Vol 99 issue 9 pages 1 20

The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 Volume 99, Issue 9

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ANDREW SEGER FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Fareed Zakaria spoke at Lincoln Center, a few blocks away from his office at the CNN Center.

CNN’S Zakaria Talks Democracy, Politics

By ANDREW SEGER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Fordham University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) welcomed CNN Host and Washington Post Columnist

Fareed Zakaria to speak at its special centennial lecture. The event was part of the year-long series of events commemorating GSAS’s 100th anniversary, along with Fordham’s 175th anniversary. At the event, Glauco Schettini, GSAS

’18, was awarded the Fareed Zakaria Summer Research Fellowship, a grant funded by Zakaria and given to a student pursuing the values of a liberal academic discipline. In his speech, Zakaria discussed the development

April 12, 2017 of the American government, as well as the pitfalls of democracy throughout history. before making the block-long trip back to CNN to comment on United State’s airstrike on Syria.

“I have to be honest, this is possibly the shortest trip I have made to make a speech in my life,” Zakaria said. “The CNN offices are… exactly one block from here.”

Zakaria came to America from India to pursue his undergraduate studies at Yale University. He explained that the American university system was very different from India’s canonical educational structure.

“I discovered in America, you could take physics and poetry and all these kinds of crazy eclectic subjects,” Zakaria said.

So he did. He majored in history at Yale, then asked himself “What is the longest visa I could get?”

The answer: a doctoral program.

He pursued his graduate degree in political science at Harvard University.

In his speech, Zakaria spoke about polarization and populism as two of the biggest threats to the country. He referred to author Francis Fukuyama and his book “The End of History,” calling to mind the popular 1990s sentiment that Western, liberal democracy would become the final, universally accepted form of government.

Fukuyama’s theory became increasingly popular after the end SEE ZAKARIA, PAGE 6

Faculty To Vote on McShane

By THERESA SCHLIEP NEWS EDITOR

Fordham’s administration wants to change faculty health care to a less generous plan. It has also, imposed unapproved wage increases on the faculty according to the Faculty Senate. And it is trying to prevent adjunct faculty from forming a union due to the university’s religious affiliation.

As a result, the faculty will hold a vote of no confidence in Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university. This vote is “largely symbolic,” as any change would require an action on behalf of the Board of Trustees, said Andrew Clark, chair of the Faculty Salary and Benefits Committee, in an email interview with The Fordham Ram. “Votes of no confidence ‘traditionally’ result in change at other institutions,” said Clark.

Robert D. Daleo, GSB ’72, chair of the Board of Trustees, said the Board of Trustees continues to supports both McShane and other “senior leadership” at the univerSEE VOTE, PAGE 3

EMILY SAYEGH FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

SAGES protests the Right To Life interactive display, “Where does Life Begin?”, pictured above, outside of McGinley.

Right to Life Introduces New Display, Still Attracts Protestors

By HANNAH GONZALEZ, THERESA SCHLIEP On Wednesday, April 5, Respect for Life (RFL) put on an interactive display titled “Where does Life Begin?” The event aimed to promote discourse among the student body surrounding the ques-

tion of human rights during fetal development. However, despite RFL’s attempts to avoid discord, some showed up to protest against the stigmatization of abortion.

The display itself was set up outside McGinley. As part of Respect for Life Week, it fea-

tured descriptions of the stages of human development from conception to birth and invited students to stick a post-it note wherever they believed life began.

The event was formed as an alternative to “Memorial of the Innocents,” a tradition of previous SEE LIFE, PAGE 5

CAB Introduces: Ice T, Jost

By VICTOR ORDONEZ, AISLINN KEELY Spring Weekend is becoming more and more clear, as Residence Hall Association (RHA) and Campus Activities Board (CAB) released some of their programming for the annual end-of-theyear celebration.

CAB announced Tracy “Ice-T” Marrow will serve as Fordham’s guest speaker and will occupy the McGinley Ballroom on April 27 at 6:30 p.m.

Marrow is known for his portrayal of Odafin Tutuola on the hit television series Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and was an ideal pick for Fordham’s 2017 Spring Weekend, according to CAB’s Emily Oliver, FCRH ’17.

“Ice-T not only invented gangster rap,” said Oliver. “Through his music, his book, ‘The Ice Opinion’, and his lecture tours in America, Ice-T has become an influential spokesman for America’s youth, regardless of color.”

CAB also announced that “Saturday Night Live”’s own Colin Jost as this year’s comedian performing at Spring Weekend 2017.

Specifically, Jost is known for anchoring SNL’s “Weekend Update” alongside cast member Michael Che. CAB hoped to book a comedian comparable to last year’s success of Aidy Bryant, who also held a position on the SNL cast. Bryant raked in CAB’s largest attendance for a comedian in the last ten years according to Stephen Esposito, FCRH ’17, CAB President. “Our goal was to book a comedian with the same notoriety as Bryant and continue our relationship with the New York institution that is ‘Saturday Night Live’,” said Esposito.

Kathryn Teaney, GSB ’19, Comedy Co-chair said that CAB sought a name that Fordham students would recognize. “This season of Saturday Night Live is on its way to being the show’s mostwatched in 24 years. Weekend Update, lead by Colin Jost and his co-host Michael Che, has played a central role in the recent increase SEE WEEKEND, PAGE 5

in this issue

Opinion

Page 8 Sex Offenders: Not All Deserve Social Media Ban

Culture

Page 15 Free Advertising To Perform Spring Weekend

Sports

Page 26 Softball Takes the Show on the Road vs. GMU

NEWS

Page 2

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS

April 12, 2017

A Further Look Into Adjunct Wages

April 5 Arthur Ave 3 a.m.

Two students were on the corner of Arthur and 189th when an unarmed male approached and asked if they had a “problem.”

The unknown male then struck the male student from behind and continued to punch him until he was on the ground. The male then ran off. Student woke up to find that he had a broken nose and jaw.

NYPD is investigating and public safety sent out a security alert to all students via email.

April 10 Cambreleng Ave 1 a.m.

Neighbors reported loud noises coming from an apartment occupied by Fordham students on Cambreleng Ave. N.Y.P.D. responded to the noise complaint and discovered that the students were hosting a party. N.Y.P.D. contacted Public Safety and told the occupants of the party to quiet down.

April 10 Dealy Hall 3 p.m.

Fordham IT department reported to public safety that there was a computer missing. Five computers were delivered to Dealy Hall. Upon examining the boxes, there were only four computers to be found. An investigation revealed that the laptop had not been stolen but lost. Public Safety found and returned the laptop.

- Compiled by Victor Ordonez and Aislinn Keely

Are You Studying Abroad This Semester?

Email: fordhamramnews @gmail.com

FORDHAM RAM ARCHIVES

Fordham adjuncts, pictured above, must teach all of the classes Fordham allows them to remain above the poverty line.

By VICTOR ORDONEZ ASSITANT NEWS EDITOR

Members of Fordham Faculty United (FFU) recently had their efforts to unionize adjunct faculty members hindered by the administration, who placed legal obstructions which allow Fordham to circumvent the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) because it is a religiously-affiliated institution.

In 2015, The Ram reported that adjuncts were paid $3,900 per undergraduate course at Fordham University. Although wages have increased since the publication of the 2015 article, adjuncts still face unsustainable living situations due to their salaries, according to members FFU. Fordham’s adjunct professors are currently paid $4,100 for teaching a three or four credit courses according to Co-Director of the Faculty Salary and Benefits Committee Andrew Clark.

Adjuncts are not permitted to teach more than two courses a semester. Teaching a surplus of three classes or more would require Fordham to pay those professors a full salary in addition to benefits. As such, adjuncts could earn a minimum of $8,200 a semester or $16,400 annually.

The 2016 federal poverty level for New York State on an annual scale is $11,880, according to nyc. gov. An adjunct professor must teach at least two classes per semester to accumulate a Fordham salary that is approximately $4,000 above the poverty line.

“I have never met an adjunct

faculty member, and we have many in our department, who can sustain him or herself on an adjunct salary,” according to Clark. “[Either] they have a partner or spouse who makes a higher income or they must teach multiple adjunct jobs or have some other job.”

Due to Fordham’s two course maximum, most adjuncts in the modern language and comparative literature departments teach a minimum of four courses and most teach six courses at Colum-

bia University, NYU, Hunter College or Lehman College, according to Clark.

Adjuncts in other departments face similar issues. During an FFU attempt to unionize, Kathryn Krasinski, a Fordham anthropology professor and member of FFU, described equal concerns for her living conditions due to her insufficient Fordham adjunct salary.

“I am working a lot of other jobs to earn ends meet because I am not making enough money here to do that,” said Krasinski.

Healthcare is another key issue provoking adjunct unionization, according to Clark and adjunct professor of Communication and Media Studies Chris Brandt.

Adults ages 19-64 must earn at least $16,394 to be eligible for Medicaid, according to nyc.gov.

If a Fordham adjunct manages to earn the maximum amount of $16,400 annually, he or she fall on the cusp of obtaining Medicaid, depending on taxes.

However, most comprehensive healthcare plans would cost more than adjunct faculty receive in an annual salary, according to Clark.

Brandt said that he is only eligible for the lowest form of Medicaid with his current adjunct salary.

“With a good health insurance program, I could afford to do more in the way, for example, of having more than the minimum, which is what Medicare allows me,” said Brandt. However, as an adjunct over 65 years old, Brandt does not particularly worry about healthcare as much as he does retirement benefits.

“The lack of retirement benefits — zero — and the impossibility of getting unemployment benefits because I am an 'independent contractor' impact my life much more seriously,” said Brandt.

Brandt said that if it were not for Social Security, he would not be able to both eat and pay his rent.

ZACHARY MIKLOS /THE FORDHAM RAM

Photo of the Week Fashion for Philanthropy hosted its annual Fashion Show. Using a sports theme, they had raffles from which all proceeds went to the Make a Wish Foundation.

This Week at Fordham Wednesday April 19

Friday April 21

Friday April 21

Saturday April 22

Residence Hall Association Quizzo

Jetes Club Presents: Sleeping Beauty

Black Sheep Performance Poetry Show

Fordham Flava Showcase

McGinley 237 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Dagger John's 9:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Collins Auditorium 7 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.

The Blackbox 8 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.

Rose Hill Gymnasium 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Learn more about the candidates running for USG. They will take questions and state their platforms and initiatives, as well as engage in a formal debate.

Take part in Resident Housing Association’s monthly trivia competition. Compete with friends in Dagger John’s from 9:30p.m. to 11p.m.

The Jetes Club will perform the classical ballet, Sleeping Beauty in Collins Auditorium on Friday, April 21.

Join Fordham Experimental Theater in the Blackbox Theater located in the back of Collins for a free performance on Friday, April 21.

Fordham Flava will host its annual showcase on Saturday, April 22. Come see Flava perform in the Rose Hill Gymnasium.

Tuesday April 18 USG Elections: Meet the Candidates and Debate

NEWS

April 12, 2017

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

WFUV, Fordham’s college radio station in Keating basement, may be affected by Trump’s proposed cuts to the CPB.

Budget Cuts May Affect WFUV

By AISLINN KEELY

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The Trump Administration’s recently proposed federal budget plans to eliminate funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). If it is signed into effect for the next fiscal year, starting on Oct. 1. Fordham’s radio station, WFUV, stands to lose significant funding as a National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate, since NPR receives federal funding.

CPB makes up about 0.012 per-

cent of the federal budget, coming out to $1.35 per taxpayer. Last year CPB received $445 million in federal funding of the $4 trillion federal budget. CPB provides aid to nearly 1,500 local public television and radio stations throughout the country. Less than two percent of NPR’s budget comes from CPB, however CPB assists local stations in paying their dues as NPR affiliates.

The cuts will impact music stations like WFUV, an NPR music station. “People tend not to think

of us as such (an NPR station), but there are music stations within the public radio system too that are also NPR affiliates and carry some of that programming and also work with NPR in a lot of different ways,” said Chuck Singleton, general manager of WFUV. Singleton said federal funding into CPB is not a lot, but the money goes a long way.

“It’s a small investment but it has a great impact in a number of directions, most visibly within public radio and television on the na-

Page 3 tion’s journalism,” said Singleton.

Singleton referenced NPR News and PBS, which are CPB funded, as important members of the national discourse.

WFUV receives $440,000 each year of direct support from CPB, which amounts to about seven percent of the station’s budget, a fairly typical number for larger stations like FUV, according to Singleton.

Singleton said that the effect is slightly more complex than cutting that seven percent.

“There is about an equivalent amount of support that comes from CPB indirectly that stations would have to replace if that funding was to disappear, so all told that’s about a million dollars,” said Singleton.

This indirect support is related to music licensing, publishing and streaming fees that the station pays for through NPR for a flat rate rather than brokering individual deals at many different rates. Smaller stations face greater repercussions if funding is lost, as federal funding often makes up larger portions of their budgets as opposed to FUV’s.

“There tends to be greater reliance in those communities on this kind of support,” said Singleton.

If the cuts go through, the communities that stations reach, including FUV, may suffer changes in programming. Losing one million in funding, through direct and indirect support, would be a significant lost to FUV’s $6.2 million budget.

“If we had to raise another mil-

lion dollars, that would be very difficult to pull out of thin air.

It would force us to really think about what we’re doing and the effectiveness of it and what we couldn’t afford to do under those circumstances,” said Singleton.

FUV already allocates its resources effectively and is “fairly lean” in its budget and staffing, according to Singleton. Cutting another million from the budget could pose difficulties.

“Let’s just suffice it to say it would seriously compromise the quality of what we do in a number of directions,” said Singleton. This includes the public service that the station provides to the community, artist support and the training of between 120 and 150 Fordham students of which 70 to 85 work paid internships. Even in the event of such cuts, FUV would be unable to turn to advertising as they are a public station and barred from engaging in traditional advertising.

The largest portion of FUV’s budget comes from listener support, which makes up nearly two thirds of the budget. The station received the necessary funds from the recent fundraising.

“We had a very successful Spring Drive, probably our strongest Spring Drive in five years,” said Singleton. Though he said that it can be hard to attribute the success of a fundraiser, which had a very popular theme and incentives, the awareness to the possible cuts had a significant impact.

“People want to make sure that it continues, so that certainly played a part in it,” said Singleton.

Faculty to Hold Vote of No Confidence FROM VOTE, PAGE 1

sity. In a statement Bob Howe, director of communications for the university, gave to The Fordham Ram, Daleo said McShane’s leadership since his arrival at Fordham in 2013 does not justify the Faculty Senate’s decision.

“The Faculty Senate’s decision to hold a vote of no confidence in Father McShane has inappropriately personalized what should be a professional conversation among the administration’s negotiators and the members of the Senate’s Salary and Benefits Committee,” said Bob Howe, director of communications of the university in an email on behalf of Daleo.

“It is also not justified by his track record at Fordham” The Faculty Senate will vote on April 19, the day before the Board of Trustees will convene to decide the 2017-18 budget. The budget includes health care and salary determinations.

Clark said the faculty has tried working with the university in negotiations “We have continued to bargain in good faith but there comes a point when the repeated moves by the University create a situation in which the faculty increasingly have no confidence in the leadership,” said Clark.

One reason the Faculty Senate decided to hold a vote is because of recent health care negotiations.

Clark said the administration, in attempting to scale back the faculty’s health care, violated their contract that they “believed was a contract that carried us through 2019 at the very least.”

The Board of Trustees con-

tinues to support the president because of how he’s changed the university in the past decade, inlcuding expanding the university to Manhattan and improving the quality of the students entering the university each year, according to Daleo.

The trustees also continue to support him because of how he has improved opportunities for faculty, including the creation of special endowments for faculty, according to Daleo. The university has also added 48 endowed professorships to the faculty.

Clark said, on the other hand, that proposed cuts in health care lead them to distrust McShane as the president of Fordham.

“It appears we can have no faith, trust and confidence in the contracts and deals made with the administration,” said Clark.

Clark also attributed their decision to hold a vote of noconfidence to the administration’s move to attempt to block adjunct faculty from unionizing. In doing so, the university is not acting in accordance with its Jesuit Catholic values.

“Fordham has also shown that its interest in social justice and caring for others doesn’t extend to those academic workers at the institution who are the most marginalized and have the least rights,” said Clark. “They have done so even though other peer and aspirant Jesuit institutions like Georgetown have not stood in the path of unionization of their contingent faculty and have worked to improve their working conditions.”

Daleo said that faculty sala-

ANDREA GARCIA/THE FORDHAM RAM

The Faculty Senate is going to hold a vote of no confidence in Father McShane, ipictured above.

ries and total compensation have increased, as evidenced by the American Association for University Professors’ annual compensation survey that released today.

The AAUP found Fordham’s associate and assistant professors make more than those professors at some peer institutions, such as Syracuse and Villanova. The AAUP survey did not provide data on adjunct professors.

Howe said last week the NLRB’s precedent allowing adjunct

faculty to unionize may violate its First Amendment rights. He also said the Supreme Court determined in the 1979 ruling of NLRB v. Catholic Bishop of Chicago that the NLRB does not have jurisdiction over religiously-affiliated institutions, as it comes to labormanagement.

Other universities have passed votes of no-confidence. In 2013, New York University’s (NYU) Faculty of Arts and Sciences passed a vote of no confidence in

John Sexton, NYU’s president.

This March, tenured professors at Loyola University Chicago also passed a vote of no confidence in Terri Piggott, dean of the university.

Clark said the decision to hold a vote next week did not come easy.

“The faculty love this institution and certainly have no desire to see it damaged,” said Clark.

“But the frustration among faculty and lack of morale are at an all-time high.”

NEWS

Page 4

April 12 , 2017

Research Spotlight

Student Explores Differences In AntiCommunist Stances of Kennedy and Nixon

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Sheehan used an undergraduate research grant to travel to the Kennedy Library to consult primary documents.

By AISLINN KEELY

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Melanie Sheehan, FCRH ’17, has 1500 photos in the camera roll of her phone. Instead of the customary snapshots of friends and family, the majority of Sheehan’s camera roll holds photos of President John F. Kennedy’s documents from her research grant-funded trip to the Kennedy

Library. Her thesis, “Ideological Warfare: Kennedy, Nixon, and Divergent Strategies for Combatting Communism, 1946-1947” explores the differences between President Kennedy and President Richard Nixon in understanding and responding to communism.

Her research focuses on Nixon and Kennedy’s different attitudes towards labor, particularly their individual views on the Taft-

Hartley Act, which restricted the power of labor unions, and their views on labor unions in general.

Kennedy protected labor unions as a means to raise living standards and stave off working class interest in communism, whereas Nixon viewed unions as a hotbed for radicalism, according to Sheehan.

“Part of that is where they come from,” said Sheehan on the differ-

ence in ideology. “I think it’s the way they understand why people become communist.”

Sheehan referenced the time Kennedy spent abroad in the 1930s coupled with his work as a reporter for the Hearst newspaper as shaping his views on communism.

“One of the big events that he covered was the election in Great Britain in 1945 where Churchill loses to the Socialist Party,” said Sheehan. She also cited issues at home that shaped Kennedy’s policy. “Especially in terms of the domestic issues, his constituents are working class Boston, so that certainly affects the way he thinks about labor,” said Sheehan.

Sheehan said she contrasts Kennedy and Nixon’s backgrounds as shaping the way they thought about communism.

“Nixon is the son of small business owners, whereas Kennedy comes from an elite background,” said Sheehan.

She also said she compares Nixon’s experience with labor unions to Kennedy’s Boston constituents.

“His district is very different than Boston. The labor unions that exist on the west coast are generally more radical than the ones in Boston,” she said.

When Sheehan began doing her first historical thesis for her American Studies major, she assumed extensive book reading would be the extent of her research. A professor’s suggestion that she get a grant and go to an archive to handle primary documents carried over to her current project on Nixon and Kennedy.

“I didn’t know that it was even possible until I was working on my American Studies thesis,” she said.

She applied for an undergraduate research grant when she began working on “Ideological Warfare.”

With that funding, she took a trip to the Kennedy Library in Boston where she consulted Kennedy’s primary documents in addition to paying someone in California

to make copies of Nixon’s documents. She has also consulted over 40 secondary sources, reading books on the two presidents as well as labor and foreign affairs.

Sheehan said she concieved “Ideological Warfare” as her honors thesis for the Rose Hill Honors Program after taking a course in 20th Century U.S. Foreign Relations with Professor Christopher Dietrich, Ph.D. She became interested in the intricacies of labor and foreign relations, particularly with the Soviet Union, in post World War II America.

This was a volatile time for labor according to Sheehan.

“1946 sees the biggest strike wave in American history,” she said.

Dietrich advises Sheehan’s project, and said he is impressed with her findings.

“She’s doing original research on a topic that has largely been forgotten,” he said.

Sheehan uncovered that Nixon and Kennedy served on the same committee and debated communism in regards to unions, according to Dietrich. He said she has also gone far beyond the usual scope of this type of historical work.

“It seems to me that she’s read every one of Nixon and Kennedy’s campaign speeches, she’s read through the congressional record, she’s done research in the Kennedy Presidential Library and the Nixon Presidential Library, and she’s read the historical literature, the secondary literature surrounding the topic and is as much of an expert on it as most professional historians,” said Dietrich.

Sheehan said she came up with the topic last spring for her honors thesis, but after her acceptance into a doctoral program for history at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she plans to continue developing her work after graduating from Fordham this spring.

Campus Briefs & Bites Sponsor Research Day Recognizes Faculty Members

Fordham Foundry and BNP Paribas Host Pitch Challenge

Calise Speaks on Disability

Scholars Address Shifts in Political Climate

Sponsor Research Day, hosted at the Rose Hill campus, honored five faculty members for earning externally funded research grants.

The University Research Council recognized the honorees’ impact through the Externally Funded Research Awards. To qualify for the award, their contributions need to have taken place within the last three years. The council recognized Silvia C. Finnemann, Ph.D., professor of biology for receiving over $3.65 million in grants, Celia B. Fisher, Ph.D., The Marie Ward Doty University Chair in Ethics and professor of psychology, for receiving over $11 million in the past 20 years, Stephen R. Grimm, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, for securing $4.5 million for humanities research, Jennifer L. Gordon, professor of law, for grants from the Ford Foundation and the Open Society Foundation for interdisciplinary research and Marc N. Conte, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics, for receiving $500,000 from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

The Fordham Foundry co-sponsored its first ever Pitch Challenge with BNP Paribas at the Lincoln Center Campus on April 1. One hundred Fordham students pitched their business ventures to a panel of 25 judges in a competition for $10,000 of prize money. The judging panel held many Fordham alums. Of the 41 teams that competed, the prize money was distributed among the four top teams. The team of Anthony Parente, GSB ’19, Shelda Zajmi, FCRH ’19, Ryan Zablocki, GSB ’17 and Samuel Knoche, FCRH ’20 took home the top prize of $4,500 along with the People’s Choice prize of $500. Their pitch, Pathos, creates conversation profiles using the Apple Watch. James Kenna, FCLC ’19, took home second place with College Callbacks, which provides resources for college seniors auditioning for college theater programs, as he did before his acceptance into the theatre program at Lincoln Center.

Victor Calise, commissioner for the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), served as a guest speaker at Lincoln Center on March 28. The event was sponsored by Fordham’s United Student Government (USG) and Faculty Working Group on Disability. Calise believes that people with disability should be leading the conversation about diversity. Calise found that society often dismisses people with disabilities because attention typically focuses on the voices of other minority groups, including white, Muslim, black, Asian, LGBTQ and women’s groups. Calise pointed out the people with disabilities make up 11.5 percent of New York’s population, and that although these movements are important, society should work to broaden its attention. Calise attributed one of the challenges the movement faces to expenses. MOPD puts much of its focus into transportation, employment, education and access to government.

University scholars came together on April 5 at Fordham Law to address shifts in the american political climate. The topic “Fake News & Twitter Wars: Media & Politics in the Trump Years” was tackled by Jessica Baldwin-Philippi, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication and media studies and author of Using Technology, Building Democracy: Digital Campaigning and the Construction of Citizenship and Zephyr Teachout, associate professor of law and author of “Corruption in America: From Benjamin Franklin’s Snuff Box to Citizens United.” Both speakers noted that corruption had a place on the stage of the 2016 election, and agreed that many voters likely chose Donald Trump because they believed that the current political system was deeply corrupt. The event itself was moderated by Eric Sundrup, S.J. associate editor of America Magazine. The event was the second in the Maoney Law Library’s Behind the Book series. The series brings scholars together to discuss their research.

NEWS

April 12, 2017

Page 5

FSU Protests Adjunct Union Block

By VICTOR ORDONEZ

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Fordham Students United (FSU) protested on Fordham Rose Hill’s Keating steps on Tuesday, April 11, in response to the administrations legal plans to deter a union vote for Fordham Faculty United (FFU). FSU say they hold President of the University Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J. along with the greater administration, personally responsible for the impending legal action.

Multiple students held signs that specifically addressed McShane. One protestor held a sign that read, “Father McShane, whose feet do you wash?” A separate protestors’ dressed as McShane and washed the feet of fellow protestor.

McShane impersonator and FSU member Gina Foley, FCRH ’18, organized the protest. Foley said that during holy week, the washing of feet is a spiritual ritual that resembles Jesus washing the feet off his 12 apostles at the Last Supper. The act of washing protester feet is a metaphor that questions where McShane’s interests lie.

“It is holy week and holy Thursday is in two days,” said Foley. “We want to know who McShane values in the community and who is he serving.”

Foley said that McShane and

the administration likely had ulterior motives that led to the prevention of FFU’s union vote.

“The decision to not let adjuncts unionize serves corporate partnerships, it does not serve our students,” said Foley.

Foley said that previous FSU involvement with McShane boded well, as it seemed he and the administration would stay neutral based on an email response to an FSU petition. However, Foley and fellow protestors have since been disappointed by the administration’s lack of neutrality.

“When he said that he’d stay neutral we were very positive about how he would be treating adjuncts,” said Foley. “Since then he has decided not to give these people their label rights.”

FSU did not get permission from the administration or the Dean of students to protest on Fordham University ground, according to Foley. However, Foley said that her and the protesters were in no way breaking the rules nor disrupting classes.

Fellow FSU protestor Claire Del Sorbo, FCRH ’19, said that the protest was necessary in order to bring attention to current injustices against adjunct.

“It is easy to avert your eyes and just say ‘no thanks’ when someone is passing out flyers,” said Del Sorbo. “But when someone is making an open spectacle

VICTOR ORDONEZ/THE FORDHAM RAM

An FSU member dressed as Father McShane during the FSU protest of the administration’s plans to block a union vote.

in public, you can’t really turn away from that.”

However, the obstacles preventing adjunct unionization is an issue that concerns most Ford-

ham students, according to Del Sorbo.

“I believe Fordham university could clearly benefit from an adjunct union,” said Del Sorbo. “If

SAGES Protests RFL Display FROM UNION, PAGE 5

years. Instead, the club chose this year’s “Where does Life Begin?” as part of an attempt to open conversation on the question of when human rights come into effect.

“It seems like [‘Memorial of the Innocents’] causes a lot more discord than discourse,” said Larissa Ross, FCRH ‘19, the secretary of Respect for Life. “[‘Where does Life Begin?’] opens a dialogue that is much more valuable than something that is less interactive.”

Despite the change in display,

however, during the course of the day, protesters appeared outside McGinley directly across from the demonstration. They held signs with phrases such as “Abortion Saves Lives” and engaged in conversation with passersby. At one point, a pair of protesters approached RFL members to talk about the display.

“It was a very good discussion,” said Maggie Rothfus, FCRH ‘20, a member of RFL. “Both sides knew they wouldn’t get anywhere with the other side, but it was

nice to have open dialogue.”

Lili Huang, FCRH ’19, a member of SAGES, said the group protests RFL’s display because it is triggering to those who have had abortions. This year’s display was not as insensitive or offensive as those previously, she said, but it was still problematic.

“This year’s display, while not as blatantly triggering as in previous years, still urges onlookers into shaming those who have had or will have abortions in their lifetimes for ‘killing babies,’” she said

OWEN CORRIGAN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Right To Life held their newest display, “Where does Life Begin?” and faced opposition from SAGES.

in an email interview with The Fordham Ram. Rebecca Erwin, FCRH ’18, also said this year’s display was an improvement but as insensitive as those prior.

“I’m glad that this year’s demo was much smaller and less visible, but it was still equally insensitive,” said Erwin.

Rothfus said RFL was in no way trying to make a statement.

“It wasn’t that we were trying to make a statement,” said Rothfus.

“Our group is known as a pro-life group, so anything we do has that attached to it.”

The clear divide between the groups was a subject of interest for onlooking students.

“It certainly seemed a bit hostile,” said Justin Handsman, GSB ‘20. “RFL didn’t seem too intrusive, and were simply conducting a survey. I don’t think that a poll warranted a full protest.”

Others, however, saw it as a positive example of dialogue between different sides of the debate.

“I was walking by and saw two groups arguing about pro-life and pro-choice,” said Raj Ghayalod, GSB ‘20. “It was surprisingly civil.

You didn’t see the pro-choice yelling at the pro-life, or vice versa. It was kinda nice; I was like, ‘That’s how it should be.’”

Going forward, Respect for Life hopes to stimulate conversation over controversy on campus.

“Even if you disagree with us, come and talk to us,” said Ross.

you’re a student at this school, there is strong chance that you’ve had an adjunct as a professor. We should all care that they are overworked and underpaid”

FSW Stars Announced FROM WEEKEND, PAGE 1

in popularity,” said Teaney.

Weekend Update parodies broadcast news from the week by giving a comedic take on the week’s headlines. The segment was conceived by original cast member Chevy Chase in 1975, often opening with his iconic phrase, “Good evening. I’m Chevy Chase, and you’re not.”

The segment often deals with social and political themes from the week’s news. Megan McWaters, FCRH ’17, Comedy CoChair, said CAB hopes this will bring some laugher to politics from one of SNL’s most important cast members.

“In booking Colin Jost for Spring Weekend, we hope to offer students a comedic look at global social/political happenings and life, in general. ‘Saturday Night Live’ has been the nation’s premier comedy program for decades, and we are fortunate to get a personal performance from one of its key cast members,” said McWaters.

Jost will perform at the Leonard Theatre at Fordham Preparatory School at 6 p.m. on April 30.

Last year, Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson spoke at Fordham’s Spring Weekend as the celebration’s official guest speaker.

Aidy Bryant, an SNL cast member, also made an appearance as the celebration’s comic. She also stars in The Big Sick.

NEWS

Page 6

April 12, 2017

Zakaria Speaks at GSAS Centennial Lecture Addresses LC Audience on Polarization Populism

ANDREW SEGER FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Zakaria spoke as part of the year-long series of events commemorating GSAS’s centennial anniversary.

FROM ZAKARIA, PAGE 1

of the Cold War, when nations from the communist bloc shifted towards democracy.

In the past, Zakaria said, liberal ideas and populist movements clashed, resulting in a tension that could have either democratic out-

comes or fascist ones. In 13th century Britain, the Magna Carta was chartered as a check on King John in one such scenario.

On the other hand, Zakaria reminded the audience that history also saw the elections of leaders like Vladimir Putin rise out of this tension between ideologies.

“And remember, Hitler was himself elected,” Zakaria said.

He also spoke about America’s democratic history, and the many inequalities it posed and poses to women and minorities, even as liberal values have begun to prevail after World War II. “We have all witnessed, recognizing it or not, a silent backlash, a silent reversal” of the post-Cold War spread of democratic values, he said. “What we now have seen is pretty much a reverse wave of de-democratization over the last 10 years,” Zakaria said. “It’s not huge, but there is no question that you have gone from an almostinevitable, seemingly relentless movement of greater and greater democracy, and democracy spreading to more and more countries in the 1990s and the early [21st century].”

He said countries like Russia and Turkey are examples of countries where civil liberties

are in jeopardy. With a finger pointed towards Africa, he said that the backlash against certain civil rights, particularly gay rights, is happening in democracies and dictatorships alike.

Some democracies, he said, have seen majority groups enthusiastic to take away the rights of minority groups.

“We are now living in a more sobering movement of democracy than the…happy utopian story that we had hoped would happen in the 1990s,” he said.

Zakaria’s concern for the status of civil rights led all the way up to the White House. He called to mind one “60 Minutes” interview with President Donald J. Trump, where the interviewer asked Trump of any regrets he had for his campaign rhetoric.

Zakaria said Trump’s answer was a very revealing one: “He said, ‘No, didn’t you notice I won?’” The president’s attitude, Zakaria said, is in direct contrast with liberal democratic values.

“The essence of liberal democracy is that the end does not justify the means. The means, the processes, the institutions, the values are more important than the ends,” he said.

Summer Session 2017 Can’t be on campus four nights a week?

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April 12, 2017

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Page 7

Page 8

OPINION

April 12, 2017

The Fordham Ram

March Madness: Tired of the Same Old Schtick

By ALVIN HALIMWIDJAYA ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Spring break is one of the best times of the year for many reasons. Some people are just looking for a break after a week of stressful midterms; others prepare to live out their dreams by partying on South Beach, Miami for three days straight.

My favorite part of spring break is settling down on the couch and watching the entire Round of 64 in March Madness.

The NCAA tournament is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year. A multitude of people crowd around their TV sets, while student sections and alumni show up in full force to

root for their teams in neutral locations. Every year, you can find the inevitable powerhouses that bulldoze their way to the Final Four.

Kentucky’s vaunted recruits are always a threat to make a deep run, while the immortal Coach K has led Duke to an increasingly obnoxious level of success.

However, that’s old news; haters are constantly looking to attack blue-blood programs and teams with talented freshmen who are going to run to the NBA the next year. What I’m trying to say is, we’re tired of the same old schtick.

This year, the upsets were few and far between in the first round; however, chaos ensued

as the field got smaller. From predictable surprises like Michigan making a run and Wisconsin toppling Villanova to a baffling string of wins by West Virginia and South Carolina, brackets all across the country succumbed to the Madness.

Cinderella teams have their charm to them, and more and more people are starting to find upsets and underdog teams the most exciting part of March Madness. More and more games favor the lower-seeded team in bets and predictions; regardless, no matter what my bracket says, I’m always going to be cheering for the 16-seed to beat the 1-seed.

I chose Vanderbilt to win its first-round matchup, but I have

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Upsets in the NCAA Tournament create underdog storylines that which viewers from every state can get behind.

to feel good for the Northwestern team who toppled Vandy for their first tournament win in school history.

When Paul Jesperson knocked down a halfcourt buzzer-beating game-winner to propel No. 11 Northern Iowa past No. 6 Texas last year, I jumped out of my chair so fast I landed wrong, rolling my ankle.

My point is, while you may expect a college powerhouse to decimate a mid-major team, it’s significantly more satisfying to root for the little guy.

There are definitely going to be people making the point that more successful and larger universities generate more income, and they are correct. However, let me posit this conjecture: that’s not fun.

Why would you want the same, boring old narrative repeating itself every year? That’s like cheering for Sebulba at the Boonta Eve Classic Podrace. That’s like wanting Jafar to take over Agrabah.

That’s like rooting for Sharpay and Ryan during callbacks.

The reason that March Madness is a single-elimination tournament, instead of a seven-game series like the NBA playoffs, is that anything can happen in a single game.

In a playoff series, the better team will have a much better chance of winning; developing a gameplan over the course of several games allows teams to counter against unexpected tactics.

However, a lower seed can have a hot shooting night, just as a better team can collapse in a single half.

The fact that March Madness

is structured for upsets only attests to the magic that an underdog can create in the college basketball world.

At the end of the day, upsets are all about the allure of endless possibilities. UNC won this year’s NCAA tournament, as one of the best teams in the country for the past few years avenged their finals loss the previous year.

That’s what happens the majority of the time.

However, fans relate to college students making an unprecedented run and living their best lives. In the heat of the moment, it’s always hard to ignore an underdog’s charm. When UConn fell to Mississippi State after 111 straight wins, everyone went crazy.

I don’t think I’ve seen a single tweet or article commiserating with the Huskies, or lauding them for their accomplishment, and that’s completely fine. UConn is still the best team in women’s basketball, and it’ll probably rattle off another unbelievable win streak, but that’s not the point.

The beauty of the underdog is the satisfaction and joy you can see after doing the impossible, whether it’s David taking down Goliath, Wichita State taking down Gonzaga in 2013 or Rabbit taking down Papa Dog, (a.k.a Clarence) in the rap battle of the century.

You can be Stephen Curry or Jimmer Fredette; when a team makes a Cinderella run in March, everyone’s in on the madness.

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

Sex Offenders: Not All Deserve Social Media Ban

By SARAH BERNSTEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Anyone who’s watched an episode of “Catfish” knows that not everyone you meet on the internet is who they say they are. And if you are an active social media user, hopefully you screen your inbox accordingly (which means not accepting a friend request from someone with one profile picture and zero mutual friends).

Unfortunately, users with preying eyes and negative intentions still slip through the cracks on sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, leading to real-life crimes.

Back in 2008, North Carolina passed a law banning registered sex offenders from all social networks that allow minors as members. Now, almost a decade later, the law is at risk of being repealed by the Supreme Court for restricting free speech.

To be fair, the social media landscape of our nation has changed drastically since 2008.

The demographic of social media users is not primarily “young” people anymore— even grandma has a Facebook. User habits have evolved, making sites like Facebook and Twitter a primary

source of news and information.

Additionally, plenty of non-social media apps (like Lyft or Venmo) connect users through Facebook instead of requiring them to manually create an account. While social media is still considered a privilege, not a right, restricted access has the potential to put people at a disadvantage.

That being said, the law was put into place for a reason— to protect minors from potential harm by limiting offenders’ access to them. While this preventative measure makes sense when applied to offenders who previously harassed underage children, it is important to take into account the extent of people it effects.

Not all registered sex offenders committed their crime against a minor. In some cases, their crimes were hardly of a sexual nature at all. Eleven states require sex offender registration for peeing in public.

In California, flashing your breasts can lead to arrest and requires sex offender registration.

And in many states, children who take and share nude photos of themselves can potentially be listed as sex offenders for life.

Even if North Carolina did not enforce the law an offender

COURTESY OF FLICKR

The spectrum of sex offenses varies so widely, it is difficult to call for a total social media ban for convicted felons.

broke, he or she can still be registered as a result of out-of-state conviction.

The spectrum of offenses that require an individual to register as a sex offender is broad. Is it really fair to ban all registered sex offenders, regardless of the nature of their offenses?

Collectively banning everyone seems extreme, especially when being on the list does not necessarily mean an individual poses an active threat to minors. Practically speaking, this punishment does not always fit the crime. In 2017,

being barred from Facebook is similar to being banned from the phonebook. Not only does it restrict your access to information and connectedness with others, but it potentially limits the ability for others to connect with you.

And while plenty of people live happily off-the-radar where social media is concerned, it is their lifestyle choice to abstain.

The safety and privacy of minors online is not a matter that should be taken lightly, but neither is revoking an individual’s social media privilege. While the

North Carolina law is harsh, its intent is valid. Instead of repealing the law in its entirety, maybe lawmakers need to deal less in absolutes. By screening registered sex offenders on a case by case basis, law enforcement could keep potentially dangerous users off social media without unnecessarily banning others.

The Supreme Court is expected to make a decision in June.

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

OPINION

April 12, 2017

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 astudentadvocate.The Fordham Ramis 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.

Page 9

From the Desk | Christopher Canadeo

WWE Smackdown v. Raw: A Timeless Throwdown I know what you’re thinking.

What is this? 2008? Well, hear me out. This past Monday I went to WWE Smackdown v. Raw and it was one of the most electric shows I have been to in a long time.

Walking into the newly renovated Coliseum (which was clean, but not very impressive), I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Growing up, I was never into professional wrestling or anything of the sort and I only knew a few names, such as The Rock and John Cena, from other sources of entertainment like movies and internet memes.

However, as soon as I stepped out of my car to walk on line, I was hit in the face with the echoes of cheers from inside the building and on the lines.

As I walked past a flurry of pick-up trucks and fully-tapped kegs, I started to get the feeling that I was in for a wild night.

I got to my seat a half-hour early and was one of the last people to be seated in the sold-out

arena. Fans from all across the tri-state area were already deep into their pre-fight chants, as well as their Budweisers. When the first wrestler came out, the whole place lost its mind as he threw his hands in the air and flailed into the ring.

The 40-year-olds in the arena were jumping up and down like children while their own kids began to scream out phrases that only 40-year-olds should repeat.

I couldn’t help but laugh when the grown man in front of me whipped out his digital camera to take a snapshot of the first wrestler inside the ring. Maybe it is 2008?

The fights in the ring were exciting for viewers of all ages and you couldn’t help but cheer or boo whoever was inside of the ring, regardless of whether you’ve known the wrestler for five minutes or five years.

The entrances and moves of each wrestler were unique to his or her character and personality in the ring and this added a

sense of style and—fine, I’ll say it—elegance to what was going on inside of the ring. Even the dichotomy of having one wrestler act as a hero and one act as a villain was extremely entertaining to watch and added to the depth of the show at large.

Even if you had no idea who was anyone fighting in the ring was, watching two grown men chase each other in spandex and jump from the top rope to slam one another is, and always will be, an excellent source of entertainment.

The entire show (which was filmed live and shown on USA Today) was a solid three hours and not a single person left the arena until the final fight was over.

The chanting and cheering was early and often from the very first match until the last. There were also a variety of signs that were thrown in the air from “Roman Reigns Supports Childhood Obesity” to “We Want the Islanders Back.” Islander fans can learn

a lot from this passion and dedication to this sacred and special sport.

Is wrestling fake? Yes, but so is Santa Claus, and we can’t help but worship that jolly fellow once a year. Think of WWE like Santa Claus, only meaner…and sweatier.

The point is, although WWE may be slightly outdated for millennials, if you’re sitting at home with nothing to watch at 8 p.m. on Mondays, throw it on your TV screen for some good laughs and nostalgia.

Editorial | Human Capital

Keep Fordham Faculty In Focus

The Faculty Senate has decided to conduct a full-faculty electronic vote of no confidence in the President of Fordham University next week. In other words, the faculty is conducting a vote in order to express disappointment with Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university. This vote was inspired by the administration’s recent proposal to cut faculty health care. Simultaneously, the adjunct faculty have been dealing with roadblocks set by the administration delaying their efforts to unionize.

Although the faculty’s vote is largely symbolic, the action calls upon Fordham community members, the Board of Trustees and the entire national academic community to think about the issues plaguing our institution, specifically administration’s care for our teachers.

As a result, the editorial board of The Fordham Ram feels that one of the most notable issues our university faces is the administration’s decision to economize through human capital.

We feel that the university should support its entire faculty and staff over all else in order to provide its

students with the best education possible.

It seems that our administration is forgetting some of the core values of this university. When students enter Fordham University, they expect to join a thriving intellectual community.

They expect to receive a Jesuit education from the best professors in academia. It’s interesting that a university which promotes Cura Personalis, or “care for the individual person,” is proposing to take away essential personal health care benefits from its faculty.

How can students expect to be valued by their teachers if their teachers are not valued by their university?

The administration’s decision to propose a new health care plan that would shift all faculty, administrators and staff from United Healthcare’s “Enhanced Health Care Plan” to its “Standard Plan” as of July 1, 2018 is an example of this lack of faculty value.

Although the proposed plan will save the university $4 million annually, according to Senate leadership, healthcare costs on each individual

faculty members will increase in return.

In addition, Fordham adjunct faculty, who teach over 50 percent of classes at Fordham, have faced roadblocks created by the administration in their attempt to unionize.

On Friday, March 31, the administration hired “Union busting” lawyers in order to oppose the adjunct faculty’s unionization effort, according to an email from Fordham Faculty United (FFU) members Chris Brandt, Hannah Jopling, Alessandro King, Kathryn Krasinski and Alan Trevithick.

Even New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, recognized this situation as problematic. In regards to Fordham administration’s attempt to prevent unionization, he responded: “I believe deeply in workers’ right to self-determination – to choose freely whether or not to unionize.

I value the contributions Fordham University makes to our city as an institution of higher learning and an economic engine. The non-tenure track faculty makes up more than half of the teaching staff at Fordham and help ensure that the university

continues to be a dynamic and innovative institution. I encourage Fordham’s administration to agree to a fair process in a timely manner that allows for the non-tenure track faculty to vote on whether or not to join a union, and be given the same opportunity for unionization as many other employees and faculty at Fordham.”

Clearly, our faculty’s personal wellbeing and right to a living wage is not prioritized by our administration.

If not the education of its students, what does Fordham prioritize fiscally? If not towards paying our professors living wages, where are our exorbitant tuition payments going?

Why is Fordham skimping on the most essential part of a Jesuit college experience: the education itself?

We at The Fordham Ram, the university’s 100 year old journal of record, urge Fordham University president Father McShane and the current administration to reconsider the university’s fiscal priorities and contemplate the hierarchy of values proposed by the university in the status quo.

Disagree with our editorial?

Let us know!

Send your letters to fordhamramopinions@gmail.com!

OPINION

Page 10

COURTESY OF JULIA COMERFORD

Instead of providing certain services for free, Fordham University continues to charge its students exorbitant prices.

Tales of a Weary Senior

By MARIO STEFANIDIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I chose Fordham University to be my alma mater for a number of reasons. The alluring beauty of the campus lends itself to a traditionalstyle college experience that other Manhattan schools could not offer.

I felt that the Jesuit principles underlying the university would translate to a holistic academic experience where I would be treated as an individual who could freely express himself.

These tenets led me to the conclusion that Fordham would give me the greatest return on my investment going forward with my career.

The four years have passed, and my calling ended up being finance. I will be graduating with about 500 of my fellow Gabelli students next month near Keating Hall, the building which allured so many of us when we visited the Rose Hill campus for the first time. Short of the charming architecture and manicured landscaping, the university has taken more from me than I have given to it.

Based on the GSB courses I have taken, I can tell you that many have not even remotely contributed towards my understanding of business. I can tell you that I have had

more than one class where students had to rally and petition the dean to step in and change things. I have had some classes where about 6070 percent of the students either dropped the course or never showed up outside of mandatory exams. All these classes came at a cost of about $5,000 each, an amount that can be described by my economics courses as “sunk.”

Being that there is more to a university than just classes, the transgressions do not stop here. This year, I have DJ’ed events on Rose Hill’s campus for Fordham. Months later, despite numerous promises from the leadership at OSI (who made me sign almost a dozen contracts), I have not received any of the money I was promised. In contrast, friends and party-throwers hosting off-campus events I performed at not only paid me promptly, but gave me more than the near free entertainment I provided Fordham.

I am not the only student suffering. Clubs across campus are plagued by shoddy communication and random budgetary transgressions which eat at the funds they need to operate smoothly.

It is not the money that counts, but the principle of it all. Fordham has no qualms soliciting me for

donations while I am still a student with over $200,000 in debt, but they cannot procure $200 to pay me what I am obligated. If I did not have the $400 needed to partake in the senior festivities with my peers, I would not be going to the Senior Ball or any of the other costly events that are a part of Senior Week.

Even “Parent Appreciation Day” is a for-profit event, clocking in at $80 per person for what is sure to be an event that does not cost Fordham half of the aggregate entry fees.

If one cannot afford the $240 for themselves and both their parents, it would appear that they do not appreciate the very people allowing them to attend one of the most expensive universities in the country.

For non-senior readers of this article, think about the money you had to pay for Under the Tent or the “drink tickets” which could easily have been free. Perhaps Rose Hill students are unlikely to know about this, but according to The Fordham Observer, two years ago Lincoln Center’s Under the Tent was cancelled because it would have been too expensive for the university.

This is of course understandable given that, according to Fr. McShane in The Fordham Ram, our endowment is “only” $665 million.

This has caused the ranking of Ford-

April 12, 2017 ham to fall to 60th on U.S. News’s annual report in 2016 from its high at 52nd in 2013. For comparison, the schools Fordham was trying to vie against such as Georgetown and Notre Dame have been rising and are ranked at 21st and 18th respectively.

In light of Fordham’s recent Giving Day campaign, I am unlikely to donate any amount of money to the university in the future. The school has made it clear that the educational attainment of Fordham students is not their top priority, but the façade of the campus is. Looking at the comments on Fordham’s Facebook page related to Giving Day can give one a snapshot into the negative sentiment of the school’s alumni.

Why should they donate to the school they entrusted their education with when it continues to underperform? Jennie Ramirez states that “Fordham runs its students like a business,” a sentiment which I am forced to agree with.

I and many fellow seniors have sat idly by while our university has not enforced their commitment to its students. Going forward, we may have to associate with a school that has not given to us as much as we have given to it, financially and academically.

I have been sponsoring a scholarship at my elementary school for the last few years and would have loved to expand this giving to Fordham in the years to come. Instead, I am left with a sour taste in my mouth and the longing for the experience which I was promised four years ago when I first sat in on orientation.

It is only the current students combined with the alumni who can change the future. I am not pessimistic about what Fordham’s future has in store, but it will take the efforts of many of us to impart this sentiment to the administration.

Things have to get worse before they get better.

Mario Stefanidis, GSB ’17, is a finance major from Douglaston, New York.

Melania’s Stay is Taxing to New Yorkers

By MARGARITA ARTOGLOU MANAGING EDITOR

First Lady Melania Trump made waves when she decided not to move into the White House upon Donald Trump’s inauguration, instead opting to remain in New York City so that Barron Trump, their son, could finish the school year.

Trump’s staff defended the decision through an appeal to emotions—The Washington Post reported that Trump’s transition spokesman Jason Miller stated that there was “obviously a sensitivity to pulling out a 10-year-old in the middle of the school year.”

However, this is an unprecedented choice. Never before has a first family chosen to remain at home.

Indeed, Sasha and Malia Obama were young and in the midst of the school year when they moved to Washington, D.C., and had to change schools.

But the Trumps have decided not to play by the book, and it is costing taxpayers.

According to Police Commissioner James O’Neill, it costs the NYPD between $127,000 and

COURTESY OF JULIA COMERFORD

The First Lady’s living conditions are costing New Yorkers dearly.

$146,000 each day to fund Melania and Barron’s security detail. The number goes up to about $308,000 when the President himself is occupying Trump Tower.

If the Trumps were paying for this security on their own, it would be a different story. But the burden instead falls on a city that never even wanted a President Trump in the first place.

To make matters worse, Us Weekly reported that the first family may not permanently relocate and that the decision is currently up in the air.

The Trumps’ ever-growing security tab has struck a chord and has prompted some angry Americans to start a Change.org petition called

“Make Melania stay in the White House or pay for the expenses herself.”

I second the notion. I have always sensed that Melania had no actual interest in being First Lady, and she certainly has not made any moves to upend her life in New York to support her husband in D.C. Indeed, the New York Times reported that she was remarkably sluggish in building her staff and embarking on First Lady duties. Instead, Ivanka Trump has taken on many responsibilities.

The school year is beginning to come to an end. If Melania and Barron are truly to move to the White House, it seems likely that plans

would already be underway and that the American public—and relieved New Yorkers—would have already heard about it.

The First Lady should not be allowed to stay in New York just because she does not want to move into the White House. She has created a totally unnecessary, unprecedented expense that is being publicly funded by money that could be put to better use. Furthermore, I do not think that the excuse of Barron’s schooling is enough justification— the children of newly-elected presidents have had to transfer to Washington, D.C., mid-school semester for years. Why should Barron get special treatment?

The Trumps are used to their lives of luxury and having the ability to whatever they pleased. When Donald Trump decided to run for president and got elected, the entire family lost that privilege. It is about time for Melania to accept that she is now a public servant.

Margarita Artoglou, FCRH ’18, is a communications and media studies major from Queens, New York.

Joseph Moresky Thank You, New York This past weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting Boston, Mass. for the first time. Attending a conference at Harvard University, I unfortunately had little time to explore the historical wonders of one of America’s greatest revolutionary cities. I mostly walked aimlessly down the Charles River, occasionally striking up conversations with a few delightfully friendly Uber drivers.

What I did have time to do during my copious amount of travel time was reflect on the city I have called home for the past four years.

The urgency that comes with acknowledging the fact that it is April, combined with the intense selfawareness that inherently comes from a New Yorker’s first excursion to Boston, fostered an immense sense of gratitude in someone who will be graduating in less than 50 days.

It also brought about the realization that “New York is my campus” is more than just a trite line in a brochure.

Over the last four years of college, New York City became a personality unto itself—a defining aspect of belonging to the Fordham community. It’s filled to the brim with opportunities to touch remarkable pieces of history stuffed with new sensations, experiences and adventures. Overflowing with an endless supply of tremendous and unique people, each with a personal story more engrossing than the last. The vividness of life is always on display in all its esoteric, kinetic glory.

It became a crucible through which to earn your merit, requiring nothing less than radical growth.

New York demands you rise to the challenges placed before you, whether that means working in Midtown or confronting the visceral reality of poverty. It expects nothing less than unbridled passion in all your endeavors, revealing that work is just love made visible. The city changes everyone who touches it, imbibing within them that quiet pride of purpose behind our fastpaced lives.

Even after studying in London, nothing came close to replacing New York’s distinguishing charm, that pulsating character that defines life here. It became an intoxicating vortex of optimism, a place where people had the grace to dream of a better tomorrow— and had the grit to achieve it. The sense that something new was just around the corner, if only you had the eager tenacity to discover it, became palpable. Endless possibility fused with undying hope.

The hum of the city never quiets.

Its lives that breathe it into existence are far too resilient to allow anything less than constant, colorful motion.

Thank you, New York.

You exposed me to a rhythm of life unlike anything else on Earth, gave me opportunities to excel and fail and to develop into a person I never imagined I could be.

Thank you for letting me be a small part of your grand, unfinished symphony.

OPINION

April 12, 2017

Page 11

The Intolerant Left

By PAUL INGRASSIA

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Until recently, American liberalism was an ideology founded upon the free exchange of ideas and the rule of law; it was an advocate of American exceptionalism, as well as the spread of JudeoChristian values across the globe.

However, over the past decade or so, all of these sentiments have been virtually expunged from the New Left’s platform. Broadly defined, leftism traditionally called for more government intervention to remedy the perceived social injustices of the free market, which contrasted with the classical liberal approach of non-intervention.

Where the latter diverged from the former with regard to the size and scope of government, these competing philosophies– classical liberalism and classical leftism–were essentially united in their adulation of the American cultural bedrock, which was deep-seated in natural law. However, somewhere along the line, the Left became more radical and slowly molded its platform around the ideology of its extremists.

The fact that in today’s times, Gore Vidal, a radical of the 1960s, would feel happily at home with the worldview propounded by modern leftists should draw the ire of traditionalists everywhere.

This rather heinous development of the past decade is perhaps the greatest existential threat of modern times, given the inherent degeneracy of an ideology rooted in a sort of Camusian relativism that views reality as a social construct, history as a class struggle, cultural homogeneity as regressive, and institutional authority, particularly of the religious variety, as grossly incompatible with modern notions of “progress.”

To many, this ideology was happily inhibited by several booming victories for conservatives over the past year and a half— the successes of Brexit and the election of Donald Trump to the presidency were viewed as abject failures of the leftist establishment to address the needs of the everyman, both of which will undoubtedly have significant

longstanding consequences.

Yet, despite these sweeping victories, conservatives must not relent or become complacent.

The Left still remains, arguably still, the dominant intellectual tradition in contemporary times; its stranglehold over the curriculum in many public schools, universities, and large portions of the mainstream media demonstrate just how influential it remains. To this end, many conservatives see this leftist infiltration as malignant; a continuation, more or less, of the free-spirited sixties cultural ethos that has left not a part of our society unscathed. Today’s penchant for informalism, for example, and our heightened skepticism of authority, are but rather benign in comparison to the mounting societal forces that are increasingly denying objective truth, reducing once unassailable aspects of reality into nothing more than some man made, illusory creation.

Accordingly, conservatives must remain vigilant about what we perceive as an outright attack on the American cultural fabric.

This ongoing battle is perhaps most evident in the political obstructionism incited by congressional Democratic leaders to block President Trump’s agenda at every turn, such as in their petty yearning to complicate Judge Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation vote, which does enormous harm to the rest of the country.

It should be made clear that those in Congress who are working to oppose Trump’s every move are simply acting out the sort of seedy dogma that belies contemporary leftist principles.

In so doing, they have implicitly shown which part of their shrinking constituency matters most to them: not the jobless coalminer, nor the disabled veteran, nor even the inner city African-American.

But instead, the rabble-rousers on college campuses and the holier-than-thou Hollywood-types that have in their nastiest moments advocated for a military coup of the Trump White House.

When they are not spewing this brand of fatuous nonsense, today’s radical leftists emboss the President and his supporters

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Political parties’ beliefs have become extreme in recent years, making it increasingly difficult to reach compromises.

as irredeemable “deplorables,” in their view, helplessly clinging to an outmoded, degenerative worldview anathema to a quickly changing national identity.

The most extreme of them hope to irrevocably tarnish the legacies of America’s mostly white, male, Protestant forefathers whose accomplishments no longer comport with their vision of a brave new world. For every hyperbolic attack peddled by leftists against our newly elected president for being “authoritarian”, there is an actual case of anti-democratic nonsense that arises from their side. Take, for example, UC Berkeley’s violent suppression of free speech, which forced the controversial rightwing speaker, Milo Yiannopoulos, to rescind an invitation to speak on their campus due to the destruction caused by radical, left-wing agitators.

This sort of obstructionism that typifies many in today’s Left has worked its way into national politics as well. While Democrats in Congress may not be protesting in the streets, their attempts to stop Trump at any cost showcase a clear favorite among their constituents of whose policy preferences are prioritized. These are the radical, leftist loonies, who have become something of a juggernaut in the party, particularly on the coastal regions. They typically in their thinking resort to emotive tropes, instead of rational exposition, which is demonstrated in their policy preferences

for open borders, big government and neo-puritanical “tolerance,” the latter of which includes everyone save those lockstep in their doctrinaire worldview.

Democracy, of course, is not a one-way street, but whenever either side reaches a point in which anyone who disagrees becomes deplorable by default, there is a serious problem. This is compounded especially by how radical some on the Left have become in degree of their demands.

For instance, during one of the Democratic primary debates, both Clinton and Senator Sanders agreed that on the topic of immigration, all undocumented aliens should remain in the United States so long as they don’t commit a dangerous crime. In other words, the Democratic Party platform basically legitimated open border anarchy, a topic that subsequently became a major liability for Clinton, who made great strides to avoid speaking about it on the campaign trail.

But what turned many people off from Clinton was not so much the extremity of her positions on policy (though that certainly was part of it), but in the condescending rhetoric that was leveled against those who actually supported, for instance, reasonable measures to protect our borders.

And make no mistake, this was not a fallacy committed by those simply on the Left (or more precisely, those in the Democratic Party).

This was keenly illustrated by

Mitt Romney, a supposed ambassador of conservatism, whose own inflated ego clouded his sensibilities when he attempted to despoil Trump’s candidacy in his long forgotten March 2016 speech. What this shows is that contemporary leftism has largely defined the rules of the modern political game, even for large swaths of the Grand Old Party.

As a result, whenever an ideological outlier like Trump arises, they become the enemy by default, and become subject to ruthless assault by a political establishment that resorts to many of the same obstinate tactics of radical leftists. To the chagrin of the Romneys and Bushes of the world, the ideological forces that mounted Trump happily proved insurmountable, in part because the President tapped into something that was authentic and conservative.

It is perhaps altogether fitting to end on an optimistic note with a piece of advice from one of modern conservatism’s founding fathers, William F. Buckley Jr. He once said, “a conservative is a fellow who is standing athwart history yelling stop!” Now, perhaps more than ever, conservatives ought to take this most prescient advice and use the advantage accorded to them by the changing political climate to effect real, substantive change.

Paul Ingrassia, FCRH ’17, is a mathematics and economics major from Patchogue, New York.

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Page 12

April 12, 2017

Meet the Candidates USG Election 2017 Q: What three issues in our community concern you the most?

“I believe that the three issues that concern me the most are: the treatment of

our commuter population, the financial aid opportunities afforded lower income families and the overall need for the growth of diversity

throughout the University.”

Brian Reardon Executive President Candidate Hometown: Stony Point, New York Majors: History and Theology

Why are you running for USG?: “I am running for USG to make realistic change that brings about the betterment of the Fordham University student body. I am running to ensure that students have the agency, the resources, and the support to achieve the dreams that they have when thinking about their college career. “

- Brian Reardon

“1) Student Inclusion. One of the hardships on the part of the Faculty and Administration is the lack of student input in many of their initiatives, information sharing between these groups can solve that problem.

2) Social Justice. While many students talk about social justice and wanting involvement, many do not know where to look for this type of opportunity and furthermore do not necessarily have a solid grasp on social justice issues. Through reinstating the Social Justice Leaders program and incorporating a day of service, we hope to bring greater awareness to the issue of social justice and 3) Lack of diversity and tolerance across campus. By increasing USG's presence in diversity month and working with Administration to start enacted change higher up. “ - Abigail Kedik

Abigail Kedik Executive Vice President Candidate Hometown: Altamont, New York Majors: Political Science and American Studies

Why are you running for USG? “I am running for USG because I believe there are aspects of Fordham that require immediate attention and improvement, as well as aspects which need to remain in tact. I have interacted with USG multiple times through UNICEF, and am able to bring a fresh outsider perspective through the lens of student as well as club leader. Through my experiences with USG I feel as though I have a good grasp on areas of improvement and the ability to assist in that change form my experience as a student leader. “

Q: What three issues in our community concern you the most?

“1. Cohesion: Financial groups like the Budget Committee should consult Gabelli students on budgetary matters USG should incorporate their expertise to properly manage the budget.

2. Representation: The rules currently favor USG members and residents.

Current USG members should be limited in signing petitions of colleagues. Increases in the amount of signatures needed should take place to incentivize more communal and motivated candidates 3. Communication: Senators should be mandated weekly club attendance hours and be encouraged to participate in all Resident & CSA events to better get to know their constituents and the progress here at Fordham. A 24 hour mode of communication for concerns should take place . Expand the social media team so as to be more directly in touch with Fordham Students.”

- Adam Hamilton

Adam Hamilton Executive President Candidate Hometown: New York, New York Major: Economics

Why are you running for USG? “Eric and I are both commuters and we feel that not enough is being done for commuter students on campus. We feel that USG has grown apart from the student body and that there is a lack of a personal relationship between USG senate members and the student body.”

“1. Free Speech: As of right now FIRE has named our campus as one of the worst in America. I want our school to be known as one of the most encouraging and accepting places in the world and I feel as though allowing for a more open eared student government can help that directly.

2. USG involvement: The essence of a government, student or federal, is to represent the student body. If the representatives are not keeping their ear to the ground, involving themselves in club meetings, and maintaining a strong social media presence, then they are out of touch. Because of this, the student voice gets lost and the onus is on the system.

3. Guest policy: As it stands, the guest policy stands in direct opposition to the desires of the majority of the student body (especially commuter students.) While I believe we should respect the Jesuit values of our institution, I do believe there is room for reform. The administration should come to terms with some of the realities of the campus culture and should find ways to keep all students safe. “ - Eric Chacon

Eric Chacon Executive Vice President Candidate Hometown: Oceanside, New York Major: Theology

Why are you running for USG? “I have spent three years watching a system that has not worked for me. After seeing a USG advertisement basically telling me to stop complaining and run, I did just that. I attended USG meetings to learn the layout of the system, and how to enact change. I see an opportunity to bring a new start to a system that has typically been made of representatives that focus on building their network and making their way to the top rather than hearing the individual. I believe that my enthusiasm and knowledge of people can inspire real active change, something that Fordham students truly want to get behind. “

April 12, 2017

Page 13

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April 12, 2017

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April 12, 2017

Don’t Forget to Recycle

The Ram

CULTURE

April 12, 2017

Page 17

The Fordham Ram

Free Advertising Secures Spring Weekend Performance

By BAILEY HOSFELT CULTURE EDITOR

Free Advertising is a funk rock band with infusions of blues comprised of singer and guitarist PJ Cruz, FCRH ’18, drummer Brian Reynolds, FCRH ’17 and bassist Gus Arndt, FCRH ’17.

The three Fordham students recently took the stage behind Rodrigue’s Coffee House for this year’s Battle of the Bands.

Free Advertising’s performance won over the majority of the 305 voters, giving Cruz, Reynolds and Arndt first place. Free Advertising will open for the Spring Weekend headliner, which has yet to be announced by Campus Activities Board, on April 29.

The Fordham Ram: How did Free Advertising form?

PJ Cruz: Last year, I was driving back up to New York after spending spring break home in Virginia when I saw that Ram’s Got Talent sign-ups were due that night. I had wanted to put together a band to play music for a while, so I quickly reached out to Brian Reynolds and Graeme Anderson, who agreed to play. Ram’s Got Talent was the first event we performed as a band.

TFR: Every band name has a story behind it. How did you decide on Free Advertising?

PC: We used to go by The Bronx Trio, but knew that name would never stick. We put in a good week’s worth of effort just trying to come up with a new name until Graeme proposed Free Advertising. We were instantly sold, and we’ve been Free Advertising ever since.

TFR: For those who have not heard your music, how would you describe the sound of Free Advertising?

PC: We describe our sound as funk rock. We love the funk sound, which is probably most present in our song “Boat Race.” Rock and blues is a big influence as well.

TFR: What was the Battle of the Bands experience like?

PC: The process leading up to Battle of the Bands was a lot of work, and with all of our schedules, it felt like we weren’t going to have enough time to pull it off. Luckily, from the first rehearsal for our Battle of the Bands set we were able to mesh well and got a lot done.

TFR: Was there any one moment from Battle of the Bands that was especially memorable?

PC: There were some really great acts, so props to all the bands that performed, but I was really excited to see Private Caller play. One of the members, Tyler Jurewicz, is a good friend of ours from the Pep Band, and I hadn’t gotten a chance to see him play live yet. They really brought a lot of energy, and it was great seeing a good friend up there killing it. Tyler has one serious mug when he’s up there. You just know he’s really feeling the music.

Brian Reynolds: Definitely the line of people heading to vote after we finished. I was frantically packing my gear away, making room for the next drummer, when I noticed how many people were congregated by the voting booth. It was the first time I thought, “Huh, we might actually win.”

Gus Arndt: Jeremiah, lead guitarist of Private Caller, simulated a body slam onto his guitar as a song ended, like, right in front of me. I’ve been looking at music differently since then.

TFR: What does getting to open for the Spring Weekend headliner mean for you as a band?

PC: It’s definitely something to cross off the bucket list. We’re really excited, and hope we can take this momentum to continue moving forward as a band.

TFR: What is your favorite song to perform?

BR: “Dean Town” by Vulfpeck.

Their music is so funky, syncopated and difficult to play. Even though PJ

and Gus have tougher parts, holding the tempo down on this instrumental jam is always a welcome challenge that requires unwavering concentration.

GA: “Dean Town” by Vulfpeck would be if it didn’t make my hand hurt so badly by the end of it. Probably Brian’s original bass-driven funk symphony, “Boat Race.”

PC: In our Battle of the Bands set, I really enjoy when we go into “Hot in Herre” by Nelly. We come right out of “Come Together” by the Beatles and go straight into “Hot in Herre,” and the momentum of the transition gets me every time. Close second is our “Frankenstein” tease by the Edgar Winter Group.

TFR: What does the creative process look like?

PC: It really does depend on what we’re working on. If you get a massive wave of creativity, a song can be written in one, maybe two sittings. Others can take months. The songwriting process is the most variable part of it, but the rehearsal and performance part is one that we’ve gotten down to a science as of late. This band has seen quite the number of bassists this year due to study abroad. With the rotation of bassists, we’ve had to learn how to

adapt to having a fresh bassist grooving with us, but it has gotten easier each time.

TFR: Do you have any pre-show rituals?

GA: I restring my bass upside down and play through the whole set, so I forget everything I know. Then I tussle the hair of my roommate, Jason Miki, and he smacks me across the face as hard as he can.

PC: Unfortunately, not really.

Unless you count moving gear every which way for a show as a ritual, then yes.

BR: Anxiously reviewing the setlist in my head for any last minute notes (for myself or the group). As the drummer, I’m usually more distracted by hauling gear and assembling my drum set than anything else.

TFR: Who are your main musical inspirations?

PC: My biggest inspirations in songwriting are Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran and John Mayer. Growing up, Jason Mraz showed me how you can make a song funky, from the strumming pattern to the chord progression to the lyrics. He’s got it going on. Ed Sheeran was a big lyrical influence as well. John Mayer is a huge influence in my guitar

playing. I can watch that man’s solos all day and never get bored.

BR: Every musician’s simultaneously favorite and least favorite question. So many to discuss, but who to choose? As for drummers, I’m particularly influenced by Steve Gadd, Billy Cobham, Elvin Jones, Neil Peart and Phil Collins. As for bands artists, especially as they relate to the work we do in Free Advertising, again Vulfpeck, along with the Commodores, Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder.

GA: Flea and the rest of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mike Doughty and Soul Coughing, Jaco Pastorius, Sublime and MF DOOM. TFR: How can Fordham students listen to your music before Spring Weekend and learn about any upcoming gigs?

PC: Following our Soundcloud, Free Advertising, is the best way to listen to our music. We’re in the process of adding new mixes from our live shows. Our Facebook page is the best way to find out about upcoming shows. Anytime we have a show, we make an event and share it. Otherwise, word of mouth.

FreeAdvertisingwillbeatMugz’son April 18 from 10 p.m. - 1 a.m.

COURTESY OF MATT MASSARO

From the crowded Mugz’s bar to the big stage at Spring Weekend, Free Advertising is on its way to the top.

Podcasts Rise in Popularity, Students Tune In

By ERIN CABREY CULTURE EDITOR

For many college students, headphones are lifelines. Other than using them to connect us to our favorite tunes, there is another oft-overlooked form of sonic entertainment: podcasts. Now, more than ever, people are pressing play on hundreds of thousands of different podcasts that tell stories, give advice, chat with celebrities, uncover murder mysteries or solve tricky math problems.

This medium is not new, yet it has been rising in popularity. Apple reported that 10 billion podcast episodes had been streamed on its podcast app last year, and listenership continues to grow in 2017 for several reasons: an increase in quality, big celebrity guests and a particularly frustrating political climate that listeners are yearning to decipher. With media organizationslikeTheNewYorkTimes, The Wall Street Journal, Buzzfeed, WNYC, Vanity Fair and FOX News, along with recognizable names like Lena Dunham, Anna Faris, Alec Baldwin and most recently, Bernie Sanders, grabbing the mic, it is clear that the podcast momentum is not slowing down.

Students enjoy listening to podcasts for a number of reasons.

“It’s cool because I can listen to something, which doesn’t require me to intensely focus, while doing other things like cooking and doing laundry while listening to something interesting,” said James Corbett, FCRH ’18, a fan of BBC’s A Brief History of Mathematics,oflisteningtopodcasts.

“I feel like they’re a good use of my time,” said Corbett.

“I listen to podcasts while I’m commuting to and from the city, doing my homework or cleaning my room,” said Kathryn Porter, FCRH ’18. “It’s a good way to pass time and feel like I’m not wasting my time because I’m able to learn and listen to captivating stories.”

Right now, the biggest story in the podcast universe is the new podcast S-Town, which, within four days of its release, hit the 10 million download mark on its episodes, besting the seven weeks it took Serial to do this in 2014. A collaboration between Serial and This American Life, S-Town tells the story of a journalist who, prompted by an email correspondence with an Alabama man, investigates a possible murder in a small town. Sharp twists and turns abound.

“There’s a lot of suspense, but it’s interesting to keep in mind that it’s a true story about murder, sexual assault and conflicts of power and social class in a small southern town,” said Porter.

“No matter when or where you’re listening it really feels like you’re part of the story.”

Maddie McGuire, FCRH ’18, preferred Serial over S-Town. “Serial was addicting. It was a story you could follow weekly and speculate. To be honest, I’m not as much of a fan of S-Town.

I don’t find the story to be as enticing as Serial.”

Besides benchmark podcasts such as Serial and S-Town, there is a wide array of audible offerings: from the arts to business, politics, sports, comedy and health, a slew of sounds is available to every listener eager to learn something new, or make sense of something they already do. Listeners today can learn a new language, analyze a turbulent presidency or kick back with two guys gabbing about “Gilmore Girls.”

These personalized podcasts allow listeners to hear discussions about the very specific things that interest them.

“Pod Save America is great,” said Kirsten Goeben, FCRH ’18. “It’s people who were all White House staff. They’re breaking down political

issues and they’re so good at going in-depth and analyzing it. They’re not just delivering news like in an article, but they’re discussing it and giving different perspectives on the issues.”

Four former aids to President Obama reformed this podcast, previously named Keeping It 1600, to focus on challenging President Trump postelection.

“I listen to Invisibilia,” said Helen Ziminsky, FCRH ’18. “I always learn something new when I listen to it. It’s just three women talking about philosophy and existence, and I love it.”

Invisibilia is an NPR podcast about “the invisible forces that control human behavior” that Time describes as “Life, explained.”

“Hidden Brain gives really interesting facts,” said McGuire. “It’s about how different emotions and actions affect our brains and what causes them and how it changes and impacts our behaviors. I also like Art of Charm [a podcast aimed at making the listener a “better thinker”], because although it’s geared toward the male audience it offers good life hacks and tips. I enjoy the psychology-based podcasts the most.”

Several students also cited comedy podcasts as among their favorites. 2

Dope Queens is a WNYC podcast hosted by former “Daily Show” correspondent Jessica Williams and New York Times best-selling author Phoebe Robinson recorded on stages throughout New York City, discussing everything from race, gender and sex to Matthew McConaughey. “I like 2 DopeQueensbecauseit’sfunnyandthe episodes are short enough that it feels like a break,” said Ziminsky. “And I like that it’s coming from the black female perspective, which is a perspective I don’t usually get.”

“Anna Faris is Unqualifiedisoneof my favorites,” said Goeben of the podcast in which actress Anna Faris and celebrity guests give advice to callers.

“It’s a mixture of celebrities and everyday people. It’s different every time and she’s great at interviewing people, and she gets really attached to them.

She cares how they’re doing.”

The multiplicity of this medium, its ability to make listeners laugh, cry or reevaluate their existence, is among several reasons podcasts are proving to be so enticing to the ear.

As simply put by Tavi Gevinson, host of the new chart-topping Rookie podcast, “I listen to a lot of podcasts, and I feel like they have taught me how to be a person.”

Page 18

Do Knot Count Pretzel Boys Out

By BAILEY HOSFELT CULTURE EDITOR

Pretzel Boys is an eclectic band comprised of guitarist Ford Murphy, GSB ’20, guitarist and programmed drummer Fritz Ortman, FCRH ’20, bassist Liam Paris, FCRH ’17 and synthist Tim Mountain, FCRH ’19. The four-some clinched second place at this year’s Battle of the Bands.

Pretzel Boys will open for Japanese Breakfast and Yucky Duster at Rodrigue’s Coffee House’s Spring Week concert.

The Fordham Ram: How did Pretzel Boys form?

Ford Murphy: We were all in Crust Above, waiting in line to get pepperoni pretzels.

Liam Paris: Except Timmy!

He was getting a cinnamon pretzel.

Tim Mountain: Yeah, I was getting a cinnamon one.

Fritz Ortman: Tim! Those things will kill ya.

FM: Anyways, we all knew each other from FET and performing, and Tim had always wanted to start a band. Battle was coming up so we figured why not.

TFR: Every band name has a story behind it. How did you decide on Pretzel Boys?

TM: Well, as you can see by the origin story above, we all just love Pretzels so dang much, it was the obvious choice!

TFR: For those who have not heard your music, how would you describe the sound of Pretzel Boys?

LP: Reggie Watts combined with Fetty Wap with subtle tones of “Doo Wop (that thing)” by Lauryn Hill.

FO: Quit joking ya Youngin!

LP: Aw shucks.

TM: Content-wise we’re kinda like They Might Be Giants, but soundwise more like Postal Serivice.

TFR: What was the Battle of the Bands experience like?

Pretzel Boys: Fast paced, and intimidating— we were the only band that had just recently formed and were clearly the “dark horse” of the event. With all of us coming from comedic backgrounds people thought this was gonna be a joke band. So we really wanted to show people that we cared about the music.

TFR: Was there any one moment from Battle of Bands that was especially memorable?

TM: Honestly, the whole thing was a blur for me, I’ll have to step out of this one.

FO: I really liked getting to see all my friends there, I’ve played shows before but this was one of the warmest atmospheres I’ve [seen] at a show.

LP: Yeah, I’ve done a lot of comedy shows on campus, but there’s always a need to find validation, and get the laughs. With this performance I was just going up there to perform what I had, and I enjoyed it. Getting second place was just icing on the pretzel.

FO: Gross.

TFR: What does getting to open for the Rod’s Spring Weekend show mean for you as a band?

FO: It means that we’re validated as a band now.

FM: Yeah, no one can call us a joke band any more.

TFR: What is your favorite song to perform?

FO&LP: Redbone!

FM: Styrofoam Purse.

TM: Ford’s song.

TFR: What does the creative process from songwriting to rehearsal to performance look like?

PB: For battle, since we had such little time, it was actually really quick. We’d come to practice with pieces or songs we wanted to cover, and we’d just get to figuring out how we’d put it together. We’ll be doing something similar for the Spring Weekend show, but after that we’ll be able to slow down and define more of a process.

TFR: Do you have any preshow rituals?

PB: We all say 1--2--3— PRETZEL TFR: Who are your main musical inspirations?

FO: Blink 182.

LP: Childish Gambino.

FM: Radiohead.

TM: The “Bandcamp Daily” section of bandcamp...oh and video game soundtracks.

TFR: How can Fordham students listen to your music before Spring Weekend and learn about any upcoming gigs?

FM: Follow us on Facebook!

We hope to have a single out before then.

COURTESTY OF LIAM PARIS

Battle of the Bands runner-up Pretzel Boys will open the concert at Rodrigue’s.

CULTURE

April 12, 2017

Sweet ‘n’ Sour | Patrick Hood and Caitlyn Letterii

Lee’s Chinese Restaurant Lacks Join Caitlyn Letterii and Patrick Hood, co-heads of marketing for JimmyBuffettandtheCoralReefer Band, as they explore and critique thecheapeatsavailablearoundthe Bronx and Rose Hill campus.

For those of you not in the know, Sweet ‘n’ Sour’s very own Caitlyn Letterii is currently taking a class all about Chinese history. To get the most out of this four-credit class, we figured we should tackle a Chinese food restaurant in this week’s review.

That’s how we ended up at Lee’s Chinese Restaurant, a little hole in the (Great) wall.

PH: I have actually been to Lee’s on one previous occasion, though I shudder to tell the tale.

CL: Don’t worry Pat, I’m (halfheartedly) here for you.

PH: It was a dark and stormy night, and I had just been notified that I had been left a large, abandoned mansion in a long lost uncle’s will. I had no desire to live in the place, and in fact intended to sell it as soon as I could and invest in government bonds; however, as a stipulation of the will, I was required to spend at least one night in the house for it to be legally mine. Thus began the most terrifying night of my life.

CL: Let me translate— Patrick was hungry and ate at Lee’s one time, then texted me about it as a potential review spot because it has wild interior decorating and crazy names for some menu items. Patrick ordered a “Seafood Loveboat” and did not enjoy it, and now we return to the scene approximately five months later to review!

PH: Well, yeah, I guess that’s one way to put it. Kind of loses the poetry of it. However, you are right about the decor in Lee’s. For some strange reason, there are many photos of models standing in front of luxury homes. Don’t know why, I mean, are they ads for houses? If so, why are they in a restaurant? Or is there some sort of niche modelling market for serenely smiling women photoshopped in front of huge mansions?

CL: The world may never know. Anyways, we should probably actually begin reviewing the food.

PH: Oh that’s easy. It was terrible.

CL: Shhh. We’re professionals here! Okay, so there are tons of options to choose from, and I would recommend giving the menu a thorough onceover before making your final decision.

I went with veggie lo mein, and we shared an appetizer of veggie fried dumplings, however, had I been wise enough to flip the menu over, I would have noticed all the fun and fab lunch specials they have to offer!

PH: The dumplings were actually NTS (not too shabby) but, sadly, the same cannot be said of my entree, which was misleadingly named ‘happy family’. I say misleading because it was about as happy as the Ramsey family circa 1996.

CL: That seems extreme.

PH: Shhh. The happy fam-

COURTESY OF PATRICK HOOD

Caitlyn and Patrick were split on their reviews of Lee’s Chinese Restaurant; both agreed that diners should avoid the oddly-named specials.

ily was an amazingly bland mixture of shrimp, crab, beef, pork and chicken, since apparently Lee’s was taking an ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ approach to this meal. Despite the fact that it contained such a diverse array of meats, it somehow all tasted the same (probably due to the paradoxically bland and overpowering sauce that covered everything). All in all, Lee’s disappointed me yet again, and this time I didn’t even get the pleasure of saying I ate something called a seafood loveboat.

CL: I’m really sorry you had such a bad experience, because I really liked everything I had.

The lo mein was generously portioned, well-seasoned and an overall success. As for our veggie dumplings, when eaten plain they were a little bland, but once paired with the provided dipping sauce and a bit of hot sauce, they were a true delight.

PH: I tried adding hot sauce to my meal to shake things up and found myself confounded, since Lee’s apparently doesn’t stock Sriracha or even regular hot sauce like every other Chinese food place ever. No, instead of those completely reasonable options Lee’s had Frank’s Redhot buffalo sauce, which is truly strange to pair with Chinese cuisine.

CL: Quit being such a negative nelly, I thought it showed creativity and inventiveness on their part.

PH: Well I think it’s time to make like a burrito robot and wrap things up. That’s right ladies and gentlebugs, time for those patented Sweet ‘n’ Sour rat-

ings you all dream about.

CL: Pat are you having a stroke?!

PH: Maybe! Due to the terribleness of both meals I’ve ordered at the Life and Times of Juniper Lee’s, I’ve got no choice but to give it a Sour rating of 2 out of 5 stars. The only things preventing me from giving it a lower rating are those beguiling ladies in front of houses, along with the fact that I should probably stop picking my entrees based on what has the funniest name on the menu.

CL: I found [Jamie] Lee’s [Curtis] to be charming. The employees were kind, the food served quickly, the decor invigorating and, because I ordered normal things I knew I would enjoy (cough, Pat), my meal was pretty good. Was it the greatest lo mein/ dumpling combo in the world?

No. But it was cheap and filling.

I give Lee’s a Sweet Rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. I give my review partner, Patrick, a SOUR rating of 1 out of 5 stars for cheating himself out of a tasty meal by ordering something totally wacky.

PH: Seafood loveboat (comedy rule of threes baby!).

Overall Recommendations: Try the fried dumplings with a lil’ bit of sauce.

Pass on the Happy Family (not in the literal sense) and the Seafood Loveboat.

General Info: Lee’s Chinese Restaurant 629 E 187th Street (718) 367-8383 Mon-Thurs 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Fri & Sat 11 a.m. - 12 a.m., Sunday 12 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Price: Cheap

CULTURE

April 12, 2017

Page 19

Editor’s Pick | Music

Troutman to Mars: A Brief History of the Talk Box

By MARIO NICASTRO DIGITAL EDITOR

Ever since Jay-Z laid auto-tune to rest in 2009, talentless pop singers have been vying for a way to enhance their singing voices. These “artists” have searched high-and-low through studios, record shops and Guitar Centers to find some other way to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Luckily, one man has a plan. He sat alone on a stormy night with a long, plastic tube hanging from his mouth.

As lightning cracked outside his window pane, he cracked the code.

On Oct. 7, 2016, Bruno Mars debuted at number five with the single “24K Magic.” Coming from his third album of the same name, the funky song was destined to be a radio hit.

It combines electro-funk with modern beats to form a polished take on a sound popularized in the early ‘80s.

When this track comes on, one cannot help but get down and groove it out. But before that catchy beat starts, the song’s hypnotic introduction puts you in a trance.

That digital voice heard in the very beginning is not auto-tune or some recording studio magic, it’s a talk box. The talk box allows a singer to sing through an instrument to create a computerized sound that is completely unique. The first talk box was developed in 1939, and has been an influencer in rock, funk and pop music since.

How does it work? Well, a plastic

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Bruno Mars’ use of the “talk box” in his recent releases has brought this classic technology back to the mainstream.

tube connects to the talk box device at the foot of the guitarist. This box plugs into the amplifier and the singer puts the tube in his or her mouth and begins to strum. As the song plays, the musician will mouth words and vocalize sounds with their vocal chords. This creates a whiny, high-pitched sound that resembles sounds and words from the singer.

The talkbox has been used by a variety of artists including Rufus and Chaka Khan, Aerosmith and Pink Floyd.

However, one of its most famous users was guitarist Peter Frampton. He

was first introduced to its power in 1970 by Pete Drake, a music producer for George Harrison. Since then, Frampton has incorporated the talk box into many of his own tracks, most famously in his 1976 livedouble-albumFramptonComes Alive! Two of the three singles “Do You Feel Like We Do” and “Show Me the Way” saw heavy use of Frampton’s iconic talk box guitar sound. He wails behind the chorus in “Show Me the Way,” creating a twist of digital and human.

This mix of the computerized

and the natural caught the ear of Ohio-native Roger Troutman in the late ‘70s. When funk and disco were the mainstream sounds at the time, Troutman and his brothers saw an opportunity. They formed the funk group Zapp and were signed by PFunk legend George Clinton and Warner Brothers Music in 1979. In 1980, they released their debut album simply titled Zapp. Their style was one of the prime influences on Mars’ “24K Magic.”

The leading track on Zapp is “More Bounce to the Ounce,” which heav-

ily features Roger’s iconic talk box sound. Instead of Frampton’s guitar talk box, Troutman uses a keyboard.

His words are clear and distinct although he phoneticized his vocals in a deep, growling voice. The talk box works to complement the funk, not stand above it. As Troutman’s voice becomes an instrument, so does he.

At concerts, audiences could barely make out the plastic tube in Troutman’s mouth. They just thought it was funk magic.

Roger and Zapp continued to work with the talk box throughout their careers. Eventually Troutman created entire choirs of his prerecorded voice in songs like “I Want To Be Your Man” and “I Only Have Eyes For You.” His style has been copied and borrowed by many artists and genres since. It has inspired many hip-hop artists like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg from GFunk. Troutman also sings the hook in Tupac’s “California Love.”

Although Bruno Mars cannot single handedly change pop music with one song, I hope the talk box continues to be used in the mainstream. It is one of those things that has such a distinct sound and feel that can distinguish an entire song from another.

As our lives and society continue to be more digitally ingrained, I would not be surprised if this was not the last time I heard the talk box on the radio. It serves to showcase how intertwined computers and people are in a unique musical way.

Tara’s Travels | Tara Martinelli

Gabelli Goes International: Rams Travel to Rome Where in the world is Tara?

Four words: “Sing to me, Paolo!”

Roma didn’t know what was coming with a plane full of 90 Fordham students headed its way. One of the major perks of being a Gabelli student studying in London is getting to travel with all of your classmates to Rome for four days. Just as Rome didn’t know what to expect, neither did we. But let me tell you, it was awesome.

The trip started with buses picking us up from our respective flats at 4 a.m. on Thursday morning. I made sure to wake up with plenty of time to get all of my stuff together (disclaimer: I am the worst when it comes to packing. I pack the same amount for a three-day trip as I do for a three-week trip.

Don’t try to change me.) Anyway, I was getting a little testy when 4 a.m. rolled around and the bus was nowhere to be seen. We had been preached to for months about how important it was for us to be punctual for this trip and now the buses were late? Unbelievable, right? Yes, it was. It turns out, the bus wasn’t running late but rather, I was making the bus late! I couldn’t see it from my flat, but a bus full of people was waiting on me. Come on, Tara.

After a two-hour flight next to Father Salmi, our fearless Jesuit leader, I touched down in Rome at around 10 a.m. Keep in mind, we were a group of 90 college students running on little to no sleep.

So, naturally, the first place we all wanted to go upon arriving in

Rome was the Colosseum. Yeah… okay. To be honest, the Colosseum was very cool to see even though I was exhausted and sweaty throughout the whole tour. What was interesting to see was a group of men doing construction on the Colosseum.

It made me think of how people built this amazing, complex structure without the modern day tools and equipment. I wanted to dare them to do their work with nothing but a plank of wood and some elbow grease! Several of my friends and peers encouraged me not to, probably for good reason.

After being at the Colosseum for about three hours and then taking what was probably the hottest bus ride of my life, we finally arrived at our hotel. I definitely had sweat out all of the water I drank, but I still had all of my enthusiasm! People had plans to nap at this point, but when your entire class is all traveling together, there just isn’t time to sleep. The nightlife in Rome was one of the most interesting parts of the trip. Once 11 p.m. hit, it honestly felt like we could have been back in the Bronx at one of our bars.

We all headed to the same places every night which made for so many good times and a whole lot of Fordham pride. We like to rep the Bronx wherever we go.

The following days of Rome were filled with more pizza, gelato and a ton of history. I have never been to a more historic city. Visiting the Pantheon, the Vatican, the Spanish steps and so many more places put me in awe of the way people lived

and built an empire thousands of years ago on the very streets that I was walking on. One of my favorite things to see was the runway where the Romans would have had chariot races.

Again, I was down to recreate it and again, I was shut down.

There was one night of the trip when all of us students had to attend a mandatory dinner at a restaurant that was pretty far away from our hotel. The entire taxi ride there, I kept wondering

how one restaurant was going to fit all of these Rams. Every restaurant I had seen in Italy thus far had been the size of my grandmother’s kitchen. So when I arrived at the venue, I was shocked to see that Fordham had taken up every possible seat.

Of course, I made it to Trevi Fountain, which is so incredibly huge and breathtaking. Fun fact: over 3000 euros are tossed into Trevi Fountain every day. Don’t worry, when I made my wish, I

only tossed 10 cents over my left shoulder. They say that if you throw a coin in the fountain, that you will make it back to Rome one day! I didn’t know this until after I made my wish…so does that wish get thrown out or does it still count? To be honest, I don’t totally remember what my wish was, so maybe it already came true! After an entire weekend with all of my favorite people, in my homeland of Italia, I don’t see what else I possibly could have to wish for.

COURTESY OF TARA MARTINELLI

Tara shares her adventures through the Eternal City with Gabelli, from the Colosseum to the Trevi Fountain.

CULTURE

Page 20

April 12, 2017

Who’s That Kid? | It’s Christine Phelan GSB ’18

For Resident Assistant and GSB Junior, The Pun Also Rises

By JACK MCLOONE SPORTS EDITOR

Christine Phelan, GSB ’18, laughs a lot, maybe borderline too much, if you hate happiness. If there’s one thing to know about her, it is that. There are many other things, but chief among them is that Phelan is a laugher. Is she often laughing alone at her own puns?

Maybe.

“I’m an avid pun enthusiast, so my friends hate me,” said Phelan, through fits of laughter. “But I’m better than other people at puns, so sometimes, they give me some credit.”

A second thing to know about Christine Phelan is that she is more than just someone who laughs a lot.

For one thing, she has spent the past two years as a Resident Assistant for freshmen, first in Alumni Court South last year and then in Martyrs’ LaLande this year. But of course, when asked which building she is currently a RA in, she can’t help herself: “LaLande. Best in all LaLande.”

“I’ve always been kind of a RA as a person,” said Phelan. “I’ve always been the one who would take care of people when things would go wrong.

I’ve always been the person who loves

COURTESY OF CHRISTINE PHELAN

GSB Junior Christine Phelan cannot keep her plants to herself.

listening to stories, giving advice. It was a very easy transition into the role.” Naturally, she was laughing throughout this answer, but that may have had something to do with the fact that her interviewer is a former resident of hers who was sarcastically shocked that she declared herself a RA of a person.

All jokes aside – and if it isn’t abundantly clear yet, there are a lot of jokes – Phelan takes her role as a RA very seriously.

“The major thing that all freshmen want, pretty much, is to have a

resource,” she said. “Someone who’s always able to listen and wants to hear – is basically an active listener, hears what you have to say, asks you questions about it. And someone who you can trust, who you can come to.”

A third thing to know about Christine Phelan is that, while she will once again only be a RA as a person and not as real-life Resident Assistant next year, she is hoping to still be plenty involved in trying to better the lives of students, as she is running for the position of vice president of Student Life in the upcoming United Student

Government elections. She has been a USG senator all three of her years at Fordham. This past year, she has also served as the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and as the chairperson for the Committee on International Integration.

Lest that paragraph of impressive positions make you forget, Phelan’s sense of humor is involved in everything she does. To remind you, here is the beginning of her response to “What made you want to join USG?”: “When I was…a young warthog…”

But now, no longer a young warthog, and with plenty of experience interacting with students under her belt, Phelan wants to help grow inclusivity among Fordham students, her main goal if she is elected VP of Student Life.

“Inclusivity is something that I’ve always tried to promote on campus,” said Phelan. “As VP of Student Life, I could hopefully bring it to that second tier and hopefully expand offerings when it comes to inclusivity.”

A fourth thing to know about Christine Phelan is that she used to want to be a veterinarian. Actually, I guess the fourth thing to know is that

she no longer wants to be a vet, but instead has her eyes set on possibly going to law school or becoming involved in business innovation after spending time in the field of her major, accounting. That’s right: accounting. You know, that major full of spreadsheets and numbers and not puns. How’s that for a plot twist?

There are a great many other things to know about Christine Phelan. For example, her love for her family - “I have two younger brothers that I tell everyone about all the time, to the point where I’ll give other people updates immediately when things happen to my brothers” – her propensity to burst into song – “I will sing along to anything and so anytime I have been watching movies with friends that are musical in nature or are listening to any song I will probably be singing” - or her ability to coach people in all things job-acquiring related.

And if you can stand elite-level bad puns and the more-than-occasional musical outburst, you’ll find the antithesis of a stereotypical accounting major who is also a RA and is heavily involved in student government.

In other words, a living, breathing, laughing person.

Review | Theatre A Student’s Guide to FET’s “Bob” Shows Inner Strength Tribeca Film Festival

By RYAN DI CORPO STAFF WRITER

Beware, reader: the following article contains constant name-dropping.

Next week will mark the 16th time casual filmgoers and bonafide cineastes have gathered together to attend the surprising, innovative and occasionally historic events which form the backbone of the Tribeca Film Festival. This year’s festival runs from April 19-30 in Manhattan. The film screenings, talks and galas in this most recent edition of the Festival, founded by Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro, fall neatly in line with its goal to present the public with new and challenging films while redefining the boundaries of the cinema.

The Festival offers screenings of both international and domestic narrative films and of new shorts and documentaries. Many of these films screen in competition at the Festival, which concludes with an awards ceremony. Tribeca also aims to test the limits of film with the inclusion of virtual reality experiences as part of “Tribeca’s Immersive Visual Arcade.”

Highlights of this year’s slate of filmsincludethereleaseofBombshell: TheHedyLamarrStory,whichwillbe followed by a discussion with Susan Sarandon, and the dramatic World War II era The Exception, which will be followed by a discussion with Christopher Plummer. The Festival line-up also includes a series of sure-to-be-illuminating talks with

veritable legends of music, film and the theatre, such as Barbara Streisand, Bruce Springsteen (who will be interviewed by Tom Hanks) and The Revenant director Alejandro González Iñárritu.

Not absent from the Festival is the presence of retrospective and anniversary screenings, some followed by panel discussions which would make any film lover’s head spin. The 25th anniversary of Reservoir Dogs will be screened (in 35mm) at the Beacon Theatre on the 28th, followed by a talk with producer Lawrence Bender and director Quentin Tarantino. Also receiving a retrospective screening, this time at Radio City Music Hall on the 29th, is The Godfather.

The original film, celebrating its 45th anniversary will be screening in conjunctionwithTheGodfather:Part II. The conclusion of the previous film will be followed by a discussion with various members of The Godfather cast and crew, including actors Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton and director Francis Ford Coppola.

In case that is not enough, the opening night of this year’s Festival includes a gala at Radio City Music Hall to celebrate the release of the new documentary Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives. The gala will include a screening of the film and music performances by Jennifer Hudson, Dionne Warwick, Carly Simon, Barry Manilow, Earth, Wind & Fire and Aretha Franklin.

Tickets are on sale now.

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Being uptown in the Bronx is no excuse for missing the iconic Tribeca Film Festival.

By ALEXANDRA MANDALAKIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Fordham Experimental Theatre (FET), one of three theatrical clubs on campus, concluded their season with their second slot show this past weekend. “Bob: A Life in Five Acts” was a perfect way to close out the year. The show has it all: laughs, tears and everything in between.

“Bob,” written by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, follows the life of Bob from birth to death. Bob (Teddy Lawlor, FCRH ’19) is born in the bathroom of a White Castle, to a mother named Helen (Annina Black, FCRH ’19), who then abandons him. He is raised by Jeanine (Erin Kiernan, FCRH ’19), a waitress convinced that a fortune cookie predicted her calling to raise Bob to be a great man. At a rest stop in Mound City, Missouri, Bob meets a plethora of people (an ensemble consisting of Lily Ochs, FCRH ’20, Omar Dolah, FCRH ’18, Katie Moore, FCRH ’19 and Simon Rodriguez, GSB ’20) whom he learns lessons from and listens to as they journey through life. At this rest stop, Bob encounters Amelia (Rita Padden, FCRH ’17) and falls in love.

On a journey across America, he meets his birth father Gunther Roy (Gavin Barba, FCRH ’17), a washed up circus animal trainer, and later encounters his birth mother, who inspires him to become the great man he was always destined to be.

Throughout the story, every person in Bob’s life dies tragically, but he keeps traveling on. We last see Bob at a rest stop in Mexico, where the moral of his flea circus show is “no one is alone.”

“Bob” was carried out incredibly well. The use of the side stage as a backstage area was a clever way to use the Collins’ Blackbox Auditorium, as well as the two prop sta-

COURTESY OF FORDHAM EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE

FET’s performance of “Bob” reveals the importance of appreciating the little things.

tions on either side of the stage, where ensemble members sat and picked up their costumes. This was an inclusive and creative way for the ensemble members to play various roles, while allowing the audience to take part in the humor behind it.

Although the Blackbox is a tough space to work in due to its small size and simple technical aspects, the entire production team did a great job with the lighting, set and overall value of the show. Aside from the dimly lit center aisle during the fun ensemble dances, everything was big and bright.

Every actor involved with the show did an impressive job connecting with this quirky plot. Although the story was random and many of the lead actors were only involved in one of the five acts, the story flowed well. Lawlor did a fantastic job handling both the intensity and comedic moments that the character of Bob entails, creating a diverse and interesting character to watch unravel. The adaptability of the four ensemble members was also notable, as the play weighed so heavily on their ability to portray such unique

roles throughout Bob’s life journey.

All of this was executed beautifully under the direction of Patrick Hood, FCRH ’17, who thoroughly enjoyed his experience.

“While it was very time consuming and just devoured my schedule, the show and the people in it were just so great to work with that it didn’t feel like work, even though it did take a lot of work,” said Hood.

“The best part of the process was working with such glorious people.”

Through its comedic story, “Bob: A Life in Five Acts” shows people that no matter what happens in life, everyone has someone to lean on.

It portrays a life story of a man who experiences so much tragedy in life, but remains strong and keeps moving forward with pride. “If there is one thing I want people to take away from Bob, it would be that we are all incredibly lucky to be alive in the chaos of the universe,” said Hood.

“We are all capable of great things, even (and especially) if you have no idea what you want to do yet.”

FET has recently announced their first slot show for next semester, entitled “Getting Out.”