Volume 105 Issue 8

The Fordham Ram

Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 March

Students Reflect on Tetlow

Transition

By SOFIA DONOHUE ASST. NEWS EDITOR

On March 6, the Museum of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Art reopened in Walsh Library after undergoing renovations. On June 1, 2021, the museum closed after having 99 items seized by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. As a result, the museum underwent renovations beginning in summer 2022 in order to accommodate new and old antiquities.

Jennifer Udell, curator of university art, headed the renovation of the Fordham Museum. A few major renovations include refinished floors, the demolition of old display cases and the custom fabrication of new cases and new paint in certain areas of the museum.

“Mostly the installation was a way to rethink how the objects should be displayed and grouped,” said Udell.

Though the Fordham Museum reopening was a celebration, there were challenges which came along with the renovations. Udell noted that scheduling different aspects of the job such

SEE WALSH, PAGE 4

McShane Marketplace to Close for 2023-24 Academic Year

By CEARRA PERRY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In a recent United Student Government (USG) meeting, it was announced that the McShane Campus Center cafeteria, Marketplace, will be closed and under renovation during the 2023-24 school year. Beginning between Sept. 1 and Oct. 1 of 2023, the Marketplace closure will coincide with the start of “destination

dining,” which will include the installation of various temporary dining options.

These new dining options will be dispersed across campus in locations such as the McGinley Ballroom, Bepler Commons, the McShane basement, expanded seating at Starbucks and Cosi and food trucks.

Construction of the “destination dining” locations will occur over the summer, with the

Remembering Fordham Alum and Broadcaster Vincent Scully

By ANTONI ZLATANOVSKI STAFF WRITER

On March 22, 2023, a memorial service was held at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in honor of Fordham alum, Vincent Edward “Vin” Scully.

Scully passed away on Aug.

2, 2022 in Hidden Hills, Calif. A life-long member of the Fordham community, Scully graduated from Fordham Preparatory School in 1944 and spent two years in the United States Navy. Upon completing his service, he enrolled at Fordham University and

graduated with a degree in communications in 1949. He helped create the WFUV radio station and wrote for the sports column of The Fordham Ram.

The mass was primarily organized by the Fordham Campus Ministry and Office of the President. According to

McShane Center “Grab-NGo” construction currently in progress. “This location will be open each and every hour of each and every day that the student center is open,” explains Demin Yaun, dining services contract liaison. “In many ways, there are going to be more options available while the caf is under construction, both in locations

President Tania Tetlow began her term in July 2022. Tetlow serves as the university’s first female and layperson president. As with any presiding officer of a collective, her constituents have had much to say; the students she serves speak loudly of her actions. Many students have remarked on the key highlight of Tetlow’s administration: her public presence, and her emails to the community.

Tetlow met with cultural club leaders on March 2, making good on her pledge to student outreach. “I want to hear the ways you constantly work to make Fordham better, and the ideas you have for the future,” she stated in a promise emailed to the Fordham community on the morning of her first day in office.

“I think President Tetlow does listen to student voices,” said Asian Cultural Exchange (ACE) President Alex Tamsi, FCRH ’24, who was invited to and attended the meeting. “I appreciate the time she took to meet with student leaders of cultural organizations on campus, seeking our input on what the cultural landscape at Fordham looks like and in what ways it could be improved.”

Fordham Releases Course Evaluations Opinion

By EMMA KIM NEWS EDITOR

This March, Fordham College at Rose Hill and Fordham College at Lincoln Center students were given access to course evaluations. The course evaluations, which are known as Fordham’s Student Evaluation of Educational Quality (SEEQ), were originally filled in person. They were moved to an online system in 2013, which Fordham still utilizes.

The course evaluations are now available to students under Blackboard, a course-management system. It is accessible under “Tools” and then “Student Feedback Report.” The database includes evaluations from 2018 to 2022. The course evaluations are meant to be a tool for students when selecting courses, and they

Like Tetlow, Tamsi is a newlyappointed president, selected in February to head up ACE, a student-led organization celebrating customs represented by Fordham’s diverse communities of AAPI ancestry. “Tetlow’s meeting was very student-led, and centered on us voicing our concerns, observations and experiences. She’s very approachable, which can be difficult from a position representing the entire university. I feel she really considered what we said, because she not only listened, but offered responses contextualized by the information she could share with us.”

“President Tetlow did the right

in this issue

To Live or Not To Live: A Question Posed by U.S. Healthcare System

Culture

Page 13

Calling All Poets: Black Sheep Poetry Hosts First Open Mic

Sports

Baseball Wins Five in a Row, Sweeps Seton Hall

COURTESY OF ALEXANDRA ANTONOV/THE FORDHAM RAM

To expand options for the student population, the Marketplace will be closed for most of next year.

Vincent Scully was a Fordham alum and sports personality for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS

March 21

LaLande Hall

9:15 p.m.

On Tuesday, there was a water leak in the lounge of LaLande Hall. The investigation revealed that the leak stemmed from a heating element. Facilities responded and turned off the water supply.

March 22

Lombardi Fitness Center

11:00 a.m.

On Wednesday, a member of Tishman Construction reported the theft of fire alarm cable from a trailer parked behind the Lombardi Center. The investigation revealed that a male driving a white van removed the cable.

March 23

Loyola Hall

1:30 a.m.

On Thursday, a supervisor outside of Loyola Hall observed two students standing on the fourth-floor scaffolding. Facilities installed stops on the windows to prevent the windows from opening more than four inches.

March 23

McShane Center

1:38 p.m.

On Thursday, a smoke alarm went off in the McShane Center. The supervisor and FDNY responded. The investigation revealed that sand from the construction site triggered the smoke alarm.

March 25

Rose Hill Gymnasium

6:58 a.m.

On Saturday, a smoke alarm went off in the Rose Hill Gymnasium. FDNY shut down the power to the pump. The supervisor reset the fire panel.

Fordham Book Club Hopes to Connect Students to the Bronx Community

By MICHELA FAHY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

By RENEE AGOSTINI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The South Bronx Battles Book Club will be kicking off soon this semester with “South Bronx Battles” by Carolyn McLaughlin. The book aims to look into the history of the Bronx through the eyes of those that call it home. The club’s leaders aim to use reading as a way to connect students to the value of knowing their community and how to become an active member.

“An important part of a Fordham education is forming thoughtful and engaged citizens,” said Ben Reilly, FCRH ’23, one of the club’s leaders. “For the time that students are Bronx residents, that community which they are a part of is the Bronx.”

According to Reilly, the club aims to take an “asset-based approach” to discussions by using the past to inform how club members can think about the future of the Bronx and their positive involvement in it. While this goal may seem daunting to some who do not know where to start in tackling a complex topic and how it has developed through history, club leader Grace Powers, FCRH ’23, said she wants Fordham students to feel comfortable to start this journey at the book club this semester.

“I hope that this can be an informal environment with a group of students excited to learn and also willing to address the difficult topics McLaughlin talks about in her book,” said Powers. “This isn’t a class or any kind of requirement, so hopefully we can cultivate a space that feels educational and intentional but also open to vulnerability.”

When it comes to the choice of book this semester, Reilly agrees that “South Bronx Battles” will help the South Bronx Battles Book Club provide a good foundation for community engagement to follow. “History is a gateway, a first step, towards being a part of the Bronx community,” said Reilly.

Above all, Powers is optimistic that students will only be interested in exploring more about the Bronx after reading the book and attending meetings. “There’s a lot of rich culture McLaughlin talks about in the book and the great community organizations in the

Thursday March 30

Keating First 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Fordham’s Diversity Action Coalition is hosting a trivia night to commemorate Bronx Appreciation Week. Students have the chance to win one of eight $50 gift cards.

area that I hope students are curious about,” said Powers.

According to Powers, there are also a lot of fun ways to connect with the Bronx that are not very often advertised. Fordham students can explore through bookstores, cafes, bakeries and art spaces throughout the borough. While the book club leaders assure that their meetings will provide a great first step to learning about the city that Fordham students call home, there are plenty of ways to turn one’s understanding of their home into action.

“The list is endless!” said Reilly. “In addition to student-run programming like Bronx Celebration Week and Bronx Celebration Day, I would recommend looking to the Centers and Institutes for deeper engagement. The Center for Community-Engaged Learning runs great programming and is well connected throughout NYC. Multiple staff members have a background in organizing and can connect students with local engagement opportunities.”

The ways to get involved and

This Week at Fordham

Thursday March 30

McShane Student Center Lounge 4 p.m.-5 p.m.

Stop by the Office for Student Involvement’s table to celebrate Women’s History Month and grab a variety of beauty and safety items.

Friday March 31

Keating First 6 p.m.

CAB is hosting a night of stand-up comedy. Student comedians will compete against each other in two rounds for the chance to win a wide array of grand prizes.

Friday March 31

Rodrigue’s Coffee House 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.

Join your fellow students and support Fordham musicians and artists at the Arts Showcase. Performers include Kujegi Camara, Bronx Natives and Po’edik.

tles Book Club is yet to be scheduled, club leaders said they cannot wait to get started.

Sunday April 2

Houlihan Park 1 p.m.

The Men’s Baseball team is competing against Saint Louis University on Sunday. Cheer on your Rams in this competitive A-10 game.

The South Bronx Battles Book Club aims to

reading to

students with the Bronx community.

FROM EVALS, PAGE 1

also give professors constructive feedback on how to revise their course if needed.

Professor Sean Collins, chair of the faculty evaluation committee, explained how the system originally started.

“Years ago, the Arts & Sciences Council, which is a governance body within Arts & Sciences with student, faculty and administrative representatives, voted to make some content of course evaluations available to students, primarily for the purpose of course selection,” said Collins.

“There is, in fact, a history (which largely predates our current undergraduate student cohort) of course evaluations being shared with students,” said Collins.

“However, the old process by which evaluations were shared might be judged as ad hoc; students often overlooked the link buried in ‘form emails’ and evaluations were not easily accessible to or searchable by students.”

“This left many of us with sense that we were meeting neither our aspirations nor students’ expectations. For some time we delayed sharing evaluations as we explored alternatives that would enable us to accomplish our goals properly. Thanks to the coordination and hard work of staff and administrators within the deans’ offices, the database that students now

Fordham Releases Course Evaluations

have access to will finally bring expedient access to course evaluations,” said Collins.

Collins added that the only five years are accessible to students, so the database wouldn’t be difficult to navigate. “We felt five years represented a good balance between recency and browsability,” said Collins.

Rachel Annunziato, associate dean for strategic initiatives, said she believes that the course evaluations are important for students to have access to.

“I hope for our students to have as much information as possible when they choose their classes,” said Annunzaito. “When I was in college (so many years ago!), I worked on a publication called the ‘Course Critique’ that offered similar data and summaries. Having access to more representative peer feedback was so helpful!”

“I think too that by providing access to this data, it may provide more perspective on why they are administered. For me, I want so badly to make my classes better based on our students’ impressions and needs, and the SEEQs are the main source I have for this,” said Annunziato.

Nick McNulty, FCRH ’25, said he believes that the course evaluation information could be more comprehensive.

“It’s definitely a quick way to see how people feel about a certain course,” said McNulty. “However, we can’t see the more detailed responses that students

gave for ways that the course could be improved, or the reasons people rated aspects of the course a certain way (like the subject pace).”

McNulty added: “Websites like RateMyProfessors may be more useful to see more helpful opinions about professors, but this tool could really help to just take a quick look at the difficulty of a course. I’ll probably use both this and RateMyProfessors when registering for classes.”

“I will definitely make sure to review all my potential classes to see if they seem like a good fit for me,” said Kathryn Labagh, FCRH ’25. “I think [the course evaluations] will help give a bigger picture of the class, especially from the students’ point of view.”

Overall, Collins said he hopes that the database will help students when selecting courses.

“We hope that the database will allow students to make more informed decisions when they select their courses. Students already have and will continue to have many options to learn about prospective courses, from word of mouth and social media to ratings-and-review-style websites,” said Collins. “One thing that sets the course evaluation database apart is that it offers the potential to give a more complete, well-rounded picture of other students’ experiences. But, to reach that potential, we need students’ help.”

Remembering Fordham Alum and Broadcaster Vincent Scully

Augustine Preziosi, FCRH ’23 and member of Fordham’s Campus Ministry, the mass was attended by about 300 people, in addition to President Tania Tetlow, who led the first reading of mass. “Vincent was a man of many interests,” said Preziosi. “Whether it was in New York or on the west coast, he fostered community wherever he went and at this memorial, all those communities from every chapter of his life converged alongside Vincent’s family and his Fordham family.”

Preziosi, who serves as the altar server on campus and served at Scully’s mass, was joined by James Haddad, FCRH ’26, to assist Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan in holding mass, alongside many other great Jesuits at Fordham to remember Scully and serve his family in remembering him as a great member of the Fordham community.

During the mass, Father Joe Parkes, former president of Fordham Prep, friend of Scully and former Provincial of the Northeast Province of Jesuits, gave an anecdote in the form of a homily. He explained that one year during the playoffs, various players of the Brooklyn Dodgers were coming back from a late night of celebration. That morning, paparazzi were coming out to bestow shame on the Dodgers players who came in late after a night of partying.

Along with some of those players, Vin Scully came in at 6 a.m.

Naturally, alongside the Dodgers, Scully was suspected of having had a late night of fun and was questioned. Scully responded saying that he had not been celebrating, but instead, was returning from morning mass at the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.

“This exemplifies the unbridled faith that Scully had. Moreover, it shows how faith acted as a foundation in Vin’s vocation as a sports broadcaster. He was always a man of deep commitment, community and generosity who always remembered his Bronx roots as a Fordham Ram,” said Preziosi.

In regards to how the mass went overall, Sarah Flaherty, FCRH ’23, described the mass as “lovely.” “I believe that the baseball team was at the mass. It was lovely to see the team there since Scully loved baseball. It was a very nice display of solemnity even though the team may have not known him personally. I also thought that it was very nice that they included Fordham Campus Ministry individuals in the actual mass itself. I think that it brought the Fordham community into the greater community of New York, as well as a greater part of Vin Scully’s family altogether.”

Scully was born on Nov. 29, 1927 in the Bronx to Irish immigrant parents, but grew up in Washington Heights. At the age of seven, Scully lost his father to pneumonia in 1932. To

battle the family grief, Scully’s mother, Bridget, took her son to visit family in Ireland. Upon returning, his mother remarried to Allan Reeve in 1935, an English sailor who would remain as Scully’s father figure. Ultimately, Scully’s half-sister, Margaret, was born. Unfortunately, she passed away of brain cancer in 2002 at the age of 65.

Upon graduating from Fordham University, Scully was hired by Red Barber, a famous sports director of the CBS Radio Network, to cover college football. At CBS, Scully served as the Dodgers’ primary announcer for more than seven decades. The press box at Dodger’ Stadium is named after him, in honor of his long tenure.

Although Scully would become known to many for his impact on baseball, he did occasionally broadcast for the NFL.

During his lifetime, Scully married Sandra Hunt in 1973. In 1982, Scully won the Ford C. Frick Award and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Later on in his career, The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded Scully with the Lifetime Achievement Sports Emmy Award in 1996. He was also inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame and the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In 2008, WFUV presented their own version of the Lifetime Achievement Award known

as the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports Broadcasting. The award aims to be an inspiration for generations of students to be guided by Scully’s standards of excellence. As a result of his impact, Scully also became known as the “patron saint” of WFUV sports. Finally, in 2016, Scully became the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian award of the United States. This honor was awarded to him by President Barack Obama. That same year, Scully retired from broadcasting and voiced his final game at AT&T Park when the Dodgers faced the San Francisco Giants.

Students help First-Year students move into their residence halls.

COURTESY OF PIXABAY

Students are asked to fill out course evaluations at the end of every semester.

FROM SCULLY, PAGE 1

COURTESY OF PIXABAY

Dodger Stadium was Vin Scully’s home for seven decades, after the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Students help First-Year students move into their residence halls. COURTESY OF EMMA KIM/THE FORDHAM RAM Many students plan on using these course evaluations to decide on classes.

FROM TETLOW, PAGE 1

thing by meeting with cultural clubs-definitely a great step,” says Arthur Liu, FCRH ’23 and Tamsi’s ACE predecessor. “I’m glad she felt the best way to learn about the student body was to talk to students directly, and that's a level of engagement I never saw with Father McShane. Tetlow certainly has a much better grasp of the Fordham community.”

Liu also pointed to Tetlow’s emails, sent under the ‘Office of the President.’ “Besides spreading awareness of these different cultures, they also help to make our minority groups here feel and be recognized,” said Liu, especially with her messages celebrating Holi and Ramadan.

“I do wish she’d reach out to international students to gauge a sense of how we feel about

Students Reflect on Tetlow’ s Transition

Fordham, and what we want to see from her during her administration,” said Liu, a Malaysian-born international student from Hong Kong. “There’s a trend of international students being sidelined, forgotten- we’re usually only seen in diversity statistics published by the university. It’s important to recognize international students, because we bring different cultural perspectives, and are often ineligible for Fordham scholarships or federal aid. As an international student myself, I’m not angry at President Tetlow in any way, especially as she’s only recently taken office, but I implore her not to squander this opportunity to connect with a demographic full of potential that has been long overlooked.”

“Concerning her inclination to hear student voices, I believe

President Tetlow has made solid strides to open opportunities for students to interact with her,” said USG Vice President of Communications and Marketing Ariadna Wong, FCRH ’25. “From individual office hours to a presidential student advisory council, she’s formed a precedent for personalized student engagement.”

“As Fordham’s first lay woman president, the Rams community holds her to high expectations, as all our presidents should be,” Wong said. “Her unique background empowers students to place their faith in her ability to create change here for the better. I feel that’s why she holds so much potential to move Fordham forward.”

“She’s been fine, there haven’t been many drastic changes so far, but she seems to really enjoy being at Fordham and is embracing

the potential of this community,” said Thomas Aiello, FCRH ’23, a sports journalist who worked at WFUV and The Fordham Ram.

“The McShane-Tetlow transition seemed almost seamless. While I can’t comment for sure on whether she has listened to student voices, she seems to have taken fellow admin opinions at more value than McShane did, from my perspective.”

“As I’m someone who scrutinizes Fordham Athletics, McShane never made athletics a priority here at our school. Since joining the A10 in 1995 full-time, basketball hasn’t had much success despite being our most popular sport. Tetlow came in neutral about athletics, but given the season our teams had and the image the team created, Tetlow seems fully onboard with building up the program.” Aiello highlights Tetlow’s March 13 email. “Don't

Walsh Library Reopens to Public

FROM WALSH,

PAGE

as floor refinishings and case fabricators was particularly difficult. Director of Libraries Linda Loschiavo recalled that, although confined to the museum’s unit in Walsh Library, the museum renovations were noisy.

“Imagine sitting in a room trying to study and a subway car rolls through every two minutes! Nonetheless we all survived, and the result was a beautiful floor that glows, almost shimmers, under the lights,” said Loschiavo.

Towards the end of the renovation process, many of Udell’s students volunteered to contribute to the renovations hands-on by assisting in curating object displays. Students unpacked the objects from storage, installed the display cases and organized and pulled labels for objects to prepare for installation.

“They had a chance to put on their curational design caps. What I did was show them the material that needed to be installed, and I let them pick what they wanted to work on,” said Udell.

Students who had a continued interest in the installation

By SOFIA SEMPER STAFF WRITER

On Thursday, March 23, the Fordham Rose Hill Student Government (USG) met to discuss public concerns and future events.

The Resident Hall Association (RHA) delegate stated that they want to have a campus-wide egg hunt and have prizes for people who find the most eggs. Fordham’s mascot Ramses would also be a part of the event.

Executive President Santiago Vidal, FCRH ’24, stated that the off-campus housing survey — regarding the possibility of helping students find cheaper off-campus housing options — has officially closed and that there was a large number of people who participated in the

process returned to install individual cases.

“They helped a lot. These were students from my current class now which isn’t a museum studies class,” said Udell.

Although Udell doesn’t have a favorite piece in the museum, she takes pride in how certain cases came together, particularly a case with jewels and charms, the tools and weapons case and the case on forgeries and fakes. One of the museum’s new objects is a Carnelian ring, engraved with Emperor Commodus and his wife. Udell’s husband even constructed a magnification device which sits in front of the stone so that visitors can clearly see the image.

Loschiavo said she anticipates that students will take advantage of the museum’s singularity.

“We want students to know that the museum is part of the uniqueness of their Fordham experience, that being in a museum is a unique form of learning, and that being inches away from an object that is thousands of years old is not quite the same as seeing it on a screen,” said Loschiavo.

Udell said she hopes that students utilize the museum for what it is: a special resource unique to Fordham. According to Udell, no other university in New York has a teaching collection that is as large as Fordham, or is open to the public.

“I want [the students] to realize that they want to learn more about the art of the Ancient Mediterranean… that they can realize the value of learning from objects first-hand rather than through a textbook,”said Udell.

Similarly, Loschiavo said she believes the reopening of the museum will further curiosity and discovery among students.

“The rebirth of the museum into a 21st century exhibition space and teaching facility has helped make Walsh Library complete again, and it has made the museum into what it should have always been: a learning center, a teaching resource, a forum for noisy new ideas and a place for quiet revelations,” said Loschiavo.

forget, athletics brings in the money, upgrades facilities, builds buildings, improves student life, unifies the campus. Tetlow knows this.”

Benjamin Coco, FCRH ’24, said, “My first encounter with President Tetlow was during RA training when to our great surprise, after giving her prepared speech, she opened the floor to any questions we wanted. That was incredibly brave and showed how ready she was to engage with us and answer the challenging questions she was asked.”

“My most recent interaction with President Tetlow was at the Founder’s Dinner,” said Coco. “I was one of the Senior Scholars and she went to each of us and asked our names as she shook our hands. So far everything she’s done has seemed to garner respect and support from the community.”

survey. The student government will discuss the results at the next meeting. The student government is currently working on the referendum website and will be available sometime this week.

The Office of Student Involvement (OSI) representative explained that the Commuter Assistant applications are now open and will be due on April 3.

They also stated that OSI is working closely with the Senior Week Committee and that Senior Week events began on Friday, March 24.

Vice President of Finance and Budget Eron Maltzman, GSB ’25, said that Budget Packets are due April 1. Vice President of Student Life Brian Inguanti, FCRH ’24, stated that the club suite

eviction notices have already been sent out. Vice President of Fordham College Rose Hill Emma Balint, FCRH ’24, explained that concerns with the new core curriculum revision were brought up at her last meeting so she will have to revisit the topics with the deans.

She also stated that she has almost completed the proposal to have no classes on election days.

Vice President of Gabelli School of Business Natalia Kimmelshue, GSB ’23, said that the Community and Integration Subcommittee is hoping to form a list of club meeting times that work better for commuter students.

Kimmelshue presented a budget request for the Dean’s Council Outreach Subcommittee Bake Sale which was approved. Balint pre-

sented a budget request for Donuts with the Deans, and the request was approved. Vice President of Health and Security Emily Kennedy, FCRH ’24, presented a budget request for the Committee of Sexual Misconduct Week of Action, and it was approved.

Vice President of Student Life Brian Inguanti, FCRH ’24, presented a budget request for frames to mount the art on for the Keating Steps art show which was approved.

Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Brianna Al-Omoush, FCRH ’24, said that Bronx Appreciation Week will be this week, and events will include speakers, museum excursion, trivia and more.

Vice President of Sustainability Liz Shim, FCRH ’23, stated that

the Sustainability Committee added a donation bin to Loschert Hall, and another one will possibly be going in the McShane Campus Center.

She also explained that the O’Hare Hall donation bin was returned after being stolen, but the Loyola Hall donation bin was recently stolen.

Shim stated that the Sustainability Committee is also working on Earth Week, and they are planning to do a Fordham Flea event soon.

Al-Omoush presented the possibility of bringing back the Mutual Aid Initiative. She explained that this initiative would be to help give more resources to students on campus such as donations of kitchen appliances or clothing.

USG Discusses Public Concerns and Future Events

McShane Marketplace to Close for 2023-24 Academic Year

and variety.”

The closure of the Marketplace, however, has caused concern among current students, especially those with dietary restrictions, students who visit the Marketplace often, first-year students and those who will not get to reap the benefits of the new Marketplace.

Yaun assured that all dietary restrictions would be accommodated in the “destination dining” locations. Additionally, the new dining location in the McGinley ballroom will have the same offerings that the Marketplace currently has.

Sen. Daniel Sponseller, FCRH

By EMMA KARN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

’25, explained the importance of the cafeteria as a social hub for incoming first-year students. “I would go to the caf every day, look for people that I know, eat and talk with them, and that’s how I met some of my best friends,” said Sponseller.

“The caf will still be open at the very beginning of the year, which in my opinion, is the best month for it to be open, so it is going to give freshmen the ability to socialize with each other, which I think is the silver lining,” said Sponseller.

Other students are afraid of the abundance of takeout op -

tions taking away from college campus culture. Rachel O’Hara, GSB ’25, recalls her time as a commuter student during the pandemic, explaining that the Marketplace closure took away from the community of the school.

“They should prioritize seating options, especially indoors. The caf gives you somewhere to go and something to do when you have a little bit of free time,” said O’Hara.

“Seating options, communication with students and extended hours should be a priority for dining services during this time.”

“If there is an area on campus not being covered by ‘destination dining,’ we want students to let us know,” said Yaun.

Dining Services is attempting to offer as many locations as possible in order to adequately serve the student body in terms of both space and dining options.

Sponseller has been working on extending the hours of the cafeteria since he first ran for USG, stating, “this is the perfect time to keep the caf open longer because there’s so much money not being spent on the operation of the caf that could be put

into extending the hours in the future.”

Despite concern from students, some are optimistic about the future of the Marketplace. “I’m definitely a little bit confused and uncertain about what on-campus dining is going to look like next year, but I’m excited to see a renovated caf, and I’m optimistic that it will be a positive thing for Fordham,” said Annabel Graham, GSB ’26. More details will be available in the coming weeks with the launch of Dining Services’ “destination dining” marketing campaign.

Senior Researches Sustainable Energy Sources

Brianna Doucette, FCLC ’23, spent last summer researching sustainable energy sources with Dr. Koenigsmann in the chemistry department at Rose Hill. Doucette, a history major with double minors in Spanish and chemistry, said, “I spent all summer in JMH.” She was looking for a new catalyst for fuel cells, which could mean a promising source for sustainable energy. Fuel cells currently rely on platinum, which is not widely available and is expensive. “Our goal was to try to find an alloy using first-row transition metals,” said Doucette. She primarily worked with cobalt and nickel — cheaper and more abundant metals — to achieve similar or better results than with platinum. Doucette works amidst exciting new developments in the field — membrane technology has only recently advanced

enough to allow electrochemical devices to work well in basic conditions. This summer, she spent a lot of time making nanowires, first from pure cobalt and pure nickel, but then moving into experimentation with alloys, which are mixtures of metals.

To make nanowires, Doucette and her lab partner used the U-tube method. This requires a reaction of the reducing agent, sodium borohydride, as well as a metal precursor solution containing cobalt and nickel ions in varying concentrations. The reducing agent and the precursor solution are separated by a polycarbonate filter membrane, which acts as a template for the metal that forms as a result of the reaction. These are run for about an hour and then are isolated in order to get the nanowires without the template. Templates are important, Doucette said, because “at the nano level, any change in size or shape can affect the properties of the

nanowires.” Doucette said that consistency is very important in a scientific experiment, because her team needs to be able to compare across testing groups. They rely on a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to check for inconsistencies. On the SEM, Doucette said “this is basically a very high powered microscope that we can use to check nanowires at the individual level.” She said their biggest challenge was that the SEM did not always work properly. But she is also able to work with other methods to see results.

Doucette uses energy dispersive X-ray technology to figure out the composition of the alloys, and X-ray diffraction to examine the crystalline structure of the nanowires. The X-ray diffraction data confirms the existence of alloys. Doucette said: “There is the possibility of phase-separation occurring, which is when the two metals remain separated and have distinct crystalline structure. Alloying means that the two

have combined to create a new, slightly different structure, and based on the X-ray diffraction we can confirm that it is the latter.” The nanowires are then stored under a vacuum until they can be made into inks using ethanol. Doucette then puts them on electrodes to run electrochemical tests.

The most important thing is to run the alloys through oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions, to explore how they perform as catalysts. These are two reactions that take place in fuel cells, which is the practical context in which this lab work is situated. After much experimentation, Doucette and her colleagues found that the catalytic activity of nanowires is highly dependent on their compositions. Oxygen reduction activity can be significantly increased with alloys, and oxygen evolution reactions with alloys display a comparable performance to pure platinum. This is good news from

the standpoint of sustainable energy, but Doucette says there are no final conclusions yet. “Our results align with experiments by other scientists,” she said, “but what we are doing is not quite the same.” The project is ongoing and will continue after she graduates.

Doucette said that her oncampus experience was a good one. She said the program directors recognized that spending time on a college campus during the summer could be isolating, but that there were intentional efforts to build community. There were lunches where various professors would lecture, and at the end of the summer, each student had to give a fiveminute presentation about their research. Doucette will be presenting her work at various conferences this spring, and she was grateful for the chance to briefly prepare, solidify and present her thoughts as it will help her in the opportunities ahead.

Fordham Hosts Workshop on Environmental Justice Leadership

By TASNIMAH RAHMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On March 26, Dr. Christiana Zetter, associate professor in the theology department, and Sasha George, Esq., an alumna activist, spoke at an Environmental Justice Leadership Workshop hosted by Act4Change and met with Fordham clubs and community partners. The event was sponsored by the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (IFTJ) Delegation of the Office of Mission and Ministry.

Every year a group of students attend an IFTJ conference in Washington, D.C. that is sponsored by Campus Ministry. The conference hosts students from Ignatian colleges and high schools across the country. They are able to meet with legislators, representatives of the House and Senate. Students Michela Fahy, FCRH ’23, Katie Bagin, GSB ’23 and Benedict Reilly, FCRH ’23, met with Cristo Rey New York High School, a Jesuit high school located in Harlem, to discuss the reasons why they do social justice work. Fordham students wanted to bring a piece of the conference to campus and have been planning this first workshop since November. The IFTJ conference in Washington, D.C. focuses on two main issues: environmental

and migration justice. Fordham’s Environmental Justice Leadership Workshop focused on environmental justice.

Students attending the teach-in conference in Washington, D.C. explained what inspired the teachin this spring. “Last fall, I was able to attend the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, which is a program bringing together students from Jesuit schools and others in the Ignatian tradition to learn about social justice and advocate with legislators in D.C., and a few of us decided we wanted to host a teach-in of our own. Carol Gibney from Campus Ministry rallied us together and developed this great teach-in,” said Reilly.

The workshop invited all Fordham students, staff and faculty as well as Cristo Rey students to amplify their voices.

Fahy explained that they have been planning the workshop for the past few months, and they met with the Cristo Rey students at the IFTJ conference to talk about the reason that they are involved in social justice and advocacy. “We wanted high school voices too,” said Fahy.

“We got partnered with three high school students from Cristo Rey who went to IFTJ with us in November, and we worked with them [at the] Fordham Conference. We do environmental jus-

tice at Fordham only just because Fordham Earth week is coming up, so it was kind of a way to kick start the climate change environmental justice conversation this year,” said Fahy.

Carol Gibney, director of Campus Ministry, explained that there were multiple people involved in the event. Besides the student who put together the teach-in, members of the Fordham community who are doing work in environmental justice were also present. Gibney added that people from St. Rose’s Garden also came.

“We have [a] block of time where they can go from table to table. We had tables set up. We have folks from St. Rose’s Garden,” said Gibney.

Zetter, who was the keynote speaker, conducted a thought experiment on water based on her book “Just Water” and then broke the audience into groups for a larger discussion.

“Dr. Zetter’s discussion of the multidimensionality of water and environmental justice was illuminating of how ethics and theology connect with work for justice. I also really enjoyed Dr. Lopez’s ‘Theater of the Oppressed’ and how embodied work for justice must be,” said Reilly.

Act4Change is Dr. Eva Lopez’s nonprofit organization that facilitated the workshop using their

experience and observations to define leaders for environmental justice discussing what social justice skills an environmental justice advocate possesses, what they sound like and how an environmental justice leader communicates.

Gibney said she hopes that students begin to discover their passion for environmental justice through this workshop. “The hope is if they walk away with better understanding and clarity of their own skill sets and how they can address environmental justice with what it is they’re looking to do with their gifts and strengths and their talents,” said Gibney.

Fahy said she hopes in helping to plan this event and bringing it to the Fordham community that environmental justice can be advocated. Fahy explained that the event opened up conversation, and there were all different types of students

at the event that were able to learn about policy and different forms of advocacy. She explained that having the event at Fordham also made it more accessible since the conference is in Washington, D.C. “[It is] important to us to make it accessible to everyone, and I hope the participants that were there today were able to learn different forms of advocacy can be as simple as just listening to other people’s lived experiences and how climate change affects other people,” said Fahy.

The Office of Campus Ministry is holding two upcoming events with the organization The Bronx is Blooming, and on April 22, they are partnering with the nonprofit called Strive Higher. The event involves inviting 150 children from the Bronx community to come to campus to celebrate Earth Day.

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RDo It For the Bit, If Only For Yourself

This Saturday, I made the decision to go see “Cocaine Bear” with a group of friends. That was indisputably the greatest decision of my life, and the essence of who I am as a person has been forever altered — but that’s for a different article. I’m not sure what I expected going in. All I know is when your sports editor Maddie Bimonte says “Let’s go see ‘Cocaine Bear,’” the only acceptable response is to drop any previous plans and go see that movie. It’s all part of a frame of mind I like to call “doing it for the bit.”

The goal here is to do things where the simple concept of doing them is funny. The best part about the “bit” is that it only has to make you laugh. If the idea of saying “I watched ‘Cocaine Bear’” out loud is enough to make you cackle hysterically — go ahead and do it. It’s not about whether or not the bit is funny generally. It’s about whether or not the bit is funny to you.

Much too often, we avoid doing things because they’re a little bizarre. Is watching “Over the Hedge” on a Saturday night a little unconventional? Sure. Is it funny? I think so. “Over the Hedge” might be a poor example because it’s one of the better movies ever created, so let’s take it somewhere else. Is watching “Samurai Cop,” a movie so bad

Rotten Tomatoes didn’t even bother giving it a score, a valuable and meaningful way to spend an hour and a half of the life you only get once? Absolutely not. Is it funny to say that you did? Yes.

I like to think that if you do something that makes you laugh, it’s very much worth doing. Even if that thing is stupid. Actually, especially if that thing is stupid. Why go through life being serious when you can be silly and goofy and maybe even jolly on occasion?

It’s a fantastic, ego-boosting feeling to make other people laugh, but it’s even more important to be able to make yourself laugh. There’s an aspect of this that I really do think is very helpful in your everyday life: finding the humor in any situation. Life sucks a lot sometimes. There are a variety of ways to deal with the lows of life, but I’ve found humor to be the most productive. If you can find something to laugh about, even the most minute thing, in an otherwise very awful situation, that just might be what reminds you that it can get better and that it’s going to get better.

The great part about the bit is that the bit can be anything. Therefore, you can theoretically “do it for the bit” in any situation. You have full control over what the bit is, and what

constitutes doing it for the bit. I, for instance, have yet to complete an entire unit of Ecology homework. This unit has many names but is most commonly referred to as “Unit 1,” meaning that said homework is potentially late by multiple months at this point. One day, hopefully sooner rather than later, I’m going to sit down and do my Ecology homework for the bit. When you think about the power and freedom that you possess with that mindset, it’s really quite exhilarating.

Doing it for the bit can bring about unexpected yet wonderful circumstances. Let’s circle back to “Cocaine Bear,” shall we? Alright, so a bear eats cocaine. Awesome, I’m in. I don’t need to know anything more about this movie. And to tell you the truth, I didn’t. All I knew going in was that this was: A) Ray Liotta’s last film, and B) a movie about a bear

Editorial | Campus Activism

that eats cocaine. I knew nothing else, and I didn’t need to. I was sold on the premise, and I was sold on going for the bit. Then I watched the movie, and I discovered a couple things. First things first, boy did that bear eat some cocaine. Like a lot of cocaine. Copious amounts. I also discovered that “Cocaine Bear” is actually a legitimately great movie with endearing characters, good acting and an engaging plot that weaves multiple story arcs together and makes it all feel whole by the end. It’s one of the most entertaining experiences I’ve had in a movie theater in years, and it happened all because I went to see this movie for the bit.

In closing, if you think something is funny, do it. Chances are it’ll be more rewarding than you ever could have imagined. Do it for the bit. Also, go see “Cocaine Bear.” That movie rocks.

Performative Protesting on Fordham’s Campus

Unless you have been living under a rock, or not reading The Fordham Ram, you know there has been an uptick in discussions of unions within the Fordham community this year. There are three unions at Fordham that have been getting a lot of press lately: Fordham Faculty Union (FFU), Fordham Graduate Student Workers (FGSW) and Fordham Resident Assistants Union (FRA).

While FFU is not new, it has been the most talked about of Fordham’s three unions over this past school year. This is largely due to the contract that was signed in 2018 being up for renegotiation and the impending threat of a strike should the new terms not be met. FGSW has been largely quiet among this trending debate on campus, and the newest player, the FRA, has been gaining more attention after officially petitioning to be recognized as a union in February.

Fordham students like to offer their support for these unions verbally or by resharing posts on social media, but when it comes to direct action, they don’t often show up to support the cause. The Ram has attended every protest and rally held by these unions, and we conclude that despite the seemingly high popularity of unionization on campus, these events have been sparsely attended by Fordham students.

While it’s nice to put a sticker

of support for the FFU on your laptop cover or reshare a post from the union’s Instagram in your story, it means nothing if it can’t be backed up with direct action — such as actually attending the event you have reshared. And here enters the conversation of performative action.

Performative action is an increasing phenomenon, especially among Gen Z, in the wake of cancel culture. Cancel culture has instilled this fear in our society that if you don’t reshare a message of support publicly on social media for whatever cause is trending in the media that week then that is the same as not supporting the cause at all, and you will effectively be canceled or shunned. The difference between a showing of actual support and performative support is the intention behind it. Performative support is conducted from a selfish point of view in the hopes of being thought well of, not from the point of view of trying to further the cause or spread awareness.

It tends to be easy to spot performative action, and is especially easy in this case of student support for Fordham’s unions. Students have been quick to reshare the FRA’s social media posts to their own Instagram story, including posts with dates, times and locations for rallies; however, attendance by Fordham students of these reshared protests have been poor.

There is no reinforcement of these reshared ideals through direct action.

It tends to be more difficult to spot real, direct support for social causes. Real support comes in the form of the donation of time, resources or financial support. Whether this is volunteer work or donations, unless a person shares publicly that they have done something along these lines then it can seem as though they don’t care or are not tuned into the political and social happenings of the world. Sharing these actions publically also tends to take meaning away from them as it then becomes about casting a positive reflection on the person instead of bringing awareness to the cause.

This is not necessarily students’ fault for engaging in performative action in relation to showing support for unions on Fordham’s campus. It has

become so ingrained in our culture to fear being canceled and labeled as a terrible person for showing a lack of support. What really needs to happen is a reversal of our understanding of what showing up for a cause actually looks like. This is a shift that has to happen not only on Fordham’s campus but in society at large.

The current trend to show support for on campus is unionization. And while there is plenty of performative support for this cause, there is not much direct support to back that up. Actions speak louder than words and Fordham students are surprisingly quiet in showing support for these Fordham unions.

If you have any questions, concerns or inquiries, please email therameditorialdirector@ gmail.com

Wyoming Bans Abortion Pill, Reaffirming Dystopian Nightmare

By ALEXANDRA RAPP CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The healthcare landscape of the U.S. since the overturn of Roe v. Wade last summer has become what many view as a living nightmare, as red states across the country sprint towards complete abortion bans and the revocation of longstanding maternal healthcare policies. These policies have been passed under the guise of “protecting the family” and the “sanctity of life.” Conservatives are spewing a narrative of morality while simultaneously endangering the lives of millions of Americans they swear they’re protecting. They are unconcerned with the spike in maternal mortality, with 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with a rate of 23.8 in 2020 and 20.1 in 2019. And clearly those one in four girls being sexually assaulted before the age of 18 couldn’t be negatively impacted by sweeping abortion bans that make no exceptions for instances of rape or incest, right? Over half of U.S. states have moved to restrict abortion access in the last year — meaning more people from low-income and marginalized communities will be forced to carry to term regardless of circumstance or risk.

The dystopian nightmare so many people fear has been a long time coming, but the ways it disproportionately impacts groups of people unable to remove themselves from terrifying environments, like post-Roe Wyoming, makes the most recent developments in abortion bans all the more heartbreaking. As of July 1, 2023, abortion pills will no longer be accessible to people in the state of Wyoming. Another harrowing

blow to women’s healthcare in a sea of terrifying news which most impacts the young, impoverished and marginalized.

This Wyoming law comes in tandem with a Texas judge’s order for the FDA to withdraw approval of mifepristone. Mifepristone is one of two drugs taken to terminate pregnancy before 10 weeks, and is prescribed using the mifepristone system risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) by a healthcare professional or pharmacist. The ridiculous legal argument against the drug is that its approval in 2000 was “rushed” despite two decades of evidence proving its safety with a fatality rate of less than a thousandth of a percent. The case was filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a known hate group who is also to blame in the filing against Roe v. Wade. They are invoking the Comstock Act to argue that it is illegal to send or receive mifepristone, or any other medication or device used to provide an abortion, by mail — keep in mind that this act was made so people couldn’t mail pornographic material. There is a big difference between ordering Playboy and getting medication by mail, even though both are your right by way of the First Amendment and Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), respectively.

As a woman, the last year has felt like a waking nightmare in a lot of ways, but I am not among the most at risk by any stretch of the imagination. Living in New York City, coming from a middle-class family, being white and literate in relevant medical information all shield me from the worst of America’s war on women. I am

among the few. More than 20 million people of reproductive age across the country have lost their right to adequate and necessary healthcare, and it is only getting worse. I refuse to demonize the South because it is not the majority who are making these atrocious decisions. It is policymakers and hate groups who will continue to have abortion access when their 13-year-olds get pregnant while simultaneously denying abortion access to their constituents. The hypocrisy is palpable but by no means humorous.

It would be irresponsible to view what’s happening as an evenlydistributed injustice — Black and Indigenous communities across the country are fighting more than any resident of a state with abortion access because apathy is not an option. Black and Indigenous women are over three and two times higher, respectively, compared to the rate for white women, to die during childbirth. What makes this fact all the worse is that the majority of the states making sweeping bans on abortions are home to gigantic and diverse communities of color. These states are also the top contenders for childhood poverty and childhood violence and rank among the worst for childhood access to health insurance, education and maternity care services.

Marginalized communities in these states face hostile environments on any number of fronts every single day, and the people most equipped to do something choose instead to exacerbate the issues or be apathetic. There is this desire to, at best, write off these states as lost causes in liberal communities and states and, at worst,

demonize every resident living there. But that is neither productive nor fair. The United States has a long history of pitting feminine presenting people against one another, and I think we can often overlook the evils of allowing who we consider outside of our community to bear the weight of oppression in hopes of sparing our own. Regardless of personal belief or geographic location, removing access to abortion also means losing access to important healthcare for everyone, everywhere. It is incredibly easy to choose the path of indifference in the face of what is happening across the country, especially while living in a city where you can safely walk into a Planned Parenthood and have birth control delivered to the Fordham post-office via an app. But the reality is that nowhere is safe so long as we sit by while women in less fortunate situations become victims to a government that cares more about an unborn fetus than a living, breathing, experience-having person. Once

those children are born, conservatives could not bring themselves to care about the world that child will be brought into, so we have to care. Part of that responsibility is continuing to support and advocate for women who want and do not want to have children in whatever form that takes, and ensuring that women, children and everyone of all backgrounds have basic human rights. We are by no means helpless in the face of what is happening, and we should be angry and scared for ourselves and our communities. Financially supporting organizations like Planned Parenthood, dumping your anti-abortion partner, advocating for others, knowing who you’re voting for, educating yourself and your community and keeping each other safe are vital to getting through today and making sure this nightmare ends.

AlexandraRapp,FCRH’24,isa history and international studies major from Hershey, Pa.

The Origin of COVID-19 Doesn’t Matter

By ABIGAIL MARTIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Four years later and the origins of COVID-19 still haven’t been discovered. Even after multiple intense investigations. Even after endless theories and controversy. Even to this day, more and more information is released fairly frequently, each new piece bound to contradict the next. For example, a team of scientists recently brought new information to the World Health Organization claiming that the COVID-19 outbreak originated in the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. They claim the virus was transferred to humans from a raccoon dog sold there. However, others believe the pandemic was caused by an accidental lab leak, sparking controversial debate. Night and day, scientists and politicians fight and scream for their own theories. Night and day, they grapple to answer one of today’s greatest questions: Where did this virus come from?

But it’s all pointless.

Don’t get me wrong, COVID-19

is an issue that should be taken seriously. People lost, and are still losing, their lives, so attention and care should be brought to the situation. However, I do not believe that finding the origin of this virus is the right way to do this. Therefore, do I believe we should still be searching for it? To put it simply: No.

My belief in this idea stems from trying to answer a simple question: “What is the true reward for discovering COVID-19’s origin?” And I’ve come up with two theoretical answers. The first one is that if we find the pandemic’s origin, we can understand how to better prevent another one. The second is that we use this information of COVID-19’s origin to point fingers.

Now, we can pretend that as a society, we are more focused on the former — all we truly want is to learn how to better prevent another global pandemic and save lives, and that pointing fingers is the last thing on our minds. But this is not the reality. Chaos would erupt in the blink of an eye. Say we discover the origin really was a lab

leak. What would happen then? We all finally have someone to blame? I can see it now: news article after news article filled with vulgar language. Maybe even some blaming an entire country for a group of scientists’ mistake. Conspiracy theories questioning whether or not it was a mistake at all. International relations would be at a catastrophic low — relations that we depend on to function. Or, say it was really a disease transferred from a raccoon dog. How much more invasive digging would it take to uncover this information? How many more politically-driven accusations would have to be thrown to get to this point?

Still, casting the blame game aside, one can argue that looking for a virus’s origin can help prevent another pandemic, and I agree. However, I would only agree with this statement if the cause of the virus was completely and utterly unknown. In this scenario, this is not the case. In this scenario, we are stuck between two options, an animal or a lab leak, two sides of a playing field that is causing yet

another division to our society.

Therefore, if we are looking to prevent another global pandemic, why not seek to prevent both? Implement greater protocols to prevent a lab leak. Study to better understand how a virus leaps from animals to humans.

All this being said, I am no scientist. I cannot fully understand the implications of discovering the true origins of a virus. However, what I do know is that today, after years of study, the question is no

longer “Where did the virus originate?” but “Which theory is right?” This question has caused a great divide that is no longer logical but political. How much longer will we be grappling for an answer that we may never find, when we could be spending this time and these resources to actually prevent the next pandemic?

Abigail Martin, FCRH ’26, is a journalism major from Dallas, Texas.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Getting reproductive healthcare has been difficult since the summer of 2022.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

The search for COVID-19’s origins is unnecessary and politically motivated.

Flaming French Protests Over Retirement Age Are Justified

By AVA CARREIRO DIGITAL PRODUCER

The streets of France were filled with flames following President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement to raise the national retirement age from 62 to 64. While already being a topic of contention in the country, Macron added more fuel to the fire by utilizing a constitutional workaround to enforce the decision.

By not allowing for a parliamentary vote, Macron turned a controversy into a catastrophe. While the legislature itself was enough to cause outcry, the way he went about enforcing it was nothing short of shameful.

Many French citizens feel the same — over one million protestors took their anger to the streets in the days after Macron’s decision. Although most of these protests remained peaceful, a few became violent.

The Bordeaux City Hall was recently set on fire, along with thousands of cars and waste bins, and police have even used tear gas and water cannons to control the crowds.

Garbage collectors have gone on strike, leaving over 13,000 tons of trash laying on the streets. Trains, subways and

airports have seen major delays as more workers joined the protests. About 20% of teachers in France went on strike, and students banded together to blockade over 400 high schools.

One reason why the French are so furious over this decision is because Macron overrode the legislative branch with his decision. By invoking Article 49.3 of the French Constitution, Macron was able to pass the legislation without a vote from lawmakers.

The scene in the French parliament immediately following the decision was nothing short of chaos. As the bill was passed right in front of the lawmakers, without giving them any say, a scene of fury erupted. “64 is no!” chants and boos filled the room as the French Prime Minister announced the decision.

Checks and balances exist for a reason, and President Macron’s actions have shown an overt disregard for it. He disrespected not just the rest of the government, but every single French citizen.

Macron has cited economic growth as the primary reason for raising the retirement age. It’s a large step in his plans for reforming the pension system, and his goal with this decision

is to keep its finances out of the red.

The president is facing lots of pressure to strengthen the country’s pension system, as France both has one of the lowest retirement ages in the world and also spends more than most countries, spending almost 14% economic output on pensions.

While reform may be necessary, it doesn’t make the use of a constitutional workaround for such controversial legislation any less frustrating. Protestors have a right to take their anger to the streets, as they are the ones who this decision impacts the most.

Macron made a bold decision — especially compared to conversations surrounding pension reform in the United States. There have been similar debates in the U.S. regarding social security reform, but lawmakers seem to tiptoe around the subject — quite the opposite of France.

Although it can be argued that it was good for Macron to at least take a definitive stance on the topic and run with it, the legitimacy of that argument fades away when considering the fact that he knew it would not go over well with much of the French population. When dealing with

such a controversial subject using what essentially is a constitutional loophole is a risky and, in my opinion, shameful move. If Macron really wanted what was best for his country, he should have left that decision in the hands of French lawmakers by allowing for a parliamentary vote. One person making an unpopular decision that impacts the lives of millions of the people he is supposed to protect will obviously cause outrage — and justifiably so.

The French protestors have a right to feel resentful and a right to express that. It’s important to remember that the

majority of these protests are peaceful, many of which are just workers going on strike. While I can’t support violent demonstrations, it must be called to attention that it represents a small minority of the protests. Ultimately, President Macron made a conscious decision that he knew would not be wellreceived by most of the country. Public outcry is simply a natural consequence of such an unpopular and unprecedented course of action.

To Live or Not to Live: A Question Posed By U.S. Healthcare System

By NICOLE RIOS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Individuals with diabetes should not be forced to ration their insulin the same way you ration out the last bit of your International Delight French Vanilla coffee creamer until your next grocery run. Unfortunately, this is the sad reality of America’s healthcare system for 16% of insulin users.

Insulin was never intended to be a market for profit. One of its creators, Frederick Banting, actually refused to add his name to the patent because he believed that he would be violating the Hippocratic Oath by profiting off the life-saving drug. Banting stated: “[Insulin] belongs to the world, not me.” Before its creation in 1921, individuals with diabetes did not have long lives. We live in a modern age with groundbreaking technological advances across various fields of study, so why should this fact still hold true for many over a century later?

Here’s why: three drug manufacturers dominate the insulin market in the United States. They are Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi. 8.4 million people with diabetes in the United States rely on insulin from these companies as they supply around 90% of our country’s insulin. Eli Lilly recently announced that they are capping insulin prices at $35 a month. This comes after the Inflation Reduction Act capped insulin costs for seniors on Medicare at $35.

While these are efforts to cap

insulin list prices, they are not enough. When the sticker price of insulin is high, many insured diabetic individuals have their co-payment to cover most of the costs. However, what about uninsured individuals? They are the most vulnerable consumers when it comes to list prices. When the list price is high, uninsured individuals have to pay the price out of pocket and many cannot afford it. The average cost of insulin in the U.S. is $98.70 per vial. If a patient needed 60 units of insulin per day, six vials are needed to cover their need for 90 days. Such a need amounts to $2,467.50 annually, and this is only the case for one example patient with one specific set of dose instructions. This number can increase by thousands for many patients in the United States. Not everyone who has diabetes uses insulin, but for those who do, not having access to it can be deadly. It doesn’t sound to me like Banting’s goal of effectively providing insulin to the world is being achieved. Companies are profiting off of patients’ needs for life-saving medicine? How is that right?

Spoiler alert: it’s not. The cost of this medication is not just a burden to individuals with diabetes, but their families as well, just like with any other health concern. Imagine losing a child, not because they could not beat a health condition, but because they couldn’t afford the medication needed to live with it. Unfortunately, this is the sad reality of millions of Americans suffering

from all sorts of health conditions, and in this case, specifically diabetes. Activist Nicole Smith-Holt lost her 26-year-old son Alec because he could no longer afford insulin. He was aging out of her insurance when he turned 26, and he decided that his most financially suitable option was to go uninsured and pay out-of-pocket for his insulin. When it came to buy his first supply, he could not afford it and tried to ration the insulin that he did have until his next pay day, but could not make it and he died. 16% of insulin users have rationed their insulin just like Alec.

To make matters worse, insulin list prices have risen over 1,000% in the last 30 years. That said, some are making the effort to make insulin more affordable. California announced that it was planning on producing its own insulin to provide to people at cheaper costs, for example. This seems to be a step in the right direction, as I doubt the inventors of insulin wanted their goal of providing insulin to all who need it to be monopolized by one group of producers. In an effort to ensure that we make strides toward more affordable healthcare, I think Banting would advocate for more states to join California in producing their own insulin.

There must be a reason they haven’t, right? Well, yes, insulin is expensive to produce, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to find ways around it. As many Americans (and even nonAmericans) are aware, the United

States, as “advanced” and “politically dominant” as it may be, falls well behind in the world of healthcare. The U.S. is one of few countries in the West without a public health system. This is best demonstrated in a Price Index Analysis where “the average U.S. manufacturer price per standard unit across all insulins was $98.70, compared with $6.94 in Australia, $12.00 in Canada, $7.52 in the United Kingdom, and $8.81 across all non-U.S. OECD countries combined.”

Despite America’s inferior ranking in the world of public healthcare, there is hope.

President Joe Biden did call for capping insulin copays for everyone in his recent State of the Union address. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Cori Bush recently introduced a bill to cap insulin’s list price at $20 per vial. There have also been other

efforts to demonopolize the insulin market. A non-profit named Civica Rx is planning on selling cheaper versions of insulin. There was also a change passed in the American Rescue Plan that will call for drug makers to pay a penalty to Medicaid for drugs like insulin that have had steep price increases. This does not relieve calls to cap insulin prices, as federal action is still needed. Price reductions are voluntary by drug makers so we can only hope that with more efforts, we will see federal action and a more affordable, accessible healthcare market to those who need it. Rather than scarcity, let’s hope for surplus for each and every affected individual in our healthcare system today.

Nicole Rios, FCRH ’25, is an English major from Westbury, N.Y.

Ava Carreiro, GSB ’24, is a marketing major from New Providence, N.J.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

President Macron’s constitutional workaround rightly angered French citizens.

New Lives, New Genes: CRISPR and Newborns

By ALEXANDRA RAPP CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The advent of CRISPR-Cas9 jump started a long-running frenzy over the world’s burgeoning ability to edit the human genome. The general populace voiced hope for the technology, but many to this day fear that the advent of this technology allows bioscientists to “play God.” Unfortunately, such a strong misunderstanding of the real uses for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) of genetic information compromises the real work being done by biomedical scientists and medical professionals to protect and save lives. So that begs the question: what is CRISPR’s purpose? And is it really as terrifying as it seems?

For decades before CRISPR, gene editing was an arduous and slow process, requiring engineered DNA-cutting enzymes like zinc-finger nucleases and transcription activator-like effector nucleases, for every specific genetic modification. Genetic editing has existed since the late-80s — CRISPR just simplified the process tenfold because it only requires a custom guide RNA molecule to identify its target, thereby revolutionizing biomedical research. Before Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna, Nobel Prize winners and co-inventors of CRISPR-Cas9, people only understood CRISPR as a method some bacterias use as an antiviral

mechanism. The clinical applications of CRISPR technology has given scientists and researchers the opportunity to discover new ways of treating people and building new technologies involved in successful cures for life-threatening diseases and COVID-19 detection tests. Several research trials have been piloted using CRISPR to investigate treatments for human immunodeficiency virus type I, sickle cell anemia, human papillomavirus and multiple cancers. Researchers are able to better understand and therefore better treat the millions of people who have or are at risk of developing cancers or passing down genetic diseases to children. Not only that, but CRISPR technology has been used to model disease mutations in different animal species, enabling researchers to examine human disease without risking the safety of human subjects. A major move towards striking the balance between gaining lifesaving information and the ethical treatment of people. CRISPR’s affordability, scalability, precision and efficiency have made it a vital technology in medical research that will benefit massive populations of people.

But that’s not to say that everything CRISPR promises does not come with caveats. I am not ignorant to the risks of gene editing and engineering, but I’m also not a sensationalist that thinks scientists are somehow out to get people. There is significant history in the Western world of the

intentional selective breeding of human beings in the hopes of creating more “superior” people. This history and the medical community’s involvement cannot and should not be overlooked. Afterall, once a certain gene is introduced or removed from the germline cell, the change is passed onto the next generation, which can mean the elimination of a gene associated with increased cancer risks, but can also mean the elimination of aesthetic genes considered undesirable. Fortunately, most phenotypic genes are complex and the deletion of a single gene won’t do much to change the offspring’s appearance, let alone the simple fact that there is no single gene that makes you smart or hot. However, given CRISPR’s potential to be applied towards eugenic ends and other ethical concerns, hesitation is understandable.

In spring 2015 in China, Junjiu Huang and his research team at Sun Yat-sen University used CRISPR-Cas9 to edit the genome of (very importantly) nonviable human embryos, the media painted it as the controversy of the century. They claimed Asian and any non-Western countries were a research free-for-all, totally unconcerned with ethics. These views of non-Western countries’ medical ethics and fears that Western countries will eventually allow the rich to do whatever they want to their embryos so long as they have the cash is absurd and a little xenophobic.

People are rightfully terrified

to repeat a history of ruthless human testing. The Nazi experimentations and breeding programs make people think that any science of genetics is ethically risky. We have to keep in mind the horrors committed by the United States. Tuskegee Syphilis experiments and Henrieta Lacks inform a lot of the relationships between people and medical research. The United States has a history of forced sterilization, with over 60,000 people in over half of U.S. states being subject to sterilization laws for reasons of physical or mental illness. This history, however, should not make people afraid of medical advancement. Rather, people should be more interested in public health and how to safely make advancements for the betterment of millions. Writing off a medical technology does not stop that technology from existing; it prevents that technology from being regulated and used for good.

CRISPR technology cannot be overestimated in its medical importance, especially given its potential to breakthrough diseases which have been indiscriminately afflicting millions for centuries. The Association of American Medical Colleges includes “adherence to ethical principles” among the competencies required of medical school graduates, and the increased infrastructure for medical regulation and increased diversity in medical research should give people hope that medical technologies are being built and applied for

good. CRISPR and its related technologies are not unregulated by any stretch of the imagination. Scientists have called a moratorium on human germline editing until the serious ethical and societal implications have been fully assessed, and U.S. law, for better and worse, already bans any research on human embryos regardless of risk or benefit.

I think it is important to believe that people are inherently good, and that the world we inhabit, for all its amorality and horror, is capable of building technologies for the benefit of many. I choose to believe the medical professionals I know and love, and the students who aspire to be in the medical field, are not inherently more evil than you or me. More people now than ever need to be engaging with life-saving technologies as pandemics and illnesses become increasingly common — I can promise you, researchers are more concerned with finding cures to cancer than how to make your baby have blue eyes.

Medical researchers are not out to get you. CRISPR won’t offer up the ability to turn your baby into Michael Phelps for a couple bucks. And the more we understand the world we live in and the bodies we inhabit, the better off we all are.

Plastic Makes Way for Seaweed’s Uprising

By SAISHA ISLAM STAFF WRITER

Recently, seaweed has risen in global popularity from a long-used ingredient in food to a replacement for plastic. Many companies are looking into how replacements made from seaweed can be used for various plastic items. Seaweed alternatives are more environmentally friendly and better for climate change. But while some may believe seaweed as a new miracle crop, the availability of this resource and the effect of climate change on its growth need to be taken into consideration when elevating it into this position.

Pierre Paslier and Rodrigo García González’s company, Notpla, has been introducing new uses for seaweed as a substitute for plastic. Some of their products include edible packets made of seaweed and plant extracts which can be used to package water, ketchup and cosmetics and they are also working on “seaweed-based coating for takeout cardboard boxes.” The startup company Sway “makes seaweed-based replacements for plastic packaging.” While Sway’s seaweed coating is a more expensive alternative to regular plastic

coating, its products have a shelf life of a year, material that disappears in 4-6 weeks and holds “up to 20 times more carbon per acre than trees.” Every year, “180 billion plastic bags (polybags) are produced” and “less than 15% of polybags in circulation are collected for recycling.” While the products from these companies are still new, they offer creative environmentally friendly benefits which regular plastic products do not and also do a good job of fitting into consumer fields where plastic is primarily used. Using more of these products can be a small way to reduce the effects of climate change and global warming.

Seaweed production has also expanded its borders outside of Asia where South Korea was the primary country for this product. For example, in Australia, multiple companies are competing for seaweed production. A company called CH4 Global is growing asparagopsis, a seaweed native to Australia, in glass tanks. According to various studies, “A sprinkle of asparagopsis in cattle feed can cut methane from their burps by between 82 and 98 percent.” Cattle burps are a large source of methane, a

greenhouse gas, and looking into the impact of seaweed can give advantageous results for reducing the effects of global warming. This is especially vital when considering that food system emissions, primarily dairy and meat, “could raise the global average temperature by 1 degree Celsius by the end of the century, blowing past the threshold of relatively safe global warming.”

But while there are several positives to using seaweed products, there are also drawbacks on this new fixation on seaweed production. One disadvantage is that farmers in South Korea, the largest exporter of seaweed in the world, are struggling to keep up with rising demand. Due to this, many seaweed farms have materialized around the world, but there are also negatives to think about with this new solution to rising demand. While seaweed farms offer jobs and help with South Korea’s problem of the rising seaweed demand, they are still an unknown venture and they could also harm the marine ecosystem by blocking the sunlight, leaving their “plant detritus on the seafloor” and scattering plastic buoys across the ocean.

In addition, the growing

process for seaweed has also become much harder due to global warming. Seaweed farmers in Korea claim that the water has gotten too hot and this has caused seaweed yield to suffer. Farmers have to go further out into the ocean for colder waves to grow and get crops. Older practices for foraging seaweed have also suffered from growing seaweed production such as “haenyeo” or “sea women” in South Korea where women forage for seaweed and seafood in the cold waters.

In conclusion, while seaweed does offer environmental advantages over plastic, this must also be balanced with the

charge of rising seaweed production and the methods to meet this demand. While seaweed farms offer a great way to meet the rising global demand for seaweed, the effects they have on marine ecosystems should still be examined more closely. Overall, seaweed shouldn’t be held up as a cure for climate change but should be considered as something that could help slow it down. Other methods to reduce the effects of climate change should still be analyzed.

Alexandra Rapp, FCRH ’24, is a history and international studies major from Hershey, Pa.

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

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Overall, seaweed should not be held up as a cure for climate change.

Controversy Over SunnyD’s New Drink Clouds Image

By MICHAEL DUKE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Alcohol consumption is an issue Americans have always had to contend with. However, the problem might have just gotten that much more prevalent as SunnyD has begun marketing their newest line of adult beverages. Showcasing their signature citrus-flavored drink with a twist, being spiked with vodka to be sold in 12 o.z. can form, SunnyD’s newest business venture has caused quite a stir of controversy.

The basic controversy, however, of this 4.5% alcoholic beverage is not that it is delicious or revolutionary in any form, as it is comparable to brands like Happy Dad or White Claw, but that SunnyD’s branded image is something that many young adults and millennials would identify as something that is for children or something they would have drank as a child. This is where the anger and questions are stemming from, as a seemingly harmless and nostalgic beverage for many young adults has been transformed into something new. To say the least, it has gone full Nick-at-Nite.

The recent craze of vodka seltzers, or spiked seltzers in general, is something problematic.

With roughly 6% of adults in the United States possessing alcoholuse disorders, and 623,000 people between the ages of 12 and 17 having a similar disorder, alcoholism and binge drinking are only two of the seemingly infinite problems and obstacles that our adult population faces and struggles to overcome daily. Yet, it is the growing number of choices of drinks in the market that propel these problems to new heights. This idea ties into the basic principle that with more variety comes more opportunity, and with more opportunity comes freedom. In this case, it is the freedom that is the most dangerous.

Variety is one of the key issues when it comes to advertising for brands. It is what sets them apart from competition and allows name recognition to take hold and consumers to find their favorite. But with alcohol, and room for experimentation with such addictive substances, it can cause people with bright futures or prospects to not only crash and burn, but never begin their paths. The simple truth when it comes to alcohol is that brands need accountability, and this means questioning concepts in planning stages, especially for brands that cater to minors first like SunnyD.

SunnyD released a statement

nodding to this idea: “We are committed to responsible practices and marketing is directed to consumers of legal drinking age.” However, the issue that many find in SunnyD’s statement is that, whether they choose to admit it or not, they are a brand for adolescents as their main line is something that countless children in the United States enjoy daily. The children who grow up drinking their main line are conditioned to be more loyal to their brand and are more likely to develop a drinking problem or habit when they reach the legal drinking age simply because of the grip SunnyD has on children and the choice that their spiked beverage gives.

There is no force aside from the government which could force SunnyD to reverse course and not sell their products. But, it is also not the job of governments, such as Canada, who is taking actions as a result of marketing schemes similar to those of SunnyD’s, to pick up slack when brands choose to be negligent of the real impact that they make as a result of careless action.

Ultimately, it is not governments and legislation or brands and liable negligence that ultimately is to blame. At the end of the day it is the consumers who choose to spend their money

and patronize certain brands or products who hold up the markets. Simply put: if there are enough people who are outraged by SunnyD’s marketing scheme to increase profit margins and make their board members that much more wealthy, people will choose not to buy this new product and, through their purchasing power, tell corporate executives that we are through with manipulative strategies that harm greater society. But, unfortunately, this is unlikely, so the question would be, what can we do? I’d suggest one thing: continue to call out corporations who have the responsibility to be responsible. We all know stories of actors,

celebrities or maybe even family members who have been affected by alcohol abuse. This product is something that cannot be argued to help problems similar to, or exactly like, alcohol abuse, and it is up to us to make sure that we make others know that we need to not only think smarter, but act and be smarter with how we choose to impact society. One way that we can begin is by protecting our youth who can be impacted or influenced, or other people who can find connections and start down dangerous treks.

America Needs to Reflect on Its Role on the World Stage

By EVAN McMANUS ASST. OPINION EDITOR

It was 20 years ago on March 20 that the United States military forces began the invasion of Iraq. President George W. Bush and his administration claimed that the dictatorship of Saddam Hussien was hiding weapons of mass destruction (WMD) which threatened the stability of the world. The Bush administration communicated this narrative from Capitol Hill to the UN Security Council. American citizens picked up their newspapers, turned on their TVs and absorbed the president’s message. Officials like Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld made announcements in which he claimed the war would only last a time period of five days to five months. The marketing campaign for war succeeded in growing support amongst the public. By the time it had started, 72% of Americans fully supported the war effort. The initial stage of the invasion moved swiftly throughout Iraq. The Iraqi army quickly crumbled, and on May 1, 2003, President Bush declared the major combat offensive was victorious, while a large banner saying “mission accomplished” was proudly displayed in the background. However, the war and its effects had only just begun. Iraq was unstable due to the rapid change in leadership,

which meant U.S. forces stayed in the country until 2011. The war cost the lives of 4,600 U.S. military members and at least 270,000 Iraqi civilians. Although troops officially left 12 years ago, the president is still authorized to use military force in Iraq. It is time for Congress to repeal the combat authorization and allow for a new era of American diplomacy to begin.

The war’ aftermath increased distrust from American citizens and nations all around the world. President Bush’s justification of the invasion — Iraq’s WMD possession — was based on a falsehood. Former top U.S. weapons inspector Dave Kay told Congress “that we were almost all wrong” when it came to Iraq having those weapons.

The most powerful nation in the world started a war costing $3 trillion and hundreds of thousands of lives based on faulty data. This immense error instilled a lasting doubt in the U.S. government and its abilities both domestically and internationally. Support for the war began to wane. By the latter half of the decade, Americans who had once supported the war disagreed with President Bush’s decision to send a “troop surge” by a two-to-one margin, and President Barack Obama won the 2008 election while running on a promise to end the war.

America’s international reputation also took a large hit

from the war. The optics of a war based on false intelligence fed into many people’s perception that the United States was a warmonger that would say and do anything to invade nations it did not like. There was also an erosion of trust in American intelligence, which has led many people to disregard it altogether. The distrust is still lingering and was seen last year when some news commentators acted surprised by the United States’ ability to anticipate Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Iraq’s instability did not help quell these doubts about America’s abilities.

The impacts of the war on Iraq were devastating. Although the war led to the end of Hussein’s government, the nation had to rebuild. Insurgent groups took advantage of the situation and prolonged the fighting for years. As a result, the nation’s rebuilding process was stalled, and more lives were needlessly lost. There have also been high levels of corruption and high levels of unemployment and poverty. Nevertheless, the country has been able to create a democracy that has peaceful transitions of power. Although Iraq was able to create a democracy, the instability caused by the war almost prevented democracy from being achieved.

Looking at the consequences of the Iraq War may feel overwhelming, but it is necessary to understand why Congress

must overturn its authorization. America is trying to have its cake and eat it by leaving open the possibility of putting troops back in. Some politicians, like Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, have stated that repealing the authorization will make the region more dangerous. His view is a continuation of the misguided thinking that led to the high levels of distrust in America that are still pervasive today. The way to end this distrust is by revoking the 2002 law, which would show a commitment to ending the era of American military intervention.

Although America should end its military intervention, it shouldn’t stop interacting with the world. It is still the most powerful nation in the world and should use that power to promote human rights and healthy

societies around the world. An example of this is PEPFAR. The Federal Government created it to improve the treatment of HIV around the world, and it cost $100 billion. Its price tag compared to the cost of the Iraq War is peanuts. PEPFAR has gone on to save 25 million lives around the world since its founding in 2003. When the United States puts its money towards programs like PEPFAR, instead of military interventions, it helps the world thrive. If Congress repeals the 2002 law and begins making more positive global investments, American citizens and the international community will begin to trust the government again.

Michael Duke, GSB ’26, is undecided from Scottsdale, Ariz.

COURTESY OF TWITTER SunnyD’s new alcoholic pursuits seem to be a marketing scheme.

Evan McManus, FCRH ’25. is a political science major from Dover, Mass.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

The U.S. still feels the Iraq War’s overall impact two decades following its end.

Fordham’s Mock Trial Team Wins Second at the ORCs

By KARI WHITE CULTURE EDITOR

On March 12, Rose Hill’s mock trial team, “Mocky Horror Picture Show,” won a second-place bid at New Rochelle’s Opening Round Championships (ORC), enabling them to compete in the final round of the American Mock Trial Association’s national competition. While 600 teams spend the year competing at invitationals and in regional competitions, only a minority of those teams win a bid to the ORCs. Only 48 of those teams manage to move on to nationals. Both of Fordham’s Rose Hill teams won awards at Princeton University Regionals, which took place in February, and competed at this year’s ORCs, but only “Mocky Horror Picture Show” won a bid to nationals. This is the first time any mock trial team from Rose Hill has made it to nationals since 2007.

The mock trial season begins in the fall, when the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) sends out the year’s case packet. This includes about 200 pages of witness statements, case law and other information that will help mock trial teams all across the country develop their legal cases. Each team has to prepare to argue on the plaintiff side, as well as on the defense. When tournaments begin in the fall, the various teams practice arguing both sides against one another. As Emily Hiles, FCRH ’23, one of the members of “Mocky Horror Picture Show,” explained, “The cases are purposely written so that there are multiple ways that the plaintiff side and the defense

side can go about it. So everyone is arguing from the same case material, but the presentations and theories that you get from it alternate really aggressively.”

During tournaments, “everyone runs the plaintiff side once and defense side once. Then, you do it again for day two, [so you compete] against four different schools. Effort wise, it’s a lot,” Hiles ultimately revealed.

Although they jokingly describe their time in mock trial as “lawyer LARP’in,” the members of both teams invest huge amounts of time and energy into their positions.

During a normal week, when they are not prepping for a tournament, they meet for four hours a week.

When they are prepping, they spend about 10 hours going over their arguments, witness statements and various other materials that they have to prepare. Even though the case remains the same throughout the entire

year, the arguments they face in competition can (and do) change, forcing them to continuously hone and strengthen their arguments.

“The easiest part of it is the stuff that you can script... The difficult part is that you’re responding in real time to what’s happening there, and that’s a lot of thinking on your feet. That’s kind of make or break. There’s also a lot of having to adjust to defend against or combat with what the other team’s saying, or respond to theories that you don’t see coming,” said Hiles. “Because they can get pretty out there in the moment.”

When asked about the craziest theory that Hiles has come across during this year, she sighed in exasperation. The case itself has to do with negligence, an accusation levied against a fictional company who runs a flight school and one of their planes crashed. Hiles said:

“We went up against a team that the defendant, who owned the

company, their parents secretly had a conspiracy — and were in on it with the police — to purposely crash the plane to get her to join their family company. So, it was absolutely insane and you don’t expect that going in. You have to figure out [your response] while you’re sitting there, and you obviously can’t talk because you’re in a courtroom setting.” However difficult, the challenge of thinking on your feet has only deepened Hiles’ love for mock trial. She began her freshman year, sure that she wouldn’t make the team, hoping to get some practice at being rejected. A surprise to her, she made the team and competed in the A-Team her freshman year as a witness. While she now competes as an attorney, it took her a long time to gain the confidence that she now has.

“It took me two years of people instructing me on what to do, giving me tips to feel confident,

but now that I’m confident that I kind of know what I’m doing, it’s a really good experience to know I’m passing that down to the next generation,” said Hiles.

Her passion for leading and inspiring her teammates is evident in her favorite memory of this season, which took place during the regional competition when both teams won a bid to ORCs: “Regionals had to be my favorite because it’s very difficult to even make it to the opening round of championships to qualify for nationals... It wouldn’t feel the same getting to move on if the other half of the program was disappointed in the process. We’re really proud of everybody and all the hard work they got to put in.”

The most important aspect of mock trial is, of course, the fantastic puns that they use to name their teams. This year alone saw the names “Mocka Flocka,” “Fleetwood Mock” and “Egged or Mocked,” their satiric range including references to ’70s rock-n-roll and Fordham legends. While their first team’s name is “Mocky Horror Picture Show,” the second team’s name was “Mocked and Loaded.” Their punny names are a staple of the Fordham team’s culture. At the beginning of the year, when they assign teams, they spend about 30 minutes brainstorming various clever mock trial-related puns. After intense debate, they select their names. Hiles laughed, saying, “It’s a fight every year, but I always think they’re entertaining.” For anyone interested, Mock Trial holds try-outs in early September every year. Visit their Instagram (@fordhamrhmock) to find out more details and information.

Eat Your Way Through Jackson Heights

By CALEB STINE COLUMNIST

I love flying into LaGuardia.

The recent billion-dollar (long overdue) updates, better proximity to Fordham and less crowded gates aside, taking the LaGuardia link bus to Jackson Heights is a quintessential welcome to the city our school calls home. With an above-ground 7 train whistling overhead and taco trucks lining Roosevelt Ave as far as the eye can see, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would rather be on an 8.25 AirTrain to Howard Beach.

Considered to be the most diverse neighborhood on the planet according to the documentary, “In Jackson Heights,” 167 languages are spoken between 66th and 94th St. and Roosevelt Ave. and Grand Central Parkway in Queens, making up the neighborhood’s respective east-west and north-south borders.

Before the 20th century, the area was a marsh called “Trains Meadow” that was developed as an intentionally planned development for the garden city movement in order to attract upper-middle-class businessmen looking to escape the crowded

confines of Manhattan. The neighborhood grew gradually between the 1920s and 1950s, and construction especially boomed after the construction of LaGuardia in the year 1941.

Simultaneously, a large group of gay artists from Manhattan migrated into Jackson Heights, making it one of the queer meccas outside of Manhattan in the 1940s.

In the 1960s middle-class professionals from Colombia and south Asia began to spread in Jackson Heights, taking advantage of the 1965 Immigration Reform Act, which eased the process of arranging for the immigration of their extended families, and subsequently solidified the area as a melting pot to the highest degree.

Jackson Heights is a foodie’s paradise. In all humility, it says something about a neighborhood, if it doesn’t matter if you take my restaurant recommendations or not. In fact, in Jackson Heights, I would almost prefer it. Prices are reasonable just as consistently as the food is quality, which is to say almost all of the time.

I would confess to cheating on my finals before admitting that I ate at Chick-Fil-A on 82nd and Roosevelt and got a spicy

chicken sandwich and lemonade on a summer day in 2021, which definitely didn’t happen. I promise. In Jackson Heights, there is something for everyone from absolutely everywhere. Gaining popularity during the pandemic for their COVID-adaptable business model, the Birria-Landia taco truck stays open until 1 a.m., after opening for lunch on weekends and dinner (5 p.m.), on weekdays.

Situated on the corner of 78th St. and Roosevelt Avenue, their

one kind of pork tacos, tostadas and quesadillas all go for less than five dollars each and the truck happily takes most forms of payments, including Apple Pay. No Fordham DCB just yet, though. Their crispy, yet somehow still soft, taco shells prove their quality even before you have to open your mouth.

If there’s a long line, that’s fine. Odds are, any of the dozens of taco trucks on Roosevelt Ave. have better food than your local

Mexican restaurant back home for less unless, of course, you hail from Jackson Heights.

Laliguras Restaurant, which is two blocks west, serves up great Nepalese staples. Their goat and veggie thali, and pork fried rice are among their most popular staples. This place is always packed, and Gorkali on 77th and Roosevelt serves similar dishes in a slightly more formal setting.

While there is shame in eating from chains found in strip malls across the country, there’s none in opting for American options for your cuisine in Jackson Heights.

Luna’s Kitchen and Bar next to Gorkali, serves any trendy food you would expect in Manhattan, but for 70% of the cost. With relaxing interior decor complete with several succulents and flowers, Luna’s is certainly for the less adventurous eater, but still retains it’s Jackson Heights flavor in other ways and always produces a lively and vibrant atmosphere.

Jackson Heights puts you in the middle of it all in a way only it can. It’s everything, everywhere, all at once, and will have you begging to come back. Or at least take a few tacos to-go for your roommate.

Jackson Heights is home to 167 spoken languages and quality eats.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Rose Hill’s mock trial team, “Mocky Horror Picture Show,” is the first team to advance to nationals since 2007.

NYC Neighborhoods | Jackson Heights

What’s the Inside Scoop on Goop?

By NICOLE BRAUN OPINION EDITOR

I’m eating an everything bagel with cream cheese as I write this — which is definitely not a Gwyneth Paltrow-sanctioned meal. I reach for a sip of my latte, also not Paltrow-approved.

Paltrow has been in the limelight recently for a couple of eyebrow-raising moments. As much as I would love to cover the sheer absurdity of her time on the witness stand at her ski trial (maybe check back in next week), today I will be unpacking the details of her dangerous and delusional diet.

A few weeks ago, on an episode of the podcast “The Art of Being Well” hosted by Dr. Will Cole, who is not a medical doctor, I must note, Paltrow shared her anti-inflammatory lifestyle that consists mostly of bone broth, fasting, time in her sauna and other activities that I’m not sure are fit to print.

Though the regimen may be anti-inflammatory in itself, her words were certainly not. Almost immediately, Paltrow received justified backlash for her comments, with critics saying that the ideas Paltrow is espousing as a wellness expert, an albeit self-imposed title, are dangerous and disordered. One dietician took to social media and wisely tweeted that everyone should “stop following and listening to celebrities for your health and wellness advice.”

Paltrow was equally quick to defend her statements, saying

that all she was doing was having a frank conversation with her doctor and sharing with her listeners the routine that she found works best for her, not necessarily promoting her unique lifestyle to others.

“It’s not meant to be advice for anybody else. It’s really just what has worked for me, and it’s been very powerful and very positive,” she said. She also clarified that she does not eat in this extreme manner every day, that she also has “a lot of days of eating whatever I want. You know, eating french fries and whatever.” (Which is a defense similar to Bella Hadid’s: that pizza is her favorite snack, that she eats it “at least once a day.”)

I’m thankful to have the privilege to know that most of what Paltrow says about her dieting is dangerous BS. However, there are some on the Internet, especially impressionable young teens, that might see Paltrow as the paradigm of health and her diet as something to be copied.

I think those impressionable people are Internet-savvy enough to know that a lot of what they see online has the potential to be dangerous and promotes unhealthy habits, but Paltrow markets herself as a sort of healthcare guru, thus muddying the waters between a celebrity espousing nonsense and a pseudo health professional.

That being said, I’m doubtful about the true harm of Paltrow’s diet. There are countless beauty, wellness and fitness influencers on social media platforms that

have a more desirable and relatable image that young people would rather emulate. And for those who are more in Paltrow’s demographic, I think many of them can recognize a lot of her behaviors to be utter nonsense.

Especially considering that her company Goop has been labeled a scam time and time again, and that she actually had to pay $145,000 in fines for marketing an alleged “health product” based on unsubstantiated and

ultimately disproved claims.

The true harm of Paltrow’s words on that podcast is not that she was promoting this specific diet, but that she promoted the mindset behind it: if you do these extremely unhealthy things to your body, then you can look like me, then you can have my luxurious life. She made it seem almost glamorous that she needs to get her vitamins through an IV drip because her diet is so nutrient deficient.

Goop and her personal brand are profiting off of their promotion of disordered eating, but the fact of the matter is that she is not the loudest voice advocating for such unhealthy lifestyles. I think her beliefs are most damaging to those already steeped in that culture, but at that point I think Paltrow’s is just another voice in the echo chamber. This is admittedly horrible, but the root of this problem does not start with Paltrow’s diet, nor will it end with it.

Paltrow is under fire for her controversial anti-inflammatory lifestyle.

Bronx Business Highlight | Joe’s Italian Deli

Joe’s Italian Deli is a Sophisticated Alternative to Rams

By CLARE HANNON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Around the corner from Casa Della Mozzarella and (a lot) more sophisticated than Rams Deli, Joe’s Italian Deli deserves just as much hype as either. Spacious and welcoming, the sandwich shop at 187th and Cambreleng has been hand-pulling mozzarella and curing salami in-house since 1979. But tasty meats and cheeses aren’t the only thing Joe’s Deli has to offer. The deli makes sandwiches in the back of the shop, and the store has a thoughtfully curated selection of dry goods in the front of the store. Artisan and imported olive oils, chile oils, olives, chocolates, candies, crackers, breads, panetones and pastas greet you as soon as you walk in, making it hard to check out with only a sandwich.

I went on a Sunday afternoon: prime time for people watching, but not so ideal for asking questions for The Fordham Ram. Despite the line to the door and the chaos of sandwiches to be made and fresh olives to be packaged, Mozzarella Master Kurt Acocella happily made time to sit with me and answer my questions as I ate my “Big Tony” sandwich (honey turkey, dried tomatoes, smoked

mozzarella and vinaigrette on a fresh sesame hero). Asking if I had ever tried his mozzarella, and disappointed when I admitted I hadn’t, he threw up his hands, marched behind the counter and came back with a perfect knot of fresh, chewy mozzarella. After he brought me my sample, he realized he was running low on mozzarella, so he left for the kitchen. I sat with my sandwich, looking after him when he turned back and shouted through the store, “Yo Fordham! Get back here, and bring your notebook!” I grabbed my pen and my phone and got to watch Acocella make a fresh batch of mozzarella, trying warm bites of cheese as he tied off the knots. Acocella has been working at Joe’s Deli for six years, but has been working in delis around the Belmont area for almost 40 years. Acocella explained to me that what makes Joe’s Deli such

a wonderful place to work is the chance he gets to utilize his culinary skills and the diversity of his everyday tasks. He isn’t just “buttering rolls and making coffee” like he did at previous delis. From pulling 300 pounds of mozzarella every weekend to taking orders and mixing olives, Acocella’s tasks vary and make working at Joe’s Deli perpetually interesting. Despite the hand-painted signs in the front of the store advertising the mozzarella and burrata from Joe’s, Acocella says: “Mozzarella is what gets people in the door, but Joe’s Deli is so much more than that.” And just how true that is becomes clear when you step inside. The small facade facing 187th does no justice to the huge store waiting for you. Meats, cheeses and, around this time of year, brilliantly wrapped chocolate Easter eggs hang from the ceiling, and the shelves along

each wall are full of interesting items. The thing that makes Joe’s Deli so special is how effortlessly they blend tradition with modernization. Their Instagram is (@joesitaliandelibronx), and their website (joesitaliandeli.com) is always up-to-date plus easy to use and navigate.

Beyond these keys to a modern business, Joe’s Deli offers shipping of dry goods and catering for any event (here’s looking at you, Fordham clubs). Joe’s Deli has been a staple in the Arthur Avenue/Belmont district for decades, but they have diversified and modernized through the years and remain as relevant and valuable today as they were when they first opened. Alongside the goods imported from Italy or made in-house in the traditional, old-world style, owner Anthony Ruscigno makes sure they offer goods from new, local businesses, like drinks and snacks proudly made in New York. Joe’s Deli also offers gluten-free and vegetarian dry goods and vegetarian sandwiches. But more than the delicious dry goods and sandwiches to fill your stomach, the deli sells tote bags, shirts, sweatshirts and other items with the Joe’s Deli logo on them to help make the business feel even more

Yes, it is extremely harmful that Paltrow is adding more fuel to the dumpster fire that is wellness culture, but I don’t think many see her as the wellness messiah that she believes herself to be or that media outlets inflate her to be. No one should promote unhealthy and damaging practices, especially not someone with such fame and influence as Paltrow, but I think we have come to the point where we know to take her words with a grain of salt. (Literally, sodium intake is part of a balanced diet — but Paltrow won’t tell you that.) special and modern.

After founder Joe Ruscigno passed away in 2017, the business had to adapt. Current owner Anthony Ruscigno, son of founders Joe and Maria Ruscigno, works hard to keep the Southern Italian traditions alive post-coronavirus. Acocella mentioned how difficult it is to keep the business thriving while the cost of food continues to soar after the pandemic: “We’re not going to charge $20 for a sandwich, but it’s hard to make a living.” Businesses are closing all around Joe’s Deli, so now, more than ever, Joe’s Deli and the entire Belmont community needs support from Fordham. “We sell good food, quality merchandise, all with personable people. We’re a neighborhood business ... a mom and pop,” Acocella says. So ease into Joe’s Deli the next time you’re craving a delicious, reasonably priced sandwich in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

Open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or 3:30 p.m. on Sundays, you will always have a seat at their communal tables. And if you come in with a Casa Della Mozzarella bag like the couple from Boston who ordered behind me did, you’ll certainly get a free sample of Joe’s Deli’s tastier hand-pulled mozzarella.

Joe’s Italian Deli

hand-pulled mozzarella and in-house salami.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Who’s That Kid?| Abby Hartlieb ’25

Fordham Sophomore Raises Period Poverty Awareness

By NICOLE BRAUN OPINION EDITOR

Abby Hartlieb, FCRH ’25, got some much-needed rest this spring break working at her parents’ business: Rita’s Italian Ice. “Yeah that week was crazy, with the first week of spring we had the balloon arch and everything,” she laughs, bright and airy in the equally bright and airy McShane Campus Center on a rainy Thursday morning.

After a week of “slinging some ice” at home in Bel Air, Md., Hartlieb was back to her regular running around — literally, she just ran a 5k this weekend. Her demanding schedule includes secretary of Leading Women of Tomorrow, marketing director of Fordham Dance Marathon, a campus job, a member of the Committee on Sexual Misconduct, an intramural volleyball team and Outreach Intern for Days For Girls.

This last position is one to which Hartlieb seems to devote most of her time and attention. Days For Girls is a foundation dedicated to eradicating period poverty. Period poverty is a lack of access to products that keep menstruators clean and healthy while they are on their periods.

500 million are affected worldwide, and it affects roughly one in five of all New Yorkers living in poverty. “Period poverty is when you have to decide between feeding your family or buying a box of tampons,” explains Hartlieb.

“At the end of the day, it just really makes a large impact on girls’ self-esteem… No one should be feeling like they don’t have access to take care of their own body.”

Hartlieb became involved in the period poverty movement as a sophomore in high school after attending the annual Girl Up Leadership Summit located in Washington, D.C. where she saw period activist Nadya Okamoto give a presentation.

“I was so inspired by it mostly because I couldn’t believe I didn’t know it was a thing. I was so involved in the female empowerment aspect, I was totally into that, but I had no idea about this whole women’s health issue.”

Hartlieb took what she learned at that summit back to her high school, where she started her own Girl Up club chapter and began her own work with fighting against period poverty.

Hartlieb is particularly interested in the cross section of when period poverty impacts a girl’s education. Her research this past

summer focused on the correlation between period poverty and school attendance. She found that those with less access to menstrual products were more likely to miss school than those who do have consistent access.

A crucial aspect of eradicating period poverty is dismantling the stigma associated with periods generally. Hartlieb seeks to destigmatize this normal bodily function — regardless of any discomfort it may inspire. In a project for her composition class last year, Hartlieb made a video interviewing students about their own menstruation education.

“My first opening question was just like ‘Periods’ and like their initial reactions.” If her subjects blushed at the opening line, “it totally [gave] away they’re just kind of a stigmatized, taboo topic.”

Her on-campus research found that, at best, students knew the basic gist of what menstruation is, but they certainly had no idea about period poverty or how to combat it. Conversations, Hartlieb believes, are the best way to dismantle the discomfort surrounding periods. “[That’s] all we can really do at this point. As students, it’s those small steps that really make a difference.”

In her future career, Hartlieb

wants to continue researching and lobbying for awareness regarding period poverty, perhaps wading into the waters of public health policy, but as a current international studies major, her ultimate goal “is to travel and make a difference.” Her first destination is France, where she will study abroad next spring and wants to continue her work on period poverty. Until then, her campus job keeps her plenty busy.

“It’s always been my dream job,” Hartlieb jokes semi-seriously, eyes wide and smile bright. She cannot disclose what exactly this position is, but she will admit to having some “Hannah Montana moments” and says that growing up and being the “Ice Guy” for her parents’ business helped her prepare for this role of a lifetime.

“I just love it. There are so many people that are so excited to see you and get an instant smile just by you being there. Like that’s literally all it takes for some people. It’s such a great feeling.”

While such involvement both on campus and off might sound exhausting to you or I, it’s fuel for Hartlieb. “I am really passionate about these things. Yeah they take a lot of time, but I really love them.” She has also found and created a strong community through these activities. “I go to meetings and hang out with my friends while we do things for great causes together.” Look out for Hartlieb on her crusade to bring attention to period poverty, or stop by any event on campus and you might see her dancing and bringing smiles to the faces of all those who know her.

Calling All Poets: Black Sheep Poetry Hosts First Open Mic

By ZOE KAROUB CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The lights are dim, poets are speaking in rhythm and rhyme, audience members are snapping. Fordham’s Black Sheep Poetry group is hosting another show to share their performance poetry skills. But this time is different: the group that typically produces shows starring only their members has now opened the stage to the entire Fordham community in an open mic format.

On March 21, Black Sheep hosted their very first open mic in Collins Hall’s Blackbox Theater. Home to all Fordham Experimental Theatre (FET) productions, the Blackbox is a hub for student creativity. Tucked away from the center of campus in a small, dim room, student performers are free to express themselves and explore their ideas. The space makes sense for performance poetry, which requires writers to be vulnerable and open up their hearts to an audience.

Several participants felt compelled to experience that vulnerability at last week’s open mic. In fact, the night opened with two non-members and first-time performing poets. Though no stranger to writing poetry, Kelly Stanton, FCRH ’25, is new to performing it. She attends all the Black Sheep events, but the open mic was her first chance to step onstage. Stanton offered a rumination on the names her mother almost

gave her, wondering whether she would be a different person with those names.

Alex Drury, FCRH ’24, shared an apt piece about performing poetry, which he admits was a difficult adjustment. He discussed the unfamiliar challenge of finding a “balance” between writing for himself and writing for an audience. Ultimately, the supportive nature of the group encouraged him to get onstage. “Black Sheep is a great community where you can really feel the support at

every moment,” said Drury. “I knew that it didn’t really matter if my stuff was not as good as I wanted it to be.”

That welcoming spirit stood out at last week’s open mic. Everyone had encouraged reluctant writers to share their work, which often proved successful. The audience validated each individual performer with constant snaps and cheers. The hosts even invited participants to read genres of writing besides poetry, such as short stories or comedic routines. Black Sheep

wanted everyone to feel confident and included throughout the entire night.

Black Sheep co-captains Ren Alberton, FCRH ’23, and Liam Mottolese, FCRH ’24, were definitely pleased with the open mic and the bravery of the participants. Volunteers were split evenly between members and non-members. “The open mic went a lot better than expected! I was really excited to see poets who weren’t part of Black Sheep going up on stage to perform,” Alberton happily revealed.

Mottolese added, “It’s a lot to ask to get people up on stage to show their writing, so I’m glad we got who we got.” They hope to continue these kinds of events in the future.

When the two longtime members considered their favorite parts about Black Sheep, they both shared Drury’s appreciation for its camaraderie and openness. Alberton credited Black Sheep with providing a “great creative outlet” and community, especially in difficult times. They also noted that Black Sheep has allowed them to improve in other creative pursuits, such as acting in Shakespeare plays. Mottolese described the environment as judgment-free, explaining that members are extremely relaxed and open with each other. “We all feel free to try new things with our poetry and change and experiment. No approach or idea is off the table,” he said.

For those who are intrigued by the open mic or Black Sheep Poetry in general, Alberton says “go for it.” They urge Fordham writers to attend Black Sheep auditions at the beginning of every semester. Prospective members only need to prepare two brief poems, and memorization is not necessary.

Whether you’re a poet or not, catch the Black Sheep Poetry team in action at their upcoming performances on April 28–29 in the Blackbox Theater. More information can be found regarding their schedule on Instagram @black.sheep.poetry within the weeks to come.

COURTESY OF ZOE KAROUB FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Jack Cutajar, FCRH ’23, performs a poem onstage during Black Sheep Poetry’s first open mic night.

COURTESY OF ABBY HARTLIEB FOR THE FORDHAM RAM Hartlieb plans to lobby for period poverty awareness in her car eer.

Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” Have Big Ambitions

By AMELIA SILVESTRO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“Little Women,” directed by Greta Gerwig, is an authentic illustration of emotion, the abundant variations of female ambition and the bond between four sisters. The camera seems to be in constant motion, subtly moving with the characters or fluidly through the scene. This camera movement contributes to the natural feeling of the film along with the overlapping and dynamic dialogue that brings

the audience into the minds and lives of the characters. Time moves nonlinearly as the editing weaves in and out of the past and present. Warm golden tinted light signifies the youthful joy of childhood, and cooler blues of the present impart the feeling of getting older and growing up.

From the opening scene, when she walks into the publishing office to have her writing published, Jo (Saoirse Ronan) has an individuality, a presence and a sense of self. She carries her wonder and curiosity for life

throughout the narrative. Jo’s story is deeply connected to and intertwined with that of her three sisters Beth (Eliza Scanlen), Meg (Emma Watson) and Amy (Florence Pugh), and the paths they take in their lives.

The film portrays a myriad of complex female characters, following them as they come of age together, navigating the world and the sadness of losing that golden hue of childhood. I have always loved the way this film does not dictate that there is a certain way for a woman to be or what a woman should want. Meg, the oldest of the March sisters, speaks a crucial line in this film; holding Jo’s hands, Meg tells Jo, “Just because my dreams are different than yours doesn’t mean they’re unimportant.” Watson’s delivery of the line feels so natural and true, it is not reprimanding Jo for her wishes to be a writer, and it does not discount Meg’s own wishes for a family; it simply states that each of their dreams are important.

Another impactful moment is Jo’s monologue towards the end of the film: “I just feel like women, they have minds, and they have souls as well as just hearts, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty, and I’m

so sick of people saying that love is just all a woman is fit for, I’m so sick of it.” Louisa May Alcott’s writing is radiant in Gerwig’s adaptation of “Little Women” — the timelessness of her message can be felt throughout the film, but is articulated especially well in this scene.

There are not just a few impactful moments like those mentioned above in this film, but the feeling is embedded in its cinematography, characters and the context of its production. Not only is the film a narrative telling the story of four women and their experiences, but it is directed by a woman, Gerwig. There is still a gaping inequality in the number of female directors. According to Kim Elsesser from Forbes, in the top 250 grossing films of 2022, women comprised 24% of directors, writers, producers, editors and cinematographers working on these films. “Little Women” being directed by a woman enhances the film’s theme of being able to use your own voice to tell stories like this, a story both inspired by and inspiring to women.

The way the actresses embody their roles and the blocking of the scenes is done naturally

so that there is always motion. This freedom of the characters to move within the scenes pushes against the idea of girls and women needing to be accommodating, sit still and not take up room. The March sisters can express themselves fully, taking up space unapologetically because they do not need to apologize for the way they exist.

Gerwig’s choice to tell the story by moving between adulthood and childhood makes the story even more poignant. Getting to feel the juxtaposition of these timeframes as the characters move throughout their lives is reflective of the nature of growing up. The childhood scenes do not feel like flashbacks; they are just as real and as true as the scenes in adulthood. This places value in the experiences of the girls’ childhoods, not passing off these parts of their lives because of their youth.

At the heart of the film is a story of hopefulness, connection and finding one’s way in the world. “Little Women”’s authentic representation of curious, feeling and complex women is inspiring. It instills an excitement for life and the feeling that our dreams, ambitions and hopes matter and have value.

New York City’s Classic Logo Gets A Facelift

By NORA LEACH EXEC. COPY EDITOR

The “I ♥ NY” logo has been a staple of New York City for years. If you have ever been in the city, you’ve probably seen the logo on tourist T-shirts sold by your local street vendor. The logo is so iconic that I’ve seen cheap knockoffs of it for merchandise in other cities. However, New York officials decided that the logo needed an update.

The new one, unveiled on March 20, has some noticeable differences, including a change of slogan to “We ♥ NYC,” a new font reminiscent of the subway signs and a new heart. Even if you do not care about this news, you might be wondering: If the original logo was so iconic, then why the update? Well, the answer lies in the story behind the original logo’s creation. Designed by Milton Glaser during the 1970s, the logo became an integral part of an advertisement campaign to increase tourism to the city during a tumultuous period of economic struggles and rising crime rates. Ever since, “I ♥ NY” has become not only a smart advertisement, but an integral aspect of a New Yorker’s identity.

The “We ♥ NYC” campaign is meant to achieve similar goals. Kathryn Wylde, the president of the Partnership of New York City, who is leading the campaign, said that the new logo is meant to promote unity

after the “divisiveness and negativity” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wylde hopes that the updated campaign will help New Yorkers unite to fix their city’s problems and promote positivity. “We ♥ NYC” definitely united people, but for all the wrong reasons. Most New Yorkers agree: the new logo is ugly.

Over on Twitter, one user called it an insult to “underemployed artists/graphic designers.” The graphic design website Creative Bloq also weighed in, saying that the placement of the heart makes the logo look confusing, like it says “We NYC ♥.” In addition, the heart looks like someone just copied and pasted the heart emoji from their phone’s keyboard. Another Twitter user said that their “intro to graphic design professor in college would have absolutely dunked on the student that tried to submit this for a grade.” Audiences and graphic designers have drowned out the few positive responses. Still, one response from COLLINS Creative Director Joseph Han stated that people have always hated changes to logos, citing past examples such as the new American Airlines logo unveiled in 2013. However, he also stated that an update to a logo that people have grown accustomed to should only be changed for a good reason.

When I first saw the uproar over the logo, I thought it was funny. I mean, it’s just a logo,

right? Everyone will probably be used to it eventually. However, I also know that since I never grew up in the city, I don’t have the same attachment to the logo that many New Yorkers cherish. While some of the responses are a little overdramatic, it’s definitely understandable that people might be upset at a logo change. People hate change, and I can relate. In a less serious example, as someone from Massachusetts, I remember the disappointment I and others felt when they updated Dunkin’ Donuts to just “Dunkin’” (which I still don’t like, by the way). The updated “We ♥ NYC” does look loweffort, and why would you change Graser’s already-iconic logo? It was definitely possible to retain Graser’s original format while changing the slogan from “I ♥ NY” to “We ♥ NYC” (see artist Ryan McGinness’s design).

More seriously, it’s unfortunate that the positive cause of the campaign, to unite New Yorkers after the past three difficult years, has been overshadowed by a design. Yes, people should care more about the issues in their city, but no one will if your advertising skills are not top-notch.

But let me play devil’s advocate here in defense of the new logo. I think it could have worked with a few tweaks to the final design. Here is some advice from a New York college student. (Keep in mind that I am speaking from an onlooker’s perspective, and I do not have

any experience in graphic design or advertising.)

I like the new slogan, “We ♥ NYC,” as the “we” demonstrates a sense of much-needed collectivity to help unite New Yorkers. I don’t think the change from “NY” to “NYC” was necessary, but I do think it works if the campaign is primarily targeted to people in the city (sorry, rest of New York state). The first change I would make concerns the alignment. In Graser’s, the text and heart are centered with each other, while in the new one, I can’t tell if they are trying to center or align the text to the left. Center the logo and add some space between the first and second lines so the phrasing won’t look so awkward. I also think it is clever that they tried to use a font similar to the subway system’s. Maybe a decrease in its boldness would make the text less cluttered and evoke a similar simplicity

from Graser’s logo.

However, the most egregious mistake in this new logo is the heart. It just looks completely out of place from the text. First of all, it’s too big, and second, why is it three-dimensional when the text is two-dimensional? Two simple changes could fix this problem: shrink the heart down to the size of the text, and make the heart two-dimensional or the text threedimensional. Obviously, these are just some minor suggestions to fix the main issues, but I’ll leave it up to the professionals to give their more detailed and experienced input.

In a few years, everyone will probably look back on this whole “controversy” and laugh, if we even remember it. One thing is for certain: New Yorkers love Milton Graser’s logo just as much as their city. So, if you’re going to change the logo, you better make the money towards those changes well-spent.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Gerwig’s “Little Women” empowers women and their emotional depth.

The End of An Era: Jeremy Scott Leaves Moschino

By JULIA CHORUN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A McDonald’s Happy Meal dress and My Little Pony streetwear weren’t high fashion until Jeremy Scott, creative director of Moschino, put them on a runway at Fashion Week. Now, after a decade-long reign under the label, Scott has left his position at the Italian luxury fashion house.

When a prominent social figure such as Scott parts with a highprofile brand like Moschino, there’s often a concern for controversy within the industry. But rest assured, the split is drama-free and the relationship is still more than amicable.

Moschino’s own press release

read that they were honored to have worked with the creative force that is Jeremy Scott. Furthermore, in a viral Instagram post announcing his decision, Scott claimed to have a great love for the company and the friendships it has given him. Support for his future and encouraging comments thanking him for his contributions poured in from actors, models and fellow designers. The post featured himself during the fall 2018 season with one of his personal muses, Gigi Hadid. Hadid, in a personal statement, said she couldn’t wait to see where Scott takes the industry next. She’s not the only one curious about the designer’s plans — Scott has remained

tight-lipped about his ambitions, claiming he’s closed this long chapter with “anticipation and excitement” for the updates he hopes to publicly share soon. Moschino has yet to announce a replacement for Scott or detail their creative plans for when he leaves, but the designer is currently in Seoul, South Korea, following the unveiling of a collection he’s designed under his own name. In collaboration with Hyundai, Scott created a promotional set of 10 pieces, made from recycled car materials and called it “Couture or Car-ture?” Despite his fondness for the city and creative history with personal friend and muse, K-pop singer CL, Scott hasn’t decided where the next base of his operations will be. According to an interview with Vogue, he’s most excited that although he has a vision, there are no immediate plans for his future and, for the first time in years, he’ll be taking a tiny break. Emphasis on tiny. Not even a week after his announcement, the designer jet setted to Korea for a personal collaboration, and if history is any indicator, the designer won’t stay dormant for long. Ten years worth of all-caps Instagram captions are evident enough that being invisible isn’t in Scott’s nature, and once he’s fully separated from Moschino, we can expect

Editor’s Pick | Film

a quick resurgence.

Scott’s exit from Moschino is a big change for the fashion industry as a whole. The label’s popularity and awareness of its existence in general has skyrocketed since he joined in 2013 and fans, so far, are lamenting his decision. Scott is known for his audacious pop culture references, outlandish outlets of inspiration and consistent use of bright colors and patterns. Part of what made him such a unique fashion architect at Moschino was his personality. His clothes are loud, bold and take up space, and the designer is similar in nature. At Moschino events and shows, he was known for getting to know his models, speaking to everyone in the room and keeping close friendships in an industry that’s thought to be one of the most competitive and isolating in America.

Widely considered as a father of camp fashion, one of Scott’s own greatest achievements on and off the runway is his continuation of Franco Moschino’s original intention for the brand. He continued the satirical approach to clothes-making and the founder’s consistent commentary on consumerism and capitalism. Whether it was virtual clothing, pop art ensembles or Katy Perry’s debut as a chandelier and a hamburger at

the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” MET Gala, Scott promoted a philosophy of “More is More” and cheap can be chic. His long-standing title as “King of Kitsch” is a reference that many designers would see as an insult, as kitsch is synonymous with “low-brow taste” or “trashy art.” How did Scott respond? In the fall 2017, he debuted a collection under Moschino of just that: trash clothing. Tissue boxes were hats, discarded plastic was a handbag and black stretch bags that normally belong as the liner of your disposal bin were the bodice of a dress. A king indeed. His rebellious spirit and his blatant rejection of modernity are what associated garbage with fashion and kitsch with luxury. Scott’s sense of play and the space of creative freedom that he carved out in the industry allows future designers, who may also feel drawn to “on-the-nose” fashion, to have a place in haute couture.

The legacy he’s left from his time with Moschino has made the label a pillar of the luxury fashion world and it raises questions that only time will answer: Will Moschino stay a pioneer of camp fashion and an extravagance visionary? Or, will the new creative director take the brand in a completely new, fresh direction?

The Perfect Films To Cry To On An Airplane

By LILY POORMAN VIDEO PRODUCER

Although little scientific research, or even media attention, has been given to the phenomenon, many people share in the strange experience of crying on airplanes. Some speculate that a mix of high altitude and cabin pressure, causing dehydration, can lead to emotional imbalances which make you more likely to cry. Others say the airplane environment, being surrounded by strangers yet feeling completely alone, triggers the response. While its exact cause remains unknown, I can attest that I am subject to this phenomenon nearly every time I fly. Despite social conditioning which tells us not to cry in public spaces, there’s something strangely therapeutic about crying 30,000 feet in the air, sandwiched between two strangers, and surrounded by rows of passengers with whom you seemingly share nothing in common but a destination. For many passengers, due to some unknown scientific or psychological reason, the plane becomes the loneliest place in the world and, subsequently, the best place to cry.

Usually, a wave of sadness will come over me in flight while reading a book, listening to music or thinking about leaving my family and friends as I depart from my hometown airport. But what never fails to make me cry

is watching a movie on an incredibly small, low-resolution seatback TV screen. Movies are many other people’s onboard emotional triggers as well. For example, after conducting a survey in 2011 which showed that 55% of passengers experience heightened emotions in-flight, Virgin Airlines began issuing “emotional health warnings” on certain movies.

From my experience, here are three of the best movies to cry to on a plane.

“Beautiful Boy”: Given the film’s intense portrayal of drug abuse and its effects on a maturing boy and his family, I am sure I would have cried regardless of where I chose to watch it. Nevertheless, watching “Beautiful Boy” on a plane significantly added to the emotional experience. “Beautiful Boy” is based on David Sheff’s memoir of the same title and his son, Nic Sheff’s memoir “Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines.”

The film’s lead actors, Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carell, depict the dynamics of the beautiful yet painful relationship between Nic, a boy living with years of drug addiction, and his father, David, who struggles to love his son and save him without losing himself. Despite being surrounded by their family and each other, both Nic and David feel immensely isolated from the people and the world around them. You’re swallowed by a

combination of sadness, guilt, anger and fear as you watch Nic drift in and out of sobriety with his father clinging on to what little is left of his son. It is not an easy watch, but a beautiful one, and the perfect film to reflect on for the remainder of your flight, looking dramatically out of the porthole window.

“C’mon C’mon”: Mike Mills’ soft-spoken, black-and-white film depicts the connections we hold to our loved ones, and all of the moments, often small and insignificant, that bind us together. Joaquin Phoenix plays Jonny, a journalist who agrees to watch over his sister’s nine-year-old son Jesse, Woody Norman, as she travels to take care of her mentallyill husband. Jonny, who works as a traveling radio journalist, takes

Jesse along as he interviews children about their thoughts on the future. “When you think about the future, what do you think it will be like?” he asks them.

Jonny and Jesse, bonded by happiness, frustration and woe, learn through each other to become better people, friends and family members. Jesse reminds Jonny, “Ahh yeah, whatever you plan on happening never happens. Stuff you would never think of happens. So you just have to c’mon c’mon, c’mon c’mon c’mon.” The film is strangely serendipitous with the melancholy of flying. “C’mon C’mon” doesn’t pressure you to search for climatic moments, but accept and appreciate the mundanity of everything.

“Paddington”: I re-watched a

portion of “Paddington” in-flight, and despite having already seen the movie, it still made me violently cry. In one of the movie’s opening scenes, Aunt Lucy and Uncle Pastuzo save sweet, innocent baby Paddington Bear from a river and decide to raise him as their own. Paddington grows up to love orange marmalade and live with his aunt and uncle in their Peruvian tree-top home. But when an earthquake hits, Aunt Lucy and Paddington are forced to take shelter and Uncle Pastuzo, unable to escape, is killed by a falling tree. Aunt Lucy moves to a Home for Retired Bears and sends Paddington to London where his new life begins. This was as far as I got in the movie during my flight. Uncle Pastuzo’s death brought me to tears.

Instead of fighting against the melancholy atmosphere of a plane, give into sadness with these masterful films.

Jeremy Scott stepped down as the creative director of Moschino.

Overtime: An Ode To March Madness When I’m Off the Track

By TAYLOR MASCETTA STAFF WRITER

It’s crazy to think about it now, but there’s just a year remaining in my collegiate running career, and potentially my time as a full-time athlete. Trust me, I’ve already had my fair share of existential crises. Where will I compete next year? Will I keep training hard after college? Do I take a break from the running workouts and maybe start hitting the gym instead? (If you regularly lift with me, you see how pathetic my chin ups are. Maybe one day I can finish just one of them). However, the one thing I’m not so worried about? Leaving sports behind entirely.

You see it all the time with professional athletes. They hang up the cleats and take a seat on the sidelines, still contributing to the sport in some way. Sue Bird retired from basketball last year but still helms “TOGETHXR,” a media company dedicated to highlighting women’s sports. Tom Brady’s hopping onto Fox Sports to be their head NFL analyst once he retires for real. Former running superstars such as marathoner Shalane Flanagan give back to the sport by coaching powerhouse programs. While I am far and away from ever becoming a professional athlete, it’s reassuring to know I can always be present within the medium.

I’ve already gotten started with this here at Fordham with WFUV, the radio station in the basement of Keating Hall. I started out there with a newsroom experience class, and soon enough my student athlete connection got me involved with the sports department. At first, I was super nervous about the time commitment and whether I knew enough about professional sports to make valuable contributions, but I decided to try it out anyway.

I often say that, besides running, joining WFUV was the best decision I made since arriving at Fordham. I entered freshman year thinking I wanted to go into print journalism and hard news. I’m approaching graduation wanting nothing more

than a career in sports journalism. Working for the sports radio has made me appreciate sports even more than I thought possible. There’s so many stories to tell aside from my own, and I find inspiration in all of these athletes’ journeys. Whether I’m hopping on our sports call-in show “One on One,” conducting interviews with prominent figures in the industry or recording a new episode of our women’s sports podcast “All In,” I learn something new nearly every single day about athletics. It helps that I have some of my best friends in the entire world sitting in the booth next to me.

I can’t talk about my time at WFUV without talking about the importance of women in the sports industry. I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but it’s clear women are often pushed to the side when it comes to sports talk. (Just take a look at the comment section under the latest results of a women’s basketball game. I purposely don’t look anymore.) Men often don’t recognize the feats of both female athletes or sportscasters. We’re deemed slower, not knowing every single random stat or just not understanding the game. As a student athlete myself, I’d argue that I know the game from experiencing it firsthand. I faced judgment anyway. It made me feel small — something I refuse to feel again. Through WFUV, I’ve learned that I can play a part in changing these outdated and misogynistic outlooks.

Just this week, we recorded our second annual All Women “One on One.” This year, I played a part in creating “All In,” which is the station’s first podcast solely dedicated to covering women’s sports. It feels amazing to talk about the sports I love with some of the most incredible women I’ve ever met. Through my experiences, I have the potential to provide a platform for women who come after me.

I still don’t exactly know what’s coming next for me. But I’m excited to see what’s next.

Athletes of the Week

Sellinger hit a home run in both games of a doubleheader against Seton Hall University on Friday, including a goahead grand slam in the top of the ninth inning in game two. He drove in seven runs across the two games and is hitting an impressive .317 on the season. The senior got named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week for his efforts.

By MADDIE BIMONTE SPORTS EDITOR

As March draws to a close, it would be remiss of me not to discuss my March Madness bracket and just how poorly I did this year. Yes, I will admit, this year has been full of surprises and fun games to watch, but this truly was not my best year to bet money on a bracket.

But while my bracket may have busted, this year’s tournament is surely historic. None of the teams seeded one, two or three will be there; the first time since seeding was introduced 44 years ago.

Instead, this year’s final four comprises of Florida Atlantic University, Miami University, San Diego State University and the University of Connecticut.

In a Cinderella story year, these teams have shocked number one seeds across the nation as they clawed their way to the final four. However, for those who gambled on their brackets this year, this may have been one of the toughest years to predict what would occur.

Making March Madness brackets dates back to 1977 in Staten Island at a local bar and it’s not an easy feat to get a perfect bracket. The NCAA says a person has an approximately 1 in 9.2 quintillion chance of being perfect, but not a single person has ever been perfect since the bracket was released.

In the first round, there was certainly no shortage of excitement with the No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson University defeating No. 1 Purdue University, with a score of 63-58. This was just the beginning of the end for my bracket. For the past 10 years, the one and two seeds have dominated the final four, making it so incredibly likely I would be granted at least one of them in my final four. Boy was I wrong.

But don’t get me wrong, I love the Cinderella stories that come out of March Madness. Giving a smaller school the opportunity to shine among the big blue blood programs is what makes the sport so unique and special. However, I do have one major gripe.

The issue that comes with the

Cinderella stories is the coaching change that usually follows. It is one of the most heartbreaking things when your team has a huge year, upsetting a huge Division 1 school, only to have your coach offered a more “prestigious” coaching job somewhere else because of their efforts. The team is set right back at square one; it’s highly unlikely that they repeat their efforts again the next year.

For example, Fairleigh Dickinson made history being only the second 16 seeded school to defeat a number 1 seed in NCAA Tournament history. As a result, head coach of the team, Tobin Anderson, received an offer to coach Iona College’s team and took the offer. It’s a tough sight to watch, but you have to be happy for the coach.

Similar things occurred to St. Peter’s University back in 2022 when Shaheen Holloway led his team to a major upset against teams such as Purdue and the University of Kentucky. A historic season came to an end against the University of North Carolina, but Holloway decided to leave St. Peter’s for his alma mater Seton Hall University’s new head coach job.

In addition, every single member

of the starting lineup transferred schools. Good for the players in getting to where they want to go, but now, we’ll probably never see a St. Peter’s run in the tournament like this ever again.

But the one thing they do positively get is attention, when St. Peters made it all the way to the Elite Eight, as the first No. 15 seed to ever do so, they received tons of press coverage, driving up the amount of applicants to the school and bolstering the fan presence on campus more than ever before. With 11 upsets this year, the year was certainly unpredictable, but as always enjoyable. I think the beauty of March Madness lies in the fact that anyone can win. Rather than a rigged system where the best of the best advance, you have to leave it all on the court for one game to truly win.

That’s what these underdogs are doing. Constantly challenging those who dominate the game all year long to show just exactly what kind of grit and heart they have.

So while my March Madness wasn’t the best in terms of the money I’m losing, it provided fans with something much more enjoyable: good basketball.

Varsity Calendar

AWAY

Miller tossed a complete game shutout in game two of a doubleheader against St. Bonaventure on Saturday. She allowed just one earned run and four hits while recording six strikeouts. The Pennsylvania native was a key member of last year’s team that took home an Atlantic 10 Championship.

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

Softball Golf

Women’s Tennis

Zach Sellinger

Senior, Baseball

Devon Miller Senior, Softball

This years Final Four was unpredictable and totally busted my bracket.

OF TWITTER

Fordham Women’s Basketball Debrief: The End of an Era

By LOU ORLANDO ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

The 2022-23 Fordham Women’s Basketball season was the first under interim head coach Candice Green. It saw their first postseason win in five years. It’s the first time in the Atlantic 10 era that the team has had two players named First Team All-Conference as well as the first time they’ve boasted the top two scorers in the conference. But among all these wonderful firsts is one last sendoff for one of the most talented units we’ve ever seen and a bittersweet goodbye to a veteran core that has forever left its mark on the program.

This season marked the last for graduate students Kaitlyn Downey, Meg Jonassen, Asiah Dingle and Jada Dapaa. Seniors Anna DeWolfe and Sarah Karpell possess an extra year of collegiate eligibility, but it’s unknown at this time if they will spend that final year with the Fordham Rams.

It’s not just a large veteran core — it’s a star studded one.

DeWolfe, Downey and Dingle are likely all bound for the Fordham Hall of Fame. DeWolfe’s 1,883 points puts her third all-time, and she holds the second-most three pointers made in program history. As an elite scorer, DeWolfe had the ability to make any shot at any time.

Heaving a buzzer beater three to upset the University of Rhode Island in overtime, DeWolfe not only made ESPN’s SportsCenter but was highlighted on Scott Van Pelt’s “Best Thing I Saw Today.”

Downey’s five-year career puts her in the all-time lead for games started with 139 and one shy of the games played record with 145. Mind you, that’s 145 games played consecutively — she never missed a contest. On top of that, she’s fifth in rebounds, 10th in blocks and 12th in points. Alongside Jonassen, the two are the last remaining members from Fordham’s last conference championship in 2019.

Dingle may have only spent two years at Fordham, but her impact over that two-year stretch is about as good as you can get. Dingle had an incredible final season, leading the A-10 in both scoring and being named A-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, the first Ram to win the award.

She set the Fordham single season steals record with 111 and ranked third in all of Division I basketball in steals per game (3.5). She’s fifth all-time in scoring average and will easily go down as the most prolific pick-pocketer in Rams history. In just two seasons, her 177 steals ranks sixth all-time. Everyone else in the top ten played at least four seasons with Fordham.

Jonassen has been a staple in the Rams lineup for the last half decade, ranking seventh in program history in games played, and was a force on the offensive glass. Karpell was praised by the coaching staff as one of the smartest players they’ve ever met, mixing elite court vision with a relentless drive to the net to create offensive chances both as a scorer and a facilitator.

Dapaa elected to spend her final year of eligibility at Fordham,

immediately taking over as a captain. Dapaa was both a voice in the locker room and force on the court, leading the team in double doubles and becoming a matchup problem for the opposition with her dynamic combination of strength and athleticism.

Fordham finished the year with a 19-13 record, earning the four seed and a double bye in the A-10 tournament before a disappointing quarter finals loss to the University of Richmond. Earning an at-large bid in the WNIT, the Rams defeated Drexel University in the opening round before falling to a Columbia University team ranked 47th in the NET rankings in a back and forth affair.

The Columbia game was, in many ways, a fitting end to the season. Fordham entered as massive underdogs with Columbia narrowly missing an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Despite this massive gap, the Rams hung right with them, holding a five-point lead with two and a half minutes left in the fourth, before falling behind with 19 seconds left.

This game was no outlier. Fordham’s point margin against teams ranked in the Top 100 of the NET rankings was an astonishingly low -2.6. Simply put, the Rams battled against the toughest opponents their schedule had to offer.

Against consensus #2 overall WNBA draft pick Diamond Miller and #17 ranked University of Maryland, Fordham fell by just seven points, even holding a one-point lead in the late stages of the third quarter. Maryland would go on to reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before falling to the undefeated University of South Carolina.

Against a highly ranked Princeton University team that reached the Round of 32, the Rams fell by just three points. With Columbia advancing to the Final Four of the WNIT, the Rams have hung in against multiple teams that went on to make deep postseason runs. All in all, it’s a lingering reminder of how much potential this team possessed.

With a large veteran core set to depart after the season, the Rams were always going to have to prepare for a jarring change. It just so happened that change came earlier than expected. Former head coach Stephanie Gaitley, the all-time wins leader and the winner of two A-10 championships, was let go in the summer prior to the start of the season. Suddenly, a year that was supposed to feel very familiar was anything but.

In stepped interim head coach Candice Green. Serving as an assistant coach since the 2020 season, Green took over the reigns for a team looking to make one final run with its talented starting core.

A transformation was immediately noticeable, as Green turned Fordham from a defense-oriented team into an offense that ranked top 50 in the nation. Their scoring offense jumped from 62.2 points per game in 2022 to 72.3 in 2023, the second-highest season average in program history.

Like many things surrounding the Rams next year, Green’s future remains uncertain. With the interim coaching tag placed on her, Fordham, by NCAA rule, has to open the position up and conduct a fair search. Many of the players have rallied behind her, advocating for Green’s return. Junior Maranda Nyborg took to Twitter, issuing a statement on behalf of the team.

“Coach Candice is who we want back as our head coach. We ALL have her back and are willing to do whatever it takes to get her rehired. She made us love the game again, and continued our success in the A-10 in just one year. The future is bright with Candice in charge.”

The tweet was quote tweeted by numerous players, all adding their support for Green’s return. It’s tough to argue against the impact Green had. Dingle raised her scoring average from 14.7 in her inaugural season with the Rams to an A-10 leading 19.2 under her guidance. The freedom to run in transition allowed Dingle and DeWolfe to take advantage of their athleticism and flourish, as the pair finished as the top two scorers in the A-10.

But Green’s impact was even stronger when it came to developing players. After starting just three games and averaging 1.0 points per game last year, Karpell started every game for the Rams, posting a career high in points per game (4.7) and assists per game (3.2). Becoming a legitimate offensive weapon, Karpell exploded for a career high 15 points on opening day before topping it later in the season with an 18-point performance against Duquesne University.

Junior Matilda Flood saw an increased role, becoming the top player off the bench for the Rams. Developing into one of the strongest and most complete defensive players in the rotation, Flood was invaluable particularly after the season-ending injury to Jonassen. Finally, sophomore Colleen McQuillen went from a limited bench role last year to playing in all but one contest, shining with her ability to shoot from beyond the arc, and scoring a career high 11 points in the Rams’ playoff win against Drexel.

With so much up in the air, it’s impossible to say what this Fordham Rams team will look like next year. But one thing is certain: We witnessed one of the most talented groups in Fordham history, and it was truly a privile

ge to do so.

Varsity Scores & Stats

News & Notes

Keith Urgo Extended as Men’s Basketball Head Coach

The 2023 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Keith Urgo secured his spot as head coach of the Fordham men’s basketball team through 2027-28. Urgo first became head coach in 2022, after former head coach Kyle Neptune went to Villanova University. Fordham’s record this year was nothing short of historic for the Rams, including 12 A-10 wins and a .667 conference winning percentage. The Rams, who tied for second in the final conference standings, reached the semifinals of the A-10 Championship for just the second time in school history and the first since 2006.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham will say goodbye to key players as the 2022-23 season ends.

Rowing Begins Spring Season at Jesuit Invitational

By NICK GUZMAN SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Rowing began their spring season this past weekend at the Jesuit Invitational on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. The Rams recorded two victories and several other top-three finishes in what was a successful beginning to the new season.

The two wins came in the second Varsity Eight and the second Varsity Four. In the second Varsity Eight, Fordham clocked in at 6:58, beating second place Fairfield University by five seconds. The Rams took home the second Varsity Four with a time of 8:05, over two minutes ahead of second place.

The Rams also had positive showings in the first Varsity Eight and first Varsity Four. The Rams earned a spot in the final of the first Varsity Eight with a third place finish in the morning qualifiers. They also finished in third place in the final, coming in behind the College of the Holy Cross and St. Joseph’s University.

In the first Varsity Four, the Fordham Rams again made the final with a strong second place finish in qualifiers. They similarly finished in second place in the final, ahead of St. Joseph’s but behind

the Holy Cross Crusaders.

Fordham’s third Varsity Eight boat came close to recording a first place finish, but they finished three seconds behind Holy Cross and had to settle for second place.

All told, it was a good beginning to the new year for the Rams with two event wins and two second place finishes. Fordham Rowing’s spring schedule comprises three

Men’s Tennis Splits a Pair of Matches Over the Weekend

By JOE MASTERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Fordham men’s tennis team had a pair of matches over the weekend, as they fell to Sacred Heart University 6-1 on Saturday and outlasted Marist College in a back and forth 4-3 victory on Sunday.

Starting on Saturday, the Rams traveled to Fairfield to take on Sacred Heart, who had lost three out of their last four coming into the matchup. For the Rams, however, it was not their day.

in maroon battled to close out a tight 4-3 victory, thanks to a key sweep in doubles play. Graduate student Quinn Fender took care of business on the singles court defeating Marist’s Dylan Friedman in straight sets 7-5, 6-1. Other victories in singles play included junior Toi Kobayashi’s convincing straight set win over the Marist Red Foxes Nick Suahnitski, in 6-1, 6-2, and Rakotondrainibe’s definitive triumph over Carlos Vasquez 6-3, 6-0.

more events before the big Atlantic 10 Championship in May. The team will be in action next on April 15 in the Knecht Cup on the Cooper River in Cherry Hill, N.J. That will be followed by the spring Metropolitan Championships, an event that the Rams won last year.

The Rams will be looking for similar success going forward as the spring season continues.

They came up short in all but one singles match as freshman Sampras Rakotondrainibe came from behind to top Sacred Heart’s Arya Alla. Despite the poor showing in singles on the box score, Fordham forced four matchups into a deciding third set, a silver lining amidst the sour taste of defeat. The Rams quickly had to pick themselves off the ground as they ventured to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. on Sunday to take on a Marist squad desperate for their first taste of victory on the season. The boys

Inconsistency has marred the Rams throughout the season, as both singles and doubles play has shined and faltered at various points throughout the year. As such, the Rams find themselves at 5-8 with seven games left before the Atlantic 10 Tournament kicks off on April 26 in Orlando, Fla. For Fordham, it will be crucial to start to build momentum into a tough matchup next Saturday, where they’ll be on the road against a top-seeded University of Richmond Spiders squad sitting at 10-5.

To learn how you can begin taking graduate courses during your senior year and save up to 30 percent on tuition, contact fuga@fordham.edu. No application fee. No GRE required.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham Rowing started off their spring season with success.

your master’s degree with only one year of study beyond your bachelor’s degree.

2023 New York Mets Preview: Embrace Oddity

By COLIN LOUGHRAN STAFF WRITER

As we are only mere days away from MLB’s Opening Day, it is the perfect time to preview what this season of New York Mets baseball could have in store.

Last season did not feature an “Amazin’” conclusion. Despite winning 101 regular season contests, the Mets were defeated by the San Diego Padres in a three-game Wild Card Series. New York would not have had to play in the entry round if they had outlasted the youthful Atlanta Braves and won the National League East crown. But a dreadful three-game September set in Atlanta saw the Mets fail to win a single game and lose control of the division.

2023 figures to be a direct continuation of 2022 for Flushing’s finest, but this may not be the most advantageous news for Mets fans. Even with injuries and new additions, New York’s holistic pitching staff remains one of baseball’s best, but their lineup’s lack of power could once again be detrimental as they attempt to win a feisty NL East and make a legitimate World Series run.

Two-time Cy Young award winner and longtime Met Jacob deGrom departed for Texas this offseason when he signed a fiveyear deal worth $185 million with the Rangers. Shortly thereafter, New York owner Steve Cohen and general manager Billy Eppler finalized a two-year, $86.7 million deal with nine-time all-star Justin

Verlander. The 40-year old ace is still widely considered one of the best pitchers in the game and could even be considered an upgrade over deGrom. Last season as a member of the Houston Astros, Verlander posted an 18-4 record and a 1.75 ERA en-route to winning his third Cy Young and second World Series. He’ll join Max Scherzer at the top of the rotation and aim to solidify the nastiest 1-2 punch in the game.

Chris Bassitt signed with the Toronto Blue Jays this winter, but the middle part of the Mets’ starting rotation is still a legitimate group of solid arms. Japanese right hander Kodai Senga penned a five-year deal to bring his talents to Queens. In his 11 seasons as a member of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, Senga posted a 2.59 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. The Mets also signed journeyman José Quintana, but he will remain out until at least July due to a rib ailment.

The back end of the Mets’ rotation will feature Carlos Carrasco, David Peterson and Tylor Megill. Carrasco is a known veteran who has remained effective in spite of the fact he’s faced multiple injuries throughout his career. Peterson posted an impressive 3.83 ERA last season and will start the year with the Mets, and even though Megill will begin the year in TripleA, his services will certainly be needed as the summer heats up.

The Mets’ bullpen will not be nearly as strong as their rotation and could potentially take a step back from where it was last season.

Star closer Edwin Diaz suffered a season-ending torn patellar tendon during an on-field celebration at the World Baseball Classic earlier this month. Diaz excelled in 2022. The right-hander finished the campaign with a 1.31 ERA and 32 saves while ensuring that late inning leads remained intact. With Diaz out, newly signed reliever David Robertson will likely be the Mets’ closer. The Alabama native holds a career ERA of 2.40, but is not a dominant arm with “lockdown stuff.” In many ways, Robertson fits the Mets’ current bullpen perfectly. Without Diaz, they are a collection of decent pitchers who are by no means elite. Adam Ottavino, Brooks Raley, Drew Smith, Tommy Hunter, John Curtiss and others will join Robertson in handling the late innings. Ottavino and Smith in particular should be key as the Mets will try to

adapt to Diaz’s absence.

The 2022 New York lineup was hurt by a lack of pure power. They finished with baseball’s second best team on-base percentage, but were below league average in terms of home runs. 2023 could present the same challenge. Outside of first baseman Pete Alonso, third baseman Eduardo Escobar and designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach, the Mets everyday lineup will mainly consist of players who prefer to take a nuanced approach at the plate. In other words, players like shortstop Francisco Lindor, right fielder Starling Marte, left fielder Mark Canha and second baseman Jeff McNeil, who won last season’s NL Batting Title, focus more on grinding out tough at-bats instead of bashing home runs. While this brand of hitting generates a great deal of traffic on the base pads and limits the opposing pitcher’s ability to breeze through innings, it does

not necessarily result in a number of quick runs on the scoreboard. New York has three players in the minors (Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and Francisco Alvarez) who could add a jolt of power later this season, but none of them will begin the year at the major league level.

If the 2023 New York Mets are going to compete for a championship, they must embrace the oddity of their circumstances. A top flight starting rotation will surely help keep them from falling out of NL East contention, but their bullpen configuration and offensive identity will require some creativity. Even if Robertson is able to serve as a reliable closer, there will undoubtedly be situations that force Mets manager Buck Showalter to call upon different and surprising names to shut the door. The offense will have to accept a similar fate. Regardless of whether or not their power hitters can carry the team across certain stretches, New York is designed to play small ball. It is unlikely they will slug their way to a title, so they must instead accept the roster they’ve built and employ a uniquely gritty approach.

The Mets should not be favored to win the NL East over the imposing Atlanta Braves, but their wealth of starting pitching, fascinating lineup and serviceable bullpen could put them in prime position to snag a top Wild Card slot, bring October back to Queens for a second straight year and attempt to claim the franchise’s first World Series Championship since 1986.

2023 New York Yankees Preview: Patience is a Virtue

By COLIN LOUGHRAN STAFF WRITER

As we are only a mere day from MLB’s Opening Day, it is the perfect time to preview what this season of New York Yankees baseball could have in store.

Last season ended in tragic fashion. Despite a historic 99-63 campaign that saw star right-fielder Aaron Judge win American League MVP and break the single-season AL and team home run record with 62 home runs, the Bombers were ultimately swept in the ALCS by the eventual World Series Champion Houston Astros.

2023 figures to be a successful year for the Yanks, but patience, a virtue not beloved by fans, will be key. Health and the development of young talent will dictate if New York is able to capture their 28th championship in franchise history this coming October.

Owner Hal Steinbrenner and General Manager Brian Cashman attempted to keep a strong starting rotation this offseason. While Jameson Taillon departed and signed a three-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, the Bombers signed two-time all-star Carlos Rodón to a six-year, $162 million deal. The Miami native posted a 14-8 record with a 2.88 ERA last season as a member of the San Francisco Giants and finished with baseball’s best FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) at a 2.25 clip.

Unfortunately for New York,

Rodón suffered a forearm strain during spring training and will miss the start of the regular season. To make matters worse, Luis Severino was recently placed on the injury list with a lat strain and will miss the start of the season as well. These injuries both came after the early winter news that one of last season’s trade deadline acquisitions, starter Frankie Montas, would likely miss the entire campaign.

When Severino and Rodón do return however, they will likely join Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Domingo German and Clarke Schmidt in a starting rotation that is arguably the best in baseball. Cortes is coming off a surprising year in which he boasted a career best 2.44 ERA. Cole made a league-high 33 starts, and was a reliable workhorse. Luis Severino and Domingo German both spent significant time on the injured list last season, but are more than serviceable back-end arms when healthy.

Much like their starting rotation, the Yankees’ bullpen will not be at full strength to start the year. New signing Tommy Kahnle was shut down due to right bicep tendonitis, and Scott Effross will be out the entire season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Other pithers such as Michael King, Wandy Peralta, Clay Holmes, Ron Marinaccio and Jonathon Loáisiga will have to build off of strong 2022’s and become even more consistent on the bump given the departures

of Chad Green and Zack Britton. Manager Aaron Boone will also play a role in sculpting how the bullpen functions. The sixth year manager must exercise the proper wisdom when determining who takes the hill over the course of the season.

Of course, the lineup will be the main attraction of this Yankees’ team. Newly appointed captain Aaron Judge will lead a unit hoping to embrace the “Bronx Bomber” identity. Many familiar names such as Anthony Rizzo, Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu, Aaron Hicks, Gleyber Torres and Josh Donaldson will once grace the diamond for New York. Center fielder Harrison Bader will start the season on the injured list with an oblique strain, but hopes to return well before the All-Star break.

Regardless of the established veterans on the team, it has been the youngsters who’ve been the story of the spring. On Sunday, it was announced that rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe will make the major league roster and begin his year in the Bronx. So far this spring, the 21-year-old prospect collected three home runs, five RBI’s and five stolen bases while batting .314. He’ll be the youngest Yankee to start on Opening Day since Derek Jeter in 1996.

Additionally, players such as Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza will be given chances to contribute. Cabrera will start the year with the Yankees, but Peraza will have to wait a bit longer to

make his return to the MLB. New York will need their younger players to step up if they have designs on defeating the Houston Astros this season. While the Yankees finished the regular season with baseball’s fourth best on-base percentage, their bats went cold in the ALCS. Time and time again, they were unable to generate enough baserunners or home runs to pressure Houston’s pitching staff. Multifaceted hitters such as Volpe, Cabrera and Peraza could help the Bronx Bomber attack in a potential Postseason clash. Peraza and Cabrera got a taste of fall baseball last season, but more reps on the big league level could better prepare them for a World Series run.

As for Volpe, it should be remembered that youth does wonders. It was not that long ago that a young Jeter helped propel veterans like Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez and Wade Boggs to the 1996 Crown. Perhaps it will be Volpe who helps thrust Aaron Judge, Giancarlo

the Fall Classic.

The 2023 New York Yankees have championship potential, but fans and critics will have to exercise patience. With key pitchers beginning the season on the IL, and budding stars just beginning their Major League careers, it is likely that the team will look and play much differently after the All-Star break. They should be in prime position to win the American League East, but it will take time for this reality to become clear. Overcoming the Astros will require a healthy pitching staff, improved situational hitting from veterans like Judge and Rizzo and critical contributions from younger players like Volpe and Cabrera.

At the beginning of last season it seemed as though the Yankees title window was closing. Just one year later, youth and a slew of reliable arms have given them another chance at capturing their 28th World Series Championship in franchise history.

Stanton and Anthony Rizzo into

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The Yankees #1 prospect Anthony Volpe is set to make his MLB debut.

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With Justin Verlander atop the rotation, the Mets eye a deep postseason run.

Baseball Wins Five in a Row, Sweeps Seton Hall

By MADDIE BIMONTE SPORT S EDITOR

The Fordham men’s baseball team keeps on rolling as they romped against Seton Hall University and Hartford University this past week. The Rams steadily improved their record to 11-14, entering a fivegame win streak.

Against the Seton Hall Pirates, the Rams were led by senior Zach Selinger, where in the second inning, the senior opened up the scoring blasting a three-run home run. Sellinger has totaled four home runs this season.

Seton Hall battled back to cut the deficit down to one heading into the third, but Fordham would not concede easily. Junior Michael Taylor delivered a strong double down the left field line, bringing home two Rams in Selinger and freshman Tommy McAndrews.

Graduate student infielder

Peter DeMaria had to get in on the action, locking down a victory for the Rams by delivering his own solo home run blast. While the Rams’ pitching got into a jam, they were able to deal with the rest of the lineup, with a 6-5 finish as they headed into game two of the double header for the day.

Junior Declan Lavelle got his start on the mound for the Rams in game two, keeping things locked down over five innings, only conceding two runs.

On the offensive front, the Rams jumped to it in the second inning with a McAndrews double to bring home DeMaria. Fordham made use of the sloppy pitching from the Pirates by piling it on with singles from juniors Nico Boza and Ryan Thiesse.

From then on, it was all Pirates offense as the Rams took a backseat. Seton Hall was able to put up the tying run in the eighth, and then took the lead for the first time all game, 4-6.

But the Rams hero of the day was once again Selinger as he delivered a grand slam walk-off home run after the Rams made it 5-6, thanks to a Sahler bunt to advance the runners.

With a final score of 9-6, the

Rams offensive powers were absolutely dominant across the two games, and with the final game up for grabs for the sweep, the Rams weren’t slowing down yet.

Game three on Sunday was a game of tons of excitement as both teams showed their hitting abilities at the plate.

After Seton Hall’s Viera reached base on a fielder’s choice, scoring a run, the Rams were all over the diamond, starting off strong with DeMaria whacking a ball out to left field, and reaching first as the left fielder dropped the ball.

DeMaria made his way home when senior Will Findlay had a strong double down the left field line. The Pirates would keep it neck and neck, consistently

making the runs back up to keep the game level. Yet the Rams were dominant with the home run ball, as both McAndrews and Findlay recorded homers in the second and third innings.

The Pirates would also get their shot at the long ball, driving one out to right center field before exploding in the eighth inning. Seton Hall managed to put up four runs, on consistent singles through the gap and one double, taking the lead 8-6.

Fordham retaliated in the eighth with the Pirates’ pitching falling apart, allowing sophomore Sebastian Mexico to bring in a single and advancing based on a pitchers throwing error. Junior Chris Genero, who reached base on a walk, made it home on

a wild pitch courtesy of Seton Hall’s relief pitcher Jay Allmer.

The Rams won the rubber match 11-8, extending their win streak heading into their final game of the week against Hartford on Tuesday.

The Hawks jumped to the opportunity first in the fourth inning, going up by three runs. But they wouldn’t be able to surpass those three runs for the rest of the game, giving the Rams the opportunity to pull ahead.

Later in the fourth inning, the Rams came out with a vengeance after graduate student Ryan Rockhill walked with the bases loaded, scoring freshman Daniel Bucciero.

Next up, Mexico delivered a grand slam home run to send the Rams surging forward with five total runs.

The Rams were much more consistent at the plate against the Hawks, with eight hits and only six strikeouts over nine innings.

Fordham now sits on a fivegame winning streak, the longest of the season so far. Next up is a new challenge for the Rams: Atlantic 10 play. That opens up on Saturday with the first division matchup against Davidson University, before returning home for an out-ofconference game against Siena College. Against Davidson, the first game of the doubleheader starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Softball Begins Conference Play with Series Win

By NICK GUZMAN SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Softball began their Atlantic 10 journey this past weekend with a three-game series against St. Bonaventure University at Houlihan Park. Before that, the team had a non-conference matchup on the road against Iona University last Wednesday.

Looking to enter the conference schedule on the right foot, the Rams sent junior Bailey Enoch to the circle in New Rochelle. Enoch delivered, tossing a complete game as Fordham topped Iona 2-1.

She recorded five strikeouts and allowed just one earned run on two hits, outdueling Iona’s Kara Zazzaro. Zazzaro struck out a season-high 16 batters, but Fordham’s offense was able to scratch across two runs in the fifth inning to secure the win.

With Fordham down 1-0 in that fifth inning, graduate student Julia Martine caused havoc on the base path by stealing second base. The throw down to second sailed into center field, allowing freshman Neleh Nogay to score the tying run on the throwing error. Fordham were then able to take the lead on an RBI single from sophomore Sydney Wells. The Rams hung on for the tight 2-1 win, with Enoch shutting the door in the bottom of the seventh despite

Iona getting the tying and winning runs on base.

Heading into conference play with a big win under their belts, the Rams took on St. Bonaventure University in a three-game set beginning on Saturday. In game one against the Bonnies, Fordham struggled to get their offense going early and fell behind 5-0 by the top of the fourth inning. Enoch started in the circle again from the Rams but wasn’t as effective as she was against Iona. However, despite giving up five runs, she only allowed one earned run with Fordham committing two key errors in the top of the fourth that caused four runs to cross for the Bonnies.

Down 5-0, the Rams scratched

across three runs in the fifth and sixth innings to get within two. With their backs against the wall in the bottom of the seventh, Enoch doubled to get the tying run to the plate. Fordham were unable to rally, and Iona took home the game one victory by a score of 5-3.

The series concluded on Sunday with the Rams and the Bonnies playing a doubleheader. After being held to just five runs in their previous three games, Fordham’s offense woke up in a big way in game two of the series. The Rams struck early and often, defeating the Bonnies 10-2 in five innings. Fordham recorded 12 hits and received multi-hit games from four players: senior Michaela

Carter, Wells, freshman Eva Koratisis and graduate student Sarah Taffet. Carter recorded two RBIs, including an RBI single in the fifth inning that put the cherry on top of Fordham’s win.

Freshman Holly Beeman was solid on the mound once again, as she recorded her fourth win of the season while limiting the St. Bonaventure offense to two runs on four hits. Her teamleading ERA now sits at 1.73.

Looking for the series win in game three, Fordham got another big pitching performance in the circle. This time, it was senior Devon Miller setting the tone. She tossed a complete game, surrendering one earned

run while keeping the Bonnies offense at bay with only four hits. The Fordham offense once again got off to a fast start, with Carter scoring on an Enoch sacrifice fly to deliver Fordham an early 1-0 lead in the first. Miller helped her own cause in the second with a solo dinger, while Martine furthered the Fordham advantage with an RBI double third. Carey then made it 4-0 Fordham in the sixth with a home run to center.

Up 4-0 heading into the seventh and final inning, St. Bonaventure attempted to rally against Miller. They scratched across two runs in the top of the seventh, but Miller was able to get Olivia Moon and Abby Suhr to fly out to shut the door and secure the series win for Fordham.

Out-of-conference play has been uneven for the Rams, but they started A-10 play on the perfect note. Fordham’s performance against the Bonnies will no doubt give them confidence as the conference schedule kicks into gear. Fordham were A-10 champions last year, and much of this group knows what it takes to be successful in conference play.

Before more A-10 action against George Mason University this weekend, Fordham will host Drexel University for a doubleheader on Wednesday The Rams will hope to continue their winning ways this coming week.

Fordham Baseball swept Seton Hall and tallied a win against Hartford as they continue to surge this season.

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Fordham Softball won their first Atlantic 10 games of the season, picking up two wins against St. Bonaventure.

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