life Without Wade: The Heat are facing an interesting season. The team re-signed rising star Hassan Whiteside to a max contract, and with Whiteside and Goran Dragic at the helm along with young impact players like Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson, Miami has a fairly solid core to build off of. On the other hand, forward Chris Bosh might not ever be able to play with the Heat again due to his blood clot condition, and veterans like Joe Johnson and Luol Deng have left via free agency. Oh, and don’t forget that Miami lost its most important sports figure in state history. After 13 seasons, Dwyane Wade has taken his talents away from South Beach, and though some might criticize his recent play due to age, he was still an important source of production and an invaluable leader for the Heat. Whether or not they can soldier on without him and start a new era remains to be seen. The Orlando Magic Trying to Get Its Act Together: With the acquisition of Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo to add to Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, the Magic frontcourt holds defensive prowess and a bright future. However, Orlando had to give up Victor Oladipo, a key scorer in their offense. Regardless, with Evan Fournier’s success with the Magic, as well as young guards Elfrid Payton and Mario Hezonja, Orlando can look to finally take that next step and maybe scramble for a playoff spot this year. Can Howard Take the Hawks to New Heights?: The biggest changes for the Hawks were at the point and down low. They got rid of longtime floor general Jeff Teague, giving Dennis Schroeder the keys to the offense and a chance to prove his worth. In addition, they replaced center Al Horford, who left for Boston in free agency with the polarizing Dwight Howard. Though he is not the same dominant figure he was on the Magic in his glory days, Howard still has a dynamic skillset that can really help a team on the glass and around the rim, whether on offense or defense. The biggest challenge for Atlanta this year is trying to move forward with their new personnel. Hornets Facing Uphill Climb After Breakthrough Season: After their second postseason appearance in three years with head coach Steve Clifford, the Hornets’ new challenge is to maintain their level of play and rise in contention in the East. They replace veteran Al Jefferson with the maligned but valuable Roy Hibbert, and with Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum heading up the team, they look poised to remain in playoff contention for a while. However, what they’re looking to do is to rise into the upper tier of the Eastern Conference, and if Walker can improve on defense and their young players can keep improving, they might be able to make a bigger splash next year. The Southern Division will be highly contested this season.
SPORTS
September 28, 2016
Volleyball Splits Weekend Games By ANDREA GARCIA PHOTO EDITOR
Volleyball rounded out this Homecoming weekend with a conference win against the La Salle Explorers and a loss to the Duquesne Dukes. After three losses the previous week, the split weekend should give the Rams some momentum. Fordham got off to an early 8-3 lead from a series of La Salle errors. The Rams evened out the box score for the Explorers with two hitting errors, effectively closing the gap to 10-8 in Fordham’s favor. The Rams then went on their second fourpoint run of the game. LaSalle continued to trail close behind and held out to a 25-18 loss to Fordham. The second set opened on a La Salle serve, and the visitors latched onto a three-point lead off of three Fordham hitting errors. The Rams crept up on La Salle’s lead, but couldn’t keep the serve to close off another win. La Salle picked up their first winning set on a tightly contested 25-22. The teams kept siding each other out in the first half of the third set, and La Salle finally took on a threepoint run at the halfway mark, evening out the score at 14 each. At the 16-6 mark, the Rams took the Explorers for a four-point run, secured by a Fordham kill and ace, and two La Salle errors. Secure at 19-16, the Rams finished off their second winning set at 25-20. The teams kept a tight box score in the fourth and final set, until momentum picked up on the Rams’ side of the net with a six point run, carrying them to a 17-10 lead. They
held onto their lead and won their last set 25-16. Sunday’s match also took four sets to complete, but unfortunately, the Rams couldn’t pull through to contest the Dukes for a second straight winning match. The first set was a tight win for Duquesne, only pushing ahead for a definitive win in the last three kills from their offensive players. While the Dukes seemed to control the court with an early 8-3 lead, the Rams were ready to fight back and tied up at the 17-17 mark, and again at 21-21. A Fordham kill and an ace, paired with two errors from Duquesne, closed out a winning set for Fordham. The third set marked off an easy win for the Dukes, with a series of errors from the Rams. Duquesne never questioned their lead, and walked off the court with a 25-14 win under
their belt. With only one more set to win the match, the Dukes charged on and took advantage of a major fivepoint run early in the set, securing a lead at 9-5. The Rams did their best to change the swing of the game, but couldn’t keep the service for more than one play. Although finally hitting a three-point run to catch up at 16-13, Duquesne proved the strength of their starting hitters, while Fordham’s hitters tallied up repeat hitting errors in the final set, contributing to the Duke’s third winning set. The final set finished at 25-20. The Rams will travel south this week for two more conference games. They will face off against the George Washington Colonials on Friday and the George Mason Patriots on Saturday.
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Kaitlin Morley, Elise Benjamin, Olivia Fairchild and Maddy Walsh celebrate a win.
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Page 19
Golf Finishes 12th By SAM BELDEN SPORTS EDITOR
Coming off of a sterling spring campaign, the Fordham golf team has struggled to continue that success this fall. After finishing 15th out of 19 teams at the Hartford Hawks Invitational last week, the Rams traveled to Vermont over the weekend to play in the Quechee Club Collegiate Challenge, where they placed 12th out of 15. Junior Matt Schiller led the way for the Rams for the third time this season, finishing in a tie for 17th. While he got off to a slow start with a 76, his closing 72 was among the low rounds of the day. The second-lowest average scorer in program history, Schiller’s play has been a major asset for Fordham this fall. Sophomore Josh Madarang and junior Joseph Trim found themselves near the middle of the individual leaderboard, tying for 46th and 49th, respectively. Madarang opened with an 80 on Saturday but managed to tie the low round of his collegiate career in the final round, signing for a 75. Trim started out with a 76 before fading to an 80 in the final round. The other Rams finished near the back of the pack. Junior James Mongey failed to break 80 in both rounds, shooting scores of 82 and 81 to finish in a tie for 74th. Sophomore Tommy Hayes opened with a 79 but closed with an 89, finishing in a tie for 80th. Senior Oscar Cabanas, playing as an individual, tied for 71st after rounds of 83 and 79. Rhode Island won the event, edging out Harvard by a mere two strokes. Chris Houston of Rhode Is-
THE RAM ARCHIVES
Golf placed 12th in Vermont.
land was the medalist, shooting twin 70s to come out on top by a single stroke. Teammate Billy Walthouse held a share of the 18-hole lead after an opening 68, but he could manage only a 73 to follow it up, falling into second place. The host track, the Lakeland Course at the Quechee Club, is a 6,671-yd par 72 with a links-style design. It was designed by the late course architect Geoffrey Cornish, though Brian Silva did a renovation in 2012. The Rams will return to action this weekend at the MacDonald Cup in New Haven, Connecticut. They will then have three weeks off before their fall finale at the Lehigh Invitational.
Page 20
SPORTS
September 28, 2016
The Fordham Ram
Football Beats UPenn 31-17 at Homecoming By JACK MCLOONE
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
After a bye week, Fordham Football extended its Homecoming winning streak to five in a row on Saturday after taking down the University of Pennsylvania Quakers 31-17. The Quakers were Fordham’s first FCS opponent. The crowd of 7816 was more than double that of the game against Elizabeth City State at home two weeks ago, which senior quarterback Kevin Anderson gives some credit to. “Playing at home and getting that much support, there’s nothing really you can ask more,” he said. “Having a big win and playing in front of fans, it’s what all the hard work’s for.” The Rams opened up the game right where they left off before their bye week, scoring on the first drive of the game. The Rams gained yards on every single play of the drive, culminating in an inspired play that sprung junior running back Chase Edmonds for a 22-yard receiving touchdown. Edmonds ran straight into the line like he was going to block, and then worked his way out to the left as all of the wide receivers went right, leaving him wide open for the score, making it 7-0 Fordham with around four minutes gone. However, UPenn did not crumple after a quick shot to the mouth. They were aggressive on fourth down all day, something the Rams were prepared for but had trouble containing at times. The first time was on that drive when the Quakers busted out an option run on fourth and four around midfield for a first down, and then scored a few plays later to knot the score at 7-7 about halfway through the first quarter. Edmonds would get his second of his four touchdowns of the day on the Rams next possession. After facing a fourth and two of their own and con-
ANDREA GARCIA/THE FORDHAM RAM
Chase Edmonds heads to the end zone for one of his four touchdowns against UPenn.
verting, Edmonds was able to make a few nice moves around Quaker defenders and find the end zone a few plays later. It gave the Rams a 14-7 lead, one they would not relinquish for the rest of the game. The passing game was not cooperative early, especially in that drive, with two deep balls from Anderson falling incomplete despite being on target. But when the going gets tough, the Rams know they have one of the best running backs in college football to rely on. “He’s a very talented young man, a guy that takes his talent and combines it with hard work,” said head coach Andrew Breiner about Edmonds. “You see that in the results that he produces. Having great players like Chase is always nice.” On back to back Quaker drives, the Fordham defense continued its trend of creating turnovers and putting the offense in incredibly favorable field position. First senior linebacker George Dawson nabbed his third interception of the year and
let the Rams’ offense get to work at the UPenn 11 after the return, which turned into three points off the leg of senior kicker Makay Redd. And then on the next drive, freshman linebacker Max Roberts would get in on the fun, strip sacking quarterback Alex Torgerson. Senior linebacker Brett Lambert jumped on the ball at the UPenn 23, which turned into Edmonds’s third touchdown of the day. “I could be on the sideline tying my shoe, next thing you know George Dawson gets a pick and runs down to the 11-yard line,” said Anderson about the frequency of the Fordham defense forcing turnovers. “It’s exciting, it definitely makes the game more fun and we’re thankful. You get short fields, and it’s a huge momentum boost.” Fordham actually forced a turnover on the next UPenn drive as well, but were unable to convert it into points. Roberts once again got to the quarterback and punched the ball out, with sophomore linebacker Noah Fitzgerald being the one to
jump on it. However, Anderson tried to end the game in the first half with a morale crushing touchdown and ended up throwing an interception in the end zone instead, which the Quakers turned into a field goal and a 24-10 score, where it would remain to the halftime whistle. Roberts was one of the standouts in a very complete game for the Rams in all facets. He recorded 10 tackles, including three sacks, along with the two forced fumbles, and was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week. While the freshman producing in a big spot may have surprised the crowd, it did not surprise the coaching staff. “As a coaching staff we identified very early in preseason camp that Max is a special talent,” said Breiner. “Its our job as coaches to teach them a role that we can get young guys that are that talented on the field and help us produce on Saturdays.” The second half started off with much stouter defense on both sides. After the teams traded a few punts
for the first time in the game, the Quakers would cut the lead to one score, 24-17 with 4:50 left in the third quarter. Both defenses would remain stalwart, trading possessions without points being scored again, including junior defensive back Caleb Ham foiling a UPenn trick play on fourth and 15. The Rams would eventually land the knockout punch with 5:31 left in the game by going to what they know best. The game plan for Fordham was to show a lot of different looks early on to confuse the Quakers. “Once we had them see us in a lot of different formations, we were just going to attack with our bread and butter: our inside run stuff and our deep passes down the field.” said Anderson. And that is exactly what they did on that final scoring drive. Anderson jumpstarted it by completing his first long pass of the day, a 57-yarder to sophomore wideout Austin Longi. Two plays later, Edmonds collected his fourth touchdown by pounding the ball and made it 31-17, which would remain for the final score. Edmonds ended with 152 yards on 24 carries for three touchdowns and another four receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown. That brings his career touchdown total to 53, making him the new record holder at Fordham for career touchdowns. Two more rushing touchdowns will give him that record, and 755 more rushing yards will mean the school career rushing record. Just a reminder, Edmonds is a junior. Anderson finished the game 18 of 33 for 231 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Fordham’s next game will be on the road at Monmouth University on Saturday, Oct 1 at 1 p.m.
Women’s Soccer Beaten By No. 23 UConn By PAT COSTELLO
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
In the final game before their A-10 schedule gets started, the women’s soccer team was tasked to beat the #23 team in the country: the UConn Huskies. The Huskies, who came into the game with a 7-2 record, were looking to keep their success going. The Rams entered last Thursday’s contest at 5-2-1 and were trying to bounce back from a tough loss against Hofstra while simultaneously gearing up for a very good opponent. “The biggest challenge in playing the #23 team was the preparation. We were very focused and performing well in our training sessions heading into the UConn game, but… their style of play is completely different from ours,” said head coach Jessica Clinton. Trouble started early for the Rams when UConn’s Kristen Vinciguerra back heeled a ball into the back of the net in the 13th minute. However, Fordham’s department of defense stood tall following the early goal and did not allow any more Huskie goals. Unfortunately,
JULIA CUMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM
Natalie Sims and the Rams are preparing for their A-10 schedule after their loss to the nationally ranked Huskies.
the UConn defense played just as well, and took their team into the half with a 1-0 lead. The Huskies struck early in the second half as well, when Stephanie Ribeiro headed in the second UConn goal of the day, and her team-leading eighth goal of the season. Ribeiro was also credited with an assist on the first goal. The Rams did not back down from the #23 team. In the 70th minute, sophomore defender Keri
Villano sent a lead pass ahead to senior forward Nicol Natale. Natale juked the goalie and put away the goal, cutting the lead in half. It was Natale’s second goal of the season and first since their game against Manhattan on Sept. 4. “It was great to have Nicol score,” Clinton said. “It was a big time goal.” Clinton feels as though Natale’s best soccer is still to come. “I believe more goals and assists will come for Nicol, but she’s a scouted
player on opponents reports. But knowing Nicol, she’ll find a way to be successful.” The Rams were on the brink of a dramatic comeback, but could not withstand the powerful play of UConn. The Huskies opened up a huge lead, tacking on two goals in the 82nd and 88th minutes, respectively. “We began to push forward more in the final 10 minutes to work ourselves to come back to tie the game. In the process, they
exposed what we were leaving open,” Clinton said. “The score did not reflect how we played for 80 minutes. However in the last 10 minutes of the game, we probably learned more and gained more experience than we did in the previous 80 minutes.” The Rams were unable to battle back this time, dropping the contest 4-1. The Rams next challenge will have more meaning than any of their previous games, as they begin their A-10 schedule. “Our team feels good heading into conference play and are excited to start this Thursday on the road,” Clinton said. “They’ve worked extremely hard to put themselves in a position to be successful. They understand that each game means potential points.” However, Clinton doesn’t want her team to get too ahead of themselves. “We take each day and each game one at a time and try not to think too far into the future,” she said. “This team has a lot of potential to go far given their talent, trust in each other and battle mentality.”