Vol 99 issue 6

The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 Volume 99, Issue 6

FordhamRam.com

VICTOR ORDONEZ/THE FORDHAM RAM

Attendees at RHA’s Annual Benefit Auction were shocked when students bid thousands on vairous items.

SO Fordham Hosts Annual Red Out Fashion Show

By VICTOR ORDONEZ

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Fordham and Special Olympic athletes strutted their stuff on Feb. 26 and raised over $1,700 during the Special Olympics Club at Fordham’s (SO Fordham) 2nd annual Red Out Fashion Show. Athletes dressed to impress

as they walked the catwalk in McGinley Ballroom to a tune of their choosing with hopes of raising funds for Special Olympics New York.

The event provided live music performed by former “American Idol” runner-up Brielle von Hugel, raffles and a silent auction that offered VIP tickets to “The Tonight

Show with Jimmy Fallon,” an autographed picture of Nick Viall from ABC’s “The Bachelor” and more.

All proceeds from the raffle and auction went towards Special Olympics New York, the largest Special Olympics organization in the United States. It SEE FASHION, PAGE 2

March 8, 2017

Grad Students Speak Up

FIRE Ranks Fordham’s Free Speech

By AISLINN KEELY

By ERIN SHANAHAN

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A group of graduate students have organized an unofficial group called “Fordham Speaks Up” to discuss issues they see as pressing under President Donald Trump’s administration. The group brings together undergraduate and graduate students and faculty in the campus’s public spaces, such as McGinley Second or Edward’s Parade each Wednesday to analyze issues and discuss action individuals can take in light of such issues.

The group does not place sole blame on the administration for the lack of political dialogue. The group seeks “to encourage free speech dialogue about political issues on campus, which whether or not the administration cares, doesn’t seem like something that’s happening a lot in public spaces,” according to Vita Emery, GSAS ’19.

The group has no desire to be formally recognized by the administration. “We don’t want to be an official group, in part because I do think the general feeling at Fordham is there aren’t a lot of places where students can convene and talk about things,

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) ranked Fordham as one of the top 10 worst schools for free speech in late February, highlighting recent events surrounding Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Lincoln Center. In a social media survey conducted by The Fordham Ram, members of the Fordham community said their speech at Fordham is restricted, but not in the classroom.

FIRE is a non-profit group which focuses on civil liberties in academia, specifically on college campuses in the United States.

The group’s main goal is “to defend and sustain individual rights at America’s colleges and universities,” according to its website.

FIRE members “review the record each year and shine a spotlight on the 10 worst schools for free speech,” according to an article in The Huffington Post, written

by Greg Lukianoff, president and CEO of FIRE. FIRE members “review the record each year and shine a spotlight on the 10 worst schools for free speech,” according to the article. Neither The Huffington Post article nor FIRE’s website highlights any metrics for ranking schools, but rather the organization reviews highlighted news from universities in making the list.

Fordham University received a “red traffic light” rating from FIRE. The traffic light refers to FIRE’s Speech Code Rating System, which informs you of FIRE’s opinion of the degree to which free speech is curtailed at a particular institution,” according to the organization’s webpage.

For instance, FIRE highlighted the recent controversy regarding SJP in ranking Fordham one of the worst schools for free speech.

According to the Huffington Post article, “Fordham’s persistent refusal to live up to the promises it makes to its students earned

SEE SPEAKS, PAGE 6

Walking in Refugees’ Shoes

By VICTOR ORDONEZ

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

On Monday, the same day that President Donald Trump signed a revised executive order banning citizens from six Muslim-majority nations from traveling to the United States, Campus Ministry hosted a Refugee Simulation located in the McGinley Center.

Assistant to the Vice President of Campus Ministry, Gil Severiano, organized the event to educate students and attendees by providing an in-depth simulation that would place them in the shoes of refugees. Severiano attributed aspects of the simulation to various other programs, including simulations developed by the Jesuit Refugee Service ( JRS), Doctors Without Borders and the Kino Borders Initiative.

The project was in honor of basic Catholic teachings, according to Severiano. Specifically, Serveriano said that the simulation was inspired by Pope Francis and his deep concern for the refugee criSEE MINISTRY, PAGE 5

SEE FIRE, PAGE 8 OWEN CORRIGAN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Students announced the total amount fundraised for B+ by holding up cards to write out the total for all in attendance.

FDM Dances to over $90,000

By THERESA SCHLIEP NEWS EDITOR

From noon to midnight Saturday, students at Fordham Dance Marathon (FDM) danced to a grand fundraising total of $91,869.75, eclipsing last year’s total by more than $30,000. The Residence Halls Association (RHA) hosted its annual

event to fundraise for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, a foundation that supports children and families suffering from pediatric cancer.

This was both during the fourth year of the event and the fourth year in which RHA saw fundraising numbers increase. They beat their fundraising goal of $70,000.

FDM was the conclusion of Philanthropy Month, a month long series of events to fundraise for the B+ Foundation that involved Beer Tasting, The Auction and a Joe McDonough speaker event.

Loschert Hall was the top fundraising dorm, with a fundraising total of $10,356. The top fundraiser also SEE FDM, PAGE 6

in this issue

Opinion Page 9 Virtual Reality: Niche or Mainstream Potential

Culture

Page 22 A Shocking But Satisfying Academy Awards

Sports Page 2 Softball Sweeps NC State Tournament

NEWS

Page 2

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS March 1 Arthur 1 12 p.m.

A student set the fire alarm off after burning food on the stove.

F.D.N.Y. responded and resolved the situation.

March 3 O’Hare Hall 5 a.m.

Two delivery trucks got into a vehicular accident in the vicinity of O’Hare Hall. The issue was resolved by Public Safety.

March 3 Fordham Parking Garage 4 p.m.

A visitor to the campus claimed that their car was struck while parked in the Fordham parking garage. Public Safety is currently reviewing the incident.

March 4 Campbell Hall 1 p.m.

Six students were stuck in the Campbell Hall elevators for approximately half an hour. FDNY responded and freed the occupants. The elevator is still out of commision.

March 5 Blue Goose Bar 12 a.m.

A student was assaulted at Blue Goose Bar on 189th and Hoffman Ave. The student declined to share information pertaining to the assault and declined medical aid.

March 8, 2017

Journal From Abroad

Broken Phone Leads to Greater Appreciation in Paris

By MEGAN PINNA

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After a grueling seven-hour bus ride, I finally arrived in the city I had dreamt of visiting my whole life: Paris. I made the journey with my best friend, and although we were both exhausted, we knew we couldn’t rest- we had exploring to do.

Our first order of business was taking a train to Disneyland Paris (I am a big Disney fan in all countries). We spent most of the day walking through the park and going on rides. I tried my first croquemonsieur (essentially a French ham and cheese sandwich) and I got to see how beautiful the city is at night.

We returned to our hotel that night exhausted with my phone battery at less than 20 percent. I plugged my phone in to charge, but noticed that it was not working. Frantically, I tried using every adapter and charger I had with me in a desperate attempt to get it to charge. Nothing worked.

The idea of having a phone that wouldn’t charge terrified me for many reasons. My phone could be

broken, and I don’t know Paris well enough yet to know where I can get it fixed. If I don’t text my mom from time to time to tell her I’m okay, she may think I’m dead.

But what worried me the most was that I would not be able to take pictures, let alone post on social media for the whole weekend.

I know how that makes me sound, but I will be the first to admit I am addicted to social media. I am so used to constantly sharing my experiences with others that the idea of being cut off from my electronic world just felt weird.

When I finished moping over my broken phone, I put it on airplane mode and attempted to forget about it so I could enjoy the rest of my weekend in Paris. The first thing we did the next day was climb to the very top of the Eiffel Tower. Instead of constantly taking pictures of the view, I just stood there and admired the beauty of the city. I didn’t need affirmation from social media to tell me that the view was breathtaking.

For the rest of my time in Paris, we went to museums, saw the bell tower at the top of Notre Dame and ate excessive amounts of crepes and macaroons. Although at times

I wished I could have my phone to document these moments, I realized that maybe my broken phone was a blessing in disguise. I actually saw and appreciated Paris with my own eyes, not through the lens of my camera. I measured my fun in laughter and adventures, not in likes or retweets.

On the night before it was time to head back, I plugged my phone in to charge out of force of habit.

Strangely enough, it actually started charging. I honestly have no idea why my phone decided to magically charge again, but I am a person who believes thi ngs happen for a reason. I think this trip was way for me to put my social media addiction in check. It was a way for me to recognize that I don’t constantly need to share my experiences to have fun. The world may not know how fun my trip to Paris was, but I know, and that’s enough. Paris was like my own little retreat and in the end, I am very grateful that my phone broke.

As my phone came to life again and began charging, I logged on to my social media accounts and posted all the pictures my friend took on her phone. Old habits die hard.

-Compiled by Victor Ordonez

Are You Studying Abroad This Semester?

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Email: fordhamramnews @gmail.com

COURTESY OF MEGAN PINNA

While in Paris, France, Pinna managed to explore new terrain despite her phone being broken.

SO Raises $1,700 FROM FASHION PAGE 1

provides competition to “develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community,” according to the organization.

Benjamin Sternchein was one of 12 Special Olympic athletes to participate in the Red Out Fashion Show. Benjamin’s father, Craig Sternchein, was proud of his son and the Fordham community for taking part in such an experience.

“It is wonderful that Fordham would do this,” said Sternchein. “It’s even more impressive that the University’s students would go through such lengths to put this event together.”

Erin Biggins, FCRH ’17, president and co-founder of SO Fordham, was responsible for organizing the event. As co-founder, Biggins described SO Fordham as a club dedicated to encouraging active engagement between the Fordham community and Special Olympics athletes.

Biggins is responsible for finding Special Olympic athletes who would like to model at the Red Out Fashion Show. For events like these, Biggins and club members reach out to Special Olympics New York, who in turn reaches out to programs and families who are willing to take part.

“We had three Special Olympics athletes last year,” said Biggins.

“However, by reaching out to our representatives at Special Olympics, we managed to get 12 models to partake in this year’s show.”

The Fordham student-athletes at the event came from various different Fordham athletic programs.

Stephanie Leo, FCRH ’18, is a member of the university’s track team and has participated in both annual fashion shows thus far.

“The show was even more fun than last year’s,” said Leo. “I had more confidence walking out on stage this year and I can see that the Olympic athletes here today had more as well.”

Leo said that she was looking forward to participating in a third annual Red Out Fashion show.

“I can tell that the Olympic athletes had fun and I can’t wait to do it again,” said Leo. “But I must say… it is more fun for us here at Fordham.

Being able to see fellow athletes so happy is an honor.”

This Week at Fordham Thursday March 9

Friday March 10

Friday March 10

Monday March 21

Rams Got Talent Auditions

Commuter Assistant Info Session

Splinter Group’s Spring Awakening

Fantastic Beasts Movie Showing

McGinley Lobby 5 p.m. - 9p.m.

Keating 1st 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

McGinley 235 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Lincoln Center Pope Auditorium 8 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Keating 1st Auditorium 9 p.m. - 11:45 p.m.

Students for Environmental Awareness and Justice will be selling items in McGinley Lobby on Thursday. Take part in supporting sustainable fashion.

The Commuter Students Association will hold auditions for Rams Got Talent on Thursday, March 9 and Friday, March 10. They are looking to recruit a variety of talents.

Commuter Student Services will host an information session for those interested in being Commuter Assistants for the 20172018 academic year.

The Splinter Group at Lincoln Center will put on a one night performance of the musical Spring Awakening. Admission to the production is free.

Campus Activites Board will show Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in Keating 1st. This latest addition to the Harry Potter franchise stars Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander.

Thursday March 9 SEAJ’s Fordham Flea Market

NEWS

March 8, 2017

Page 3

Alum Lauren Duca Speaks to Students

By THERESA SCHLIEP NEWS EDITOR

As media becomes increasingly more fragmented and unpredictable, the world of journalism becomes trickier to navigate for young adults. Lauren Duca, FCRH ’13, spoke about this and her experiences as a young journalist on Monday. Duca has written and worked for a number of publications, Her Teen Vogue article, “Donald Trump is Gaslighting America,” went viral, with 1.2 million hits to date, making it the magazine’s most visited article on web. Duca first found her voice while writing for the paper, where she was editorin-chief.

“Writing for the paper was a really good way to exercise those muscles and figure out what I like writing about and what my voice sounded like,” said Duca.

Duca eventually worked at Norwood News, which allowed her to form connections throughout the city. She later interned with Allure Magazine, a paid internship which she said allowed her to develop her skills and learn the craft. “[Paid internships] actually teach you something because they expect something from you,” said Duca.

Interning at Allure also allowed her for more mobility and growth. Full-time staff positions for writers and journalists, she said, are not in abundance.

Sometimes it’s better to work for a smaller position and develop more skills and have more opportunity for improvement.

“Look for more mobility, more freedom,” said Duca. “Sometimes it makes more sense to work somewhere smaller and work hard and stand out.”

Duca learned the art of aggre-

gation during her time interning.

She gave advice on aggregating while still contributing to the reporting of the piece.

“Pick up the phone and call someone,” said Duca. “It’s always good to add sources and continue the reporting. It sets you apart from everything that’s out there.

Contribute to the conversation in a significant way, instead of being one more Google result.”

The Fordham grad also worked for the Huffington Post and later freelanced. Duca said freelancing is possible, but a writer needs a good set of contacts before pursuing this kind of work.

Eventually Duca became the weekend editor for Teen Vogue.

Duca said at Teen Vogue, she looked for unique, specific angles to differentiate her stories.

For instance, instead of simply covering Lady Gaga’s outfit, she angled her story about how her name on her Starbucks cup was misspelt.

At Teen Vogue, Duca wrote “Donald Trump is Gaslighting America,” which compared President Donald Trump’s contradictions and lies to the psychological method of gas lighting. The article attracted attention from CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times and other media companies. Duca later appeared on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” in which the Fordham grad and Carlson discussed Ivanka Trump and her role in the Trump Administration. She called Carlson a “partisan hack.”

Duca said aspiring journalists need to be aware of their contributions to media and society: a role that has changed over the years. She said the role of today’s journalists is learning more and geared more towards fact-checking.

“You want to be empowering

RODERICK PEREZ/THE FORDHAM RAM

Journalist and Fordham alumna Duca spoke to students about her journalistic experiences in Keating 3rd auditorium.

the public with truthful information,” said Duca.

The internet and its unpredictability has presented some problems for aspiring journalists, Duca said, but it is overall a good thing for the media.

“There is so much more democracy of choice,” said Duca.

“There are so many more opportunities to be creative.”

Duca discussed harassment as a woman in the media. Specifically, she called harassment via Twitter a “work-place hazard” for women. Duca said after her interview with Carlson, in which he said Duca should “stick to the

thigh-high boots,” many women confronted her and said the feeling of subjection was very familiar.

Duca said women and young people need to “insist on being taken seriously” in media today.

Katie Quinlisk, FCRH ’18, said she was excited about the event because she wanted to see Duca, who graduated with an English degree, validated in their career who has similar interests as her.

“I was excited to come to this because I’m majoring in English but I have an interest in journalism, and I know that’s kind of a

weird place to be where you’re going from writing papers to reporting on celebrity gossip,” said Quinslick. “I was curious to see what she was going to say about that transition but I think it’s kind of cool to see someone who has similar interests as you and be validated in their career.”

Lambda Pi Eta hosted the event, while the Communications and Media Studies Department, the English Department, the New Media & Digital Design Department, the Master of Arts in Public Media Program and the Political Science Department cosponsored it.

Fordham Dance Marathon Passes Goal FROM FDM, PAGE 1

OWEN CORRIGAN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham Dance Marathon raised money to fight pediatric cancer and help patients and families in need.

came from Loschert: Jacklyn Onody, FRCH ’20, Vice President of Loschert Hall, fundraised $7,755.

Onody said she was fortunate to have been so involved with FDM as a freshman.

“Being a part of FDM was enjoyable and I look forward to continuing to participate throughout my years at Fordham,” said Onody. “I hope more people get involved in this terrific club” The money raised will help over 70 children and families in need, according to Haley Hauge, GSB ’18, RHA’s vice president. Hauge said she was worried last year’s total would ultimately prove to be the greatest fundraising year, but she was wrong.

“For the last three years, FDM has surpassed its goal tremendously and to be able to continue that tradition this year was such an accomplishment for everyone who helped plan and execute FDM,” said Hauge.

“Last February, I genuinely was worried that Fordham’s fundraising for The B+ Foundation may plateau after achieving $61,000 luckily, my initial fears were far from accurate.”

Emma Bausert, FCRH ’16, president of RHA, felt the success of the event was “indicative of the work put in-- all of the kids.”

“Over the last four years, I have had the honor of watching this event grow from its beginning stages,” said Bausert. “I am proud to be part of an event larger than myself, and am excited to see where FDM and the Series go in the coming years.”

FDM’s 12-hour event included performances from the Satin Dolls, Expressions and B+ Sides; a magic show provided by Bausert’s father; contests like limbo and rowing; and an hourly choreographed morale dance.

Carly Bergstein, program director at The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, said this year hallmarked the event’s growth from its inception in 2013.

“This year has been amazing in terms of growth in every way: whose participating, number of events, number of dollars raised,” said Bergstein. “We couldn’t be more appreciative and supportive of the fordham students and it’s really special to see everyone having fun and celebrating their hard work.”

NEWS

Page 4

March 8, 2017

Fordham In The Bronx

FUV Partners with Norwood News on Joint Project

OWEN CORRIGAN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Norwood News will publish a print version of WFUV’s five-part series on illiteracy in the Bronx.

By IAN RODEN

BRONX CORRESPONDENT

For the first time, Fordham’s radio station, WFUV, is partnering with fellow Bronx media outlet Norwood News on a joint reporting project to serve the local community.

Fordham students in WFUV’s news department produced a five-part series on illiteracy in the Bronx. Audio segments aired on WFUV radio and are available on their website, while a complimentary print version was published

by Norwood News.

“We thought it was a great opportunity to partner with the Norwood News,” said George Bodarky, news director of WFUV. “It provides us a chance to make an impact in a borough where we’re based.”

The series covers five different types of illiteracy: functional, financial, civic, civil rights and health care.

Students working at WFUV investigated the borough-wide dilemma themselves. One of the students was Shannon Meehan, GSAS ’17, who investigated functional illiteracy. This kind of illiteracy occurs when people have a basic education but fail to meet

typical standards of reading and writing.

“There are many literacy organizations located in the Bronx working to improve literacy in schools starting in universal pre-k and continuing throughout high school, programs to bring literacy into the community and adult literacy programs addressing varying levels of literacy for adults of all ages,” said Meehan.

To learn more about the issue, Meehan met with the directors of two local literacy programs, talked with adults taking literacy programs and sat in on an English as a second language (ESL) class. She also met with a Bronx mother who relies on community organizations to get books for her children.

“It was important that I used diverse voices for the story because it is a widespread problem that affects people of all ages, races and of different education backgrounds,” Meehan said.

Meehan learned a great deal about the issue and the way local organizations like schools are trying to combat it through her reporting.

“It is not simply a matter of being able to read or not being able to read, but extends to an individual’s level of literacy proficiency,”

she said. “Readiness for kindergarten and readiness for third grade are two critical benchmarks

in a child’s education that indicate future success.”

Some of the things Meehan uncovered shocked her. For instance, she said that people who struggle with functional illiteracy find it so distressing that they make up ways of hiding it.

Citizens do so by “memorizing the words on a menu or by taking the same route to work daily, fearful that if they take another route they will be unable to navigate back home,” said Meehan.

She said the problem of functional illiteracy stretches beyond the Bronx and affects all of New York City.

Anthony Ali, FCRH ’17, covered civic illiteracy, which deals with problems like low voter turnout, and also financial illiteracy.

Ali is in the process investigated financial illiteracy, but will cover civic illiteracy thoroughly. He researched Bronx voter turnout by contacting local officials, reaching out to the League of Women

Photo of the Week

Voters in NYC, and visiting various Bronx neighborhoods that differed in terms of high and low voter turnout.

“The Bronx has shockingly low voter turnout in nonpresidential elections. In the last mayoral election, some neighborhoods struggled to reach 20 percent turnout among eligible voters,” said Ali. “A lot of the people I spoke to felt that their votes don’t matter, but the reality is that some local elections are decided by only a handful of votes.”

Through his reporting, Ali has come up with some possible solutions to help aid the civic illiteracy problem in the Bronx.

“Eligible Bronx residents need to get out and vote so they can have representatives that support the proposals that’ll in turn raise awareness,” said Ali. “At the same time, politicians need to approve these measures to raise awareness and get voters to show up to these key local elections.”

ANDREA GARCIA /THE FORDHAM RAM

Jack Coffey Field is a 7,000-seat multi-purpose stadium. It is home to the Fordham University Rams football team and Fordham soccer. It first opened in 1930 and was used primarily for baseball.

Campus Briefs & Bites Theology Graduate Students Offered Full-time Positions

Psych. Department lends a Helping Hand to Law School

Archbishop Auza Accepts Chair Position

Fordham Hosts Sixth Annual TrepCon

Theology doctoral graduates from Fordham’s Department of Theology have recently achieved teaching positions at universities.

Of the three students, two have already graduated and one will finish his studies later this August. Eric Daryl Meyer, GSAS ’14, has been offered a position as an assistant professor of theology at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. Emily Cain, GSAS ’16, has been offered a position as an assistant professor of theology at Loyola University Chicago. Lastly, Paul Schutz has been offered a position as an assistant professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Santa Clara University. Department of Theology Chair J. Patrick Hornbeck, D.Phil., believes that the job offers are a result of the skill instilled in students at Fordham.

Homeback noted that the student recieved guidance from Sarit Kattan Gribetz, Ph.D., an assistant professor of theology who has served as a jobs placement officer since 2015.

Graduate School of Education (GSE) students in counseling and psychology joined Students in Fordham Law’s Advanced seminar in public interest lawyering class on Feb. 6. The GSE students were there to help the Lincoln Center students interpret their results of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) self-scorable personality assessments. The Lincoln Center law students had taken the assessment a week prior to this visit. The personality assessment is used to help people better understand which aspects of 16 distinctive personality types describe them best. The knowledge gained from the assessment will be used to improve upon group interaction and teamwork skills. The seminar itself is a requirement of the Stein Scholars Program and taught by Fordham Law Professor Bruce Green, the Louis Stein Chair, and Sherri Levine, associate director of the Law School’s Stein Center for Law and Ethics.

On Feb. 23 Archbishop Benardito Auza, S.T.D, apostolic nuncio and permanent observer of the Holy See to the U.N., was installed as inaugural holder of Fordham’s Cassamarca Foundation Chair in Migration and Globalization in the Graduate Program in International Political Economy and Development (IPED). From this appointment, there is hope that there will be an increase in collaboration among Fordham students, the U.N. and the Holy See. As part of his two-year renewable appointment, the archbishop will give both a spring lecture and a fall seminar. At his appointment, the archbishop spoke of the increasing number of human trafficking victims. According to the archbishop, poverty is a major factor contributing to the human trafficking of approximately 40 million people all over the world. Archbishop Auza brings 25 years of diplomatic experience to his new role as chair.

Over 200 people came together at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus on Feb. 18 to take part in the sixth annual Entrepreneurship Conference, dubbed TrepCon. The Gabelli School of Business and Fordham’s Entrepreneurship Society hosted the event, which included workshops and breakout sessions led by business and technology industry experts, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. The event aims to connect Fordham students with members of New York’s entrepreneurial community.

Nine Fordham student-created start-ups were featured, along with keynote speakers Adam Besvinick, a principal at Deep Fork Capital and one of Forbes’ “30 Under 30” for venture capital; Matt Brimer, a co-founder of General Assembly and Daybreaker; and Troy Hazard, a serial entrepreneur and former president of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. KindMind, a mental health focused app, won the $1,500 grant, which was competed for by three finalists of the Fordham start-ups.

NEWS

March 8, 2017

Page 5

Campus Ministry Hosts Refugee Simulation

VICTOR ORDONEZ/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham students experienced what it would be like to be a refugee through the Campus Ministry event.

FROM MINISTRY, PAGE 1

sis.

“Particularly, the Pope has been very prolific in his teachings and his writings about the plight of refugees and the duty we all have to accept them as our brothers and our sisters,” said Severiano.

“They should be considered nothing less than family.”

Pope Francis’ most recent call to action came on Jan. 15, as he said that “every possible measure should be taken” to protect young

refugees.

The simulation was divided into four main sections. Students and participants began their journey in their homeland, represented by McGinley 237. Here, all participants had to choose eight items to take with them on their journey as refugees. These items ranged from basic necessities such as food and water to nonessentials represented by cell phones and pets.

In the following section, the

simulation required students to board a dinghy traveling from Turkey to Greece, represented by a drawn-to-scale outline on the McGinley Ballroom floor.

Witnesses and survivors of the endeavor have said to seen upward of 40 refugees on one dingy.

Volunteers worked to depict this image.

Participants also learned that last year alone around 7,000 refugees died trying to make the travel across the Aegean Sea.

Upon disembarking, participants arrived at the gates of the resettlement camp, also located in the McGinley Ballroom. Severiano greeted each participant and gave them new identities with a detailed description of their past and where they were from. They also recieved stamps that would later provide them with water, food, healthcare, shelter and education.

Organizers positioned the healthcare station to be the first participants would encounter after entering the camp. Each Fordham refugee rolled a die that would land on any number of ailments of which they would contract. Immediately after, a coin would be tossed to determine whether or not the camp had the necessary medical resources to aid in that ailment.

The water and shelter station came with their own sets of drawbacks as well. The water station would only supply a gallon of water per person, and the shelter station supplied only one low-rise tent meant to house two families of four to depict refugee living conditions.

The single gallon of water given to refugees in a given day is used for bathing, cooking and drinking. In contrast, the average American uses approximately 17.2 gallons of water when showering.

Finally, the resettlement station

is where participants went to end their endeavors as a refugee, or so they thought. Angela Wells, communications officer for the Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs at Fordham University, acted as the chief interrogator of the resettlement station and demonstrated the extreme vetting procedures refugees face. After much questioning, most simulated refugees were denied access to resettle. If the simulation had been real, refugees denied would be forced to remain in the camps.

Of the millions of refugees, approximately 145,500 of them were filed for possible resettlement within various European countries in the year of 2016. The rest were either denied or delayed to further vetting procedures.

John Kuyat, FCRH’19, was a participant denied from settlement. Kuyat found the experience to be educational for both him and other participants alike.

“The things I had to leave behind when entering the boat, the space I had to live in… the simulation brought it all to a deeper, more comprehensive level,” said Kuyat. “The fact that this actually happens to millions of people on a daily basis is unimaginable. It was tough enough going through it as a simulation.

A second Refugee Simulation will be run by Campus Ministry at Fordham’s Lincoln Center Campus Thursday, March 9.

Graduating in Three Years at Fordham

By VICTOR ORDONEZ

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Stephanie Gaitley, coach of women’s basketball at Fordham University, encourages her student athletes to earn their undergraduate degrees in just three years. Three of Gaitley’s athletes successfully followed her academic plan, but it is unclear whether the plan is practical for other full-time college students.

To ensure that they achieve their undergraduate degree within three years, students would take more credits per semester than the average student’s 16 credits and attend additional classes over the summer. However, the workload could reap benefits for certain students.

By graduating in three years rather than four, a student has the opportunity to spend a remaining year at a college or university in order to complete a master’s program.

For student athletes, this sort of academic planning could equate to a slam-dunk. Under one athletic scholarship that that covers the entire cost of a four years college or university, a student athlete could potentially get two free degrees: a bachelor’s and a master’s. The average cost of a master’s degree is $40,000, according to FinAid.org.

However, advisors and students debate whether full-time college students could also benefit from an earlier graduation date without the aid of a hefty

scholarship.

Senior class Dean Rev. John T. Dzieglewicz, SJ, PhD. offers graduating students academic counseling. Dzieglewicz does not recommend that the average college student look to graduate in three years, as he does not see a significant financial benefit.

“I would not recommend that,” said Dzieglewicz. “With all of the money spent on the extra classes during the academic year and in the summers, you’re not necessarily saving as much as you would think.”

Summer classes at Fordham University cost $882 per credit.

A student would pay approximately $14,112 to attend four summer classes for a total of 16 credits. Tuition and fees for a full semester at Fordham University cost $23,925 without financial aid, making a summer semester more cost efficient.

Students seeking to graduate early would also have to fulfill beyond the maximum amount of credits allowed per semester.

Fordham charges $1,595 for every credit exceeding the 18 credit semester cap.

Dzieglewicz found the price difference to be marginal due to the workload that would be required by students who wish to graduate in three years. However, he agreed that not all students could dismiss the financial benefit.

“I understand that not everyone is living under the same financial circumstances,” said

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Some Fordham students decide to complete their undergraduate degree in three years rather than the traditional four.

Dzieglewicz. “But if you can manage it, I think four years is a good amount of time for an undergraduate degree. You don’t want to rush your education. You also want to make sure you have time to integrate your learning experience.”

Joseph Mangione is a junior at Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business who will have completed his undergraduate accounting program in three years and plans to stay an additional year and achieve his master’s degree. He is not a student athlete nor does he

possess a sizable scholarship that covers his entire tuition.

Mangione went against his advisor’s recommendations and followed an academic plan that he believes will prove to be fruitful for his career. “I will be a year ahead of my peers and fellow accounting majors, which helps the competition,” said Mangione.

Mangione has taken multiple summer classes and has paid the additional cost for exceeding the maximum amount of credits for the past two semesters.

However, Mangione finds that

the savings to be anything but marginal.

“The entirety of my savings will equate to about a semester at Fordham, which is roughly over $20,000,” said Mangione.

Although Mangione’s actions contradict Dzieglewicz’s advice, both agree on the workload graduating early requires.

“Don’t get me wrong, it is crazy hard work,” said Mangione.

“But in the end, I will be ahead and will have saved money. So yes, it was worth it.”

NEWS

Page 6

March 8, 2017

OSI: Women’s Empowerment Twitter is “Lewd”

By ERIN SHANAHAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Fordham University Women’s Empowerment (W.E.) created a second Twitter account after discussions with the Office of Student Leadership regarding their “lewd and licentious” posts on their original Twitter account.

The original Twitter account is now “Rogue W.E.” while the new Fordham affiliated account is “Fordham W.E.” Cody Arcuri, assistant dean for Student Involvement, contacted W.E. on Wednesday, Jan. 18 regarding “inappropriate images” posted on their original twitter account.

“This appears to be the Twitter account being used by the W.E. committee under the Progressive Students For Justice student organization umbrella,” Arcuri said in the email to W.E.. “As such, the feed should not contain inappropriate material like this.

Please remove it if you have not already done so.”

Arcuri later reviewed several tweets from their page with the organization. He expressed concern that the tweets were often “inappropriate” and potentially contradictory to the group’s goals, according to W.E. He referred to some as “lewd or licentious,” terminology used in the University Code of Conduct, Article 11.

Arcuri requested to meet with the group to review the tweets further and discuss the student organization’s social media goals.

The PSJ: Women’s Empowerment Officiate, Tina McCain, FCRH ’18, Nadine San-

toro, FCRH 18, Lexie Messinder, FCRH’18, Sarah Lundell, FCRH ’17, and I’aliyah Wiggins, FCRH 19, responded to Arcuri’s email and called upon the Student Handbook. There is no regulation that specifically details what student organizations are permitted to publish on social media, according to W.E. The group cited the “Report on Speech and Expression of Student Organizations at Fordham University” as well as the University’s Demonstration Policy and Code of Conduct. The group claims that their posts do not break any of these regulations.

“The account was created in 2013 as a means of fostering dialogue and free expression within the Women’s Empowerment community,” the Officiate wrote to Arcuri. “For these reasons, we believe that asking us to remove ‘inappropriate’ content which does not in any way cause harm to others is an act of unjust censorship.”

The group did not schedule a meeting time with Arcuri.

Arcuri responded to this email and discussed the Twitter account’s association with the university’s name.

“As the Twitter account appears to be the sole account associated with our University student organization and also uses the Fordham name, we expect that you remove any inappropriate language and manage the feed so that such posts are avoided in future,” Arcuri said.

As a result of this request, W.E. informed Arcuri of the creation of a separate account: The original account became “Rogue Fordham W.E.” while the new account was

named “Fordham W.E.” According to the Officiate, “Fordham W.E.” would be used to post information about official club business, such as events and club meeting times.

Arcuri and W.E. leaders met on Friday to discuss the two separate twitter accounts further.

At this meeting Arcuri asked W.E. to either stop posting “obscene/inappropriate” material on their Twitter pages or to change the page’s name so that it is not associated with the student group and with Fordham, according to the Officiate. Furthermore, according to W.E., failure to do so would result in the group’s constitution being denied or prolonged approval by Dean Rodgers.

W.E. has been attempting to have their constitution approved for the past four years.

Although it has never been denied, it has gone through several edits regarding formalities at the USG level which has prolonged its approval.

In addition, according to W.E., Dean Arcuri cited several tweets which were posted on their original account as “inappropriate.” He strongly encouraged that W.E. restrains from posting similar tweets on their official account.

As a result of this discussion, the original account entitled “Rogue Fordham W.E.” further edited its name to simply “Rogue W.E.,” removing its Fordham affiliation, this past Friday afternoon.

The Women’s Empowerment Officiate expressed discontent with this situation to The Ford-

OWEN CORRIGAN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham Speaks Up participants met for a teach in on Japanese American Incarceration in McGinley 2nd.

Grad Students Form “Fordham Speaks Out” FROM ABROAD, PAGE 1

and we think that that should be something that a university encourages, so like open spaces and meeting places to talk about ideas and things people care about,” said organizer Emery.

The graduate students, many of whom are in the philosophy de-

partment, conceived the idea of a network of support and dialogue following the election of President Donald Trump. In the eyes of those students, the need for open dialogue on Fordham’s campus grew when a protest of the President’s election was limited by the administration.

The organizers of Fordham Speaks Up circulated a flyer in the weeks after the election regarding their plans. They cited the limiting of this protest. “The first week after the election, students wishing peacefully to protest Donald Trump were instructed that they could not chant or hold up signs

ham Ram in the following statement: “The specific focus on vaginas, menstruation, nipples, and female masturbation being ‘lewd’ constitutes sexist body-policing and echoes the long standing systematic oppression of women and trans people through control of their bodies. Furthermore, the sexualization of drawings of our bodies by administration is an explicit example of the kind of rape culture that our club works to dismantle. In addition, multiple tweets that the administration objected to, such as the use of the word “lesbian,” could not be argued by any means to be offensive or lewd, and the suggestion otherwise reveals the blatant homophobia of Fordham’s administration. Procedurally, the administration’s appeal to the “lewd and licentious” portion of the Student Code of Conduct fails to realize that what is considered “lewd” or taboo has always been informed by hegemonic power structures and the othering of marginalized people. Not only is the administration attempting to exert control over our club despite the fact that there is no existing social media policy (nor should there be), we view this as yet another example of constraints on free speech at Fordham, beyond the already restrictive demonstration and distribution of literature policies.”

Dean Rodgers expressed his stance on the situation to The Fordham Ram as well: “Many of us have worked hard over the years to maintain very wide latitude for our student organizations as they seek to ex-

press their viewpoints- this contribution to discourse on campus is significant and a critical part of the educational process outside the classroom. Social media has widened the variety and opportunity for viewpoint expression immensely in recent years, but all are familiar with the opportunities this powerful medium also provides for misuse and abuse.

Unlike personal social mediawhich we generally consider private unless brought to our attention for illegal use or violations of the University Code of Conduct-- student organization social media activity is an activity that our staff occasionally must discuss with club officers. There are, of course, reasonable limits on student organizations in this area. Unlike viewpoint expression that we would encourage be shared on social media by our clubs and organizations based on their missions, any material that is obscene, inappropriate, harassing, or may violate our Code will move staff to ask questions and suggest further reflection. We do this by first requesting that the organization engage in discussion with us. Except very recently, a quick note inquiring about a tweet or post that may not have been fully-considered has been enough to elicit further thought and removal of the material. I expect our staff to engage in these discussions as these things come up and was glad to see our students respond. We may not always agree in our judgments on these things, but my expectation is that we always listen carefully, and I know our staff has done so in this case over many weeks.”

directed particularly against him or the hateful actions he has inspired. The political environment of our campus is repressive, to say the least, and will continue to become more so if nothing is done,” read the flyer.

Steven Payne, GSAS ’18, a theology graduate student involved in the organization of Fordham Speaks Up, cited the difficulty of forming protests through Fordham’s channels as a reason for the formation of the group. “It’s always the excuse of logistics, but after a while you have to start doubting that excuse. And so we started doubting that excuse,” said Payne.

Because the group did not want to go through the administration’s channels to form a protest, as they feel it limits free speech, they formed a framework in which they gather informally to talk about issues and discuss opportunities for individual action.

The discussions, which occur from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. each Wednesday, are broken into three equal sections of talk, deliberation and action. Attendees place themselves on an email list to receive updated information on actionable items, such as protests and petitions. The organizers frequently reference “Justice Duckling” for actionable items, a blog that posts actions and talks in New York City. Organizer Kate Breslee, GSAS ’20, and Emery stressed the importance of the actionable items to their cause.

“It’s super easy for us as academ-

ics to pretentiously tell you all the things that are wrong, but that’s not going to help us. We need to do something about it other than intellectualize,” said Breslee.

Breslee added that she hoped the group would be a force for breaking boundaries between students and faculty when it comes to politics. “It becomes I think irresponsible for certain things to be going on politically speaking and through my silence I basically imply that it is not an issue,” said Breslee. Though she maintained that teachers should remain openminded in the classroom and present a variety of views, she felt that the group provides a forum for students to hear the political views of their professors.

The meetings are also a response to the rise of “alternative facts” under the Trump administration.

“Something that is happening, either intentionally or unintentionally, by means of the Trump administration, is that people are coming to believe that facts are not knowable,” said Breslee. “I see the meetings as being an opportunity to remember that facts are knowable and to access some of those facts,” she said.

Fordham Speaks Up provides access to these knowable facts through its speakers. Speakers are not compensated and volunteer to present information in an area with which they have personal or professional experience. The group has hosted graduate stu-

NEWS

March 8, 2017

Page 7

Fordham Ranked No. 20 In Peace Corps’ Top Volunteer’s List

By THERESA SCHLIEP NEWS EDITOR

Fordham University has made the Peace Corps’ Medium Colleges and Universities list of Top Colleges 2017, landing at No. 20. While the university dropped from 2016’s No. 18, there are currently 18 Rams volunteering globally with the service organization, three more than last year’s list.

The university is two volunteers away from Boston College’s No. 13, as six universities land at No. 14 with 18 students volunteering with the Peace Corps.

“Peace Corps service is an unparalleled leadership opportunity that enables college and university alumni to use the creative-thinking skills they developed in school to make an impact in communities around the world,” said Peace Corps Director Sheila Crowley in a statement. “Many college graduates view Peace Corps as a launching pad for their careers because volunteers return home with the cultural competency and entrepreneurial spirit sought after in most fields.”

The Peace Corps lists schools according to their size. Medium sized colleges and universities have undergraduate enrollment from 5,000-15,000.

Since President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps in

1961, 452 Fordham alumni have served the organization.

American University topped this year’s medium colleges list with 54 volunteers.

In comparison to other Jesuit universities, Georgetown University is listed at No. six with 31 volunteers and Loyola University Chicago at No. 14 with 18 volunteers.

Chris Boland, FCRH ’16, is currently volunteering with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps ( JVC) in Phoenix, Arizona. His work placement is at St. Matthew Catholic School. Boland attended a Jesuit Catholic high school and was familiar with Jesuit service before arriving at Fordham.

However, it was not until Boland joined Global Outreach (GO!) Nicaragua that he realized what he wanted to do upon graduation.

“I thought it would be a good idea to take some time to gain some real-world experience before sending out any applications,” said Boland. “By the time my GO! trip came around I was already considering JVC, and was about halfway through the application. Fordham’s GO! program actually borrows a great deal from JVC in terms of core philosophy, and so I figured that the trip would be, among other things, a good opportunity to see whether or not the the JVC lifestyle was one that suited me.”

Boland said that while the trip

was a challenge, it solidified his plans.

“That trip was the most challenging week of my life, and at various points I was left feeling physically, spiritually, and emotionally broken,” said Boland. “I was hooked.”

Four of the 18 Fordham students volunteering with the Peace Corps are in Tanzania.

Other countries include Morocco, Cambodia and Madagascar.

Boland credited his experience with JVC to Fordham and Global Outreach.

“I’m falling more and more in love with my job and my students at St. Matthew Catholic School every day, and it’s crazy for me to think that if it weren’t for Fordham and the Global Outreach program, I wouldn’t be here,” said Boland.

FORDHAM RAM ARCHIVES

Eighteen Fordham students are currently involved in the Peace Corp, landing Fordham a No. 20 spot on their ranking.

Humanitarian Studies Moves to Rose Hill

OWEN CORRIGAN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham’s Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs has relocated its headquarters to Fordham’s Rose Hill Campus.

By VICTOR ORDONEZ

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs (IIHA) opened an office at Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus this semester. Rose Hill’s new humanitarian studies department will be located next to Faculty Memorial Hall in the building that formerly

housed the Fordham University Press.

The IIHA resided at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center’s campus. The department now resides on 2546 Belmont Ave and is available to students of both Fordham campuses.

The program prepares students with the skills to competitively enter a wide range of graduate

studies and careers in the humanitarian sector, according to the institute’s program overview.

In addition to the program’s relocation, the IIHA has plans to start a student run club at Fordham’s Rose Hill campus, according to Angela Wells, communications officer for the IIHA at Fordham.

The IIHA is the fourth pro-

gram in the country to offer humanitarian studies as a major.

The program began to offer the humanitarian studies minor in 2010 and the major in 2014.

Since its inception, the IIHA has graduated 17 major graduates and 11 minors, according to director Cahill.

Students with humanitarian majors around the world will also have the opportunity to take humanitarian courses at Fordham University as they study abroad in the United States.

IIHA affairs was originally created at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Campus in December of 2001. Fordham’s humanitarian institute was designed to encourage partnerships with relief organizations and offer academic training courses at both graduate and undergraduate levels.

Since the IIHA is a product of Fordham University, Wells said there are significant values that are held to higher standards by students that graduate from the institute.

“We do not simply create humanitarians,” said Wells. “We create humanitarians trained in the Jesuit way. Students learn the ethics of social justice and the importance of human rights.”

The program features four core required classes. Introduction to Humanitarian Action: Theory and Practice will introduce students to both theoretical and practical humanitarian work. Another core required class, the International Humanitarian Affairs

Internship Seminar, will work to give students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field as an intern for an international humanitarian organization in New York City.

“Students will have the opportunity to intern at a range of different humanitarian organizations, including organizations like the United Nations, that are based in New York,” said Wells.

This program will also require that students attend a weekly seminar that will assess their performance and help to guide their work.

The program offers an additional six elective courses that are attributed by other departments. For example, the IIHA’s Narratives of Justice and Exclusion in Humanitarianism elective requirement will be fulfilled by classes offered by Fordham’s Communications Department.

As an interdisciplinary program, the goal of the electives is to bring in various particular fields that coincide with humanitarian studies. “We want to make sure that we are bringing in the experts that are already on campus,” said Wells. “The program will try to tap into various departments that are touching on the issues that we feel are necessary to cover.”

Aside from Communications, the humanitarian program’s elective courses include classes in the Anthropology, History, African American Studies, Sociology, Economics, Political Science and Women’s Studies departments.

NEWS

Page 8

March 8, 2017

Fordham Members Rate Free Speech at the University FROM FIRE, PAGE 1

it warnings from FIRE—and a place on this list.”

Christopher Rodgers, dean of students, issued a statement to The Fordham Ram regarding FIRE’s ranking and questioned its measures: “Internet lists published to generate publicity or raise funds for various groups seem to be more and more common these days, but the methodology used to compile them is often mysterious. I have to admit to being a bit puzzled at our appearance on any list critical of our support for free speech and expression. It seems possible that folks are conflating the freedom to express one’s views on campus — something we take very seriously — with lack of civility or with entitlement to money, access to space, and other unrelated benefits.

Though I do not see the connection, I am quite proud of the fact that our community has not once denied any invited speaker the opportunity to appear on campus nor denied any student group the space to demonstrate in order to express its views. Civility and respect for one another’s dignity will always be expectations as we share those views and listen carefully to those with whom we disagree, however.”

The Fordham Ram’s survey

asked community members on a scale of one to 10, “overall, how restricted is speech at Fordham University in your opinion?” Participants rated it an average of 6.93. Furthermore, 20.2 percent of participants chose a rating of 10.

The survey also asked “how restricted is speech in the classroom at Fordham University in your opinion?” Participants rated it an average of 4.27. Furthermore, 16.6 percent of participants chose a rating of 1.

When community members were asked “how restricted is speech in public spaces at Fordham University in your opinion?” participants rated it an average of 6.91.

Additionally, 27.8 percent of participants chose a rating of 10.

This suggests that community members feel their speech is very restricted in public spaces.

When community members were asked “How restricted is speech in the operations of Fordham affiliated groups and clubs?” participants rated it an average of 6.72. Also, 25.8 percent of participants chose a rating of 10.

This suggests that community members feel their speech is very restricted in Fordham affiliated groups and clubs.

Over 160 members of the Fordham community responded

to the survey over the course of about three days. About 87 percent of the survey participants were current students while 12 percent of the participants were alumni. About one percent of the participants were administrative members.

The online survey asked members of the Fordham community four questions regarding speech at Fordham. These questions were answered in terms of a rating scale of one to 10. A rating of one suggests “not at all restrictive” and a rating of 10 suggests “extremely restrictive.”

Upon reviewing the data, Monika McDermott, P.h.D., professor of political science, said that several conclusions can be made from this data set.

According to the results of the survey, many students feel that their speech at Fordham University is more restricted in public spaces and among the operations of Fordham affiliated groups and clubs. However, most students feel there are far fewer restrictions on freedom of speech in the classroom than in other areas of campus life.

“We should all be troubled that students feel free speech on campus is more restricted than not,” McDermott said. “Americans consistently rank free speech as the most important of the first

amendment freedoms – and even the second amendment – and two-thirds feel that we have the right amount of free speech in this country. It is disheartening that our students do not feel the same way about the air constitutional right to speech.”

Among those who were willing to express what the restrictions they felt were in a written response, most responders pointed to the liberal atmosphere in classrooms and on campus that stifle conservative expression, according to McDermott.

The second most common mention was stifling of restrictions on liberal groups, specifically Women’s Empowerment, according to McDermott.

“As a professor I am obviously happy to see that students feel that they have more freedom than not to express their views in the classroom,” McDermott said.

“But at the same time, the fact that any single conservative student feels uncomfortable expressing their views in the classroom I find unacceptable. Liberal views typically dominate university campuses, among both students and faculty, but they should not squeeze out alternatives.”

Several club leaders weighed in on Fordham’s free speech in the social media survey. Declan Murphy, FCRH ’18 a member of the

Recycle

Mimes and Mummers, expressed concerns regarding administration’s review of scripts.

“We have continually dealt with the need to edit/restrict scripts to meet Fordham’s ‘standards,’ Murphy said. “I find this to be a breach of free speech.”

Other students feel that Fordham’s speech laws stifle their ability to promote justice and equity on campus.

“Fordham has repeatedly stifled the opinions of students in regards to Palestinian freedom, women’s rights, restrooms for transgender students, safe sex and more,” said Megan Townsend, FCRH ’18. “It is a long list, but I am a highly involved student and I have felt silenced here on a number of occasions, all when trying to work for justice which Fordham claims to prioritize and encourage.”

Most responders to the written part of the survey pointed to the liberal atmosphere in classrooms and on campus that stifle conservative expression as a deterrent of free speech.

“I feel as though if I say anything that is not in line with extreme liberal context I will be judged and hated on,” said Peter Cooper.

The survey was posted on The Ram’s Facebook and Twitter page.

The survey was also shared in several student groups.

The Ram

March 8, 2017

OPINION

Page 9

The Fordham Ram

Virtual Reality: Niche or Mainstream Potential?

By JOSEPH D’AMATO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In 2012, Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus, announced that he was creating a virtual reality headset that would allow users to see and interact with an all-immersive, virtual world. If you do not know what VR (virtual reality) is, or the rock you live under has poor reception, allow me to explain it in layman terms. These VR headsets project a stereoscopic image, which essentially tricks your brain into perceiving the image to be three-dimensional, while also adjusting the projection to your eye movement (thus being described as all-immersive).

Two years later, Oculus was acquired by Facebook and the excitement surrounding VR created the impression that this technology would forever transform entertainment. Gaming, television and movies would become an entirely new experience, enticing companies such as Google, Sony and HTC to create their own headsets and enter the emerging market.

Fast forward to 2017. All of the aforementioned companies have made their headsets publicly available, ranging anywhere from $15 for the Google Cardboard to $800 for the HTC Vine. Because of the availability, we have to assume that these companies feel confident in not only the VR technology, but the accompanying catalog of games, videos and other VR-compatible media. Despite the development and availability of these products, the chatter surrounding VR is not significantly greater today than it was five years ago, so the question becomes why has VR not been as disruptive as initially

predicted?

I have toyed around with a few of the available VR headsets and I believe the issue facing VR is similar to what we saw in the tech-sphere a few years ago when Microsoft introduced the Xbox Kinect.

For those who do not remember the Kinect, it is an Xbox addon that includes a motion-sensor and voice-detection system, using the user’s movement as the game’s controller. When the idea was first introduced, gamers and techies alike were raving over how this would remold the gaming industry. According to Business Insider, Microsoft sold eight million Kinect devices within the first 60 days of its release, earning a Guinness World Record for the fastestselling consumer device. Following the early media and consumer craze, the Kinect went from being “the next big thing” to nearly obsolete, raising more than a few questions.

One of the major faults of the Kinect was that it was released prematurely. The technology was underdeveloped and subsequently, the games which incorporated this technology were very remedial and lacked lasting appeal compared to traditional console games.

I believe the inception of VR closely resembles that of the Kinect. Based on my own experience with VR, as well as the reviews of those whose headsets I borrowed, I found the feedback to be relatively uniform. While the idea is great and it is certainly a unique experience, there is not nearly enough stand-out VR content to create frequent users, nor is there an overwhelming desire among users to expand their catalog to include

COURTESY OF FLICKR

As of late, virtual reality is not just a future step for gaming industries, but is the most groundbreaking current technology.

VR-compatible games and media.

Many groups, including Sony, overestimated how developed VR was for current markets.

According to Game Industry, the 2016 sales forecast for Sony’s Playstation VR plummeted from 2.6 million to less than 750K due to “a fragmented title line-up” which supports the fact that there is just not enough excitement surrounding the under-developed content.

Though the argument can easily be made that better content will be made as the technology progresses, the same was true for Kinect at the time. When a product is introduced to the market, the expectation is that consumers are not receiving a beta or a glimpse of what that product might be. Rather consumers buy it because they assume that the product and its accessories are fully developed.

Sure, Microsoft could have continued to develop more enhanced Kinect titles, but by the time Microsoft realized how underdeveloped its product was, demand had faltered entirely.

What distinguishes VR products from the failures of Microsoft’s Kinect is that VR is applicable to industries beyond gaming. If VR is able to match expectations, the landscape of gaming will undoubtedly change, but why use such limiting terms when talking about a technology that alters the way in which we both view and perceive motion-picture?

VR provides developers the freedom to create fully immersive worlds from a blank slate, that fit perfectly to the user’s point of view. This allows VR technology to be integrated into fields such as film-making, healthcare, realestate, construction, journalism, travel and military.

These applications are not as distant as one may think. Just the other day, my roommates and I were looking at apartments on Arthur Ave., and one of the units our realtor had in mind for us was undergoing interior renovation. After showing us the location and façade of the building, he had us use a VR headset, which placed us in a 3-D

walkthrough of what would be the finished apartment (shoutout to our realtor Camilo).

Think about consumer processes that could benefit from similar VR simulations. In the travel industry, hotels may create virtual walkthroughs of rooms and the surrounding area so that potential customers can better envision their vacations.

In healthcare, surgeons can simulate operation and hospital patients can virtually transport themselves to places more pleasant than hospital beds. It is because of this universal applicability that I am optimistic about the future of VR, despite the premature launch of VR headsets and content. Why such a disruptive product was released in its infancy stage is beyond me; however, this failed release is easily outweighed by the expansive potential of VR and its subsequent, global implications.

Joseph D’Amato, GSB ’19, is a finance major from Wyckoff, New Jersey.

Flying Drones in the Right Zones

By SARAH BERNSTEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

With new technology comes new responsibility, and drones are no exception. The high-flying machines operate with various degrees of autonomy, serving a variety of purposes including (but far from limited to) recoding aerial footage, surveilling an area, data gathering and transporting cargo.

Undoubtedly, drones are a remarkable technological achievement capable of revolutionizing everything

from disaster relief to scientific research. But potentially their most controversial purpose is their recreational use.

Now that you can buy a drone at Target, what risks might they present? Should anyone be able to purchase a drone, or should background checks and stricter regulations be put in place?

Currently, all drones over .55lbs— regardless of their purpose—fall under the regulations and controls of the FAA, the Federal Aviation Ad-

ministration.

In the same manner as any aircraft, they are required to be registered and place-carded with a registration.

This way, in case of an incident, the drone can be easily traced back to its owner.

According to KnowBeforeYouFly. org, the online registration process is simple—anyone over 13 years of age who submits his or her name, email and home address receives a Certificate of Aircraft Registration, proof of ownership and a unique identifica-

COURTESY OF FLICKR

While drones started out as a harmless phenomemon, the liabilities of piloting them became apparent over time.

tion number that must be affixed to his or her drone.

Although this quick online process seems easy to skip, failure to register a drone can result in civil penalties up to $27,500, and criminal penalties can include fines up to $250,000 and up to three years in prison.

The FAA has also established “nofly” zones specifically for drones.

Across the U.S., drones are prohibited within five miles of an airport.

In New York City, they are entirely forbidden with the exception of a few designated parks. The fine for disregarding no-fly zones varies case by case.

Still, anyone can purchase and register a drone regardless of his or her criminal history. This factor is what seems to make most people uncomfortable— there is no screening process to prevent drones from getting into the hands of potentially dangerous people.

But this issue of potentially causing harm to others should be addressed in the same manner as any other aircraft, automobile or home owner, and that is through liability insurance.

The concept of risk and responsibility is addressed in the insurance market. You cannot operate a car un-

less it is both registered and insured, and the same applies to boats, jet-skis, motorcycles, trucks, trains, etc. While requiring liability insurance may limit the recreational use of drones, it does not eliminate it.

Serious hobbyists who can afford to fly a drone retain their right to do so.

There are plenty of activities that people do every day where they assume the liability for harm to others or damage to other people’s property.

Take skiing, for example: when you buy a lift ticket, you sign a waiver saying that if you are injured, the owner of the ski company is not responsible, but you also agree that you understand that any damage or harm you cause to them you inflict onto others is your responsibility.

Drones should be no different.

If an individual passes the requirements established by the controlling authority and assumes the liability for injury or damage resulting in the use of their drone, they should be able to purchase one without any additional checks.

Sarah Bernstein, FCRH ’17, is a communications major from Salisbury, Maryland.

OPINION

Page 10

R

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

Website FordhamRam.com Email Address theram@fordham.edu Mailing Address Fordham University - Station 37 Box B Bronx, NY 10458 Editor-in-Chief Erin Shanahan Managing Editor Margarita Artoglou Business Director Matthew Schiller Operations Director Andrea Garcia Copy Chief Elizabeth Doty Editorial Director Cat Swindal Assistant Business Directors James Haranzo Connor Smith Assistant Copy Chief Taylor Shaw News Editor Theresa Schliep Assistant News Editors Aislinn Keely Victor Ordonez Opinion Editors Christopher Canadeo Briana Scalia Culture Editors Bailey Hosfelt Libby Smislova Erin Cabrey Sports Editor Jack McLoone Assistant Sports Editors Alvin Halimwidjaya Tom Terzulli Photo Editors Julia Comerford Owen Corrigan Layout Editor Delaney Leiter Digital Team Mario Nicastro Nick Wetzel 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.

March 8, 2017

From the Desk | Nick Wetzel

Is Snapchat Becoming the New Facebook?

This past Thursday, Snap, Inc., the parent company of the popular social media app, Snapchat, had an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company was valued at 25 billion, making it the largest U.S. initial public offering in over two years. In the wake of this eye-popping valuation and media hype, many are asking the question, “Will Snapchat become the next Facebook?”

The short answer is, no.

From a daily-active user perspective, Snapchat has a long way to go before it becomes a serious competitor with Facebook and its subsidiary, Instagram. As of 2016, Snapchat had 158 million daily active users, while Facebook has over 1.86 billion, according to TechCrunch.

Although Snapchat’s user base is growing at a faster rate than Facebook, this growth is ultimately unsustainable given that Facebook is aggressively cloning Snapchat’s

most popular features. One such feature called “Stories,” which are short user-generated video montages that disappear after 24 hours, already boasts 150 million users on Instagram, the same amount of users on Snapchat’s entire platform.

Snapchat will not become the next big social media app if the main features that make it unique are easily replicated on existing platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.

In addition to fewer users, Snapchat also has far less revenue and no definitive plans to monetize its platform efficiently. As of 2016, Snap, Inc. generated 400 million in revenue, and was not profitable, according the the firm’s I.P.O. filing.

By comparison, Facebook, Inc. generated over $27 billion in revenue, and $10 billion in profit. Although Snapchat set a $1 billion revenue target for 2017, many analysts are skeptical that the company will be able to meet that. In a research note published the day of Snapchat’s IPO, equity research analysts James

Cordwell stated that Snap’s revenue growth was “unsustainable given Snap’s unproven monetization potential, structurally lower profitability and likely challenges in materially reaccelerating user growth.”

Unlike Snapchat’s rudimentary advertising platforms, Facebook has a state-of-the-art advertising platform coupled with billions of users, making it the clear choice for advertisers considering which platform to pour advertising dollars into.

One area in which Snapchat is excelling in is time-spent in app.

According to App Annie metrics, Snapchat users spend 25 percent more time on the app than users on Facebook and Instagram. Part of that can be attributed to users sifting through geotags, but another part can be genuinely attributed to more engaged users. If Snapchat can develop a more advanced analytics platform and new ideas for monetization, the firm will be better positioned to compete for ad dollars with social media giant,

Facebook.

There is certainly a space for Snapchat in the plethora of social media apps that dominate our smartphone screens. Snapchat allows us to connect with each other in more genuine and personal ways than other impersonal apps, like Instagram.

However, given its small amount of daily active users, lack of monetization plans, and cutthroat competition in the social media space, Snapchat will not become the next Facebook.

Editorial | Social Justice

Activism Will Always Be Appreciated In the wake of a tumultuous election season, America has seen an increase in interest in protesting and activism. Fordham students are no exception to this trend. We at The Fordham Ram commend the surge in activism, especially here on Fordham’s campus.

This semester, we have seen students gather together to call senators and representatives on Keating steps, as well as attend the Women’s Marches in New York City and Washington.

Students are getting involved with social justice through Fordham’s Campus Ministry, the Dorothy Day Center and other creative means.

Some students have even protested Fordham’s administrative decisions. In sum, students are taking action to ensure that their voices are heard.

During a presidential admin-

istration that has the power to enact policy concerning many marginalized groups, it makes sense that Americans are making a point to get involved in activism. Fordham students make up a diverse group with a variety of political interests, concerns and causes about which we are passionate.

By speaking up and taking action, Fordham Rams are truly living up to the standard of “men and women for others.” This past week, the Huffington Post categorized Fordham as one of its top ten worst schools for free speech, citing the controversy over the “Students for Justice in Palestine” club which was denied approval at our Lincoln Center campus.

This atmosphere of speechstifling can make activism and protesting seem futile. Indeed, criticism of students who protest is prevalent. This criticism mostly

centers on the fact that students who protest university policy have already willingly chosen to attend this private institution, knowing its university by-laws, mission and overall beliefs upon entering the community.

However, we believe that making the decision to attend the Jesuit University of New York is not equivalent to signing away one’s right to voice his or her views on policy. To say that nothing will ever change here on campus is not only depressing, but it is misleading. The Fordham Ram’s archives are clear proof that things have drastically changed throughout the years.

For example, in 2013, student leaders brought concerns regarding free speech on campus to administrators. As a result, a 45 page report, containing specific instances in which students have felt censored on campus, was

unanimously supported by Rose Hill’s United Student Government (USG).

The “Report on Speech and Expression of Student Organizations at Fordham University”, presented to and approved by the Student Life Council in 2013, was created as a result.

We urge Fordham students continue voicing their views, creating dialogue and engaging in productive, meaningful activism. Your activism is needed both within the Fordham community as well as outside of it. Students should not be discouraged by initial rejection—change is possible, but never easy.

Fordham states that its goal is to release graduates who “go forth and set the world on fire.”

We at The Fordham Ram applaud the current student body for getting a head start on this life mission.

Disagree with our editorial?

Let us know!

Have your voice be heard!

Send your letters to fordhamramopinions@gmail.com!

OPINION

March 8, 2017

Page 11

Islam: A Faith Misconstrued

By ASAD KHAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Recently, there has been a wide array of differing views on the nature of Islam. With President Trump’s recently revised executive order that bans the issuance of travel visas to citizens of six predominantly Muslim nations, as well as the constant dispute over whether or not the United States has a responsibility to accept Syrian refugees, it is evident that Islam is a religion under significant scrutiny and is a topic of major concern for many Americans.

However, this notion is almost entirely baseless, as Islam is a religion that promotes peace, humility and compassion. There is an essential distinction between the radicals who claim to undertake certain despicable actions in the name of Islam and what Islam itself promotes as a faith.

When this distinction is not recognized and the identity of a group is stained by the inhumane actions of a small percentage, that group is improperly stereotyped and marginalized. This is a phenomenon that has occurred far too many times throughout history, and it is one that definitely should not be repeated.

The negative connotation surrounding Islam has affected many Muslim Americans (including myself ) on a personal level, but now that notions of Islamophobia have creeped into the political sphere, it is more important than ever to end this cycle of stereotyping.

The fact that Islamophobia is actually an ideology is frightening in itself. The disgusting nature of “phobia” ideologies that believe that it is acceptable to withhold the “unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” that are promised by the Declara-

tion of Independence on the basis of religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or some other identifiable attribute seems like a highly un-American concept to me.

Does it not seem ironic that there are some who condemn Islam for being an intolerant religion—which it is not—simply because they cannot tolerate it as a result of unsubstantiated fears?

Now, it is essential to address the myth that Islam is an oppressive and intolerable faith that provokes the insensitive actions of extremists.

It is not. The major argument made in the case of oppression is often proven by the case of Muslim women having to wear hijabs or other forms of covering.

However, this piece of evidence is invalid because whether or not a woman wears a hijab is a matter of choice.

I will not deny that there are certain countries where regimes have

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The Islamic peoples are greatly affected by Trump’s Syrian refugee ban even though they are not Syrians themselves

adopted an extremist approach by making this choice mandated by law. In such cases, I will agree that this may be a form of oppression, but this is political oppression— not religious oppression.

In regards to Islam’s tolerance of other faiths and people of differing identities, there are definitely interpretations that can be formulated to convey controversial meanings, as can be constructed from Biblical verses, but as the Quran states, “There is no compulsion where the religion is concerned.” In other words, the followers of Islam are obliged not to impose their own faith upon others of different faiths or beliefs.

Muslims are also permitted to marry people of other faiths without the stipulation of conversion, and there is a constant sentiment of love for humankind—not just Muslims—that is conveyed throughout the Quran.

How can a religion that constantly reiterates a strive for humanitarianism and goodness that extends beyond borders be condemned as negative, simply because certain radicals exploit and exaggerate religious beliefs for their own means?

I am a proud Muslim and I am a proud American. These two attributes are extremely strong characteristics of my identity—as well as the identities of over 3.3 million other Muslim Americans that currently make up the U.S. population.

Growing up in New York City, first in the aftermath of the 9/11 catastrophe and now in a political climate that resonates with the ideologies of Islamophobia, it is not difficult to comprehend the

resultant confusion that I, along with the multitude of other Muslim Americans, faced.

On the one hand, we are aware of the compassionate teachings of the Islamic faith, but on the other hand, we are also constantly hurt by negative generalizations of Islam incited by the leaders of a nation that we have always revered and loved.

However, it is important for every Muslim to remember that the extremists who commit heinous acts in the name of Islam are not an accurate representation of what it means to be a Muslim and, in the same sense, it is important for every American to remember that leaders who marginalize a group of people on the basis of a small percentage are not an accurate representation of what it means to be American.

We can change these representations, and it is vital that we do so. Only through an understanding of what diversifies us will we learn to tolerate and accept one another to build a more peaceful and harmonious society.

We must strive to better America and change the perception of Islam because the principle of humanity, which is the foundation of every religion and nation, transcends above all other ideologies.

As a nation that was founded by immigrants fleeing religious persecution, let us follow the mandate found in almost every religious scripture—be it the Bible, Torah or the Quran—and “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Asad Khan, FCRH ’18, is a biological sciences major from New York, New York.

Lenten Reflections: Christianity and the Case For Secular Humanism

By MATTHEW SANTUCCI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Last week, the Christian faithful commenced the Lenten season with the celebration of Ash Wednesday.

The cross, imprinted upon the forehead of believers, stands as an outward expression of a commitment to inward reflection, personal sacrifice and spiritual renewal. We would, however, be remiss to think that this expression of faith is analogous to effectual change.

Often, external expressions of faith are tantamount to a superficial display of Christian virtue. The act of attending mass, receiving ashes and going to confession is not done out of a genuine belief in their redemptive power, but out of an inveterate and obsequious adherence to faith. In short, feigned religiosity encourages us to rely upon our emotion rather than appealing to reason. That is why, when we strive for spiritual perfection and focus on the imperceptible and unverifiable ether, we neglect the real, palpable afflictions of this world.

Incidentally, it is in this light that I encourage believers to make a genuine examination of conscience this Lent. Focus not on what you can give up, but on what you can do for the collective good. Ask yourself, what impact can I affect in my com-

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

Lent is a time for reflection as well as sacrifice for not only Fordham students, but all Christians.

munity? How can I tackle the ubiquity of social injustices?

We are all in this together and the greatest force for good is not religion, but collective empowerment.

That is why I say, “eschew religion, adapt secular humanism!”

In an interview with CNN last year, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was asked if he subscribed to a particular religious creed. In his response, he did not impugn the merits of religion. Rather he provided

us with a perspicacious reflection on the fundamental value of faith.

“Every great religion…essentially comes down to: do unto others as you would like them to do unto you.”

“We are all in this together, when you hurt, I hurt…I believe what human nature is about is that everybody in this room impacts everybody else.”

The profundity of his statement should stand as a guiding principle

in the creation of a new national ethos, one that is predicated upon justice and underscored by empathy. Our preeminent objective should be focusing on emerging and expanded consciousness.

We must work to ensure that we do not allow people to go without healthcare, or live in abject poverty.

We must work in combating climate change. We must ensure that education is available to all and not a reserved privilege for the few, and

must work towards eviscerating racial, economic and social injustices.

Once we realize that we are all connected, that all we have is each other and this one planet, we can abandon blind faith in favor of a reason, thereby laying the foundation for a genuinely progressive future.

This is our obligation to posterity.

That is why during this Lenten season, I encourage the Christian faithful to focus not on making a paltry sacrifice, but rather on what impact you can make in the community and what you can do to mitigate the suffering of our fellow human beings.

Instead of relaying solely upon emotion and adhering to dogma, strive for understanding and reason.

We are all in this together and the greatest force for good is collective empowerment.

A coalescence around these principles will enable us to ameliorate the iniquities of the world; together we can build a community of believers not in God, but in collective goodness – we can truly make the world we live in a safe, equitable and loving home for all.

Matthew Santucci, FCRH ’18, is a history major from Wolcott, New Jersey. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Fordham Political Review.

OPINION

Page 12

March 8, 2017

The Fordham Rams Should Not Be Crammed

By ALVIN HALIMWIDJAYA ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

When I have some free time to myself on campus, you can most likely find me heading to the Lombardi Fieldhouse for a couple of hours of pickup basketball. It is my only consistent form of exercise, and running around and shooting hoops with a bunch of guys I barely know has been a defining experience of mine at Fordham.

If going to the gym and working out isn’t exactly your cup of tea, you can often find students at the Lombardi Fieldhouse running around the track or using the rowing machines.

At the center of the Fieldhouse are four basketball courts, free for any students to use. However, Fordham has complicated matters for students by constantly scheduling other events without much notice.

I understand that the Fieldhouse is not just a facility for non-athletes to play basketball, and it is perfectly understandable when track meets are held on the weekends or when Fordham Prep kids use the rowing machines.

However, basketball courts at the Fieldhouse are constantly being used for events not related to basketball. Badminton and dance practices already complicate matters; to have the baseball team cordon off three courts in January to hold a practice or a youth clinic is frankly ridiculous.

Other times, students will walk down to find alumni giving private lessons to kids in either basketball or soccer. I’m a fan of kids learning sports at a young age, but I’m less of a fan when I’m trying to get in some exercise after

Faustino Galante Paparazzo: A Necessary Evil On August 31, 1997, 36-yearold Princess Diana was killed after an automobile accident in Paris, France. The day following the tragedy, it was reported that Diana’s vehicle had allegedly been pursued by paparazzi motorcyclists seconds before the fatal crash. In the years following the Princess’ death, celebrities and their fans have ridiculed the paparazzi for disturbing the peace and intruding on the lives of stars and their families.

Though widely abhorred, the profession of the paparazzo is imperative to superstars and society in general. The paparazzi keeps the entertainment industry alive, ensure that celebrities obey societal standards and monitors the personal health of various stars.

Though a level of unprofessionalism does exist within the profession, celebrities must recognize that they ultimately hold less privacy rights than the average citizen.

Celebrities have grown increasingly tired of being stalked and hounded by amateur photographers in the past few years. In 2008,

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

Lombardi Fieldhouse is spacious, but action needs to be taken regarding how often the space is occupied by non students.

a couple of midterms and, you know, I’m being held up by three eight-year-olds after paying full tuition for access to these facilities.

The difficult truth is that I understand student organizations like the dance team and the badminton team have nowhere else to practice.

I’m a little less sympathetic when it comes to the baseball team, since they don’t need batting practice on a basketball court when there are two baseball fields on campus, but I get that it’s not fun practicing in cold weather.

I’m way more upset at Fordham, because they’re simply not accommodating students’ needs.

I doubt that other students in recent memory were okay with indoor sports facilities being coopted by activities that weren’t meant for a basketball court, or by kids a third of their age.

In all fairness, events like youth clinics and high school tournaments held in the Fieldhouse, though incredibly inconvenient for students at times, act as an additional source of income, and are therefore partially necessary.

That’s why Fordham needs to start thinking about options to expand their accommodations for students, because a couple more basketball or badminton courts, though it doesn’t seem like much, would be a first step towards more access and avail-

ability for Fordham students to the facilities the university brags about.

I admit that even minor renovation and expansion, let alone a new facility, would be a significant project for Fordham to start.

However, it’s important that Fordham makes a point of providing these facilities to the students interested in using them, even if they don’t represent Fordham’s athletic community.

Even if that seems like too big of a step to take, the very least Fordham could do is keep its students updated on when we can use its facilities.

On its website, Fordham gives standard hours of operation from 6 a.m. to midnight for the

fans of hip-hop artist Kanye West were stunned to hear that he faced up to two and a half years’ probation for confronting a paparazzo in Los Angeles. In a similar conflict, actor Shia LaBeouf was taped drenching a photographer with hot coffee in Washington two years later.

Despite their hatred for the paparazzi, stars must recognize that these freelance photographers put money in their pockets. Celebrity careers depend on people caring about their personal lives.

Though fans love to see the glamorous lifestyles of their “heroes,” people yearn to see their human sides. By helping common folk get an insight into a star’s daily life, paparazzi allow celebrities to develop loyal fan bases, thus making them money.

Many hate to believe it, but the majority of the actions that stars are caught doing on camera are pre-planned and driven by money.

According to a Rolling Stone article by Stephen Rodrick entitled, “Attack of the Paparazzi,” in many cases, stars such as Lindsey Lohan and Ryan Reynolds share their location with the paparazzi in an effort to garner attention.

A hidden agreement seems to exist between celebrities and the dreaded photographers. Fans must keep this in mind the next time a celebrity is victimized and a paparazzo is classified as a villain.

The paparazzi, though discreetly, is undeniably serving the people of Hollywood.

Though the paparazzi often help celebrity careers, their photographs also have the potential to be detrimental to the celebrities images. Photos taken by paparazzi are meant to be controversial.

Though it may seem unethical to publish photos which have the potential to tarnish a person’s reputation, this specific aspect of paparazzi photography, if practiced properly, helps society as a whole by holding stars accountable for their actions. The paparazzi ensure that celebrities follow societal codes and standards.

One of the most notorious examples of celebrity malpractice “caught on camera” is the infamous picture of Britney Spears holding her infant child in the front seat of her car. The image spurred intense public backlash from the singer’s fans and brought the Los Angeles sheriff ’s office to investigate her.

Because they are famous, celebrities often hold the belief that they are above the law. Without paparazzi intervention, idolized stars like Spears may never face consequences for their shocking actions.

Fortunately, the paparazzi has brought these people to be more courteous of the law and societal standards.

Drug use, domestic abuse, depression and mental disorders are

rampant among Hollywood stars.

As a result of the demands associated with their professions, stars often fall victim to poor mental and physical states. In many cases, fans are unaware of their favorite celebrity’s ill health.

In 2007, photos surfaced of a beaten up Amy Winehouse. Fans of the singer were alarmed after seeing the images. She, as a result, had to provide an explanation for the alleged abuse. Winehouse ultimately defended her boyfriend and explained that the beating was an effect of a drug-induced confrontation between the two. She was admitted into a rehabilitation center a year following the incident.

By keeping fans “in the know” about the lifestyles of their favorite stars, the paparazzi help us ensure that celebrities are leading healthy lives. Without the paparazzi, it is likely that society would fall victim to many more unexpected celebrity deaths and downfalls.

Celebrities have voiced their opposition to the paparazzi on the basis that their photographs are an invasion of privacy. Stars suppose that fame does not constitute a lesser degree of privacy and believe that they deserve the same privacy rights as average individuals.

The unfortunate truth is that it is impossible for a person who makes money off publicity to hold the same amount of privacy as one who works a normal job.

Fieldhouse, when in reality, its availability is much more complicated.

Upon arriving at the Lombardi Center, students can find a few pages of paper that reveal the plethora of activities and practices scheduled for the day, subsequently throwing a regular student’s plans into chaos.

It’s an admittedly significant step to build new facilities; it shouldn’t be difficult to post an accurate online schedule that gives students an idea of when they can use the basketball courts at the Fieldhouse.

At the end of the day, Fordham University has more pertinent issues to deal with, and whether a bunch of students get to play pickup basketball or not is decidedly far from their most pressing concern. All I’m saying is that regular students, club teams and even varsity teams shouldn’t be crammed into one wing built in 1976.

Fordham needs to start thinking of expanding their facilities, or at the very least, update students on the facility’s availability in a way that doesn’t involve people trekking to McGinley and trudging back after being ousted by several elementary school students.

The description of the Fieldhouse on Fordham’s website reads, “students are encouraged to take full advantage of the facilities and equipment offered at the McGinley Center.” It would be great if Fordham gave us the opportunity to do that.

Alvin Halimwidjaya, FCRH ’18, is a journalism major from Jakarta, Indonesia

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In an article for Newsweek, journalist Steve Tuttle ridicules stars for holding this sort of ideology.

He specifically targets actor Neil Patrick Harris for a tweet which read, “So, get this: David and I are expecting twins this fall. We’re super excited/nervous/thrilled.

Hoping the press can respect our privacy ...” Tuttle’s notion that stars cannot live the best of both worlds is not only a fair one, but a realistic one.

Stars must recognize that their careers are based on sacrificing privacy and on the fact that they live in the public spotlight. Because of the nature of their professions, stars cannot expect a high level of privacy. The paparazzi is simply one of the side effects of being famous. They cannot “invade” on unmerited privacy.

The Fordham Ram Special Issue: Student Activism

Page 14

March 8, 2017

In Wake of Trump, Students Get Active

By JAKE SHORE STAFF WRITER

Elise Zimmerman, FCRH’20, had never participated in any form of activism before arriving at Fordham. But on the night of Donald Trump’s election in November, she headed into Manhattan to protest the President alongside approximately 10,000 other New Yorkers. “The one after the election was definitely angry,” she said.

“But it was really nice because it was an outlet. I didn’t want to be cooped up in my dorm room all night.”

Zimmerman continued to protest, heading into Manhattan again a week after the election results and even taking the train down to D.C. to attend the Women’s March, which is becoming recognized as one of the largest demonstrations in U.S. history.

Now a member of the College Democrats and Women’s Empowerment, Elise is not the only Fordham student finding her voice in demonstrating on and off campus.

More Fordham students are taking to protesting and participating in discourse on the issues they care about in the wake of the Trump election.

After Fordham Lincoln Center made headlines for vetoing the creation of the Students’ Justice

in Palestine (SJP) club, students like Sapphira Lurie, FCLC ’17, responded by organizing rallies.

“Because the veto of SJP was blatantly discriminatory, the members of SJP felt the need to protest it, to shed light on our cause and on university censorship,” said Lurie in an email interview. She estimated more than 100 Fordham students turned out for the rally in response to the club veto by Keith Eldredge, Lincoln Center Dean of Students.

In a statement to the Fordham Ram, Dean Eldredge said the decision for the veto was made because, if created, SJP would be “more akin to a lobbying group than a student club.” Eldredge also charged Sapphira Lurie with an independent disciplinary hearing for organizing the protest of the veto on January 23. Lurie said the hearing has only bolstered her want to participate in student activism.

“Despite attempts by Dean Eldredge and the rest of the administration to silence and intimidate me and SJP, we will continue to make our presence known on campus through rallies, to demand full club status, and to educate our fellow students,” said Lurie.

For many Fordham students, clubs serve as the outlets for their newfound activism, and in turn,

students are even breathing new life into old clubs.

Fordham’s Respect for Life club (RFL), a campus pro-life organization which advocates for “womb to tomb” policies, has in recent years faced controversy for its annual display on McGinley where flags are arranged to represent the amount of abortions in the U.S. In light of that, membership in the club dropped off, but club leaders say it has picked up again with this new and increasingly active freshmen class.

Emily Sayegh, FCRH ‘19 and president of RFL, said they are also changing the way they get active on campus. Scrapping the “Memorial of the Innocents” of years past, RFL plans to have an interactive board which asks students to mark on a birth timeline where they think life begins.

“Nothing hopefully will upset people, but more [to] be open to discussing and hearing each other’s different opinions,” said Sayegh.

Even under a federal administration which is positionally more friendly to the pro-life movement, Sayegh said RFL runs against what President Trump stands for, but she acknowledges that her club is going to get lumped together with Trump.

“We a lot of times have to defend ourselves and our positions because we get attacked a lot,” said Sayegh.“And it only encourages us to be more persistent and vocal about what we believe in.”

For Fordham’s College Republicans, activism in its members have not seen an increase, but discussion and discourse are more alive than ever.

VP of the College Republicans Matthew Johnson, FCRH ‘17, said club debates are more passionate these days, and conservative voices often clash over Trump’s policies and the President’s fickle relationship with the GOP. Some of the more conservative members of the College Republicans have even attended anti-Trump rallies, according to Johnson. But he has a message for Fordham students who are attending those rallies and expressing themselves through protest.

“People should know what they’re protesting. Like everyone wants to impeach Trump, but you can’t impeach someone for not agreeing with you,” said Johnson.

“I disagreed with most of what Obama did, but I never thought he should be impeached.”

Colton Hillman, GSB ‘19 and treasurer for the College Republicans, said he respects his fellow

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students’ right to protests, but cannot really see himself in their shoes.

“Go protest, do whatever you want. If you got the time to do it. I mean I’ve never protested before. I don’t know what would get me so riled up to go protest,” said Hillman.

But for Elise Zimmerman, she said protesting seemed like the only valid response on a campus which contains a lot of vocal Trump supporters. She cited Trump signs seen from outside dorm buildings and an incendiary “Be White” flyer that was found in Dealy the Monday after the election. She added that some boys who live on her floor and support Trump gave cause for her to begin participating in student activism.

“I guess I’m privileged compared to some of the marginalized people [Trump has] attacked. So I know talking to some of the people on my floor, one girl told me the boys on the floor just made her so much more aware of her own skin color.” said Zimmerman, “That’s so hard to hear because you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable in your own dorm, like that’s just not okay.”

Zimmerman said she will continue going to protest events with the College Democrats and making her voice heard.

March 8, 2017

Student Athletes Turned Student Activists

By JACK McLOONE SPORTS EDITOR

Every year during orientation, Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, spends his address to incoming freshmen discussing the tenets of the Jesuits. Chief among them; men and women of Fordham are expected to be men and women for others.

In the sports world, athletes are often elevated to hero status. If you were to ask a middle-schooler who their hero was, mixed in among “my mom” and “my dad” you would get a lot of “LeBron James”, “Derek Jeter”, and “Serena Williams”, among other pro athletes. But more often than not, these athletes are viewed as heroes for their actions on the field.

One of Fordham University’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council’s (SAAC) goals is to help studentathletes elevate themselves not on the field or court, but as people and as activists in the community.

“A large emphasis of what we do is getting our student-athletes out into the community,” said Danielle Padovano, a senior on the women’s basketball team and president of SAAC.

“We are lucky to be supported by our community especially with the support we get from young kids from around the greater NYC area who come to our competitions. We do everything we can to give back.”

SAAC is composed of representatives from every varsity team at Fordham who are nominated by their coaches.

“SAAC reps are people who are looked at as leaders within the athletic department and do a great job of holding that responsibility,” said Padovano.

Coaches are in charge of setting a minimum number of community service hours that their players have to reach each year. SAAC keeps track of the hours the student-athletes put in. The numbers are also shared with the Atlantic 10, with all the teams in the conference competing to put in the most hours year to year.

Student-athletes can log their hours in a variety of ways, whether it be through doing community outreach work or attending events held by other student organizations on campus, such as the Special Olympics fashion show.

The SAAC executive board and the team representatives work to

come up with various programs to give student-athletes opportunities to fulfill their hours. For the first time, this past year, they partnered with Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a pediatric cancer organization.

“Each year we have a toy drive after which we take a trip to the Maria Ferrari Children’s Hospital in Westchester to personally hand out our donations to the children who are suffering from all forms and in all stages of cancer,” said Padovano.

“This is personally my favorite event.

It is always a beautiful day.”

Another popular outreach program for Rams last year was weekly trips to the Saint Ignatius school in the Bronx, where the student-athletes would play with the students during recess.

SAAC also organizes a food drive around Thanksgiving every year for the Bronx food bank, Part of the Solution (POTS).

While SAAC gives studentathletes opportunities for outreach through Fordham, there are some that take it upon themselves to reach out. For example, Manny Adeyeye, a senior on the football team, did an overnight stay at a homeless shelter through The Ansche Chesed syna-

gogue.

“It was definitely a new experience for me,” said Adeyeye. “I got to interact with a homeless man face-to-face and was also able to assist him with sleeping and showering arrangements. I didn’t know what to expect of the guys at the shelter but they seemed to be normal human beings.”

The goals of any outreach program are two-fold: to help people in need, but also for those reaching out to gain a new perspective on life and grow as people.

“I learned a lot. Definitely not to judge someone by their economic status,” said Adeyeye. “We tend to label homelessness as the people we see with cardboard signs by streetlights thinking they are on drugs or smelly people sleeping on the train, but honestly a homeless person can be right next to you and you won’t even know it. All homeless people don’t dress in rags with no shoes, some are well-educated and just can’t get themselves out of the hole they are in. My experience at this shelter changed my view on life.”

While SAAC has been a part of Fordham Athletics for a while, the push for more activism by the student-athletes has been a major point

Page 15

of emphasis recently. While there have been numerous events, there is still room to grow.

“SAAC does a pretty good job of making sure all of its members are pretty aware of any opportunities that we could have to do any activist work in the community,” said senior member of the football team and SAAC representative George Dawson. “I think Fordham could do a better job of promoting athlete activism because although we are very aware of things we can do in the community there are limited opportunities in which we actually get to go out and do things in the community. I think with the proper promotion, we would be able to act on more opportunities.”

Another favorite ideal of Fr. McShane is the idea of educating “the whole person.” Through community outreach, Fordham’s student-athletes are able to grow beyond just the classroom and the playing field. They can, as Padovano alluded to, become more deserving of the “hero” label sometimes placed on athletes: “As athletes, we are recognized as role models for the youth in our communities and we take that responsibility with honor.”

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Page 16

Activism at Fordham:

COURTESY OF OMAR AFRIDI

Omar Afridi, FCRH ’17

TFR: How do you stay involved in political activism, on-campus and off?

OA: I stay involved in political activism primarily through the Muslim Student's Association, where I am exposed to multiple events and engage in activist dialogue. I work to stay active mostly on campus, to impact my direct community, and because I find there are more opportunities to stay involved on campus. I also use other clubs, specifically Campus Ministry, as a source of information and activism, and attend various events they hold, such as the refugee simulation.

March 8, 2017

COURTESY OF THOMAS RALUMBO

Thomas Palumbo, FCRH ’17

TFR: How do you stay involved in political activism, on-campus and off?

TP: Aside from attending the weekly College Dems meetings where we discuss political news and ways to take action, I try to be as involved in local politics as possible. I've volunteered on Bronx campaigns and in elected officials' offices since my first semester at Fordham.

TFR: Have you participated in any protests? If so, which one(s) and what was your main reason for attending?

OA: I have not yet attended any protest in NYC, however the MSA arranged participation in the Women's March.

TFR: Have you participated in any protests? If so, which one(s) and what was your main reason for attending?

TP: I've participated in a few protests recently, including the Women's March, the Climate March and a rally against President Trump's Executive Order on Immigration. I attended these events to show solidarity with each cause and make a statement that people will still stand up for what they believe in, even when the political climate may seem bleak.

TFR: Has the 2016 election result changed your personal activism?

OA: Absolutely. It has made me realize the need for activism in our community. The election highlighted various social issues and the common misconceptions about them. I personally disagreed with the dialogue surrounding these issues, and I believe it is my duty to fight when the government goes directly against my principles.

TFR: Has the 2016 election result changed your personal activism?

TP: I have definitely been more active in protests as a result of the 2016 election. Before November, I had felt more confident that I was comfortable with the direction the country was going. Since the election I've been reminded of how important it is for everyone to make their voices heard in the political process.

COURTESY OF NICOLE UTAH

Nicole Utah, FCRH ’18

TFR: How do you stay involved in political activism, on-campus and off?

Personally, a lot of my political activism is done on-campus, particularly through ASILI meetings. At the meetings, we allow an open forum for opinions and ideas about the political climate, most recently about the current executive orders. A lot of our discussions especially center around how current politics are affecting minority groups. However, I have not gotten to do as much political activism off campus.

TFR: Have you participated in any protests? If so, which one(s) and what was your main reason for attending?

I did get involved in the on-campus protest following the hate crime on campus in the beginning of the Fall 2015 semester. I mainly attended to show solidarity and demand change for a serious issue that could realistically happen to me and other students of color across the country any day.

TFR: Has the 2016 election result changed your personal activism?

The 2016 result has definitely changed my personal activism. I find myself paying way more attention to what’s going on in our country now more than ever. As a black female, I want to remain as involved as possible to get my voice heard and make sure it’s never silenced.

COURTESY OF RYAN QUINN

Ryan Quinn, FCRH ’17

TFR: How do you stay involved in political activism, on-campus and off?

RQ: I have no direct involvement in any political activism. My schedule doesn't allow for it, but I do intend to become involved with the Republican Party after graduation by volunteering on campaigns. I like to stay informed with current events and have frequent political discussions with my friends.

TFR: Have you participated in any protests? If so, which one(s) and what was your main reason for attending?

RQ: N/A TFR: Has the 2016 election result changed your personal activism?

RQ: This election, more than elections past, exposed a need for an honest flow of information that shares all sides. I hope to eventually get involved as a writer in some sort of publication and contribute to conservative political conversation.

March 8, 2017

Student Activists on Campus Larissa Ross, FCRH ’19

TFR: How do you stay involved in political activism, on-campus and off?

LR: Most notably I’m on the E-Board of Fordham Respect for Life. Additionally, each week I volunteer with the Sisters of Life, an order of nuns who provide and connect women with pregnancy resources.

TFR: Have you participated in any protests? If so, which one(s) and what was your main reason for attending?

LR: For the last two years I have attended the annual March for Life in Washington. I firmly believe that each human life is valuable and possessed of inalienable dignity from conception to natural death and at all stages in between. In this vein, each person has a right to life and everything necessary to living one that is full and fulfilled, regardless of age, creed, culture, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, etc.

TFR: Has the 2016 election result changed your personal activism?

LR: It’s definitely had an impact. The current presidential administration claims to be “pro-life,” yet very openly and consciously places limitations on the extent to which it will uplift and support the human person, and by extension, the human family. It has always been important to me, but it is important now more than ever to throw my energies into vocalizing not only the plight of the unborn and their parents, the aged and infirm, but especially that of the disabled, the refugee, the uninsured, and each group that has either been victimized or forgotten entirely by this administration’s platform.

COURTESY OF LARISSA ROSS

Tina McCain, FCRH ’18

TFR: How do you stay involved in political activism, on-campus and off?

TM: On-campus, I stay involved in political activism largely through Women's Empowerment, which offers itself as a venue for free speech regarding issues such as sexism, homophobia, racism, etc. on campus. Helping to manage a space that operates as specifically feminist comes with all sorts of political activism here at Rose Hill. Off-campus, a lot of Fordham alumni provide me with great resources for what activism looks like in a postgraduate context.

TFR: Have you participated in any protests? If so, which one(s) and what was your main reason for attending?

TM: I've participated in a number of protests on and off campus. The protest against Respect for Life's screening of "Hush" last semester comes to mind first and foremost, as Women's Empowerment protested the spread of misinformation that the documentary provided.

COURTESY OF TINA McCAIN

TFR: Has the 2016 election result changed your personal activism?

TM: The election absolutely changed my personal activism. The way I view my activism is more dire and more pressing, as terrifying strides against marginalized people are being made in a national context. My activism has become actively more concerned with the protection of and allyship to Muslim people, undocumented people and trans people.

Sebastian Albrecht, FCRH ’17

TFR: How do you stay involved in political activism, on-campus and off?

SA: I am the former president of the College Republicans at Fordham and considered myself pretty involved in the conservative movement. We were for example happy to bring great speakers for events on and off campus like Gov. Kasich and Steve Forbes.

TFR: Have you participated in any protests? If so, which one(s) and what was your main reason for attending?

SA: I have not participated in any public protest, but I am highly critical of the current administration. There are some areas on which I agree with the new administration, but I totally oppose the executive orders on the travel bans.

TFR: Has the 2016 election result changed your personal activism?

SA: I used to attend conservative conferences throughout the nation and had the chance to meet many high-profile republicans. In addition, I attended many events in Manhattan that were organized by local conservative clubs. However, many of these events and conferences are now dominated

by Trump followers and I do not feel that my values and ideas are represented there anymore, which is why I started to attend fewer and fewer events.

COURTESY OF SEBASTIAN ALBRECHT

Page 17

Page 18

March 8. 2017

Fordham Student Activism Withstands Centuries

By BAILEY HOSFELT CULTURE EDITOR

As the rain poured down on the Rose Hill campus, another storm was brewing inside Dean of Student Affairs Martin J. Meade’s office. Over a dozen members of the Society for Afro-American Advancement at Fordham (SAAAF) burst into Meade’s empty Keating Hall office on Dec. 4, 1968.

Once Meade came in to speak with the students donning dripping raingear, they pushed desks against his door and urged him to sign a formal statement that the university would not prevent black students who participated in campus disturbances, whether orderly or not, from receiving their federal financial aid.

After a two-and-a-half-hour discussion, Meade complied with SAAAF’s request and pledged that Fordham would take no action to thwart any student demonstrators of their aid. According to New York Times writer Maurice Carroll’s report in “Students Demand Voice at Fordham,” Meade was at no point being held by the students against his will.

Simultaneously, members of the student body gathered at the Student Center and called for university restructuring. Among their various requests were a full implementation of the Gellhorn Report, the creation of a studentfaculty senate and an immediate end to racism on campus. At the time, only one percent of 6,000 undergraduate students were African American.

These two demonstrations boiled over on Dec. 9. The Fordham Ram reported in “SAAAF Demands Ignite Protest” that 100 students from SAAAF charged an administration building and demanded that the administration answer their requests by 6 p.m., three hours after the administrators’ meeting to deliberate the demands and reach a decision was scheduled to end.

When Dean of Students Rev. Robert McNamara informed the crowd that the demands would not be answered by the deadline, students erupted in chants of “six o’clock” and “let us in” while they pushed against the glass doors of the meeting room.

Campus police barricaded the door but the protestors were not discouraged and attempted to gain access to the room from a side door. Despite their numerous efforts, McNamara ordered the students to leave, and after a discussion and status update regarding the decision, demonstrators returned to the Student Center awaiting their reply.

This series of high energy protests by SAAAF that The Fordham Ram called “the most severe direct challenge to the President’s leadership to date” in the Dec. 10 editorial “Crisis Again” was addressed in President Leo McLaughlin’s official response to all members of Fordham University. McLaughlin regarded the purpose of campus protest and said that, “I believe this can be a great help to all of us as individuals and as members of a community of scholars.”

McLaughlin continued in his

letter that protests and the discussions they provoke do provide a hope for growth within the university community, but he also expressed concerns that violence could destroy any development on campus.

While the majority of past protests at Fordham have remained peaceful and free of violence, there have been a few outliers. Among one of the most publicized was a seven-hour sit-in demonstration on Nov. 13, 1969 where 36 Fordham students fought campus security guards in the midst of their protest against the Reserve Officers Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) program.

The students who led this demonstration were members of the Committee to Abolish R.O.T.C. Days before their protest which took place in an administration building, a representative from the committee told The Fordham Ram that a building seizure was the best approach to get their message out.

The protesters did just that.

Students took over administrative offices, barricaded the doors and chanted "U.S. out of Vietnam, R.O.T.C. out of Fordham."

Rev. Michael P. Walsh, President of Fordham at the time, had no choice but to call the city police after two of the 40 unarmed guards who attempted to enter the barricaded offices sustained injuries.

As sirens neared campus, protestors jumped from the first-floor windows and fled the scene.

According to "Fordham Students Fight Guards As R.O.T.C. Protest Is Ended," six students were arrested and at least six security guards were injured. One suffered a broken leg and another was witnessed with a chest wound "writhing in pain."

Although the R.O.T.C. protest resulted in injuries and arrests, Fordham saw countless nonviolent protests where the headcount was well over 1,000, dating back to the 1930s. 1,400 students assembled in the university quadrangle (what we now know and love as Eddie’s) and protested the Spanish government’s decision to bar religious orders from education systems, something that, as a Jesuit-affiliated institution, Fordham went against.

1,500 students protested the Mexican Church War and anti-religious movement at the college’s annual retreat.

Fordham, like hundreds of other colleges in the United States during the late 1950s through ‘70s, became the perfect place for politically and socially active students to protest issues on a university, domestic or international level.

During the Civil Rights Movement, an estimated 1,000 members of both the student body and faculty came together and participated in an outdoor rally that protested the denial of voting rights for African Americans in Alabama and honored Rev. James J. Reeb who was fatally beaten in Selma.

The rally lasted one hour and was backed by numerous political and social-action groups on campus as well as members of the administration and faculty.

Rev. Philip Hurley, a member of the Fordham faculty, had spent time in Selma during the previous week and shared how deeply

moved he was by their fight for civil rights with the Fordham community.

Chairman of Fordham’s political-philosophy department Rev. James Finlay spoke at the protest and said, “for too long we have been silent, and our silence has been interpreted as approval of oppression and the unjust invoking of law to oppress.”

From sit-ins to outdoor protests, Fordham students have found many ways to raise their voices.

While some turned violent, the majority resulted in positive outcomes such as Fordham founding the university’s African and African American Studies department — among one of the first in the nation — and the paper, a place where students who felt silenced could share their points of view.

Although Fordham has not seen a protest with numbers quite like that of the protest about Selma in 1965 or stormed an administration building to the degree that SAAAF did in 1969, student activism and protests have certainly continued at Fordham.

There is more red tape in 2017, seeing as the university requires all on-campus protests to be announced and officially approved by the Dean of Students prior to their occurrence.

While this may be frustrating for students who want their right to assemble to be upheld in a more spontaneous manner, Fordham’s frequently asked questions about demonstrations found on the university website cites safety and foresight as its main motivations for the rule.

Nevertheless, the current Demonstration Policy has not prevented members of the Fordham community from engaging in protests and speak outs. In the past year alone, numerous non-violent protests have occurred.

Faculty members stood in silent protest outside of a February Continous University Strategic Planning (CUSP) meeting to protest relations between administration and faculty.

Students gathered on the Lincoln Center campus to display their dissatisfaction with Dean of Students Keith Eldredge's decision to veto United Student Government’s decision to approve Students for Justice in Palestine as a club at Fordham.

The theology department hosted “Say Their Names,” an event to bring awareness to police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement, and marched through campus following a prayer service in September.

Adjuncts delivered a petition to Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, on the steps of Dealy and members of Students for Sex and Gender Equality and Safety Coalition (SAGES) protested Respect for Life’s “Memorial of the Innocents” for a second year.

While current Fordham students are not a part of the generation who rallied against international affairs like the Vietnam War, protests regarding university administration as well as socio-political issues facing the community and country do not show signs of dying down.

OP-ED: Student Activists Defy Stereotypes

COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

By CAT SWINDAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

College student activists are often portrayed in the popular media as, to use a popular term, “liberal snowflakes.” In my experience, I’ve heard critics comparing millennials to cry babies. Especially after the election of Donald Trump, I’ve seen opinions across social media saying, “He won, there’s nothing you can do! Why protest?” There was also backlash after the Women’s March, when critics claimed that the March seemed to be the popular thing to do or only focused on issues that pertained to participants. Many millennial stereotypes are outlined in the infamous 2013 Time Magazine article entitled “The Me Me Me Generation” by Joel Stein, which provides statistics that call millennials “lazy, entitled narcissists.” With all of this criticism in mind, I would like to defend millennials by addressing three of what I deem to be the most common stereotypes and how student activists defy them.

To begin, millennials are young.

Our youth is often one subject of criticism. The older generation feels that we do not know what we’re talking about because we haven’t had as much worldly experience.

I believe the opposite. We are the generation raised on the Internet, and therefore, we know the Internet best. We have more access to knowledge than has ever been humanly possible. We can find any information we need with a click of a button. This means that, despite our young age, we have a lot of worldly information that we can apply to our own lives and to the lives of others around us. We also have more connections to people all over the country and all over the world. Therefore, more stories are told on all sides of the political spectrum.

Student activists have all of this information, these connections and these stories at their fingertips, which allow them, with the help of the university atmosphere and classes, to form their own views. Social media is often criticized for non-human communication, but student activism often requires human-to-human contact. However, this contact can

be achieved in the form of events or forums. And although social media can often become a vacuum where the only opinions you agree with are posted, there is so much potential for it to be used in other ways. Student activists today have the ability to listen to both sides of the political spectrum more easily and therefore are more likely to stand for what they think is right.

Student activists also tackle the lazy millennial stereotype. Millennials are often characterized by the media as being too lazy, pointing to statistics of millennials out of work or physically not moving. Student activists do not perpetuate this stereotype because of the events they attend or facilitate. Good student activists write their ideas and back them up with concrete evidence; and isn’t lazy at all.

Finally, student activists defy the stereotype that millennials are selfinvolved. This stereotype is often the most harsh, since millennials are usually perceived as narcissistic due to their selfie-taking or apathetic tendencies at the dinner table. This narcissism may be reflected in student activists, as some of these issues may affect them. There’s often a need to be a martyr in activism: someone who sacrifices her or his own comfort for that of someone else.

Although student activists have advocated and should continue to advocate for the rights of others, they can also fight for injustices that they themselves face. I don’t see that as narcissistic, but rather just as a way of garnering first-hand experiences of hardships. These first-hand experiences can be the source of inspiration for student activists. In my opinion, in protests and community organizing, it is impossible to be narcissistic.

The work forces you to be one with the community for which you are fighting.

Student activists have the ability to defy the stereotypes held against millennials, but these stereotypes are not easy to elude. Student activists must have an open mind and heart in order to defy these stereotypes head on. I have faith that each student activist has the resources, willingness to learn and strong teamwork skills required to for effective activism and to prove some members of Generation Y wrong.

Page 19

March 8, 2017

OP-ED: The Shortcomings of Student and Social Media Activism

By ELIZABETH DOTY COPY CHIEF

In the past decade, social media has revolutionized the lens through which we look at the world. From #BringBackOurGirls to #IceBucketChallenge to #BlackLivesMatter, Twitter alone is responsible for widespread awareness of many social issues and social activism that we otherwise would not be privy to.

Furthermore, nationwide student activism has been around for decades (think back to the ‘60s, the Vietnam War and burning draft cards), but in a 21st century context student activism has reached new heights thanks to technology and social media. Students as social media users are connected to society on a new level, a level which we don’t seem to be moving past.

While it is true that social media is a remarkable channel for sparking thought and conversation, it does not seem to be doing anything other than that. Indeed, social media is a forum to communicate through and raise awareness, but often times the message is forgotten after a month of a few thousand likes and shares.

As not only Fordham students, but also as students who will be entering the real world within the next few years (months for some),

FORDHAM RAM ARCHIVES

perhaps there is more we could be doing with all of these connections and platforms at our finger-tips.

With so many options and outlets such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, we as college students have access to platforms that were not available to the generations that precede us.

The majority of college students use social media primarily to keep up with friends and acquaintances around the world. In most cases, using social media at its simplest core is used as a means to project an image of ourselves to all those who opt to tune in.

At what point does having multiple social media accounts across multiple platforms become repeti-

tive and ineffective? At what point is one simply orchestrating a performance across these outlets for seemingly material means to a vain end of a socially acceptable “ratio,” how accurate those portrayals are is another question entirely. However, I find myself wondering to what extent we are effectively utilizing these resources to enact real change.

If you look at any of the major social movements, within even the past few months, many were coordinated through social media.

The Women’s March coordinated via Facebook, originally began with one retired lawyer’s Facebook event which, three months later, attracted over 500,000 people.

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Another example of successful activism can be found in the A.L.S. Ice Bucket Challenge which in addition to raising $115 million also led to a funded global-gene sequencing effort.

While the above scenarios show the gains social media awareness can make in when spreading a message, there are many others which have gone in the opposite direction. For example, ISIS infamously uses social media as part of their global communications strategy to spread propaganda, recruit and upload videos of executions and military training camps.

ISIS also has a known track record of recruiting college student dropouts. The dangers of social me-

dia can also be seen on a perhaps seemingly harmless smaller scale.

Consider the social media response to the Paris attacks from last November and the Orlando Pulse Club shooting, after which many chose to upload the temporary filter to the profile picture of either the French national flag or the rainbow flag to show their solidarity.

Yes, these showed solidarity but only in a superficial way. I am not sure I find validity in simply changing a profile picture with a few clicks of a mouse, when there are others out there affecting true activism.

There are a lot of lessons that can be learned from both sides of this social media use spectrum; especially as there are many of us who use social media religiously, checking from the moment they wake up and others not checking accounts for weeks at a time.

For me, the most important lesson is that social medial can be used for peaceful and pro-active activism, though more often than not many use it as bystanders.

Thus, as college students I am curious to see where most of us will fall on the spectrum of activism via social media in the years to come, because as far as I am concerned right now the potential is there, waiting to be used effectively.