Volume 105 Issue 21

Volume 105, Issue 21

Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918.

TheFordhamRam.com

November 15, 2023

Rose Hill Campus Upcoming Renovations

Bronx Night Market in Fordham Plaza Closes After Seven Years

By NORA MALONE

By SOFIA DONOHUE

As 2024 approaches, students may notice some scaffolding around campus coming down and more going up. Several new projects are coming to Rose Hill as the semester winds down.

Currently, both Faculty Memorial Hall and Loyola Hall are having their facades renovated.

Both buildings have concrete surrounds on the windows that crack over time.

“We were starting to see that some of the concrete was falling, so we built a bridge and started looking at all the window surrounds on the front of the building,” said John Puglisi, associate vice president for facilities management. “Some of the scaffolding you’ll see coming down in the next two weeks and when students come back in January should all be gone.”

The largest project currently taking place is the McShane Marketplace renovation, which aims to be completed next October.

Currently the university is working on destination dining, which provides semi-temporary dining

The Bronx Night Market held its last event after a seven-year run on Saturday, Oct. 28. Since 2017, the Bronx Night Market has graced Fordham Plaza with live music and performers, local food and an assortment of artisanal products.

For the past seven years, the Bronx Night Market has offered Fordham students a slice of Bronx culture. On Oct. 12, the Bronx Night Market announced their closure on their Instagram account (@bronxnightmarket). For some students, the Market’s closing came as a surprise.

“I was honestly surprised when they announced the last ever Bronx Night Market, especially since it’s become kind of like a tradition for me to go each year,” said Anaya Ger, FCRH ’25.

Similarly, Araly Langomas, GSB ’24, didn’t expect the market’s unforeseen end.

“I’m on the Bronx Night Market email list. When I received the email that it was permanently ending, I was shocked. Going to the market and enjoying the variety of food from the vendors is something I looked forward to every year. I also think it was a great way of bringing people in the Bronx together and celebrating different cultures within the community,” said Langomas.

As a Resident Assistant (RA), Ger took her residents to the Bronx Night Market annually.

“Since becoming an RA in my sophomore year, I always do a program to introduce residents to the night market because it’s a great way to support local small businesses,” said Ger. “I loved how close it was to

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

CONTRIUTING WRITER

SEE BUILD, PAGE 4

COURTESY OF HANIF AMANULLAH FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Hanif Amanullah was one of the few Fordham students who studied in Africa this year.

Students Express Concern Over Fordham’s Disengagement From African Study Abroad Programs

By SAMANTHA MINEAR FEATURES EDITOR

Fordham University has an expansive study abroad program, known for its feature semesterlong offerings in London at the university’s Clerkenwell campus, and Granada, at the University of Granada, where students are placed into local homestays. According to the study abroad office, an average of 47% of students study abroad at

one of the “over 100 study abroad programs in more than 50 countries” that the university offers.

However, the university currently has no internal application system for students looking to study abroad outside of Europe following the 2020 suspension of the Ubuntu program, a partnership between Fordham and the University of Pretoria which allowed Fordham students to study in South Africa and University of Pretoria students

to study in New York.

All study abroad programs were suspended during the 2020-21 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but London and Granada were quickly reinstated the following year. Despite interest from students and faculty, the university’s partnership with the University of Pretoria has remained defunct.

SEE AFRICA, PAGE 4

Fordham Delegation Attends Pope's Synod on Synodality

By SOFIA DONOHUE ASST. NEWS EDITOR

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

On Nov. 14, Fordham Graduate Student Workers held a rally on the Walsh Library Lawn.

Fordham Graduate Workers Hold Rally Outside of Walsh Library

By JAYLIN SELDON

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Nov. 14 on the lawn of Walsh Library at 3 p.m., Fordham’s Graduate Student Workers (FGSW) held a rally calling out the institution’s

treatment of its graduate students — a new installment in their multiple-year-long campaign to negotiate a mutual contract with Fordham University.

According to the union, this specific rally is a continuation of the union’s rampant mobilization

since they have not met an agreement with the university; similarly, in May this year, a three-day walkout was held during the spring 2023 semester.

The university has engaged with the union’s demands, but according to the union, they have been SEE FGSW, PAGE 3

A group of 11 Fordham students, one graduate student and 10 undergraduates, traveled to Rome to observe Pope Francis’ landmark Synod on Synodality on Oct. 13, 2023.

“The Synod on Synodality is an event that is a multiyear event from 2021-2024 which includes a month-long meeting this past October of delegates from around the world, so they’re physically together in Rome for this month-long period. We traveled to Rome while all the delegates were there discussing relevant issues in the Church that were brought up in years prior,” explained Eli Taylor, a theology master’s student.

Throughout the students’ week-long stay, the group SEE SYNOD, PAGE 3

SEE BRONX, PAGE 4

in this issue

Opinion Page 6 Ms. Tetlow: Tear Down This Wall

Culture

Page 15

A Guide to Bryant Park’s Winter Village

Sports

Page 20

Women’s Basketball Skirts By Albany, Falls to Miami

NEWS

Page 2

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS Nov. 9 McShane Center 10:23 a.m.

On Thursday, a fire alarm went off in the McShane Campus Center. The supervisor responded and evacuated the building. Investigation revealed that contractors working on the second floor triggered the alarm. The supervisor reset the alarm panel.

Nov. 9 Off-Campus 10:50 p.m.

On Thursday, a student walked into the Public Safety Office to report a robbery. The student said they were walking on 182 St. and 3rd Ave. when a group of young males went through the student’s pockets and removed their wallet and cell phone.

The student returned to campus and reported to Public Safety. The supervisor called the NYPD who responded and arrested one of the offenders.

Nov. 12 Goupil Hall 4:20 p.m.

On Sunday, a smoke alarm went off in Goupil Hall. The supervisor and FDNY responded and evacuated the building.

The investigation revealed students cooking in the second-floor kitchen triggered the alarm. The supervisor ventilated the room and reset the alarm panel.

Follow us on Instagram! @thefordhamram

November 15, 2023

The Center for Community Engaged Learning Hosts Short Film Screening

By GRACE GALBREATH ASST. NEWS EDITOR

The Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) hosted a short film screening and Q&A on Nov. 7. The event was titled “Film Program #5: Feminisms & Sexual Dissidences.” Chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures Carl Fischer and Assistant Professor in the Communications and Media Studies Department Elizabeth Ramírez Soto helped organize the screening.

The event was the fifth and final part in a series of short film screenings organized through a collaboration between Fordham, Princeton University, New York University and Cal State Long Beach. All of the films shown related to the topic of dictatorships. Fischer also curated a corresponding art exhibit, Chile: Dignidad, 1973-2023, located at the Lipani Gallery.

Following the film screening, Jorge Diaz, a Chilean biologist and queer theorist, and Cheril Linett, founder of the Chilean feminist performance group “La Yeguada Latinoamericana,” were present to answer audience questions and respond.

Both students and alumni attended the event. Some of Fischer and Soto’s own students also attended the screening.

Fischer said, “We were also grateful to see a number of other people, from Fordham and throughout the city, who showed up to see the films (which are very rarely shown) and interact with our guests.”

Fischer said the screening was held to raise awareness.

It was inspired by one of the historical anniversaries of the Chilean government.

Fischer said, “The screening was inspired by the 50th anniversary of the military coup against the democratically elected government of Salvador

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Following the film screening, CCEL hosted two experts, Jorge Diaz and Cheril Linett, for a Q&A session.

Allende in Chile, which took place on September 11, 1973.

This was how the dictator Augusto Pinochet came into power. We felt that it was important to commemorate this event, because we care deeply about democracy, pluralism, and free expression — ideals that the dictatorship suppressed for almost 18 years.”

Planning for the event took place over a number of months. During the planning stage, Fischer and Soto collaborated with CCEL. Fischer said, “We started planning the event in the summer. We were really gratified and thankful to the Center for Community Engaged Learning, especially Keisha Shay, for a grant that supported the event and allowed us to leverage the expertise of our guests and share it with the community.”

Paula Baeza Pailamilla and Tatiana Gaviola were amongst many other artists whose work was featured at the event. In order to feature their works, Fischer was required to request artist approval.

He said, “CCEL had a grant opportunity this year specifically for LGBTQ+ related

initiatives. So we contacted the different filmmakers to get their permission to screen their films, we added subtitles to some of them when necessary, and we managed the logistics of flying Cheril Linett in from Santiago de Chile and Jorge Díaz in from London, managing their lodging and meals and transportation.”

Fischer said Fordham chose to host Diaz and Linett for a number of reasons, including the influential books that they have both published.

He said, “They have both been leading activists in feminist and queer circles in Chile for a long time, even though they’re both relatively young. Their activism has often taken the form of performances in public spaces that have confronted Chilean authorities and fought for free expression in the face of patriarchal oppression, homophobia and transphobia that are tacitly supported

by Chile’s government and private sector.”

While attendees were taught about feminist and queer movements, Fischer said he

hopes that they also left with a greater awareness of Chilean history.

Fischer said, “It’s important to raise awareness of these histories here, specifically, because the U.S. was deeply involved in undermining democracy in Chile, as well as elsewhere in Latin America. So what happened in Chile, and what’s continuing to happen there, is deeply intertwined with our own positions as U.S. citizens.”

Fischer also added, “The stories of the trans people, queer people and feminists who resisted Chile’s dictatorship — sometimes simply by living their lives as openly as they could at the time — are relevant to how we can reckon with some of the more unpleasant legacies of our country’s foreign policy. Moreover, in many ways feminist, queer, and trans movements in Latin America — not just Chile — are light years ahead of their peers in the U.S., and can teach us a lot. The bodily autonomy of women, queer people and trans people is highly interconnected.”

This Week at Fordham Wednesday Nov. 15

Thursday Nov. 16

Friday Nov. 17

Friday Nov. 17

Friday Nov. 17

SLC Town Hall Meeting

Women’s Basketball

CAB’s WAC November Bingo

CAB and Rod’s Concert

CS-rAve-away Donation Event

McShane 112 3 p.m.

Rose Hill Gymnasium 7 p.m.

Keating 1st 6:30-8 p.m.

Rodrigues Coffee House 8-10 p.m.

Lombardi Field House 5:30-8:30 p.m.

The Student Life Council is meeting on Wednesday to discuss the university’s guest pass policy. Bring an empty stomach, because lunch will be provided for all attendees.

Women’s Basketball is playing Manhattan College on Thursday. Head to the Rose Hill Gymnasium to watch the Battle of the Bronx and eat some free Chick-Fil-A.

Do you love to play games and win prizes? Join CAB on Friday evening for their monthly bingo event. The event will be a blast, so come ready to have fun.

On Friday, Rodrigues Coffee House and CAB will be collaborating to host a concert. The concert will showcase four performers. Don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes!

On Friday, the Commuting Students Association (CSA) is hosting a rave event. CSA is asking attendees to bring donations of non-perishable goods and winter jackets.

NEWS

November 15, 2023

Page 3

Fordham Delegation Attends Pope’s Synod on Synodality

spent time speaking to officials FROM SYNOD, PAGE 1 and participating in workshops with representative groups in order to gain understanding on how conversations functioned in Vatican meetings.

The Vatican discussed various topics relevant to the Church today, such as women’s inclusion and leadership in the Church, the dignity of life, LGBTQ+ issues and environmental concerns.

“The issues that were being discussed in the meeting hall came together after a multiyear long discussion session that was going on in the wider church, starting at parish-levels.

It was a time period for people to air their grievances or to say what they like about the church, how they feel listened to by the church or how they don’t feel heard, and that was consolidated into one document that was brought to Rome and given to the delegates to discuss,” said Taylor.

Before traveling to Rome, the group of students read the

document that was discussed in the meetings, “Instrumentum laboris,” as well as various news articles and papers about the Synod. For additional preparation, each week a student presented an article and discussed the ramifications for the Synod and the Church. Fordham is the only delegation of college students in the world that attended the Synod.

“Fordham is an institution that’s been participating in the Synod since 2021 through a number of lectures, guest speakers, etc., but this is really Fordham’s next level of engagement with the Synod,” said Vanessa Rotondo, Fordham adjunct professor and deputy chief of staff to the university’s president, Tania Tetlow.

Although the group was wellprepared before embarking to Italy’s capital, students didn’t have a clear picture of what their dayto-day experience would look like while in Rome.

“We were kind of kept a little in the dark about what our experi-

ence was going to be like,” said Will Gualtiere, FCLC ’25. “It was sort of done with the idea behind it to stay present in the moment and not have some sort of expectation or precipitation about the trip so when we go we could have an authentic experience.”

“I think my expectation going there was that we were going to be serving as some kind of representative — that we were representing American college students. I think my expectation coming back was that we’re not representatives of American college students, but rather representatives of the Synod towards American college students,” said Seamus Dougherty, FCRH ’26.

Although the group has returned to New York City, they continue to actively share their experience of the Synod with the Fordham community. The students post articles on Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture’s

“Sapientia” blog as well as document their experience on the Instagram account @synodalfordham.

For Dougherty, bringing the Synod’s mission to the Bronx means actively depolarizing people he encounters and being a better listener.

“Especially when it feels like the world, campus and the country are being sort of pulled apart from each other, the project of considering how you can take steps to actively depolarize the people you encounter, depolarize your own viewpoints and be a better listener have been, I think, an important thing that we’re trying to take away and to bring into our conversations with each other, the Church and our peers,” said Dougherty.

Meanwhile, Abigail Adams, FCRH ’26, said she sees larger themes of Synodality present in her liberal arts classes.

“I’ve been able to see through our experience in Rome, what we’ve learned and the idea of

Synodality overall implemented in my other classes. While we’re not directly talking about the Synod or Synodality, I see this theme of overcoming polarizations in my English, philosophy and anthropology classes,” said Adams.

Through conversations with their peers and delegates in Rome, the group of students recognized the Church’s openness to change and their willingness to listen to all members of the Catholic Church.

The students stressed that the Synod is a continuous, everchanging process rather than an outcome-based affair.

“The Church is changing. I just want to tell people who feel hurt by the Church or by their experiences with religion that things aren’t going to be the way they’ve always been — this is a real turning point,” said AnnaMarie Pacione, FCRH ’26.

There is a discussion on Dec. 3 about the Synod.

Fordham Graduate Workers Hold Rally Outside of Walsh Library FROM FGSW, PAGE 1

met with month-long silence or ineffective counters by President Tania Tetlow and Fordham’s bargaining committee.

One main point brought up at the rally was Fordham’s treatment of international graduate students — a fight FGSW has been engaging with the administration since the pandemic. Numerous international graduate students spoke out at the rally about how Fordham’s administration left them to fend for themselves once they arrived in the United States, remarking about dealing with housing security, some even homeless, throughout their time at Fordham whilst having to find a

way to juggle teaching and school duties. The speakers claimed Fordham refused to pay these students until they had been given a SSN, leaving many having to rely on the small stipend Fordham for weeks as they cannot legally work anything above the table.

According to FGSW, when the union brought this issue up with the administration, they claimed the housing of internationals was not their responsibility. The university has consistently claimed that they would have to raise student tuition to meet all of the FGSW’s demands.

In an email sent by Tetlow on April 20, the university claimed:

“We understand the desire of every student (and every person) to have a living wage, affordable housing, and free child care. But what we do not understand is the expectation that Fordham, a non-profit and a school, could provide all of this for its own students. Indeed, because we are almost entirely tuition-dependent, the demand presents serious equity issues. It would effectively require us to redirect the tuition dollars paid by undergraduates and other graduate students to provide full, personal financial support for the 360 students represented by this union.”

At the rally, FGSW replied to this point made by the university, claiming that they make enough

money to meet their needs with the amount of money the university brings in per semester.

A less focused but still very present part of the rally was the union’s fight to abolish NDAs. FGSW claimed NDAs exist only to protect abusers and silence cases of sexual assault and abuse on campus.

On their website, FGSW said that they are looking to eliminate the “utilization of non-disclosure agreements for cases of harassment and discrimination in order to protect the safety of workers from known threats to workplace safety. [Eliminate] the use of nondisclosure agreements to silence survivors. [Eliminate] the use of non-disclosure agreements to protect sexual harrassers.”

The university has stated that they do not use NDAs in cases of sexual assault.

Multiple grad students at the rally remarked about struggling to raise children due to their salary of $27,000.

A speaker at the rally mentioned having to take out extra student loans to help pay for childcare.

The rally ended around 5 p.m. with a song of worker solidarity, standing with the workers in similar northeastern universities and those abroad.

Currently, they await a meeting with Fordham’s bargaining committee that will determine their next course of action in their fight for a fair contract.

USG Discusses New Business and Learns About CPS

By SOFIA SEMPER STAFF WRITER

The Fordham Rose Hill United Student Government (USG) met on Thursday, Nov. 9, to discuss new business and learn about the Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) offered at Fordham.

Jeffrey Ng, Psy.D., CPS director, gave a presentation about what CPS has to offer students.

CPS offers students the chance to meet with trained psychologists, and students can either have emergency meetings when they need to speak with someone urgently or, for students who would like to regularly see a therapist, CPS provides a phone screening call to better understand what the student needs and how to help them. Ng stated that there is usually a two-week wait time between having the consultation call and getting connected with a counselor. He explained that along with their own psychological services, they also have a referral service for students to be referred to an off-campus, long- or shortterm psychiatrist.

CPS also recently launched a

new peer-counseling program where undergraduate students who have been trained by psychologists can meet with students and offer their peers support. The peer counselors help to ease the workload of the trained staff as they work with students who have lower level issues while they reserve students who have more critical cases for the trained professionals.

Executive President Briana Al-Omoush, FCRH ’24, announced that the USG Senate will need to let her and Executive Vice President Ava Coogan, FCRH ’25, know as soon as possible if they will be stepping down from their position next semester so they can announce all special elections and vacancies.

Al-Omoush stated that the second Town Hall meeting of the semester is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 5 p.m. and it will cover study abroad concerns as their main topic. She also said that the Senate newsletter templates will be sent out soon, and the finished newsletters should be released around Thanksgiving.

Al-Omoush announced that the CPS syllabi statement proposal —

people she has reached out Vice President of Gabelli a proposal to include informato about Bronx Appreciation School of Business (GSB) Catie tion about CPS in every class Week. Vice President of Dining Flores, GSB ’25, stated that the syllabus — should be coming by and Facilities Jamie Serruto, GSB Dean’s Council is having the end of this month.

FCRH ’24, said that discussions their small business fair this week Vice President of Student Life regarding the Aramark contract and it will either be on Hughes Brian Inguanti, FCRH ’24, stated review are ongoing.

Hall’s terrace or main lobby. that the art show planning is unSerruto also announced that Vice President of Sustainability derway and he will be presenting he is currently reviewing the Sean Power, FCRH ’24, announced a budget request soon. He also proposal that was passed last that Sustainability Week is this said that his committee will be year about Aramark employees week, and they have activities holding special elections for the being able to go to religious obplanned for everyday. vice chair position soon. servances, and his committee Vice President of Diversity and Vice President of Communiis working on the procedure to Inclusion Mirei Fukushima, GSB cations Ariadna Wong, FCRH inform staff about this option in ’25, announced that she is work’25, said that she has finished the near future. ing on getting emails back from updating the website and she is thinking of making a holiday card post and a finals post to encourage students.

Vice President of Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) Emma Balint, FCRH ’24, stated that, at the FCRH Dean’s Council meeting, students brought up public concerns regarding registration, study abroad and advisor holds. She also said that she is starting to plan the Town Hall with the study abroad subcommittee and the undergraduate research subcommittee is thinking of creating a newsletter to send out to students that COURTESY OF FACEBOOK showcases all undergraduate research opportunities.

Jeffrey Ng, director of CPS, gave a presentation at the latest meeting.

Page 4

NEWS Fordham Disengages in African Study Abroad Programs

November 15, 2023

FROM AFRICA, PAGE 1

The University of PretoriaFordham partnership was founded in 2007 by the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. According to professor Booi Themeli, who directed the program from its inception, Ubuntu sought to “empower the next generation of leaders” in South Africa and New York.

It was previously temporarily suspended in 2017 following violent protests in the region.

Many students and alumni are calling on Fordham to reinstate this program as well as streamlining more programs outside of Western Europe.

Unique in comparison to London and Granada, students in South Africa participated in community-engaged learning which involved weekly volunteering in rural and remote areas outside of Pretoria. Students learned about the effects of apartheid and decolonization and were immersed in socio-political history of South Africa.

The Ubuntu program was of particular interest to those looking to explore South Africa’s rich culture and layered past. Additionally, unlike other opportunities to study abroad in Africa, Ubuntu was completely Fordham-run. Fordham students had classes, mentors, trips and a community completely built for them, a radically different experience than participating through an external organization or institution.

Ian Smith, communications officer at the United Nations’ International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and

FCLC ’22, studied abroad at the University of Pretoria through the Ubuntu program.

“The Ubuntu program changed the course of my life. It’s how I got my job at the UN,” said Smith.

“I ran a campaign this time last year to get [the program] reinstated and the study abroad office has still never provided the reason why the program closed and when it might reopen.”

“Ubuntu in South Africa was a long-standing, wellrespected and adored program for over 10 years,” said Smith.

“I had 13 people in my cohort — some years there were as many as 25 students.” Additionally, Smith said that the Ubuntu program had “an element of exchange” as many South African students had the opportunity to “come to the U.S. for the first time.”

Smith said that the program emphasized anti-racism, decolonization and social justice — all essential tenets of Jesuit religiosity — as the foundational ideas that made up Ubuntu’s curriculum. “If Fordham is truly committed to anti-racism, as they professed in 2020, the administration would not have closed the university’s only [internal] African study abroad program that same year.”

Francesca Rizzo, FCRH ’24, a humanitarian studies and theology double major, chose to study abroad in Tunisia for the fall 2023 semester. Tunisia is an Arab country in North Africa known as the origin nation of the Arab Spring, a political revolution which sought to bring democracy (amongst other goals) to the African continent.

“I [am] looking to get experience working on postcolonial development, human rights and emergency aid,” said Rizzo. “It didn’t really make sense to me to study in [Europe] as they aren’t the ones typically [sic] facing the crises I have dedicated my study to. In fact, as the nations who are responsible for the challenges and fallouts of colonialism, it seemed backwards to me.”

Rizzo said that her experience in applying for study abroad was much more complicated than her friends who studied in Europe. “I had to seek out study in Africa on my own. [...] I was provided with no extra resources, nor advice from past students or faculty,” she said. “In fact, I waited for months with little communication to get approved.”

“If a student at Fordham wants to study abroad in Africa or any place that isn’t Western Europe, they will have a more difficult time,” said Rizzo.

However, she said she encourages students to pursue Africa study regardless of potential roadblocks.

“If more people sign up for African programs, perhaps Fordham will promote them and help students more. I would love to see that happen,” said Rizzo.

Many feel that Fordham’s silence on the Ubuntu program, as well as a general lack of resources afforded to African study abroad programs, represent a gap in opportunities for existing students.

While other options exist, such as the Cape Town program offered

by Fordham’s sister Jesuit school Marquette University, the onus

is on the student to seek out an external program, many of which involve exorbitant fees.

Dr. Joseph Rienti, director of the International and Study Abroad Programs, stated that the university currently offers 20 study abroad programs in 11 countries in Africa. All of these programs require additional applications through a partner institution or external organization.

However, “all of our Granada study abroad program students do an immersive cultural exchange visit to Morocco,” said Rienti.

“They engage with local university students, have a home-stay visit and learn about the history, culture and contemporary issues impacting North Africa.” Given Spain’s colonial history in Morocco, this experience is both culturally immersive and politically relevant to the Granada program.

“The International and Study Abroad Programs Office is committed to supporting and promoting global diversity as well as helping our undergraduate students gain an understanding of some of the complexities that stem from our increasingly interconnected and interdependent world,” said Rienti.

Hanif Amanullah, FCRH ’24, studied abroad in Kenya. He participated with the School of Field Studies (SFS), an external organization which focuses on study abroad experiences “through fieldbased learning and research.”

He stated that “Ms. Robin Joseph and Dr. Rienti were very accommodating when I began applying to SFS,” even though the “program didn’t exist on the Fordham study

abroad roster at the time.”

Amanullah had to go through an additional application process to have it approved and then had to apply to the program separately.

“I’d always wanted to study abroad in a non-Western country, and while searching for environmental studies opportunities I came across the School for Field Studies and their Kenya center,” said Amanullah. “Studying in Kenya seemed to offer a new lens, new perspectives on wildlife and landscape conservation.”

During his program, Amanullah conducted research on how wild animals — such an elephants — adapted to changing environments. His cohort did “lots of camping” around Kenya and Tanzania to learn more about the local wildlife and nearby reserves.

“One time my PB&J sandwich was stolen by a vervet monkey,” said Amanullah. “Thinking back on it, several food items of mine were stolen and subsequently consumed by wild primates.”

Studying abroad outside of Europe has proved to be a culturally enriching, once-in-a-lifetime experience for Amanullah, Rizzo and Smith, who encourage students to pursue these programs.

Such opportunities align with the university’s “cura personalis” ethos and “[draw] on a long-standing tradition in Jesuit education,” according to Rienti.

The study abroad office did not comment on when or if the Ubuntu program would return, nor the establishment of any future internal study abroad programs outside of Europe.

Rose Hill Campus Upcoming Renovations FROM BUILD, PAGE 1

halls and food trucks across campus. The most significant impact of the construction is its cost. The school has received some grants with the intention of taking the load off tuition.

“The university’s finances are very heavily based on tuition, so anything that we can do to try to combat tuition creep is important,” said Puglisi. “Grant writing and donations are taking a lot of our effort.”

The grants are not only for the campus center. The school has received one from renovations to the University Church, which has water infiltration issues. The plaster in the ceiling is filling with water, swelling and then drying. As this repeats, the plaster starts to flake and fall.

Protection will cover the first few rows of pews, but services

will continue as usual during the renovation. Due to the age of the church, the renovation is slightly more complicated and requires experts on stonemasonry.

“We’re not quite sure how long [the renovation] will last.

We’re trying to get out of there by wedding season,” said Puglisi.

Not only are buildings going through updates this year, but the boilers and heating on campus are being renovated. In 2019, the campus had a boiler failure and had to mobilize temporary boilers.

These boilers serve several buildings on campus: Duane Library, Martyrs’ Court, Alpha House and Rodrigue’s Coffee House. There is a system of pipes that transports the heat from the central boiler to the buildings that are warmed by it. The system is old – installed in 1968

– and is less efficient than many new heating systems.

“We are downsizing it a little bit so that we are reducing our greenhouse footprint, as well as decentralizing and abandoning some of the distribution system,” said Puglisi.

The university is focusing on using smaller, more efficient equipment to assist with its decarbonization efforts and attempts to consume less natural gas. This upcoming winter there will be a mix of new and old equipment, just in case the new equipment isn’t prepared for the cold.

The university is also considering using geothermal energy, which uses the temperature of the ground to heat and cool buildings.

“I want to do proof of concept.

We have a couple of alternative

energy-generating facilities right now,” said Puglisi. These facilities include solar panels on top of the garage and a fuel cell behind Walsh Library.

Implementing these new systems means any new facilities will be incorporated into them. One of these facilities is a new STEM lab for the physics, math, computer science and biology departments.

“That project has been kicked around for the better part of two decades,” said Puglisi, “and it’s in a very interesting stage right now.

We just approved a programming stacking study for it.”

There is no concrete plan for the facility; it is likely to be in a new building, though there has yet to be a decision on where that building will be. The facility will be undergraduate-focused and prioritize research.

The last of the projects coming

to Fordham in the next couple of months are some updates to dorms. Specifically, water fountains will be added to all dorms, including water bottle fillers.

Many students in dorms such as Martyrs’ only have access to their sinks for water.

“Last year when I was in a freshman dorm I felt like I had to go through many difficult obstacles to just get water,” said Cadence Wahl, FCRH ’26, “Especially because they don’t purify the taps in the bathroom.”

Alongside the ongoing lounge update program, the university is also looking into adding air conditioning to Alumni Court South and Loschert Hall in the most energy-efficient way possible.

“I’m happy to do that stuff.

That’s a real quality of life thing that’s easy to do,” said Puglisi.

Bronx Night Market in Fordham Plaza Closes After Seven Years FROM BRONX, PAGE 1

campus. Sometimes when I would go shopping over the weekend on Fordham Road, I’d end up stopping by the market since it was on my way back to campus,” said Langomas.

Masc Hospitality Group (MHG), the organizers of the Bronx Night Market, released a statement citing numerous reasons for the market’s closure, primarily Fordham Plaza’s declining sanitary conditions and an increase in crime.

“The plaza was in bad shape and not being taken care of, during the summer it became a place for homeless people to stay and this caused some issues with stolen items from our vendors.

As a consequence, the affluence and support of the market decreased in 2023,” said Beatriz Torres Martinez, communications and programming director at MHG. According to Martinez, the future of the Bronx Night Mar-

ket has been in question since the beginning of its season in April. However, the decision to close the market wasn’t made until the summer.

“During the summertime, we tried to lock in more sponsors and partners to support the market and it was very hard,” said Martinez.

In a statement regarding the Bronx Night Market’s closure, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson expressed her commitment to the market’s re-

turn and urged the Department of Transportation to continue conversation with the market’s leadership: “We need the Department of Transportation to continue engaging with the leadership of the market to prioritize long term options for its operation.

We hope these issues are resolved quickly and we can work with our elected officials, the Fordham Business Improvement District and city agencies to keep the Bronx Night Market

at Fordham Plaza,” read the statement.

Despite the Market’s closure, Martinez said she is hopeful that the Bronx Night Market will reopen sometime in the future.

“We hope this sad situation incentivizes the Bronx, in general, to take care of our local businesses and support initiatives that highlight how wonderful the borough is,” said Martinez.

MHG hosts other events in New York City, such as the Queens and Harlem Night Markets.

NEWS

November 15, 2023

Page 5

Pedro Arrupe Volunteers Give Back At Health and Resource Fair

By LINDSEY OSIT

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Pedro Arrupe Volunteers (PAV) held a health and resources fair for the Bronx community at Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on Sunday, Nov. 5.

The fair provided community members with health, immigration, food, housing and legal resources. Attendees were given free flu shots, health screenings and other information in accordance with the PAV’s mission for improving community welfare.

PAV launched its first health and resource fair in 2012 at St. Martin of Tours Church. Since then, the fair has become a yearly tradition.

For the past three years, the event has taken place at Lady of Mt. Carmel on 187th Street.

Rosa Broadhead, FCRH ’24, a leadership council member for PAV, said that the fair was impactful for both volunteers and attendees. “The fair is special to me because it brings together so many people to put it on, which is unique,” Broadhead said. “Memorable interactions included those with the health providers who we partnered with as well as the attendees.”

As a multi and interfaith student-led community, PAV engages in direct service projects for Fordham’s Campus Ministry. Director of Campus Ministry Operations Gilda Severiano said that Fordham students should embrace PAV’s community engagement and

development goals.

“Fordham is part of a larger, diverse and vibrant community in the Bronx and NYC,” Severiano said. “The Pedro Arrupe Volunteers invite our students to step outside of their normal university lives to meet our neighbors in shared experiences and learn about their lives and the issues that affect their communities.”

The health and resource fair showcased PAV’s aim of sustaining relationships between the Fordham community and its neighbors in the Bronx.

PAV invited local groups to participate, including Part of The Solution (POTS), Bronx Legal Services and multiple health centers.

As a non-profit working to fight poverty and hunger in the Bronx, the POTS station provided information about food benefits and other resources.

Bronx Legal Services participated by informing attendees on housing, family, immigration, consumer, education and other non-criminal cases.

The Montefiore Health System gave free flu shots and healthcare information to Bronx community members. The SBH Health System also volunteered at the fair, offering blood pressure screenings and other healthcare resources.

The Union Community Health Center gave away resources, merchandise and informative pamphlets.

Severiano said that the health and resource fair is always held in a church on a Sunday. “It is considered a

safe space to obtain information, resources and health screenings,” she said.

Broadhead said that it is important for group members to understand their capacity to make a difference after volunteering at events like the fair. “I’ve learned the importance of reflecting after serving,” she explained. “Oftentimes, our lives become so busy from one thing to the next, but taking time to reflect helps you evaluate the importance of what you’re doing.”

PAV’s website explains its two main components: direct service engagement with Fordham’s community and educating for a faith that does justice. The Common Groups Conversations speaker series explores current issues through the lens of faith and commitment to service.

Pedro Arrupe, S.J., whom the group is named after, served as Superior General of the Society of Jesus in the late 1900s. He is remembered for his commitment to social justice and serving the poor. PAV honors him by carrying out that mission.

As Severiano said, PAV encourages more Fordham members to get involved. The group will engage in another community service project for turkey and food distributions at Amsterdam House on Nov. 18 and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on Nov. 21. A Winter Wonderland Party and Market is also scheduled at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on Dec. 2.

PAV has other upcoming events targeted toward the Fordham community, including Pedro Arrupe’s birthday celebration on Nov. 14.

Fordham students can get involved in PAV events by signing up for upcoming excursions on the PAV Sign Up for fall 2023.

COURTESY OF LINDSEY OSIT FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

PAV held the health and resource fair this past week.

OPINION

Page 6

R

Serving the Fordham University campus and community since 1918 The Fordham Ram is the university journal of record. The mission of The Fordham Ram is to provide a forum for the free and open exchange of ideas in service to the community and to act as a student advocate. The Fordham Ram is published every Wednesday during the academic year to all campuses.

Website TheFordhamRam.com Email Address theram@fordham.edu Editor in Chief Isabel Danzis Managing Editor Sebastian Diaz Editorial Director Jamison Rodgers Production Editor Michael Sluck Multimedia Director Frances Schnepff Business Director Matthew Colucci Copy Chief Hannah Boring Assistant Copy Chief Sophia Forlenza News Editor Emma Kim Features Editor Samantha Minear Assistant News Editors Sofia Donohue Grace Galbreath Opinion Editor Nicole Braun Assistant Opinion Editors Evan McManus Allison Schneider Culture Editors Kari White Ilaina Kim Assistant Culture Editor Lauren Lombardi Sports Editors Nick Guzman Maddie Bimonte Assistant Sports Editor Lou Orlando Social Media Director Rory Donahue Digital Producers Ava Carreiro Julia Ocello Grace Campbell Claire Krieger Video Editor Skylar Harris Photo Editor Alexandra Antonov Advertising Directors Kathleen Hollinger Grace Miller Faculty Advisor Beth Knobel Editorial Policy The Fordham Ram’s editorial reflects the editorial board’s opinions or views.

Opinion Policy The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of The Fordham Ram. Submissions Policy The Fordham Ram reserves the right to reject or edit any submission for any reason, without notice. Submissions become the exclusive property of The Fordham Ram. No part of the The Fordham Ram may be reproduced without written consent.

November 15, 2023

From the Desk | Sebastian Diaz

It’s 10 a.m. on a Saturday. I’ve already been awake for several hours; no matter how late I fall asleep, my body has never allowed me to wake up anytime after the birds outside my window begin their harmonies.

The next few hours would be the only time in my schedule to crank out the From The Desk I’ve been assigned for the upcoming issue.

For the uninitiated, From The Desk is a column written by a Ram staff member. Usually, topics are uncategorizable, but for the e-board who are writing their final column, it’s tradition to reflect on your time at The Fordham Ram from the perspective of its nearing end. This version of my final From The Desk is closer to my fourth re-write.

I wasn’t satisfied with simply spilling out a reflection and calling it a night; I wanted to try something more experimental. The first draft was something of long-form poetry, the second draft was a meta fictitious “unpublished” letter and the third draft was closer to a short horror story. None of these felt right. There’s a time and place for experimentation, and while it might be the right time, it is most certainly not the right place.

In fact, it’s been difficult not to reflect on my time at the Ram. In just a few weeks, I’ll be liberated from my position as a Fordham University student. The timing coincides exactly with when I’ll have to hang up my Managing Editor sweatshirt. The tie between my standard studenthood and my involvement in the Ram has always been. I was a freshman for less than a month when I got involved in the newspaper.

I started as a copy editor. I wasn’t very good, and I didn’t intend to

Ghosts of Fordham Past copy-edit for very long; for some reason, it was the only Ram email address I could find, and I used it to get into contact with then-News Editor Sarah Huffman. By the end of the week, I was staring at a very heavily-copy edited version of my first article. Really, it was my consistency as a research columnist that led me to be Assistant News Editor for Volume 103.

It is worth noting that this is when I met Isabel Danzis, our Editor in Chief. In Volume 103 we were co-Assistant News Editors, and it was clear to me even then, in 2021, that she would lead the newspaper by Volume 105. There aren’t words to describe how admirable and inspirational it has been to work beside her for nearly three years.

It wasn’t until halfway through Volume 103 that I first stepped foot in B-52, the Ram’s office. I didn’t realize then how important the room would be to my life; every Sunday and Tuesday of every week after that first crossing of the threshold, I would find myself there. Through all its seemingly supernatural properties, tucked away from the rest of the world and able to manipulate time, stretching minutes into hours and hours into seconds, I’ve always been able to count on finding my way back every week. Since then, the Ram has remained a reassuring constant in my life, no matter what role I fit into. It has been inextricably tangled with my life — personal, academic and professional.

Every Wednesday, I deliver the invoices from our Mondays and Tuesdays nights’ Pugsley haul to the OSI office on the second floor of the McShane Campus Center.

Today, it’s where the caf has been

temporarily relocated. Still, all I can see is the sporadic assignment of tables and chairs that defined the second floor of the McGinley Student Center during the hybrid year. In the corner, behind the flooded floor of hundreds of students with nowhere else to go during the winter months, I see myself surrounded by Volume 103’s e-board, breaking the news that I could be transferring to NYU at the start of the next semester (I realize now that I probably should’ve mentioned that sooner). Without fail, it brings a chill to my spine.

These chills are also constant.

The blankets on Eddie’s, the illuminated pathway of the Queen’s Court courtyard, the red checkerboard interior of my apartment building. Remnants of the past that can’t disappear.

The ghosts remind me that my years at Fordham (and, thusly, on the Ram) have been the longest I’ve spent in the same place since 2010.

By the end of my second year, I was already starting to feel the weight become unbearable. I didn’t find a place where I felt like I was truly comfortable, but proving to myself that the weight couldn’t crush me was far more important.

The way I worded that makes it sound like my time here has been a miserable slog — for the most part,

it hasn’t. As difficult as parts of it may have been, I’m satisfied by the way the past three years of my life have unraveled before me. Some of the happiest moments of my life would not have happened without Fordham. Still, I’m glad my time here is coming to a close.

I feel as though my organs are rapidly decaying, my back still aches, each day gets cloudier and proximity to the ghosts that haunt me makes each night colder. I’m ready to move on. Still, I won’t readily forget the spirit of my college experience. Each memory, good or bad, enlightening or oppressive, will carry me forward. I’m ready to leave, I’m ready to look back and reminisce.

To be the only warm body amongst a sea of silent spirits — you’d feel the heat draw away into the ground, too.

And when you’ll watch the sunrise from the other side of the river, the wind will drift over the pier and deliver the memories. You’ll remember how you used to feel the vibrations in their voice, how her hands could never sit still, how his eyes never found a place to rest.

Your foot will reach that new cold spot at the edge of the bed.

It’s 10 a.m. on a Saturday. I’ve already been awake for several hours, and I will be for several more.

Editorial | Campus Safety

Ms. Tetlow, Tear Down That Wall The gate around Fordham’s campus has sparked several debates over the years. For a while, the understanding was that the iron bars, chain link and, at certain points, barbed wire were protecting the Fordham community from the urban environment around campus. However, in light of the recent incident in Walsh Hall where a man breached the security around campus and broke into the residence hall, it’s time to reevaluate whether the controversial gate is actually accomplishing its goal.

Student opinion has been mixed on the issue of the gate over the years. Some students feel that the gate offers a protective barrier from the issues that may arise from living in a big city. The gate also allows some students to let their guard down, as well as create a sense of community and feel of a traditional college campus as opposed to the urban layout of some other New York universities. However, this feeling of security and the ability to let their guard down may actually be the problem.

On the other hand, some students feel the gate creates a negative divide between the Fordham community and the surrounding neighborhood. They believe that the gate creates an us-versus-them mentality and produces a racial othering between a predominantly white

institution (PWI) and a predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhood. Furthermore, the gate acts as an innate symbol that there is something that is dangerous or unsafe outside of Fordham’s campus that needs to be kept out. Community members can feel a sense of anxiety from the start of their time at Fordham while off campus through the message that symbol sends alone.

There is a commonly held belief within Fordham’s community that the gate allows students to roam around campus without being aware of their surroundings because of the blind trust in the security the gate promises. This false sense of security could create less vigilance among community members and allow for more things to slip through the cracks.

The most recent breach of security was the incident in Walsh.

While this specific incident was not caused by student inattentiveness, it is common practice among Fordham students to sneak people in through the Walsh turnstile or swipe in other students when they get locked out. This is aided by the fact that the turnstile is unmanned by a security officer unlike every other entrance to campus. On Nov. 3, an “emotionally disturbed” man forced his way onto campus through this turnstile with a student returning to campus. The man then entered Walsh, made it

to the ninth floor and sprayed a fire extinguisher into a dorm room before being restrained by Public Safety and, ultimately, arrested by the NYPD. This begs the question: if the supposed purpose of the gate is not always effective, should it remain standing or should other ideas be explored? The Walsh breach is not the only security incident this campus has experienced. In 2022, a man accessed campus twice to steal scooters from Loschert Hall after being swiped in by students.

Additionally, students have reported people climbing over the gate to access campus. This question, in conjunction with the negative divide the gate produces between Fordham’s community and the surrounding neighborhood, has prompted the reinvigorated call for the gate to come down.

The decision to take the gate down is a complicated one, but in light of recent events, the one undeniable thing is that Fordham needs to reevaluate its security measures. As mentioned earlier, the gate can provide a false sense of security and allows students to let their guard down. The gate is not some magical barrier that can

keep the negative aspects of our society from reaching our community. Iron is strong, but not omnipotent.

Fordham should turn their focus to enhancing safety measures in different ways on campus instead of passively relying on the gate. Most buildings on campus remain unlocked for a majority of the time. The only exception is residence halls, and even then only one of the two front doors are locked. Maybe more Public Safety patrols need to be added to campus on campus patrol and in residence halls.

It is not an easy decision to make, and there are a lot of different voices that need to be heard during the debate. However, one thing is for sure: students should not stop being vigilant of their surroundings just because they passed through that wrought iron gate and into campus. If college is preparing students for the real world, then where in the world will people not need to be aware of what is happening around them?

Fordham has fallen into a pattern of inattentiveness, and maybe that is the true change that needs to be made going forward.

OPINION

November 15 , 2023

Page 7

To Airbnb or Not to Airbnb?

By HANIF AMANULLAH

MANAGING EDITOR EMERITUS

Airbnb is taking my would-be apartment. Sort of.

As one of the many Fordham seniors who intends to stay in New York City after graduation, there’s an age-old tradition I have to partake in. Every so often, when I’ve mustered the courage to do so, I take a deep breath and open up a Zillow tab in my browser. I steel myself and make sure I’m sitting down as I type “New York City” in the apartment rentals search bar.

I hold my computer at arm’s length as I scroll around the city map, and eventually filter by rental price.

This past week, my filter’s maximum price was so low that only four available listings popped up on screen. After that harrowing two-minute ordeal, I exited out of the tab and resigned myself to checking the following week.

We always hear that New York is one of the most unaffordable cities on the planet, and for good reason. As a college student, the housing market seems impossible to penetrate. I’ll need roommates, a well-paying entry-level liberal arts job (ha!) and I must not let my high hopes of seeing a sliver of blue sky out of my apartment’s one window dissuade me from renting in this urban jungle. When it comes down to it, there just aren’t enough apartments to go around.

Except, that’s just not true.

Up until early September 2023,

there were just as many Airbnb apartments up for grabs in the Big Apple as there were longterm rentals. As is the case in so many cities around the world, the spaces exist, but Airbnb seems to have snapped them up.

Now, Airbnb has been having a good year. Bookings are at an all-time high, and the company made $2 billion in 2022.

According to the stock market, now is a great time to invest in Airbnb. The site offers great alternatives to your boring old hotel experience — as in, the experience where your room is cleaned every day, there are gyms and pools and sometimes you even get breakfast. Airbnb instead gives you the option to live like a local in an apartment or house, cleaning up after yourself and folding laundry at the end of your stay. Sometimes there are annoying neighbors and sometimes there are hot tubs.

Simultaneously, people are frustrated with Airbnb. Things have changed since its founding in 2007. Nowadays, staying at an Airbnb comes with exorbitant cleaning fees and increasingly strict rules about your stay. The real kicker, however, is that Airbnbs create artificial scarcity in the housing market. This “Airbnb effect” seems to be a natural side effect of their business model — perhaps there’s nothing they can do to change their impact on New York. But in a city where housing is already scarce, Airbnb seems to have

acutely negative consequences for city dwellers.

While the variety Airbnb offers is fantastic, and perfect for longer stays, the short-term rentals are a lot of extra work for the guest. And yet, their biggest impact isn’t on guests, but on locals: apartments reserved solely for the purpose of Airbnbs take up rental space that could be used for people who actually, you know, live in the area. Curbed even found that Airbnb listings outnumbered available rental options in most of New York. In summary, this sucks, and Airbnbs are using up our potential rentals.

However, to all my fellow seniors: New York has made a surprising and extremely helpful intervention in our apartment-hunting ritual. We might have options after all.

Housing officials in New York believe Airbnb is contributing to our current housing crisis, which has recently prompted the city to place a “de facto ban” on the company’s operations.

Most homeowners in New York who may or may not have hoped to get rich off of Airbnb are now faced with an excruciating prospect: they must rent long-term to New Yorkers.

Some opponents of the ban (i.e. Global Policy Director for Airbnb Theo Yedinsky) seem to think Airbnbs are a major pull factor for tourism in New York, and that removing short-term rentals will be the end of tourism for the city. Perhaps it’s a long shot, but I’m fairly certain New York City was popular

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Airbnb’s popularity has been making apartment hunting even more difficult.

before 2007 (and I think it’ll continue to be after 2023).

What does this mean for us trepidatious college househunters? Well, considering that the New York Comptroller’s office estimates that roughly 9% of New York’s city rent increases can be traced back to Airbnb, heavily limiting the company’s presence means we have a shot of not only finding an apartment post-graduation, but finding an affordable one (“affordable” in New York terms).

I’m generally a fan of Airbnb, and I’ve had plenty of lovely experiences using the company while traveling both domestically and abroad. But as someone finally facing the housing market, I’ve come to realize just how much Airbnb limits my options. I understand that making some extra money by renting out your garage short-term is a prospect that is enticing

for home-owners, but when the amount of those shortterm rentals begins to eclipse the available long-term rental space in a city, there’s a major problem. Airbnb wants people to visit New York City, and while that’s an admirable and wholesome goal, it would be lovely to have people live here too.

Now that New York is heavily regulating Airbnbs, there’s a great chance more property will be open for renting, and the average rental price per square foot may subsequently decline. Christmas really did come early this year! Of course, the tradition of gingerly opening Zillow from time to time will continue — but perhaps it will be accompanied by a little bit more hope.

Hanif Amanullah, FCRH ’24, is an international studies major from Austin, TX.

Ho Ho Hold Off On Celebrating the Holiday Season

By SAISHA ISLAM STAFF WRITER

Over the past few years, it has been increasingly common to see winter holiday goods going on sale earlier and earlier in the year. This phenomenon is a marketing strategy referred to as the Christmas creep or the holiday creep. The holiday creep allows corporations to earn more money, but it can also cause anxiety for shoppers.

Corporations argue that the holiday creep allows shoppers to plan out better beforehand and purchase gifts they need for the holidays, but it is important to consider the effect of the holiday creep on consumers, their emotions and how it affects their spending.

This raises the larger question of when winter holiday goods should go on sale.

The holiday creep benefits corporations in several ways.

One benefit is that putting winter goods on display allows corporations like Amazon, Home Depot, Lowes, Costco and Dollar Store to earn more money. For many businesses, winter goods make up a large portion of their profit, and a

devastating holiday sale season can put a damper on profit. For example, the holiday season can “make up to half of their yearly sales.” When shoppers see holiday items going on sale earlier, it is more likely for it to stay in their mind, and research has found that “starting holiday themes early can tee consumers up to start buying gifts.” Additionally, putting winter goods on sale earlier allows stores to refresh their layout and can either help stores put out new inventory when their current inventory is sold out or sell older inventory, which is still left over.

This allows for stores to deal with differing sale outputs for several seasons and smoothly put out inventory. Perhaps the largest advancer of the holiday creep is competition, which can be visibly seen in the candy business. Businesses sell more when they start selling earlier which keys up other businesses to start selling earlier. For candy manufacturers, deals with businesses can take “anywhere from six months to a year in advance,” and when selling winter goods earliest, a bulk of candy can be put out more smoothly on display over

time, allowing manufacturers as well as businesses to benefit. Since candy is also something that can be bought over and over at a relatively lower price, putting out candy for the winter holidays earlier allows consumers to buy goods earlier, go through them and buy them again later in the holiday season, which increases profit for businesses and candy manufacturers.

When I see Christmas decorations in stores during the weekend before Halloween, it is accurate to describe a feeling of a bit of annoyance and stress. While these decorations aren’t overtaking the store and are instead installed in a small corner as a taste of what is to come, it gives an impression that the end of the year isn’t far away. As a firm proponent of enjoying the seasons as much as possible, the early appearance of winter decorations takes away from fully enjoying fall and makes winter feel long and bloated.

While the sight of early holiday goods may prompt a lot of people to start shopping earlier, the holiday creep is overblown and reminded of upcoming holidays are peppered

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Holiday creep rushes consumers into prematurely celebrating the holidays.

everywhere despite it being a month or two before they actually begin.

It is surprising to see Santa, snowmen and snowflake lights before the winter chill officially starts. While there has always been a love of fall with pumpkin spiced lattes, autumn wear and brown Ugg boots, fall seems to always be relegated to a shorter term than winter due to sale items. While the holiday creep does increase profit for businesses, it also skews the sense of time and exacerbates the natural stress that comes with the end of the year. Businesses should slow down on selling winter goods

earlier in the season and instead focus on selling more items that pertain to the current time of the year. It isn’t fair for businesses to halfheartedly sell Halloween and Thanksgiving products, all the while focusing on the upcoming holiday season. Although it isn’t possible to eliminate the holiday creep, businesses should adjust to consumer needs at the current time more than for the future and start introducing winter goods later in the season.

Saisha Islam, FCRH ’25, is a biology major from New York, N.Y.

OPINION

Page 8

November 15 , 2023

I Got Arrested for Protesting Climate Change & I’d Do It Again

By KENNY MOLL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Amid constant consumption of “scorched earth” news headlines and pessimistic perspectives for the future of the health of our planet, processing such information alone is becoming a heavy load to bear. For those looking to create real change, how do we go about doing so?

This is not going to be an opinion piece demonizing people posting infographics on social media — using your platform to vocalize your beliefs in the path towards progress has its place. Mainly, I want to highlight the benefits of processing this onslaught of information with others, in meaningful ways, to hopefully effectuate change. This is why I got arrested, shoved into a police van with other activists and spent the day in a jail cell.

On Sept. 18, I participated in a demonstration in which several climate defense organizations occupied the Federal Reserve Bank in Lower Manhattan. I protested with New York Communities for Change, and we chose to target the Federal Reserve to highlight Wall Street’s financing of the fossil fuel industry.

Last year alone, oil and gas companies profited over $4 trillion (yes, with a “T!”). This didn’t stop U.S. banks from further providing these companies with $673 billion.

Coal, oil and gas companies have known since at least 1965 that their industry would negatively affect the climate. Their business practices are directly linked to environmental disasters, like wildfires, that end up killing and displacing people, as well as contributing to incredibly harmful CO2 emissions.

Instead of making a change, they doubled down on their production of fossil fuels and operated campaigns of misinformation to be spread to the public about the origin of climate change. By funding these corporations, and allowing new pipeline installations and fossil fuel projects, Wall Street and U.S. banks are complicit in, if not directly responsible for, the environmental devastation that occurs as a result.

In a capitalist system built off the fundamental rule of “profit over everything,” it is necessary to fight shady operations that lead to exponential profit.

It is hard to fully grapple with the reality of this corrupt and unjustified system we unwittingly take part in. I know my tax dollars are either funding wholly unjustified wars or subsidizing companies’ efforts to pollute natural ecosystems or low-income neighborhoods.

Yet I have no say. It is difficult to be reminded daily about the loss of life or the continued decimation of our planet as a direct result of our consumption habits and actions as a society. Through a phone screen, there doesn’t seem to be a “fight back” option at the end of depressing news articles. Joining protests, demonstrations or rallies can be a great exercise in using your voice and engaging with others. When you care about something deeply, it is hard to feel powerless standing next to those who also care deeply.

On Sept. 18, all I felt was love — love for fellow activists and love for the cause. Even as an outsider, unaffiliated with a specific organization, I was included immediately. My participation and involvement wasn’t only encouraged and

fostered, but it was necessary to the movement. We marched together, held beautiful signs created by artist activists, chanted through the streets and locked arms in front of a building that represents capitalism incarnate. The impending doom of environmental catastrophe and irreversible climate change seemed to subside in my mind while I stood by a community intent on making a better world.

I had nothing to give these organizers but my solidarity, and they welcomed me with open arms and included me in their movement.

Protests usually get a bad reputation regarding safety. While there is certainly a possibility of escalation, this is a rare occurrence in my experience. At almost every demonstration I have attended in the past five years, I have seen families with small children and people intent on ensuring their safety.

“We keep each other safe” is a sacred rule echoed throughout marches.

When I occupied the Federal Reserve, I arrived with no intent on getting arrested. I even had classes later that day. As I continued on with the march, however, I was offered help and guidance by other attendees and the incredibly in-depth assembly of legal support and volunteers. I was informed on possible outcomes and risks of getting involved and reassured of my options going forward with getting arrested. There was no push to do something that would get me in trouble, there was nobody forcing my hand.

Our demonstration followed the massive “March on Fossil Fuels” on Sept.

17, where I volunteered. The march was joined by indigenous environmental leaders,

COURTESY OF KENNY MOLL FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

We need to protest as a community to change the future of our planet.

local community organizers and well-known political activists like Cornel West. By organizing effectively, we were able to highlight specific problems and demand those in power make change. During NYC Climate Week, being able to target world leaders and United Nations officials in town for the NYC Climate Assembly was crucial.

By occupying the Federal Reserve our organization was able to pinpoint a specific problem and draw attention to possible solutions while effectively informing the public with the help of the media. We garnered attention from several large news agencies, as well as countless independent media outlets, all intent on covering the arrests of over 140 climate activists. Sparking social advocacy through demonstrations and inspiring cultural change leads to real changes in policy and regulation.

Community engagement and participating in activism, no matter how small the scale, can lead to real change. Protests, demonstrations and walk-outs

allow engagement within a community and implore people to stand up for what they care about. When people care, change is made. When people care enough about a cause, they might even be willing to get arrested for it and make news headlines.

This is a call to Fordham students: organize and mobilize. Only so much can be done internally or through social media. There are communities that need you, your voice and your advocacy. If you feel strongly about something, engage with others that might want to make a change. We are privileged with the built-in community of an established university. Learn, get involved and get connected. It is far healthier to process the grief of the atrocities of climate change and social injustice everywhere by standing by one another, looking to make change.

Kenny Moll, FCLC ’24, is an environmental studies major from Chicago, Ill.

It’s Time to Leave Behind Early 2000s Fashion

By KELLY STANTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The early 2000s weren’t really all that and a bag of chips.

Before anyone throws their cargo pants and low-rise jeans at me, hear me out. I understand how most of us grew up in the early 2000s, and that nostalgia feels like a warm blanket. The world has changed a lot in the past few years, and it is normal to seek the comfort and safety that we felt as kids. But we can’t stay stagnant forever. There were some not-so-great aspects of the fashion of the early 2000s, and it is a good thing that we have moved on from then. Hopefully, our fashion and mindset can move away from the early 2000s as well.

Something that the fashion and media culture of the early 2000s lacked, that we enjoy today, is body positivity. With the advent of the internet it is easier to find clothes for people of all body types, and inclusive advertising, but this has not

always been the case. The “heroin chic” body type dominated the runway and advertising campaigns. Toxic diet culture was everywhere, from MTV’s “Too Fat for 15” to “The Biggest Loser.” Body shaming in celebrity culture was normalized.

When Jennifer Lawrence was cast as Katniss Everdeen in the first “Hunger Games” movie, she was criticized for being “too big.” Body shaming still exists in the media today, as seen in the comments on TikTok and Instagram. However, the body positivity platform that took off in the 2010s did not exist in the media of the early 2000s. Looking back towards media and fashion that favors one body type over the other is not a great idea. Although still found today, we’ve come a long way from where we were.

Another terrible aspect of the fashion culture of the early 2000s is cultural appropriation. The “boho” look was in,

and it took a lot of patterns from different cultures that it shouldn’t have. Taking another culture’s traditions, just because people liked the way they look, highlights the privilege of the person doing the “taking.”

Project Cece weighs in on this phenomenon: “adopting something without being informed on its meaning and history could easily lead to disrespecting it, much like wearing eagle feathers from Native American traditions.” An example of this is Coachella, where people felt comfortable wearing Native American headdresses without being part of the groups the headdresses are from, and without understanding the complex history behind them.

We know better now. With more knowledge than ever at our fingertips and the change in cultural consciousness, why would anyone want to go back to cultural appropriation? There are many fashion trends that don’t participate in this. We can do better.

What gets my goat the most about the early 2000s coming back into fashion is where people are going to shop the trends.

Many people go to fast fashion websites like Shein or Cider.

Let me get on my soapbox for a minute here: we should all know better. Everyone knows about the horrific conditions that garment workers endure producing fast fashion. The collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh made headlines around the world for its dangerous working conditions and abuse of its mostly female workers. If we say we support labor unions and workers’ rights, then we should support the rights of all workers, not just our favorite celebrities in SAG-AFTRA. The workers who labor under dangerous conditions for little compensation in another country need our help as well. There is an alternative.

Thrift stores and secondhand clothing are the best places to source clothes that are authentic to the early 2000s, and

do not support these major fast fashion companies today.

Thrifting also cuts down on garment waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

It feels so strange that just a few years ago people would dry-heave at the sight of low rise jeans, but now they are coming back in fashion. You’re not the only one feeling whiplash at the amount of trends that seem to be cycling through your “For You Page.” The “20year trend cycle” that we are used to is speeding up the popularization of fast fashion and micro-trends, thanks to social media. Y2K has had its moment in the sun for a while now. Maybe it’s time to leave the fashion of the early 2000s in the past and move on.

Kelly Stanton, FCRH ’25, is an American studies and art history major from Boston, Mass.

OPINION

November 15, 2023

Page 9

Media Bias Polarizes the Israel-Palestine Conflict

By ZACH BADALAMENTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has dominated U.S. news headlines and, just as any other topic in the U.S. news, has become politically polarizing due to the way it has been reported. To write an educated opinion on a conflict dating back to the 19th century often paints the subject in a way that simplifies its complexities.

Due to the fact that the top news outlets in the United States have some level of media bias, the general public’s perception of the Israel-Hamas war is greatly dependent on their pre-standing political allegiances and where they choose to get their news from.

It has made the issue transform from being presented as bipartisan to a partisan issue.

As of Sept. 2023, the top five most visited online news publications are the New York Times, CNN, MSN, FOX News and Yahoo News. According to AllSides, a website that tracks the political bias of popular news outlets, all of the aforementioned media outlets have a degree of political bias in their stories, as FOX News is considered to be a right-wing news outlet and the New York Times, CNN, MSN and Yahoo News are all

considered to be left-leaning or left-wing news outlets.

While both sides of the political spectrum in the U.S. have expressed their deepest concerns for the lives lost in the Israel-Hamas war, there is a difference between how the Republican party views the war and how the Democratic party views it.

In general, left-leaning news outlets such as the New York Times, CNN and MSN have avoided writing stories that urge the reader to take a political side in the war. Even in the opinion column of the New York Times, a section of the publication considered to be left-leaning, opinion pieces pertaining to the war do not demonize either side.

Republicans and right-wing publications, on the other hand, have made more specific efforts to express their pro-Israel stance as opposed to the more bipartisan approach of left-leaning media publications. This has been evident in the way in which FOX News, the leading right-wing news outlet in the U.S., has chosen to report the Israel-Hamas war, placing a spotlight on the efforts made by Israeli troops.

When going through the articles written by FOX News, there is a common theme in

the language in articles written about the Israeli armed forces. The issue with the outlet is not the fact that they wrote stories about Israeli soldiers and civilians persevering or being heroes — it is the fact that there have been little to no efforts made by the outlet to cast Palestinians into the same humane light that has been provided to Israelis.

Furthermore, despite FOX News and other right-wing news outlets sufficiently reporting on the spike in antisemitic attacks in the U.S. following the start of the Israel-Hamas war, they did not adequately report the spike in Islamaphobic attacks that has also occurred.

That being said, FOX News did report on the rise in Islamophobia only when it could be used as a critique of the Biden administration.

In addition to FOX News, other top-viewed right-wing publications have also published articles that are very apparent in their support of Israel and its efforts in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

With the growing rate of Islamaphobic attacks and crimes, the stories written

by FOX News and similar right-wing media corporations only heighten the level of racial tension in the U.S. According to a recent report

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This conflict is too complex to be fully described in a single news article.

by the Council of AmericanIslamic Relations, there have been over 1,283 incidents of Islamophobia reported since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. There is a disproportionate amount of reporting for pro-Israel news and for antisemitic attacks in the U.S. that can only result in further inflaming racial tensions.

In a marketplace of free ideas, people will not only be drawn to neutral stories written about international news and politics but also to stories that seek to further their confirmation bias. This article is not written to condemn those who have made their political allegiances in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

With that in mind, a responsibility should fall on news outlets to respect the fact that this conflict is too complex to be described and understood in a single article.

As Americans, we are far removed from the actual atrocities of an active war zone and, therefore, the most important element to writing about the war should be to understand that real lives are being lost and to give equal humanity to the civilians of either side.

Zachary Badalamenti, FCRH ’25, is a journalism major from Oakland, Calif.

One Size Does Not Fit All: AI in Academia

By ADITHI VIMALANTHAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Defined as the creation of “intelligent machines” or “intelligent computer programs,” artificial intelligence (AI) is a development whose scale often draws comparisons to the internet, which, paradoxically, it is on track to replace.

Professionals at all levels and fields, including doctors and educators, are at odds with the possible benefits and threats that AI poses to their field. Concern is prominent even at national and international levels; last month, President Joe Biden signed an executive order mandating corporations report how their systems could be weaponized in conflict. In Britain, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak organized an international conference in London (attended by Vice President Kamala Harris and Elon Musk) on preparing for security threats AI could pose.

In education, AI has been sounding alarms and inciting intrigue both in K-12 schools and academic institutions.

Educators in schools find themselves concerned about the issue of academic integrity, especially since it is often difficult to detect the use of AI programs. At the same time, students and teachers have found it useful to prepare for schoolwork and lesson plans.

Academia, particularly the humanities, finds itself distinctly at odds with the advent of AI. In departments at Fordham, AI is a highly debated issue, with divided opinions on its utility and implications on future study.

Corey McEleney, professor of English at Fordham, said that “the responses among humanities professors have ranged from apocalyptic resignation (‘Oh no, we’re doomed as a field and as a society’) to defiance (‘There are things a computer algorithm cannot do and it is on that basis that we should promote the humanities’).”

On the other hand, some professors recognize the potential for its use in research.

Orit Avishai-Bentovim, professor of sociology at Fordham, said: The idea that professional work of careful analysis and uncovering can be condensed into a question fed into ChatGPT poses serious concerns for academia.

Professors and students alike grapple with the challenges of academic integrity and the supposed inutility of humanities degrees. At the same time, the possibilities for research, learning concepts and information sorting are unexplored and can seem promising. A central question remains: can the machinations of an online software provide any valid

venue to deeply understanding the humanities?

It can’t be denied that there’s something unnatural about a prescribed answer to humanities fields such as history or English, which are founded on processes of creation and excavation. Examine what it takes to learn a craft — whether that’s playing the violin, writing a story, fielding a hockey stick or picking up Italian. The process of learning is valuable because we weren’t born with these skills to begin with — the end isn’t natural or known to us, but is arrived at through time, trial and error. We develop relationships to our craft, and also to ourselves and to others in the process. Childhood activities often come with memories of teams and coaches, achievements and struggles.

Cultivations of creativity are valuable not just because of the new abilities they provide us with, but also the new selves we form in the process.

Process creates relationships between student and subject matter as well as student and self — and AI is all too easily posed to destroy these. When a student uses AI to generate answers or to answer an essay, they remove themselves from the process of craft. It’s a great loss that isolates them from a deeper relationship to the texts and themselves.

Going further, AI hampers human empathization, or our relationships with others.

Humanities disciplines such as history, English and theology (though discussed with an objective level in the classroom) have a key ability to ignite personal connections in a way that technical matters of chemistry and biology may struggle to do. These personal connections and interests are often only paid attention to in humanities classes, where students process their relationships to text in conversation or writing. AI substitutes itself for human thinking that strengthens emotional relationships to text and others.

In short, we dull both the profits of process and human ability of empathization when we prioritize shortcuts and simplicity. Though AI may promise benefits such as learning support and source identification, they cannot function as substitutes for process and empathization that are key to the humanities.

At many universities, including Fordham, the use of AI is left up to the discretion of the instructor, leading to various approaches on behalf of instructors. McEleney maintains a strict ban in his classroom on the basis that “it’s incapable of performing the kind of high-level critical, analytical, and interpretive

work involved in humanities courses.” Avishai-Bentovim, on the other hand, allows for the use of AI on the condition of honesty: “I see it as a tool, as any other, that one may use to advance their learning journey but which one has to be honest about. Thinking about the humanities and the social sciences, at least for now, students need to know how to write, sift through information, line up evidence, make an argument.”

A diversity of policies, for the time being, is the best way to move forward with AI in academia. This choice prioritizes individual discretion and critical thinking on the part of the professor — and aren’t these the very issues that AI puts in jeopardy? In a world where simplicity and shortcuts are within very easy reach, this approach places upon academia a burden of thought and procedure that highlights the professor as an independent.

Human voices emerge as the arbiters of their own history, art, literature and, hopefully, their own future.

Adithi Vimalanathan, FCRH ’26, is an economics and English major from Jersey City. N.J.

OPINION

Page 10

November 15, 2023

New York City Must Fight Food Deserts

By LUCA AMATURO

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Next time you are home, open your refrigerator. Chances are it will be brimming with fruits, vegetables and other various ingredients necessary to cook the upcoming week’s nutritious meals. For many, this isn’t abnormal or special, yet in New York City, about 1.3 million people will go hungry daily because of food deserts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has defined food deserts as areas with at least 100 homes with no vehicle access located more than one-half mile from the nearest supermarket. Food deserts are not just inconvenient — they can often lead to food insecurity and health implications. New York City must swiftly adopt a multifaceted approach to combating food deserts that involves incentivization, partnerships with local farms and education on a nutritious lifestyle. Access to fresh and nutritious foods is essential to a more prosperous community, and more importantly, everyone in America should be guaranteed access to fresh produce.

Many supermarkets are not built in food deserts because they simply do not make enough money selling produce in these areas. These supermarket chains often have increased expenses in maintenance, security and crime

management that cut into their profit margin and disincentivize them from opening stories in these areas. The New York government has to incentivize grocery chains to build fullservice supermarkets in food desert areas so the potential benefits far outweigh the expenses. Government programs can include tax breaks for any supermarkets built in areas designated as food deserts, but they need to go one step further because tax breaks, as demonstrated by the 2009 FRESH program, do not incentivize chains enough.

Grocery chains should have their construction costs lowered through low-interest rate loans towards the development of the location or have parts of the construction process subsidized by the New York government to increase the profitability of a supermarket.

To further increase a store’s chances of profit, New York City can develop a transportation system that solely brings surrounding residents to the supermarket built in the area.

However, in exchange for these incentives, residents of food deserts cannot be held hostage to the prices arbitrarily dictated by the only supermarket in the area, and prices of certain basic goods would be capped.

It is paramount to create a system where a supermarket’s expenses in food deserts can be lowered and thus increase their profit in a manner that makes

grocery shopping for nearby residents affordable.

New York City should also look at creating partnerships with local farms and host farmer markets in areas to provide a simple and inexpensive way of bringing fresh produce to food deserts. The mobility and lack of permanent space required make farmer markets an efficient solution to food deserts beyond providing fresh, nutritious food at affordable prices.

Farmers markets are an excellent way of engaging the local community while educating communities on the importance of nutritious foods and how to shop and cook healthily.

The local New York City governments must support local farms to help them overcome some of the obstacles they face, such as difficulty advertising and lack of food assistance programs when trying to sell in lower-income communities.

Increasing the marketing of local farmers markets requires increased investment in an already existing USDA program (Farmers’ Market Promotion Program). Alongside increased investment into the program, higher and more grants should be awarded to farmers’ markets in food deserts to mitigate the added effort and additional costs required to increase their visibility in these areas. Additionally, the government should promote the acceptance of food assistance programs at local farmers’

markets by subsidizing the costs of Electronic Benefits Program (EBT) machines.

These machines are necessary to allow those on food assistance programs to purchase produce at whatever location they are at and are covered by the USDA when implemented in retail stores.

Many food deserts exist in lowincome communities where food assistance programs are the primary method of purchasing groceries, making the increased accessibility of EBT machines necessary.

Perhaps just as important as increasing the accessibility of fresh produce to neighborhoods in food deserts is educating them about the importance of eating a healthy diet and which foods are nutritious.

Those living in food deserts have often relied on fast-food chains for meals due to their lack of access to fresh produce and are accustomed to the sugary and highly processed foods offered. Educational programs such as SNAP-Ed need to be increased to continue spreading the importance of a healthy lifestyle and the detrimental consequences of a diet predicated on meals from fast-food chains. These educational programs must go beyond teaching the benefits of a healthy diet or the consequences of eating highly processed food and also teach those who were once in food deserts how to make healthy and tasty meals

on a limited budget. Increasing awareness of the importance of eating a nutritious diet and a better understanding of how it can be done on a limited budget will create a ripple effect and lead to increased shopping, thus increased profits, at the supermarkets that are built in food deserts.

Easy access to fresh foods should not be a privilege but a right everyone experiences no matter where they live. Unfortunately, in New York City, one of the world’s wealthiest cities, far too many neighborhoods are food deserts predominantly due to monetary reasons.

Combating food deserts and the food insecurity that often ensues is simple, but it requires local and state investment and pragmatic solutions to ensure accessibility to fresh produce is increased. It begins with increasing the incentives grocery chains have to build in food deserts, supporting and promoting local farms and farmers markets and educating food desert neighborhoods about the importance and how to achieve a healthy diet. Currently, in the Bronx, certain neighborhoods have 25 bodegas for a single full-service supermarket, and there are many similar ratios across the city. It is time for that ratio to be lowered.

Luca Amaturo, FCRH ’26, is a communications & media studies major from Marlboro, N.J.

Anti-Vaping Ads Ignore the Realities of Addiction

By LAILA SAYEGH

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Ever since the late 1960s, anti-smoking advertisements have been broadcast on television, radio stations and throughout the media. In our modern day, with vaping becoming increasingly popular amongst adolescents, these advertisements are more prevalent than ever. However, many have debated how effective these advertisements are. To determine this, it is necessary to look at exactly what message these advertisements are trying to convey.

According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Georgia, vaping prevention advertisements can effectively reduce the susceptibility to vaping among adolescents if they are evidencebased. Both health harms and addiction-themed advertisements were equally effective.

This makes sense, as welldesigned advertisements are the ones that address the health concerns and risks that come with smoking.

Hence, in spreading information that causes the viewer to panic and fear smoking, the advertisement is more likely to be effective.

However, the problem is that many modern vaping ads don’t do that. Instead, their messages are accompanied by bright colors, upbeat music and animations. So, while they don’t directly promote smoking through their words, indirect and more subliminal messages may paint smoking as comforting and enjoyable.

This type of marketing has become especially prevalent in more recent years, whereas in the early 2010s, advertisements were more informative, emotional and visceral.

Popular anti-smoking advertisements depict some graphic imagery and informative consequences. For example, they vividly and illustratively depict the negative side effects of smoking, such as dry skin and wrinkling, hair loss, tooth decay and neck stomas. Additionally, they invoke emotion through telling real tragic stories of former smokers who faced severe consequences. A textbook example of this is the famous Debi Austin “Voicebox” advertisement. In this commercial, Austin, a woman who had struggled with nicotine addiction, demonstrates the dangers of smoking through

her own experience. She developed cancer in her larynx, leading to a large neck stoma.

In the commercial, she needs a voice box to even speak. This advertisement, among many others, uses real and personable stories to make the audience sympathize with smokers and want to do everything in their power to avoid facing the same consequences. They are informative and convey a clear anti-smoking message, which is extremely different from more modern approaches.

More recent anti-vaping ads have bright colors and music and talk about the fun flavors that vapes come in. In a 2021 advertisement, flashy blue and yellow designs cover the screen while the narration says, “Sadness: Now in Cookies & Cream!”

While the apparent message of the advertisement is that vaping can cause depression, by being so vibrant and talking about the exciting flavors that vapes come in, it seems to put a more appealing image of nicotine in the viewer’s mind. If we had more advertisements that are emotional and informative, such as the Debi Austin one, perhaps

they could be more effective.

Instead, they have become more showy and extravagant, which causes them to lose sight of the actual message.

Additionally, it is noteworthy that many advertisements and campaigns spread fear and ignorance instead of information. They work to place responsibility on the individual themselves, not having any empathy or providing people with the proper tools to avoid or quit smoking. For instance, DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and the “Just Say No” campaign use these tactics. Relying solely on fear tactics without addressing the underlying issues may be less effective in promoting informed decision-making and healthier choices among individuals. These fear-driven campaigns tend to oversimplify the complex issues of substance abuse and addiction. By portraying individuals as solely responsible for their choices and villainizing smokers, they neglect the socio-economic factors, mental health conditions and external pressures that can contribute to addiction. This one-size-fitsall approach fails to acknowledge the diverse backgrounds

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Anti-vaping ads can be ineffective.

and circumstances that individuals face.

To address the root causes of smoking, a more comprehensive strategy is needed — one that combines education, support and empathy. Without acknowledging these potential factors of addiction, campaigns may risk perpetuating stereotypes and stigmatizing those who struggle with addiction. This neglect will inevitably lead to less people being able to relate to anti-vaping advertisements. Because of this, people may not be able to resonate with them and act on their messages, even if they are technically good.

Laila Sayegh, FCRH ’27, is a political science major from Congers, N.Y.

CULTURE

November 15, 2023

Page 11

Editor’s Pick | Literature & Music

“Renegades” and “The Archer”: Accepting My Good and Bad

By HANNAH BORING COPY CHIEF

On April 14, 2021, I began reading “Renegades” by Marissa Meyer. My dear friend Grace (who is mentioned in too many of my articles) pointed it out during one of our semioften “I’m losing my mind” Barnes & Noble runs, saying she saw it on TikTok described as a mix between “Miraculous Ladybug” and Marvel. It immediately joined the already large stack of books I was carrying, no questions asked.

On April 25, 2021, I was towards the end of the third and final book, “Supernova.” I was crying so much I needed a mental break, so, like every teenage girl at the time, I opened TikTok. There, an edit of Bucky Barnes circa “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” set to the bridge of Taylor Swift’s “The Archer” appeared on my For You page. It was the first time I ever really listened to the lyrics of “The Archer,” and I ended up reading the last 100 or so pages of “Supernova” with only that song playing in the background.

Now, it seems silly that a random book trilogy in my least-favorite genre and a song I didn’t like for two years, neither of which is their most popular work, would impact me so deeply, but they did.

“Renegades” follows Nova Artino, a villain determined to get revenge on the Renegades (the reigning government), blaming them for the murder of her parents and sister almost a

decade prior. She uses her anonymity to go undercover in the Renegades; however, once inside, she builds genuine, loving relationships with the very people she vowed to destroy.

Throughout the trilogy, Nova has to figure out what is more important: her loyalties or her values.

I find myself in Nova in such a deep way that I haven’t found with any other character.

She’s passionate to a fault but keeps the important feelings inside. She falls in love easily but is too scared to do anything about it. She wants to be a good person but never seems to make the right choice. Also, this girl can hold a grudge, and I’m known for never really getting over anything.

I can see the scenes so vividly — the colors, the layout, the emotions, even the background noises and the camera angles. Oftentimes, I can set these scenes to certain songs (check out my playlist “renegades” on Spotify), which is where we reach Swift’s masterpiece. When I listen to “The Archer,” I can match a scene to every single lyric. It is the soundtrack of the trilogy, showcasing Nova’s development with every word and every beat.

To me, “The Archer” signifies the good and bad that lives within us. We make mistakes, but we try to fix them. We hurt people, but people also hurt us. We carry the regret and guilt of our past, but there are people who will love us despite all that. People will leave, but the most important ones are those who stay.

As was for many others, the pandemic was one of the lowest points in my 21 years of life. I sat alone in my hybrid high school classes; I barely passed my community college courses; I only had six volleyball games and played all of them with a minor bone bruise in my wrist; I failed to keep up friendships; I worked the 5:30 a.m. shift at the swim center I hated. Before COVID-19, anytime I felt my present was out of control, I found comfort in looking towards the future, but that no longer helped as the constant isolation continued.

I felt stuck, watching rather than living as the days repeated over and over. It got to the point where I dreaded falling asleep because I knew I would have to wake up the next day and do it all again.

But as cheesy as it sounds, listening to “The Archer” helped me fall asleep, and reading “Renegades” helped me get out of bed in the morning. It was like when the sun rises after a long winter night — a new light had found me. I found the courage to go about my days, and I gained hope for what lay ahead of me.

No form of media has impacted my life the way “Renegades” and “The Archer” did. Even now, two-and-a-half years later, they hold the same meaning to me.

In 2022, “The Archer” was my top song on Spotify Wrapped — I listened to it 496 times. When I reread “Renegades” this past summer, I felt all the same emotions as I did when I read it for the first and second time,

and I know it’ll stay the same when I read it for the fourth time (even if I buy a third copy of the series to annotate fresh).

“I’ve been the archer, I’ve been the prey” is permanently tattooed on my arm. Every time I look at

it, it not only reminds me of “The Archer,” but also of Nova and “Renegades.” Most importantly, though, it reminds me that I am worthy of love despite my mistakes because it’s what I do in the present that makes me a good person.

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Music and literature combined can deepen a connection to art.

The Brooklyn Museum Explores Spike Lee’s Influences

By GRACE RAMSEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“Spike Lee: Creative Sources” at the Brooklyn Museum is a spectacular exploration of Lee’s inspiration and genius. It highlights Lee’s unique position in American culture through Black history, sports, his upbringing and many tributes to Brooklyn. The exhibit boasts over 450 items from Lee’s personal collection. Most of the items have been on display in the office of Lee’s production company, 40 Acres and a Mule, or in Lee’s homes, but now have been organized into seven themed rooms within the exhibit. Kimberli Gant, the exhibit’s curator, expertly captures the intersections between Lee’s films and the history and cultural context that inspired them.

The exhibit opens with a room entitled “Black History & Culture.” The bright red walls are lined with photographs of Marcus Garvey, a flag for the African National Congress signed by Nelson and Winnie Mandela and the monumental photograph of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X featured in “Do

the Right Thing.” An excerpt of Lee’s key film “Malcolm X” that plays on the wall features Fordham alumnus Denzel Washington as Malcolm X. In this scene, Malcolm X lectures an audience in Harlem on “the United States government’s long history of manipulating and exploiting Black Americans.” Lee also displays a plethora of often first edition or

signed books by Black authors such as James Baldwin and Langston Hughes. Lee notes that one of the most influential books in his collection is “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.” He recalls reading the book in middle school and its impact on him: “It changed everything – the way I thought, the way I felt, the way I viewed the world. It made everything clear for me.”

Lee is notoriously one of the New York Knicks’ most dedicated fans, so it is no surprise there is an entire room dedicated to Knicks game-worn and signed jerseys as well as the net from the Knicks’ first NBA title in 1970. Another room is dedicated to sports and features a section dedicated to Jackie Robinson, a signed pair of Michael Jordan’s shoes

COURTESY OF GRACE RAMSEY FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

The newest exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum honors Spike Lee and highlights his creative influences.

(with an apology for beating Lee’s beloved Knicks) and a signed Colin Kaepernick jersey.

Lee’s love for cinema is represented in a bright green room full of movie memorabilia.

Many directors Lee admired as a child through New York University film school have signed their movie posters to Lee, framed in floor-to-ceiling rows. The French poster for one of Lee’s favorite films, “On the Waterfront,” is signed by Elia Kazan and Budd Schulberg, and “The Godfather” poster and its sequel are signed “To Spike”

by Francis Ford Coppola.

Lee’s cinematic innovation has placed him among the greatest filmmakers of all time. Also in this room are Lee’s two Oscars, one for best adapted screenplay for “BlacKkKlansman” and a lifetime achievement award.

Despite having five Oscar nominations, he didn’t win a film-specific Academy Award until 2019.

Although it is a bit of a trek from Fordham’s Rose Hill campus to Brooklyn, this exhibit more than makes up for it. “Spike Lee: Creative Sources” at the Brooklyn Museum is a must-see before it closes on Feb. 4, 2024.

CULTURE

Page 12

November 15, 2023

Celebrate Quintessential Fall Flavors with Apple Crisp

By KARI WHITE CULTURE EDITOR

With the leaves finally turning, the holidays on the near horizon and the air growing colder and

colder by the day, it’s time for a classic American dessert: apple crisp. Also known as apple crumble, this dessert brings together all the quintessential fall flavors: apples, cinnamon and brown

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Apple crisp is a simple, festive and delicious dessert for the fall season.

sugar. The best part about it is that it takes almost no effort at all to make, costs very little and can be made in a huge batch for your friendsgiving or in a mug for your own enjoyment. And, best of all, it can be made in the microwave — making it the best fall option for anyone whose cooking capabilities are limited to the mini-fridge in their dorm and the communal microwave down the hall.

A surprisingly modern dessert, the first recorded recipe did not appear until 1924 in Isabel Ely Lord’s “Everybody’s Cook Book: A Comprehensive Manual of Home Cookery.” The dish consists of a base of apples baked in cinnamon and sugar, with a streusel-like topping on top.

Streusel originates from Germany, and it means something that is “strewn or scattered” in German.

In Germany, streusel has a shortbread consistency, making it very cookie-like. Traditional American streusel is very similar, but apple crisp adds oats into the combination of sugar, unsalted butter and all-purpose flour.

One of the great parts of this dessert is that it consists of only a handful of basic ingredients.

Flour, baking soda, baking powder, butter and the two sugars are necessary ingredients in most baking. Oatmeal, on the other hand, is also a common pantry staple, as it can be eaten on its own, in cookies or added to other meals. Even the main spice, cinnamon, is fairly common. This makes the dessert easy to throw together at the last minute, and it makes it fairly cheap. If you have

to purchase each of these ingredients, the total would amount to around $25, and this amount provides enough materials to produce a large enough batch to feed 12.

However, you most likely have at least some of these ingredients in your pantry. So, the apples and oatmeal are likely to be the biggest expense, and they each cost around five dollars.

To make apple crisp, you can follow the recipe featured on Sally’s Baking Recipes’ website.

It takes 30 minutes of preparation, and 45 minutes to cook. After preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll need to prep the materials. The first step is simply to wash, peel, core and slice the apples.

Then, you’ll combine the white sugar, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon together. The recipe calls for the mixture to be sprinkled over the apples, but I prefer to mix them together so the apples are all coated in the mixture. After mixing the apples and sugar mixture together, pour them into your baking dish. Now the apples are done, and all you have to do is make the topping!

This is the trickiest part, and will make you feel like a real pastry chef. First, you mix together most of the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Next, you cut in the butter. You can do this by adding cubes of cold butter into the flour mixture, and then using forks to mix everything together until the mixture resembles little crumbs. (You can also use a pastry cutter, but who has a pastry cutter at college?)

Mix in the oats, then sprinkle the entire mixture over the apples.

Place your baking sheet in the oven, bake for 45 minutes, then enjoy! It’s best with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and some people even drizzle caramel syrup overtop.

Of course, that recipe only works if you have access to an oven. If you’re stuck in Martyrs’ Court, Loschert Hall or any of the other freshman and sophomore dorms (where technically there is a kitchen, but you wouldn’t use it willingly), you can also cook apple crisp in the microwave.

The microwave-friendly recipe by Allrecipes only calls for apples, oats, brown sugar, flour, butter (melted) and ground cinnamon. Spread your sliced apples in your baking dish. Next, mix together the brown sugar, oats, melted butter and cinnamon. Cook in the microwave on high for 1012 minutes, or until the apples are fully baked. This will still produce the same sweet dessert and crisp topping that baking in the oven does, so it’s a great option if you are short on time or have limited cooking capability.

To customize your apple crisp, you can add other flavors to your apple mixture. Some bakers add vanilla, others cloves and ginger, and I love a little bit of nutmeg.

There are even people who eat apple pie with cheddar cheese, so you could try that… if you’re brave enough. I’m not.

Apple crisp is an essential fall dessert, and a cheap, easy option for friendsgivings. Because of the simplicity of the recipe and the capability of making it in the microwave, I rate this dessert as…

Difficulty: O’Hare Hall.

Country’s Most Current: 2023 CMA Recap

By ISABELLA DeROSA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Nov. 8, country music star Luke Bryan hosted the 57th annual Country Music Awards (CMA) with co-host Peyton Manning for the second year in a row in Nashville, Tenn. The ceremony was opened by breakout artist and New Artist of the Year winner Jelly Roll performing “Need a Favor,” joined by guest artist Wynonna Judd. In addition, Entertainer of the Year winner and highly nominated Lainey Wilson performed her hit song “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.” Other performers included Morgan Wallen with Eric Church, Luke Combs, Kelsea Ballerini and The War and Treaty.

Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Mac McAnally and Zac Brown Band performed a heartfelt tribute for late Jimmy Buffett, which reigned as the most moving performance of the night.

Wilson turned out to be the star of the night. Aside from Entertainer of the Year, the artist also won Female Vocalist of the Year as well as Best Album with “Bell Bottom Country” and Best Musical Event as a featured artist in “Wait in the Truck” by HARDY. Wilson was absolutely overwhelmed with

the joy of her achievements and the love of her fans. “Us girls, we’ve been having to blaze trails from the very, very beginning…

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of that,” said Wilson as she accepted her Female Vocalist of the Year award.

The winner of Male Vocalist of the Year was Chris Stapleton.

Stapleton was also a nominee for Entertainer of the Year and featured in Carly Pearce’s “We Don’t Fight Anymore,” nominated for Musical Event of the Year.

In accepting his award, Stapleton said, “I am humbled to be here tonight to get to stay in such a wonderful crowd of people.”

Best Song and Best Single went to the song “Fast Car,” written by Tracy Chapman and covered by Combs. Aside from these wins were repeated victories from the annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards.

Brothers Osborne won Vocal Duo of the Year, and Old Dominion won Vocal Group of the Year.

The award show came to a close with another performance from Jelly Roll, this time joined

by K. Michelle, covering “Love Can Build A Bridge.” Most country fans were satisfied with the outcome of the events.

However, some hoped their favorite artists would get more

recognition. Fans of Ballerini were also rooting for her nomination as Female Vocalist of the Year.

Ballerini performed her song “Leave Me Again” with just her guitar, creating a beautiful acoustic performance. Despite her loss, Ballerini’s performance certainly showcased her raw talent. Wallen had been nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year, but walked away empty-handed.

While Wallen’s fans were hoping for more success, Wilson’s fans were ecstatic over her several wins. Wilson had been on a winning streak as the ACM Awards’ Entertainer of the Year.

Due to her high success, many are calling her the biggest star in the country. Many fans are also pleased to see another female artist gain such popularity. On social media, some fans even compared her to Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire.

CMA viewers were also excited to welcome back co-hosts Bryan and Manning for the second time. Many called the duo a perfect combination and enjoyed the way they carried out the show. On top of hosting, Bryan performed a medley of some of his greatest hits, including “One Margarita” and “Country Girl (Shake it for Me).” Bryan’s

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Lainey Wilson took the CMA by storm with many wins and nominations.

medley was one of the most energetic performances of the night.

Some fans voiced hope for the duo to come back again for the

next CMAs. Overall, the 57th Country Music Awards was a night of success and positivity for the country music community.

CULTURE “The Killer” is a Return to Form for David Fincher

November 15, 2023

By LAUREN LOMBARDI ASST. CULTURE EDITOR

In my eyes, there’s no contemporary filmmaker that matches up to David Fincher. His newest film, “The Killer,” starring Michael Fassbender as the titular killer, was produced by Netflix and released onto their platform on Nov. 10, and to say I was excited would be an understatement. I’ve written academic papers (yes, plural. I was a joy in high school.) on the way his films are constructed, and now I get to plague The Fordham Ram with my thoughts.

Fincher is the rare case when pure quality and commercial appeal collide. Every technical aspect of his movies, from blocking to performances to production design, are perfect, and he’ll make sure of it. Still, I’ve never been nervous that recommending one of his films to a friend would result in an “I don’t get it” text.

This is a very ideal quality for me, a chronic people-pleaser.

“The Killer” is a return to form for Fincher. It’s an American thriller in the purest sense, which is what he does best. The film follows a hitman who, after making a mistake on a job, returns home to find his partner has been attacked, causing him to spend the film tracking down and getting revenge on all those responsible.

The film mainly works as an exercise in both critique and irony. This is Fincher’s first film where we’re forced to follow the killer alone. Of course we watched Rosamund Pike pull one over on a frustrated Ben Affleck in “Gone Girl,” but Amy Dunne had some pushback; she didn’t swiftly get away without a care in the world. Even Mark

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Zuckerberg’s schemes in “The Social Network” were interspersed with his depositions on how he screwed over his friend, his enemies and, ultimately, the entire evolution of the Internet.

However, the killer from “The Killer” doesn’t get caught; he doesn’t even get hunted by someone who’s not within his ring of hitmen. Fincher forces us to think about why that may be, and how he may have contributed to it.

Fincher is not famous for his feature films alone. His career began with his music videos, which notably include Madonna’s “Vogue,” and, even more widely seen in the ’90s (yes, than a Madonna video, believe it or not), his commercials. Fincher has directed around 50 commercials throughout the decades for brands such as Gap, Nike, Apple and Pepsi. The amount of culturally relevant products we’ve been sold by this one man, from Levi 501s to the iPhone 3G, is almost scary.

Fincher’s historical relationship to product placement could make one question “The Killer.”

The film harps on corporations which make the killer’s lethal actions possible. We see him fuel up pre-kill on a McDonald’s breakfast sandwich (whilst internally listing off statistics of French fast-food consumption), hide out in a WeWork office (Fincher, as topical as ever) and pick up a fob copier from an Amazon locker.

At one point, the killer even thanks the New York Times’ Wordle for distracting an onlooker from his crime. The film makes it clear that while these corporations provide us with every product and distraction we need (and don’t need), they’re

not only in our hands, they make everyone’s lives easier, and we’re too distracted in the cloud of capitalism to notice. The killer’s been able to roam free because no one has looked at him sideways, even once.

Fincher is, through and through, a man of ease. This isn’t necessarily for the worst, he’s brought us some great works on Netflix’s unlimited dime (not only this film, but his series “Mindhunter” and “House of Cards”). I’m not shocked a man of such great critical and cultural success still takes commercials to this day, and it’s not just because I think he has a special interest in Chanel.

Fincher’s “The Killer” critiques the very same monster he’s grown in his own laboratory. However, his self-awareness is baked into

the film, and closely followed by a sly, sick sense of humor, which is my favorite part.

Fincher’s killer spends the first 10 minutes of the movie speaking to his audience about how his success is based on rules, such as “stick to the plan” and “forbid empathy.” In an easy jab at the protagonist, after watching him complete a strict stretching regimen and explain his orderly lifestyle, he turns on his “work playlist,” and it only includes The Smiths songs. I knew what was coming every time the killer took out his iPod Nano, but it still got me: someone so calculated and rigid listening to Morissey weep while he buys a trash can to dump a body in.

Another fun throughline of

the film is the running joke in which every time the killer books a flight or checks into a hotel, his ID reads a different ’80s show protagonist’s name, and no one notices. The killer doesn’t need to hide, he’s openly mocking the distractedness and disregard around him.

The explanation for Fincher having both great widespread appeal and filmmaking mastery is obvious: he’s a master of commerciality, but he knows how to wind it into the beating heart of a film; It’s pure logic.

He actually gives something to the audience in return for having to watch the Netflix introduction in a movie theater. In this age, no one’s perfect, but the man does provide often-perfect, mockingly funny films to atone.

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Fincher’s newest film, “The Killer,” is packed with humor, action and critiques of the institutions he’s part of.

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November 15, 2023

Don’t Forget to Spend “Five Nights at Freddy’s”

By NORA LEACH EXEC. COPY EDITOR

“Five Nights at Freddy’s,” while far from perfect, is a great movie to cure your postHalloween blues, especially when you’re not ready to turn on your favorite Christmas flick.

“Five Nights at Freddy’s” is an adaptation of the video game franchise originally created by Scott Cawthon. If you were in middle or high school during the 2010s, you have probably played them or know someone who has. The film is directed

by Emma Tammi and distributed by production company Blumhouse, famous for their catalog of horror hits that include “Get Out” and “M3GAN.” The film follows Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson), who is worried about losing custody of his little sister, Abby (Piper Rubio). With the advice of career counselor Steve Raglan (Matthew Lillard), Mike becomes a security guard at the now-abandoned Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, a Chuck E. Cheese-like entertainment center with arcade games, a ball pit and animal animatronics: Freddy, a smiling bear with a top hat; Bonnie, a guitar-playing rabbit; Chica, a duck who carries around her sidekick, Mr. Cupcake; and Foxy, a fox pirate. As Mike dreams about a

traumatic childhood experience, he realizes that a dark past hangs over the pizzeria and its seemingly loveable animatronics. With the help of police officer Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail), he is determined to unmask these secrets before it is too late for him and Abby.

Cawthon said his movie was made for the fans, and Tammi, Blumhouse and Cawthon were definitely successful in that aspect. I’m a fan of the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” games, and as I sat in the theater, I could not wipe the smile off of my face as the audience cheered and laughed at some on-thenose references to the games and its fanbase.

Beyond its references, though, were other strengths, especially the characters. I loved every performance, my favorites being Hutcherson’s and Rubio’s.

I have a soft spot for sibling dynamics in movies, and the relationship between Mike and Abby was very heartwarming.

Hutcherson is convincing as the tired, parent-like older brother, and Rubio is perfect as an innocent child who just wants to spend time with him. Once you discover their family’s past, their bond becomes much more meaningful, and I was hoping that he would retain custody of her.

My favorite scenes, though, featured the animatronics. The

animatronics were designed by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, the same company that created the iconic characters of “Sesame Street.” Their loveable, friendly appearances, yet uncanny behaviors, are perfect, especially when they interact with Mike, Abby and Vanessa.

Their scenes range from creepy to hilarious, and there is never a dull moment when they are on screen.

Unfortunately, I did have one issue with “Five Nights at Freddy’s”: its inability to fully capture the atmosphere of the first game. The games have always done a great job at balancing its silliness with eeriness.

Obviously, none of the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” games are necessarily terrifying, and I did not expect the film to be that much different, but there is an

eeriness to the gameplay that I felt was missing. In the game, you play as a security guard and must keep an eye on the pizzeria without ever leaving the security room. The confinement — flipping through cameras and being jumpscared by the animatronics as they stand outside of the doors — makes you feel helpless and adds to the horror.

In contrast, the majority of the film takes place outside of this dreaded room. I did not mind the scenes outside of the abandoned pizzeria, particularly the ones in Mike and Abby’s house, as they added more depth to the characters. However, when the characters are in the pizzeria, they are usually exploring other areas, from the hallways to the arcade. While it was nice to see Mike and the other characters interact with the setting and

animatronics more, it loses an aspect of what makes the games great. The movie didn’t need to take place only in the security room, but spending more time there would have made the dark reveals much more unsettling.

Despite this issue I had, though, watching “Five Nights at Freddy’s” was one of my favorite viewing experiences of the year. I can’t guarantee you’ll like the movie, especially if you’re not a fan of the original games, but I can guarantee that it is perfect to watch with your friends for the performances, animatronics and humor. And if you don’t want to pay the extra money to see the movie in theaters, it’s streaming on Peacock, so don’t miss out on one of the biggest and most hilarious movies of the year.

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The “Five Nights at Freddy’s” franchise brings their animatronics to a whole new dimension: the silver screen.

New Museum Highlights Taylor Swift’s Storytelling

By MIA BATTISTA

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Museum of Arts and Design’s new exhibit, “Taylor Swift: Storyteller,” is a special exhibition that takes visitors on an immersive audio-visual journey through a collection of Taylor Swift’s most iconic music videos and stage performances.

Swift is a 12-time Grammy award-winning artist and songwriter that uses fashion and style to complement her songs and artistry. “Taylor Swift: Storyteller” represents a slice of the notable work that talented designers and artists have created to accompany Swift’s performances. This exhibition features a unique assortment of costumes, props, jewelry and accessories worn and used by Swift herself. This experience provides something for fans of every Swift era and for those who are less familiar with her work.

A selection of Swift’s music videos are projected for visitors to see where the individual pieces displayed at the museum originate from. While listening to the song “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” visitors can view the stunning red wedding dress and bellhop uniform worn by Swift in that 2021 music video.

There are also various musical instruments played by Swift, such as the silver spar-

kle guitar by Taylor Guitars from performances during the Speak Now World Tour. After watching “willow” in the projection area, fans of the “evermore” album can walk over to the display case containing the authentic lute created by Pasquale D’Isanto that Swift played in that 2020 music video.

This exhibit occupies the whole second floor of the Museum of Arts and Design, and it is focused on utilizing the empty space and decorating the entire room. Visitors are welcomed by a neon pink “Taylor Swift” sign from the “Taylor Swift Experience” exhibit by the Grammy Museum

in 2014 and a J-180 Guitar by Gibson from the “City of Lover” concert in Paris in 2019.

One of the walls is covered with recreated prints of handwritten lyrics to the fan favorite song “All Too Well” from the “Red (Taylor’s Version)” album.

A second wall shows off the lyrics to lead single “Tim McGraw” from Swift’s self-titled debut album. There is a painting of Benjamin Button, Swift’s ragdoll cat, from the “Lover” music video in 2019 with green and silver wallpaper painted by Rebecca Graves hanging on one of the walls of the exhibit.

Each display piece corresponds

to an information card that details where and when the piece was used. Some of these special events that are included in this collection are from award shows and tour performances that Swift participated in.

One of the main display cases shows the light blue dress Swift wore in 2007 when she won her first Country Music Award at the Sommet Center.

Another notable costume piece is the gold Speak Now (2010) dress by Roberto Cavalli. This dress was worn by Swift during “Sparks Fly,” “Mine” and the “The Story of Us” performances during the Speak Now

A new museum exhibit explores the storytelling in super star Taylor Swift’s extensive discography.

COURTESY OF MIA BATTISTA FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

World Tour in 2011-12. There is also the blue, gold and white cheerleading outfit and ballerina costume from the “Shake It Off” music video from 2014.

This song was nominated for three different awards at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.

Swift is a multifaceted artist that has ventured into other storytelling mediums, such as film. She wrote and directed the 15-minute “All Too Well: The Short Film” that took home Best Music Video at the 2023 Grammy awards. She also directed the music videos for the singles on “Lover,” “evermore,” “folklore,” “Midnights” and “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”

Throughout her ongoing 18year career, Swift has placed an emphasis on telling stories through her music and lyrics.

Her live concerts blend stunning costume pieces, grand set designs, elaborate dance choreography and vibrant vocal performance to accurately portray the emotion and mood of each song. Her music videos provide compelling cinematic reflections of those songs.

“Taylor Swift: Storyteller” timed entry tickets can be purchased for $25 each through March 24, 2024, on the Museum of Arts and Design’s official website. The purchase of a ticket also includes access to the general admission sections of the museum. This experience is self-paced and self-guided,

CULTURE

November 15, 2023

A Guide to Bryant Park’s Winter Village

By STELLA McFARLAND CONTRIBUTING WRITER

From hot cocoa to ice skating to handmade gifts, Bryant Park’s Winter Village has something for everyone this holiday season.

Bryant Park’s Winter Village Holiday Market runs from Oct. 27, 2023, to Jan. 2, 2024. The holiday shops are open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This event is completely free to the public and perfect for students to enjoy the holiday spirit as finals are approaching. Just a short walk from Grand Central station, the Winter Village is a perfect getaway for Fordham students. Stroll around over 180 holiday shops and grab a bite to eat with choices from around the world. The Winter Village also offers bumper cars on ice, a cozy igloo and a curling cafe and bar reservations for those with a larger budget.

Get all of your holiday shopping done in one place — with a large variety of holiday shops ranging from affordable to luxury, you are bound to find the perfect gift for everyone in your life.

For the food lover, make your way over to Hell’s Kitchen Hot Sauce, Truffle Lane Bryant Park and Dorset Maple Reserve. Cantina Royal Hot Sauce offers a free hot sauce sampling with hot sauces featured on Hot Ones and, for a fun gift, grab the $25 hot sauce sampler which includes five mini

specialty hot sauces.

For someone special in your life, there are quite a few jewelry kiosks. Davin & Kesler offers handmade, one-of-a-kind wooden jewelry, among other wooden gifts. Husband and wife, Tom and Mary, work together in Rhode Island to create these perfectly designed, intricate pieces.

Doviana sells affordable luxury jewelry and piercings, and you can also get matching permanent jewelry with your best friend at the Friction Jewelry kiosk.

One of my personal favorite kiosks is Herbs Fit Life. The kiosk features all-natural products ranging from candles to facial serums to their best-seller Muscle and Joint Pain Relieving and Anti Inflammatory Herbal Balm. The owner of the company is from the Cherokee Tribe, and she actually harvests and creates all of the products herself.

Whether you are looking for something savory or sweet, you will definitely find what you are looking for at the Winter Village.

Taste the world through cuisine from Singapore to Latin America.

Destination Dumplings sells handmade dumplings, Toastieland sells decadent grilled cheeses, Lemak Malaysian Kitchen sells satay bowls, Cheese Wheel Pasta cooks fettuccine alfredo in a cheese wheel in front of you and Casa Toscana sells delicious oven-hot Tuscan sandwiches. There are even gluten-free options offered at Palenque Empanadas, including

traditional arepas and empanadas.

Bryant Park’s Winter Village offers the most decadent desserts, and a few vendors even give out free samples. There is so much to try, including a variety of hot chocolate places selling everything, even cupcake hot chocolate, lavender hot chocolate, oreo hot chocolate and the list goes on. No Chewing Allowed sells chocolate truffles that melt in your mouth and their famous rich hot chocolate. Loca Madres starts every order with six locos — hot, fresh donut holes with endless toppings, from ruby pink chocolate to fresh strawberries and even a scoop of ice cream. Just take a leisurely stroll around the Winter Village to find warm apple cider donuts, edible cookie dough, babka, macaroons and so much more.

Bank of America, partner of Bryant Park, has a marketplace by Seneca Women, highlighting four companies at different dates during the time Winter Village is open.

Seneca Women is a global leadership community dedicated to amplifying women’s voices, supporting women creators and advancing women in the economy and all around the world. There is also an option to shop online from the 200 businesses in the Bank of America Marketplace by Seneca Women if you are unable to make it to the holiday market. While I was visiting the kiosk, Sequence Collection was being featured.

Sequence Collection sells unique handcrafted artisanal products,

including bags and bracelets. Their mission is to disrupt the cycle of violence that limits at-risk youth by offering programs that lead to personal and professional development and creating cool handcrafted products to generate youth employment opportunities.

This year’s Small Business Spotlight highlighted women and minority business owners. Each

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business showcases its products for two weeks at a time, allowing four different small businesses access to a kiosk at the park for free.

HappiHello, an Asian American and Pacific-Islander-owned handmade stationary company, was featured during my visit.

Take a break from the stress of finals to enjoy some holiday cheer while supporting small businesses.

COURTESY OF STELLA MCFARLAND FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Bryant Park’s Winter Village offers a wide variety of food and gift vendors.

Fall 2023 Fashion Trends Wrapped

By RORY DONAHUE

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

During this ongoing fall season, various trends have graced runways, everyday fashion and celebrities alike. Among the various styles, four prominent trends have caught my attention: metallics, the color red, ballet flats and cardigans.

During the spring/summer 2023 Paco Rabanne show, they infused a metallic aesthetic into various clothing and footwear items such as silver leather moto boots, maxi skirts and trousers.

With their recent collaboration with H&M, launched on Nov. 9, they have translated this style into more accessible pieces. Notable highlights from the collection include a sequin dress and disco bags. Ever since, a metallic sparkle has appeared across more shows and stores worldwide.

Metallics are nothing new to fashion, but what makes it different this season is the pairing with more basic items such as sweaters and jeans. To incorporate metallics, it does not have to be an overly dressy or flamboyant outfit, but rather it can effortlessly become part of your everyday style when paired with a silver or gold accessory. When observing students across Fordham’s campus, I notice the prevalence of this trend through the use of puffers and casual sneakers. Brands

like Adidas, for instance, have introduced metallic color variations for their renowned Samba shoe, contributing to the trend’s popularity. Stores like Anthropologie, J.Crew, H&M and Zara showcase metallic elements in blouses, heels, purses, skirts and statement earrings this season.

“I love incorporating metallic

in my outfits with jewelry and purses. I enjoy seeing it in more everyday items and accessories; it is a fun color to style. I love my Zara silver heels and even saw an awesome gold puffer jacket at Target,” said Alaina Davis, FCRH ’25.

A prominent color trend for this season revolves around the vibrant shade of red. While the previous

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This year’s fall fashion trends are dominated by ballet flats and metallics.

season showcased an abundance of green, the current fall season is dominated by the prevalence of red on runways and in stores.

Various red hues, ranging from deeper maroon tones to vibrant scarlet shades, are all over this season. The incorporation of red is particularly notable in items such as jackets, sweaters and bags. Brands like Free People and NA-KD have a great selection of red sweaters and blouses.

Many second-hand stores or markets like the Grand Bazaar or Buffalo Exchange have more unique red leather and bomber jackets. Shoulder ​​ or crossbody bags in red are available across many stores, catering to different price ranges. This color is always found at Fordham, especially at the parent’s weekend tailgate. I saw fun variations of red-spirited outfits, including items like red cowboy boots and maroon pants.

A great way to incorporate the metallic and red trends mentioned before would be through sporting ballet flats. In Sandy Liang’s spring 2024 show, they displayed outfits with bright red satin ballet flats, which is just one example of the revival of this shoe. They are an easy, slip-on shoe, and no one can deny the resurgence of this trend this season. Beyond the runway, this shoe trend is making its way worldwide in all types of colorways and patterns.

J.Crew’s classic Zoe ballet flat is

the blueprint of this trend, but I also recommend consulting Steve Madden or Mango for affordable but stylish options.

“I have been loving the ballet flat trend,” Davis said. “After seeing many social media advertisements and influencers sporting the trend, I bought myself a black pair from Nordstrom. I can not wait to wear them this season, they are such a cute way to elevate my outfits.”

Finally, the cardigan takes the spotlight as my favorite trend this season. While cardigans themselves are not a novel concept, their use in layering, comfort and the diverse range of colors this season sets them apart. The specific cut of the cardigan I see frequently is the sweater jacket, loosely inspired by the infamous Chanel jacket. The viral TikTok version is the Old Navy SoSoft Cropped Cardigan, popularized by creator Lilly Sisto. The cardigan offers good quality at a price of $35 and comes in colors like red, tan, bright blue and brown.

Beyond these trends, I would say fashion this season is fluid.

Wear what you want to wear and what makes you comfortable. While these colorways and pieces sell the most, some of the best clothes or accessories out there are unique finds from your favorite store. There are so many great ways to dress yourself, so I suggest embracing your style.

SPORTS

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Cross Country Takes Part In NCAA Regionals

Football Suffers Another Setback vs Lafayette

By NICK GUZMAN

By NICK GUZMAN

SPORTS EDITOR

SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Cross Country competed at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship this past weekend in the Bronx. Van Cortlandt Park played host to over 500 runners from 37 teams as Fordham wrapped up their final action of the season.

Fordham’s men’s team placed 22nd out of 37 teams, while the women’s team placed 34th out of 37 teams.

The men’s circuit was won

by Graham Banks of Harvard University, who clocked in at 29:31.6 on the 10K course.

Iona University won the team title with 40 points, finishing ahead of Harvard in second and Syracuse in third.

For Fordham, top performers included senior Steven Zucca and graduate student Colin Flood.

Zucca finished in 42nd place with a personal-best time of 30:29.7, while Flood came in 89th at 31:10.3. Zucca had an impressive 18th place finish at the Atlantic 10 Championship two weeks ago and finished his fall season as one of Fordham’s top performers.

Rounding out the field for the men’s unit was freshman Sean Reidy in 119th place, sophomore

Nicholas Grabarz in 178th place, sophomore Darren Croke in 203rd place and freshman Matthew McCabe in 204th place.

The women’s circuit was also won by a Harvard runner, with Maia Ramsden taking home the top prize in the 6K course with a time of 19:24.4. The team championship was claimed by Syracuse University, who finished ahead of Boston College and Providence College with an impressive tally of 98 points.

Fordham’s women’s team struggled a bit on Saturday, with no runner placing in the top 100.

Freshman Meredith Gotzman was Fordham’s top finisher on the day, coming in 149th place with a time of 22:20.1. Fellow freshman Sarah Zahaykevich was next to cross the finish line for the Rams, placing in 188th at 23:00.0. Behind her were seniors Marin Bogulski in 196th place, Maddy Kopec in 224th place and Clodagh McGroary in 235th place. The NCAA Regionals marked the end of the cross country season for the Rams. The runners will now shift their focus to the indoor track season, which will begin on Dec. 2 at the Youree Spence-Garcia Invitational on Staten Island.

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Cross Country season has now come to a close over this past weekend.

Athletes of the Week Lercari was a lockdown force in net for the Rams this weekend. He shutout Connecticut College through one half of play on Friday, getting the second half off in a 23-3 rout. Then on Saturday, he recorded 13 saves and a pair of assists and steals, subduing a #20th ranked Brown University team to seven goals.

His efforts helped Fordham Water Polo close out a 22-7 finish to the regular season on the back of nine straight wins.

Fordham Football suffered their fourth defeat of the season on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Lafayette College Leopards 24-16 in Easton, Pa. The Rams drop to 6-4 on the season and 2-3 in Patriot League play. This loss essentially removes any chance that Fordham had remaining for an at-large postseason berth. On the other hand, Lafayette improves to 8-2 overall and 4-1 in the league.

They currently sit in first place in the Patriot League, ahead of College of the Holy Cross due to the headto-head tiebreaker.

For the first time since the opening week of the season, Fordham’s offense was held to under 20 points. The Rams actually outgained the Leopards in terms of offensive yardage, but they weren’t able to punch the ball into the endzone until the fourth quarter.

Lafayette received the ball to begin the game, but Fordham’s defense forced a quick threeand-out to give Montes and the offense possession. Fordham punted the ball right back after a holding penalty derailed their first drive, and the first quarter ended in a scoreless tie with both sides struggling to move the ball early.

In the second quarter, Fordham got on the board first courtesy of a 29-yard field goal from senior Brandon Peskin. Lafayette immediately responded with a touchdown drive of their own.

Running back Jamar Curtis, who torched Fordham all day with 204 yards on the ground, broke the ball into Rams territory with a 40-yard run. Curtis added two touchdowns later in the game and was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. The Leopards then capped off their drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Dean Denobile to Elijah Steward.

AWAY

Junior Water Polo

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham has had a tough stretch against their last few opponents.

Fordham’s next drive started from their own eight-yard line, but the Rams were able to methodically move the ball deep into Lafayette territory. They were ultimately stopped on a third-and-short from inside the Lafayette 10-yard line, forcing a short field goal attempt from Peskin. Peskin hooked the 26yard try wide left, with the Rams squandering a major opportunity to put points on the board.

The score remained 7-3 heading into the halftime break as both defenses were taking center stage. Junior James Conway led the way for Fordham’s defense, recording 10 tackles on the day along with one tackle for a loss.

In the third quarter, Lafayette expanded their lead after the Rams went three-and-out to begin the half. Denobile hit Steward for a 24-yard completion to set up the Leopards at the Fordham one-yard line, and Denobile then punched the ball in himself for the touchdown.

That drive took almost eight minutes off the clock in the third quarter, meaning Fordham would only get one more offensive possession before the fourth.

Once again, Fordham’s typically high-powered offensive unit was forced to punt the ball back to the Leopards. A Lafayette field goal early in the fourth quarter made it 17-3, with Fordham needing a big performance down the stretch to get back into the game.

The Rams finally got moving offensively on their next possession.

Montes completed key passes to graduate student MJ Wright, senior

Wednesday Nov. 15

Thursday Nov. 16

Each week, The Fordham Ram’s sports section honors two athletes for their on-field performances as their “Athletes of the Week.”

Women’s Basketball Volleyball

Friday Nov. 17 Norfolk State 1 p.m.

Men’s Basketball The senior transfer from New Mexico State helped ice out a 66-63 win over the University of Albany, going a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line in the final two minutes to cement a 14-point day and secure Fordham’s first win against a DI opponent. On Sunday, Donaldson led the Rams’ offensive effort against the University of Miami with a team-high 13 points in a blowout loss. Donaldson is the only Ram to record double digit points in each of the team’s first three games.

Mekai Felton and junior Garrett Cody to set Fordham up with a first-and-goal situation from the Lafayette one-yard line. Montes then scored on a quarterback keeper, cutting the Lafayette lead down to 17-10.

But Jamar Curtis ensured that it didn’t stay a one-possession game for long. On the first play of Lafayette’s ensuing possession, Curtis ripped a 72-yard run all the way down to the Fordham 12-yard line. He then finished his own work with a short threeyard score, extending Lafayette’s lead to 24-10.

With just 6:55 remaining, the Rams needed to work quickly.

They were able to cut the lead back down to one score thanks to a 15-yard touchdown from Montes to junior Julius Loughridge, but Peskin was unable to convert the extra point. At 24-16 with 3:25 left, Lafayette was able to convert a key fourth down on a run from Curtis to ice the game. Fordham wouldn’t get the ball back, and Lafayette kneeled down to run out the clock and secure the 24-16 win.

Fordham’s offense ultimately waited too long to get going in this one. That, combined with the defenses’ inability to stop the run and Peskin’s special teams blunders, spelled doom for the Rams. Fordham will be back in action this Saturday in their season finale against Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. That game is set for a 1 p.m. start and can be streamed live on ESPN+ or listened to on WFUV 90.7.

Varsity Calendar HOME

Thomas Lercari

Taylor Donaldson Senior Women’s Basketball

November 15, 2023

Saturday Nov. 18

Paradise Jam Paradise Jam TBA TBA

VCU 3:30 p.m.

Princeton Club 11 a.m.

Football

Colgate 1 p.m.

Water Polo

Wagner/GW 2:30 p.m.

Men’s Swim and Dive

Monday Nov. 20 Paradise Jam TBA Georgian Court 7 p.m.

Manhattan 7 p.m.

Squash

Women’s Swim and Dive

Sunday Nov. 19

Cornell Club/ GW 9 a.m./1 p.m.

Tuesday Nov. 21

SPORTS

November 15, 2023

Student Athlete Column: The Ram Showdown

By GRACE GALBREATH ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Well, folks, it finally happened.

On Sunday evening, the long awaited day arrived. The Rambearables finally played the backstabbing, talentless, rival Ram volleyball team. Okay, that may have been a little too harsh. Let me rephrase, we finally played the other Ram team. (Sorry, I can’t bring myself to use any nice adjectives to describe them.)

The evening began with a friendly Ram meeting. As the meeting ended, so did our fake niceties. Sections were torn apart and friendships were broken, with the Opinion Section taking the brunt of it. To say the least, the night was dramatic.

After the weekly meeting, I begged Sports Editor Maddie Bimonte, FCRH ’24, to join The Rambearables, but my pleas were met with no avail. She dismissed my request with a laugh. (She will certainly regret that when The Rambearables exit intramural playoffs with a clean sweep.)

The match started with a quick game of rock, paper and scissors to decide which team would serve first. Matt Colucci, GSB ’25, represented The Rambearables, while Nicole Braun, FCRH ’24,

represented the other team. After Braun won the makeshift coin toss, we were off to the races!

The game itself was extremely underwhelming. I guess when you put a bunch of newspaper editors on a volleyball court, the ball hits the floor a lot. When I say a lot, I mean a lot. Despite our best efforts, both teams struggled to keep the ball in the air. Which, if you are unfamiliar with volleyball, is the point of the game.

The Rambearables newest player, Allison Schneider, FCRH ’26, had the game of her life. Schneider was a menace on the court, diving left and right, up and down, to keep the ball from hitting the paint. Schneider commented on the game, saying, “This is the best I have ever played!”

After playing for over half an hour, we realized that we had forgotten to keep score. At that point, a member of the lesser team, Michael Sluck, FCRH ’24, decided to begin keeping score.

Listen, I would never go on the record saying Sluck is a liar.

That would be a serious accusation. (And I would never make a serious accusation in a light-hearted column like this!) I am saying, however, that the final score is a little fishy.

Also, I’m not the only one who doubts Sluck’s counting abilities.

Colucci was outwardly upset with Sluck’s scorekeeping skills. He said, “Michael lied.”

To say that star Rambearable libero, Evan McManus, FCRH ’25, was upset with the scorekeeping is an understatement. McManus said, “What Michael did was wrong.”

Although the game was officially called in the other team’s favor, I think that there is some room to debate the final score. We might have won! (Heavy emphasis on the word might.) Sofia Donohue, FCRH ’25, said it best. She said, “I think we were definitely winning at some point.”

The Rambearables’ wonderful, fantastic team coach, Lauren Lombardi, FCRH ’25, wholeheartedly agreed with Donohue. She said, “The point in which they started keeping score is certainly curious.”

To wrap up my column, let me please stress that this entire piece is satire, and Sluck can definitely count. Tweag, please do not hold this against him if you are looking to hire him! Don’t take this seriously.

After all, it was just a friendly game of some friends playing volleyball in a friendly manner.

McManus said it best: “Although we lost, it was nice playing against our friends.”

Water Polo Eyes Three-Peat after Strong Regular Season Finish

By LOU ORLANDO

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Water Polo will vie for its third straight conference championship after a 22-7 finish to the regular season.

Running away with the #1 seed in the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC), the #15 ranked Rams have a clear path to retaining their conference title and earning an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament.

The Rams wrapped up their conference slate at the end of October, but scheduled two weeks of non-conference action to stay sharp.

Following a win last Wednesday against Iona College in the Judge Cup, Fordham closed out their regular season schedule with two road matches against Connecticut College and Brown University.

Fordham exercised its dominance on Friday with a 23-3 win in an absolute shellacking of Connecticut College.

The Rams tallied 11 goals in the first half while holding the Camels scoreless.

Head coach Brian Bacharach seized the opportunity to get some action for his depth pieces in the second half. Freshman Gabriel Gunane took full advantage, tallying a season-high five goals, four of which came in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Jagger McMannis posted a hat trick while freshmen Reid Thorson and Berk Oral each netted two goals apiece.

After junior Thomas Lercari shut out the Camels in the first half, Bacharach gave his starting goalkeeper the rest of the night off. Junior Riccardo Di Giuseppe

and freshman Panayiotis Giannas shared the net in the second half, holding the Camels to just three second half goals.

The 20-point margin of victory marks the largest of the season, and it’s the fewest goals the Rams have allowed dating back to last October when they allowed two against Mercyhurst College.

Fordham would face a steeper test the following day, capping off their regular season with a matchup against a Brown University Bears squad ranked 20th in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national polls. Brown had bested Fordham earlier this season with a 18-13 victory in the season’s opening weekend.

The Rams would get the last laugh, defeating the Bears on the back of a second half surge.

Brown held a 5-4 lead late in the second, but a pair of markers from freshman Barnabas Eppel and one from junior Jacopo Parrella gave Fordham a 7-5 lead at halftime.

The Rams completely took over in the third quarter, outscoring Brown 6-0 as juniors Lucas Nieto Jasny and Luca Silvestri each scored twice in the frame.

The Fordham lead stood at 15-5 by the time Brown netted their first goal of the second half, coming on a penalty shot with

six minutes left in the fourth.

By that point, it was far too late as the Rams secured a 16-7 win.

Lercari was stellar in net, racking up 13 saves and a pair of assists and steals, while Parrella led the offensive attack with a four goal day.

The victory marks Fordham’s first win against Brown since 2009, with the Bears winning the last 15 contests. For the Rams, it’s just their second win in program history against Brown, who has won 28 of 30 matches against Fordham dating back to their first meeting in 1999.

With the pair of weekend wins, the Rams close out their regular season with a 22-7 record, including a perfect 12-0 in conference play.

Excluding a COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, it marks the fourth straight season that Fordham has posted 20 or more wins.

They’ll now shift their attention to the upcoming MAWPC tournament, set to begin this Friday, Nov. 17. Claiming the top seed in the conference, Fordham has earned a bye straight into the semifinals on Saturday, where they’ll play the winner of Wagner College and George Washington University. As a result, it would take just two wins for the Rams to claim their third straight conference title.

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Fordham Water Polo is all ready for the MAWPC Championship.

Page 17

Varsity Scores & Stats Football Fordham Lafayette

16 24

Volleyball Fordham George Mason

3 1

Fordham George Mason

0 3

Water Polo Fordham Connecticut College

23 3

Fordham Brown

16 7

Men’s Cross Country NCAA Northeast Regional 22nd/37 teams

Squash Navy Round Robin Fordham Navy

0 9

Women’s Cross Country NCAA Northeast Regional 34th/37 teams

Fordham Bucknell

6 3

Fordham Navy B Team

9 0

Fordham Georgetown

6 3

Fordham Denison

0 9

Women’s Basketball Fordham 66 UAlbany 63 Fordham Miami

39 78

Men’s Basketball Fordham Cornell

73 78

–Compiled by Maddie Bimonte

News & Notes Men’s Basketball Records New Commit Fordham Men’s Basketball head coach Keith Urgo announced last week that Ryan Pettis signed a National Letter of Intent for the Rams’ 2024-25 season. The 6-foot-4-inch combo guard from California earned First Team All-West Catholic Athletic League honors at Junipero Serra High School.

Follow us on Twitter at @theram_sports

SPORTS

Page 18

November 15, 2023

Overtime: The Problem with the MLS Cup Playoffs

By NICK GUZMAN SPORTS EDITOR

As the youngest of the five major American professional sports leagues, Major League Soccer (MLS) is constantly changing.

Since 2015, the league has expanded from 20 teams to 29, with San Diego FC set to make it 30 in 2025.

With this rapid expansion, MLS has wrestled with several different playoff formats in the last few years. The number of teams that qualify for the postseason changes seemingly every year, as does the overall format of the competition. For 2023, MLS once again announced a new-look postseason. Brace yourself, because it’s pretty complicated.

Eighteen teams qualify for the playoffs: nine in the Eastern Conference, and nine in the Western Conference.

There are five different rounds: the Wild Card round, Round One, the Conference Semifinals, the Conference Finals and the MLS Cup Final. The eighth and ninth seeded teams in each conference take part in the Wild Card round, which is a single-elimination match.

Round One is a best-of-three series, but each round after that is single-elimination again.

I have a problem with nearly every aspect of this playoff format. I’ll start with the number of teams that get in. Eighteen teams

out of 29 is way too many. That’s 62%, which is more than any other American sports league. There is some thinking behind this decision from MLS. They want to keep as many fanbases engaged in the season for as long as possible.

MLS doesn’t have the luxury that Major League Baseball has, where even teams that have absolutely nothing to play for will still draw large crowds on a daily basis. So by having this many teams, you ensure that a large portion of the league’s fanbase has a reason to keep showing up late into the fall.

But the playoffs are supposed to be a reward. In other sports, the organizations who invest more into their teams and make the correct managerial decisions are rewarded with both the financial and sporting prestige of postseason play. Teams who don’t make the playoffs face the consequences. In MLS, below-average teams are able to hide their problems by sneaking into the last few playoff spots.

Next, both the best-of-three and single elimination formats are problematic. MLS likes the dramatic appeal of single elimination, but a one-and-done format results in fewer games than the traditional two-legged aggregate series that was abandoned by the league a few years back. So in order to

lengthen the playoffs and increase revenue, MLS turned to a best-ofthree system in Round One. The way the MLS has set up their best-of-three system leaves plenty of room for issues. If a match is tied after 90 minutes in Round One, it goes directly to penalties. So theoretically, a team could advance to the Conference Semifinals by bunkering down and playing for penalties for 90 minutes in two straight matches.

How is that entertaining? MLS will argue that you can’t play 30 minutes of extra time with three matches in such a short span, which is also true. But that’s why there shouldn’t be a best-of-three series anyway. No other soccer league in the world has this format, and it’s weird that MLS

employs it for only one round.

Single elimination makes it difficult for the best teams in the regular season to be rewarded.

A team could dominate the league for 34 matches in the regular season, but a bad bounce in the playoffs could lead to their elimination. If the purpose of the MLS Playoffs is to crown the best team in the league, then you can’t have single-elimination. But if the purpose is to make the most money and create the most entertaining spectacle, then more recognition should be given to the season’s Supporter’s Shield (trophy given to the team with the best regular season record) winners. They should be recognized not just as Supporter’s Shield winners, but as MLS Champions entirely. You

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We need to stop giving leeway to teams that barely have a winning record.

can then have a separate trophy for the winner of the playoffs, but a clear distinction needs to be made.

In my opinion, there was nothing wrong with the two-legged aggregate system that the league previously employed. That’s how it’s done in the Champions League, the Europa League and nearly every other major league in the world. It ensures that the best teams in the regular season get a fair shot in the playoffs. If a great regular season team is bounced in a two-legged tie by a lower seed, then so be it. The lower seed deserves to advance. A two-legged series is the fairest way to decide playoff victories.

There is no easy solution to the problem of the MLS Playoffs. The league is still so young in comparison to other leagues, meaning it has to worry about things that the NFL and the MLB do not. Prioritizing revenue over a playoff format that works best from a sporting perspective is a fair stance to take when you’re a league that is still trying to firmly establish itself on the American sporting landscape.

But, I think the current playoff format involves way too many teams, is needlessly confusing and doesn’t lead to the best team being crowned as MLS Champions.

Squash Competes at Navy Volleyball Qualifies Round Robin for A-10

By MADDIE BIMONTE SPORTS EDITOR

The #32 ranked Fordham squash team participated in the Navy Round Robin this past weekend, featuring five matchups against teams like the United States Naval Academy, Bucknell University, Georgetown University and Denison University.

The group ended with a winning record, taking three out of the five matches.

In the opening matchup against Navy, the Rams struggled to overcome the efforts of the Midshipmen.

Navy won all nine matches in three games from the Rams.

Sophomore Jack Stanley, who plays in fifth position, faced Alexander Orr for a close matchup. He dropped the first set 11-7 and the second 12-10, before ultimately falling to Orr with a third match score of 13-11.

Sophomore Nicholas Gilman, in first position, fell to Matthew Wang, 11-1, 11-8 and 11-8.

The Rams had time to shake the loss off, as they took on their second match against Bucknell the next day. This time, the Rams had much more success than they did against Navy.

Gilman continued his position at first in the order, defeating Bisons Andrew Rebak in five games, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 8-11 and 13-11.

The Rams dropped the second and third position matches, but

regained ground as the four through eight slots picked up wins. Thanks to freshman Peter Vorbach, Stanley, junior Robert Cruikshank, sophomore Gray Kearns and junior Sofia Arseniev, the Rams locked down the match against Bucknell 6-3.

Next up for Fordham was a showdown against the “B” squad for the Navy, and in preparation, the Rams’ starting eight positions looked a little different.

Switching things up, Vorbach took the first slot match, who usually plays fourth, taking a win over Alexandre Toner. The final line was as follows: 11-5, 11-0 and 11-1. Starting off strong for Fordham, it set the tone for the rest of the day.

Keeping the momentum was Stanley, this time playing in the second slot instead of fifth, getting an easy win over Alexander Hoot, with a score line of 11-5, 11-2 and 11-4.

Additional wins for Fordham came from the new looking lineup of Cruikshank (3rd), Kearns (4th), Arseniev (5th), senior Caleb Schumacher (6th), sophomore Crispin McCarthy (7th), senior Nicholas Choo (8th) and junior Edwin Hess (9th).

Finally, the Rams developed a win streak with their final win of the weekend against Georgetown.

Gilman was back in first

position with a win, taking a matchup between himself and Dietrich Jacobs. The first two rounds finished with a score of 11-6, 11-6. The third match ended with Jacobs retiring early to Gilman, giving him the decisive victory.

Vorbach picked up his third win of the afternoon at fourth position with an 11-7, 11-6, 10-12 and 11-5 victory against Heath Otenasek.

Cruikshank, Kearns and Arseniev all recorded their third wins of the day at the sixth through eighth positions, and Schumacher picked up a default point at the ninth spot.

Lastly, on the weekend, the Rams winning streak ended just as quickly as it started, being swept against Denison 0-9.

Junior Bennett Van Liew took the number one spot for the Rams in the match, conceding to Juan Felipe Hernandez in three matches, 11-7, 11-4 and 11-3.

Vorbach put up a good fight in the third spot but couldn’t overcome Charlie Fenwick.

The Rams have a jam-packed weekend coming up for them as they have three scheduled matches. The matches are against the Princeton University Club team, Cornell University’s Club team and George Washington University.

Those will kick off at home at Rose Hill on the Lombardi Squash Courts on Saturday.

Tournament

By BRETT TULIP STAFF WRITER

Fordham Volleyball is officially in the Atlantic 10 Tournament as the sixth seed and will take on the third seed in Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) this Friday at 3:30 p.m. This comes after a key victory against George Mason University this weekend, where the Rams ultimately split the two matches but won the first in a dominating fourth set that ended in a score of 25-10.

This first match, which began on the road on Friday, started out very close. The first set ended with a narrow 25-23 Fordham victory, led by five kills from senior Whitley Moody and four from sophomore Zoe Talabong. The second set was even closer, going to a shocking 32-30 final score, with both teams trading points back and forth until finally, the Rams were able to win off an attack error. The third set was their only dropped set on the day, falling again to an extremely close 25-23 score, with George Mason making the late push ahead. Lastly, as mentioned previously, Fordham buried their opponents by a score of 25-10, a truly clutch set that would secure their place in the postseason. At

the end of the match, head coach Ian Choi gave credit to sophomore Mackenzie Colvin, who led the Rams in total assists with 23.

Saturday did not go as well, as the team would lose in three close sets. All were tight, with the first ending 25-21, followed by a 25-22 defeat, before the third ended 27-25 after extra points.

Standouts for the match included sophomore Audrey Brown, who finished with 12 kills, while Moody had 11.

Fordham officially finishes their regular season with a 17-11 record overall and a 8-10 record in conference play. This was a big bounce-back year for the Rams after missing the tournament altogether last season. If the team is able to win the tournament, they will advance to the bigger NCAA Volleyball Tournament, which consists of all the winners of their respective conferences.

But for now, the Rams get ready for VCU on Friday in Davidson, N.C. The Rams split their regular season matches against VCU in October, with both teams winning a match by 3-1.

Fordham will look to come out on top in North Carolina and advance in the tournament.

SPORTS

November 15, 2023

Page 19

To Confront The Sacred

By JONAH RING STAFF WRITER

My hometown of Colonial Williamsburg, Va., can in no way be called a lively or energetic place. Life there is simply quieter and slower, with the Virginia sun beating down on its victims so intensely that it feels almost necessary for one to take their time lest they desire to be drenched in sweat for the day.

However, seeing as I have grown accustomed to the rapid and chaotic pace of New York City life through my time at Fordham, I was driven to unfathomable levels of boredom by this more relaxed and deliberate way of living while back at home during the summer. There was no Yankees game to go to, no exciting new hipster restaurant to eat at and no avant-garde art gallery to talk pretentiously in. In short, one simply had to get creative in order to entertain oneself.

It was in this context that I found myself revisiting my own athletic past this past summer as I turned to watching my old varsity basketball highlights during a fit of severe boredom, pathetically indulging in my “glory days” to escape the crippling dullness of that present moment.

Wanting to start my admittedly sad soiree with the past off on a strong foot, I first pulled up the clip of the play that I believed to have been the defining moment of my basketball career, my ego salivating at the thought of being

able to abandon the monotony of the day, basking in and reliving those few seconds of “greatness.”

However, as my “highlight” played, I was struck by how boring it was. In the 15-second clip that was supposedly my legacy, my athletic peak one could say, I was confronted by nothing but a simple play that probably happens thrice in every basketball game.

At that moment, I was confused beyond explanation. I felt betrayed, as in my memories of that play, the entire gym was sent into hysterics by late game heroics: actions so great that they would have been a worthy subject for a Davidian painting. Yet, in reality, all I saw was a routine play during a blowout game that was only able to elicit cheers from my family and close friends.

This disconnect between my memories and reality quickly sent me into a spiraling panic, as my ego was suddenly plunged into fear by the notion that I was not as cool, suave or athletically savvy as I remembered. Thus, I attempted to watch more and more highlights in order to assuage this sense of consternation, but I only became more and more disheartened as my memories were time and again shown to have been acted upon by my mind’s desire to dramatize and monumentalize my own athletic feats.

As I fell further and further down the memory rabbit hole, I began to interrogate those sports

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In iconic moments, we find disconnect between memories and reality.

memories of mine where I was a spectator, attempting to find out if these too were false constructions. And sure enough, reality once again tore through a false splendor, with those moments that I had remembered as being feats of divine athleticism dissolving into something much lesser: good plays that I had simply given some sort of fictitious sacredness in the process of memory construction.

For instance, upon rewatching Evan McPherson’s game-winning field goal in the 2021 AFC Championship game (a play that is so terribly sacred to Bengals fans like myself), I was not met with the dramatic and Herculean 55-yard attempt of my memories, but instead a 31-yard chip shot that went straight down the middle. My memory was thus shattered, reality having rushed

in to wash away the false melodrama I personally cultivated.

This long-winded personal anecdote then begs the question: where does this leave the sports lover? What can be said of those whose personal catalogs of “lifedefining moments” are full of nothing but distorted memories whose dramatics and significance are nothing but projections of one’s consciousness? How can one begin to even grapple with the fact that what they hold sacred is simply a false idol carved out of the desire to ascribe some sort of grandiose significance to what we engage in?

Interestingly, I think my answer to these questions is that all this falsity actually leaves the sports lover in a better place. In a world where suffering is so terrifyingly normalized, where the detritus of modernization has

begun to weight so severely upon the average man that one cannot help but label him as the new Atlas, where even the once consistent ebbs and flows of nature have become unruly and malignant, to have a mechanism by which we can find some happiness, even if built upon lies, is crucial.

Sports can undeniably be this mechanism, acting as a memorymaking machine through which we are given the foundations — moments of clear tension, of resounding victory and defeat and of triumphant human accomplishment — that can be used to mentally craft the monumental during memory construction. In essence, sports’ constant sense of narrative provides one with the clay with which an escapist paradise can be modeled.

Maybe this is why so many of us turn to sports again and again. We tune in game after game not just because they teach “life lessons” or provide a “sense of community,” but because they provide us the means to make an antidote to the problems of the “real world” that can be called upon again and again: false memories. They give us the chance to, down the road, enter, even if just for a moment, a different, less-troubled world: one where you did indeed stand on top of the world for a moment, where your childhood idol did indeed move heaven and earth to score the winning touchdown and where your hometown team really did shock the world.

Rangers Firing On All Cylinders Through First Month

By ALLIE COPPOLA STAFF WRITER

After the first month of the 2023-24 NHL season, the New York Rangers have been dominant in all aspects of their game and are leading the Metropolitan division.

The defense has improved drastically from their shortcomings last season, and the offense is averaging 3.31 goals per game. Goaltending hasn’t been as strong with Igor Shesterkin’s early injury, but backup goalies Jonathan Quick and Louis Domingue have stepped in to record important wins to keep the Rangers’ momentum going. With the improved defense, the Rangers’ goalies don’t have as much pressure to be the deciding factor in games as they did in seasons past. The Blueshirts hold an 11-2-1 record so far and look to build on that with a tougher slate of games coming up in the next couple of weeks.

The Rangers’ stars are putting up incredible numbers to start the season. Artemi Panarin has scored a point through every game this season, with 24 points in 14 games. After his dreadful performance in the Rangers’ first and only round of the playoffs last season, he finds himself tied for third in the league’s points standings. Chris Kreider tallied six power-play goals through the first 14 games, contributing to the Rangers’ status as the second-best power-play this season. Mika Zibanejad is off to

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Artemi Panarin has recorded a point in every game so far this season and is second in the NHL with 24 points.

a slower start than usual but is tied for second on the team in assists with the injured Adam Fox. Somewhat surprisingly, Alexis Lafreniere has 11 points through the first games, with three of them coming from Thursday’s 4-1 win against the Minnesota Wild and another two goals in Sunday night’s win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He scored the game-tying goal and the game-winner in the shootout.

He has benefitted from being on the second line with Panarin and has been able to fine-tune his passing ability while receiving open scoring opportunities. Last

season’s coach Gerard Gallant rarely put Lafreniere in the top six, and now that he’s up there, he’s playing better than he has in his entire career. Fellow young forward Filip Chytil started the season on the second line with Panarin and Lafreniere, but Vincent Trocheck stepped in at center after Chytil’s injury.

Trocheck had a goal and two assists in Thursday’s game and two goals in the previous game against the Detroit Red Wings, stepping up after a slow start to the season.

The defensive improvement is the biggest factor in the Rangers’

success in the beginning of the season. Jacob Trouba’s leadership at the blue line has negated the impact of Fox’s knee injury last week, which landed him on the long-term injured reserve.

Trouba leads the team with 50 blocks and finds himself second in hits with 38. Youngster K’Andre Miller is also stepping up this season, defensively as well as offensively, with 20 blocks and seven points. The greatest impact player for the defense this year has been Erik Gustafsson, who is playing a similar role to Fox during his injury absence. Gustafsson is

the only defenseman on the power play, which is a role served by the best offensive defenseman on the team. The veteran defenseman is proving to be the Rangers’ best offseason addition, and he recorded 10 points in the first 14 games as well as 16 blocks on the defensive side.

The Blueshirts’ goaltending has also been quite strong despite Shesterkin’s early injury, with backups Quick and Domingue coming to the rescue. In four starts before his own injury, Quick won three of his games and led the team to overtime before losing in a shootout. Domingue stepped in after the top two goalies went down, and he recorded 25 saves on 26 shots for the win in his first NHL start in almost two years. Quick recorded the win against the Blue Jackets on Sunday night and stopped all three shootout attempts after regulation. Shesterkin is not expected to return this week, but the Rangers have been just fine without him.

Running a 10-game points streak, the Rangers find themselves at the top of the Metropolitan division heading into Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Devils, their first matchup against them this season. The game will be the first of a four-game road trip where they’ll look to build on their momentum before their three-game homestand at Madison Square Garden.

SPORTS

Page 20

November 15, 2023

Women’s Basketball Skirts by Albany, Falls to Miami

By LOU ORLANDO ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

The road was always going to be a little bumpy. Fordham Women’s Basketball suffered their first roadblock of the season, coming in the form of a lopsided defeat at the hands of the University of Miami.

While the on-court product has been far from perfect, a 2-1 start through three games is nothing to sneeze at.

The Rams opened up their season with a 27-point victory against a Division II Adelphi University program. While it was a strong first effort, highlighted by tenacious defense and a career game for graduate student transfer Emy Hayford, there was a caveat looming over the win. It’s easy to look good against a non-DI program.

But how will you fare against more even competition?

Fordham would have the chance to answer that question on Friday, going toe to toe with a fellow DI program in the University of Albany.

Returning much of their roster from the last two seasons, namely their top two scorers in First Team All-Conference selections Kayla Cooper and Helene Haegerstrand, they posed a threat as a deep and experienced group.

On a more personal level, UAlbany’s trek down to the Bronx meant a homecoming for graduate student guard Sarah Karpell, who spent four seasons at Rose Hill as a reliable starter in Fordham’s back court. With several of her former teammates on hand to watch the game, Karpell slotted into the Albany starting lineup, coming off a 17-point performance in her Danes debut that fell just

one point shy of tying her career high.

The game also marked the Fordham debut for junior transfer Taya Davis, who was ineligible for the season opener against Adelphi.

It was a tightly contested affair, but Fordham emerged victorious with a gritty 66-63 win to improve to 2-0. Once again, it was Hayford leading the charge.

Following up a career-high 18-point performance in her season opener against Adelphi, the University of Pittsburgh transfer outdid herself, scoring a gamehigh 22 points.

The Rams would need every point in a tightly contested battle that saw the lead change hands 24 times. With both sides trading buckets for most of the game, graduate student Mandy McGurk sank a three to give Fordhm a one-point lead as the clock ticked under three minutes in the fourth.

Cooper responded with a layup to retake the lead for Albany, but the Rams snatched it right back on two clutch free throws from senior Taylor Donaldson.

Following McGurk’s three, seven of Fordham’s nine points would come from the charity stripe, as the Rams went 7-8 from the line in the final two minutes, including two perfect trips from Donaldson, to ice the game.

Donaldson posted her second straight double digit output with 14 points and was clutch from the line when it counted. Senior Aminata Ly also added 10 points and a pair of blocks on the defensive end, while Davis added two points and seven assists in her first game as a Ram.

For the second game in a row, Fordham struggled from beyond the arc as a whole, going 4-16 from deep. Yet again, it didn’t seem to hurt them as the Rams found scoring lanes inside, getting 34 of their 66 points from inside the paint. The paint domination applied to both sides of the court as Fordham limited Albany to just 14 points inside the paint.

Karpell played a game-high 38 minutes in her return, hitting a three but scoring just five points as Fordham was able to limit the Great Danes’ offensive impact across the board. The Rams drew Albany into a physical, sometimes ugly style of play, forcing 10 turnovers and always keeping things close.

That would not be the case when the Rams traveled south to Florida to take on Miami. Yes, the same Miami that, led by the Cavinder twins and Destiny Harden, reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament in March.

While I can’t attest to the weather in Florida on Sunday, it certainly wasn’t all sun and rainbows for the Rams inside the Watsco Center, falling in blowout fashion to the Hurricanes 78-39.

Donaldson nailed two threes and all eight of Fordham’s points in the first quarter as the Rams found themselves trailing just 12-8 with 3:37 left in the first quarter. It would never be that close again. Miami scored the last 11 points of the quarter to lead 23-8 at the close of the first quarter and tacked on another 21 in the second, culminating in a 44-16 lead at halftime. The Rams showed some life at the end with a 14-point fourth quarter, their first time scoring double digits in

a single quarter all game, but the Hurricanes still came away with a 39-point victory.

The Fordham offense fell victim to a vicious Miami full-court press.

Unable to move the ball up consistently, the Rams turned the ball over 31 times, resulting in 30 points off turnovers for the Hurricanes.

When Fordham was able to get into their offensive sets, they were stymied by an athletic Miami defense that held them to just 27.9% shooting from the field.

Head coach Bridgette Mitchell preaches defense, but the Rams were overmatched by a far more dynamic Hurricanes offense. Sophomore Lemyah Hylton led the offensive attack with 17 points, 15 of which came on three balls.

Donaldson was a bright spot offensively, notching her third straight double digit performance with a team-high 13 points, including three makes from beyond the arc.

Even the most optimistic Fordham fans probably didn’t expect a win against an excellent Miami team. Last year’s squad managed an impressive eightpoint loss to a ranked University of Maryland team, and even that felt like a major surprise.

Throwing the outcome aside for now, there’s still plenty to take away from this weekend.

After some questions over who would take the reins of the offense, the early answer seems to be the combination of Hayford and Donaldson. Hayford has been off to a phenomenal start, averaging 15.3 on 43% shooting.

Donaldson’s right behind her at 13.0 points per game. While efficiency has plagued her to start, as seen in her 29% shooting percentage, she’s been a confident scorer and has proven herself capable of being a threat from beyond the arc.

Miami was able to key in on Hayford, holding her to just six points as she made just three of 13 shots. While Fordham might not run into many teams like Miami, they may need to find some more scoring from their supporting cast, particularly when they clash with some of the top defenses in the Atlantic 10.

Fordham returns home to play Manhattan College on Thursday in the Battle of the Bronx, beginning a stretch of five straight games at Rose Hill.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Women’s Basketball were outmatched by Miami at the Watsco Center.

Men’s Basketball Fails To Complete Comeback against Cornell

By COLIN LOUGHRAN STAFF WRITER

Basketball is a game of runs, but sometimes even the fiercest comeback attempt can simply run out of room to grow.

Such was the case this past Saturday when Fordham Men’s Basketball fell to the Cornell University Big Red 78-73 at the historic Rose Hill Gymnasium.

The Ivy League squad’s measured first half helped them hold off a ferocious Rams’ rally in the second half.

Fordham began the game with an 11-4 lead, but the Big Red were able to stay within themselves and force a number of questionable shots and turnovers en route to what would be a key 23-2 scoring run.

Cornell received impressive performances from a number of players. Perhaps the most impactful showing came off the bench from junior guard Nazir Williams. The Nyack native posted a season high 15 points on an efficient 6-10 clip from the field. Additionally, Chris Manon, Cooper Noard and AK Okereke all enjoyed double figure scoring marks.

Fordham struggled to contain the Big Red in more ways than one. Cornell tallied 32 points in

the paint and 35 bench points.

By half, the group from Ithaca led 45-24. That lead would eventually bubble to as many as 27 points early in the second half.

Senior Jahpet Medor and sophomores Will Richardson, Joshua Rivera and Elijah Gray were instrumental to Fordham’s secondhalf resurgence, with the guards serving as the primary offensive contributors and the forwards acting as dual-purpose threats.

Medor followed up a solid debut with another double figure-scoring performance. The senior transfer put up 17 points on a high-volume, 5-14 shooting afternoon.

Richardson tallied 12 points in 25 minutes and enjoyed a greatly

efficient 4-6 clip from the field.

Without senior Abdou Tsimbilia, who was out after tweaking his ankle in practice earlier this week, Fordham needed to find solutions in the paint. Rivera collected a team-high seven broads and also chipped in 12 points. Gray once again showed versatility on both ends. The sophomore grabbed three rebounds and also scored nine points.

One would be remiss if they did not also mention that graduate student Ogheneyole Akuwovo made his Fordham debut and secured four rebounds in 10 minutes of action.

The Rams’ comeback effort was largely fueled by hard-nosed

defense. Once Fordham raised their level of intensity, the Big Red began to commit errors and take questionable shots. Seniors Kyle Rose and Antrell Charlton may have only scored six and three points respectively, but their presence and defensive acumen helped the boys from the Bronx remain competitive in what had seemed like a lost cause.

Fordham pulled back within single digits on the strength of a junior Zach Riley jumper with 6:42 to play, and later made it a onepossession game when Richardson completed a four-point play to turn the score to 69-66.

Cornell answered by scoring six of the game’s next seven points,

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham dropped their first game of the season against Cornell despite a comeback effort after a lackluster first half.

but a Medor layup and a Charlton three-pointer once again made it a three-point game, 75-72, with a minute to go. The Big Red played an intelligent brand of ball to end the game, and were able to use the clock and the free throw line to ice a victory.

In addition to being stunned by a strong start from the Big Red, the Rams were out rebounded by Cornell and also shot a lower percentage from the free throw line.

Despite all of these factors, Fordham almost found a way to complete a double-digit comeback.

Regardless of the validity of “moral victories,” it’s clear that this Fordham squad can simply find ways to stay competitive.

Their first two games have resulted in a split, and while it remains to be seen if the men in maroon will become more consistent from the charity stripe or put together more “complete” performances, their effort and willingness to compete has afforded them time to work out the wrinkles in their game.

The Rams will travel to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam where they’ll play three games in four days. The stretch begins on Friday with an afternoon contest against the Norfolk State University Spartans.