The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham dh University Community Since 1918 Volume 98, Issue 6
FordhamRam.com
March 30, 2016
Security Alerts Students of Multiple Thefts
Fifth Bias Incident Is Investigated
By LAURA SANICOLA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
By ERIN SHANAHAN NEWS EDITOR
A small swastika was found scratched onto the inside of a trash room door at Lincoln Center’s McMahon Hall on March 9. The university was alerted of this fifth bias incident in an email sent out by the News and Media Relations Bureau of Fordham University. The backwards swastika was reported to Public Safety by a Fordham student. Officers from Public Safety as well as Fordham Residential Life staff members responded to the residence hall. The New York Police Department was also notified of the situation. Fordham Public Safety is conducting an investigation in regards to the situation. However, according to the email from the News and Media Relations Bureau, the vandalism has not been officially deemed a hate crime by the NYPD. According to John Carroll, the associate vice president of Fordham’s Department of Public Safety, the incident has been deemed as a “suspected bias incident” or a “suspected hate crime” by the NYPD. The 20th precinct commander has now passed off the case to the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force. Should the one responsible be identified, university disciplinary proceedings will be conducted. In addition, he or she may face criminal charges should they be filed. “This act is not just anti-Semitic and hateful, but a deadly slur to people of Jewish faith and descent, and a vile provocation to the entire Fordham family,” the email from the News and Media Relations Bureau said. “To say that this act is inconsistent with Fordham’s mission and the ethos of the academy is a vast understatement.” Recent Incidents This vandalism found at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus marks the fifth bias incident occurring at Fordham University this academic year. The first bias incident occurred at the Rose Hill Campus on Sunday, Sept. 13, when a racial slur had been scratched into the door SEE BIAS, PAGE 5
in this issue
Mental Health Special See Insert Stigmatization of Mental Illnesses in Society The Media’s Portrayal of Mental Health Mental Illness’ crippling costs in the U.S.
FORDHAM RAM ARCHIVES
Although Ram Van has been improving its technology, its safety is still being questioned by students.
Fordham Freshmen More Likely To Protest Study Shows Activism Is on the Rise By THERESA SCHLIEP ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
As Generation Y matures from Nickelodeon watching, Nintendo playing school children to young adults enrolled in higher education, some predict that student protests will become more prevalent on college campuses. Specifically, University of California at Los Ange-
les’ Higher Education Research Institute survey found that the greatest amount of students in the history of their annual survey anticipate participating in protests. This survey, called “The American Freshman,” included 199 schools. It found that 8.5 percent of college freshmen in 2015 expressed a “very good
chance” that they would participate in protests. This is an increase from the 2014 survey, which showed that 5.6 percent of college freshman expressed the same chance. The survey notes that participation in protests varies depending on race. While 7.1 percent of white students expressed interest in protest, 16 percent of black students SEE PROTEST, PAGE 6
The Fordham community received several emails this past month regarding robberies occuring in the surrounding areas off campus. In a university-wide email sent Saturday afternoon, March 12, Associate Vice President of Public Safety John Carroll notified the university of an off-campus burglary and an alleged sexual assault of a Fordham student. Carroll’s email, sent shortly after 5 p.m., said that an apartment on Hoffman Street, between 188th st 189th st, was burglarized between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. According to the student who reported the incident, one of the three student residents had been sexually abused while they were asleep. Carroll said that the residents reported two cell phones and cash missing from the apartment, and the NYPD are investigating the incident. This incident marked the fourth SEE SAFETY, PAGE 3
Diversity Task Force Addresses Campus Climate By THERESA SCHLIEP ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
The Diversity Task Force held its first community meetings at both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses. The Rose Hill meetings were held on March 8 in Tognino Hall and March 9 in the Campbell Hall Multipurpose room. The Rose Hill meetings followed a town hall style format. Attendees submitted questions and concerns before the meeting, or asked questions and addressed concerns at the meeting itself. The chair of the Task Force, Peter Vaughan, PhD, dean emeritus of the Graduate School of Social Service, moderated the event. Other members of the task force who received questions included Mark Chapman, PhD, associate professor of African and AfricanAmerican Studies, Keith Eldredge, dean of students at Lincoln Center, Eva Badowska, Ph.D, dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Juan Carlos Matos, assistant dean and director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and John Feerick, Esq., dean emeritus of the Law School, amongst others. While not on the Task Force, Mike Taritola, from the office of the president, aided in moderating the event. After reviewing the climate of diversity on campus, the Task Force will propose a set of recommendations for the university to encourage diversity in a preliminary report by the end of June. Students and faculty members asked the task force questions and
stated concerns with either the state of race on the Fordham University Rose Hill campus, or with the Task Force itself. Some also raised questions about what would be done after the report is filed. For instance, some students and faculty questioned the necessity of a committee to determine if there is a race or diversity problem on campus. “Someone asked if we are moving to say that there is a problem and to name the problem,” said Badowska, one of the members of the task force. “Are we willing to not talk about diversity and instead talk about racism? Yes, we are.” Chapman argued that those criticisms warranted a more direct response from members of the task force. He stated that Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university tasked the force with combing through other reports. Chapman also said that there would be a dollar amount allocated by the board of trustees to address diversity and race on campus. “This is a kairos moment,” said Chapman. “It takes a long time for institutions to change, but I do think this is that moment.” Ideas were also raised for a possible junior college to be added to Fordham in order to allow students with limited financial resources access to the school. Some argued that this did not address Fordham’s high tuition that possibly keeps many eligible students out. SEE TASK FORCE, PAGE 2
A PERSON/FORDHAM RAM
Students gather together to discuss the climate of the univerity.
A PRESONFORDHAM RAM
The chair of the Task Force, Peter Vaughan, moderated the town hall.