Volume 105 Orientation Edition

Recapping Fall 2022, Looking Toward Fall 2023

By EMMA KIM NEWS EDITOR

From the retirement of certain COVID-19 requirements to TV shows filmed on campus and a presidential inauguration, the fall semester of 2022 was filled with a wide range of events.

One of the biggest events last fall was President Tetlow’s inauguration that took place in October 2022. It consisted of a week of events, performances and food. The cumulative event took place on Oct. 14 on Edward’s Parade, where the inauguration ceremony was held.

Another thing that affected students were changes to COVID-19 policies. One of the biggest changes was the end of VitalCheck — a daily questionnaire that students had to fill out about their health. On Sept. 1, the campus also opened up to non-Fordham visitors and guests.

With less strict policies for the first time since 2020, the campus opened back up to hosting film crews. On Sept. 22 and 23, Fordham was the background for the show “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” The episode took

place in 1961, so students saw multiple changes to the areas that were being filmed. Fordham can be seen in eighth episode of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”’s fifth season, in an episode called “The Princess and the Plea.”

In the fall semester, the Office of Multicultural Affairs celebrated multiple events — including Latinx Heritage Month, Indigenous Peoples’ Week, LGBTQ+ History Month and Filipino American History Month. United Student Government also hosted its usual events — including Sustainability Week and Week of Action, which

aims to spread awareness about sexual assault and harrasment, as well as support for survivors.

Fordham Faculty Union continued contract renewal negotiations with Fordham University and held a rally outside of President Tetlow’s inauguration.

Fordham’s Career Services rebranded to Career Center to better help students holistically, and Fordham Dining introduced a new dining program called “Cool Food Meals” — which aims to reduce the climate impact of food.

This fall, students will have a lot to look forward to. The

McShane

Spring 2023 and News You Should Know

By SOFIA DONOHUE ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Fordham’s campus was buzzing with news throughout the 2023 spring semester from new unions and tuition increases.

Despite the bitter January temperatures in New York, Fordham Faculty Union (FFU) lit a fire of change as they voted to authorize a labor strike.

What to Expect: Upcoming Changes to Fordham's Campus

By GRACE GALBREATH ASST. NEWS EDITOR

The 2023-24 semester has resulted in a multitude of changes made to Fordham’s student life, academic policies and physical makeup.

the new semester. The STEM department will now offer biochemistry as a new major choice for students.

Fordham is also offering an Asian American studies program, which features a minor in Asian American studies.

several new class senators, the United Student Government (USG) is also under new executive leadership. In August, Briana Al-Omoush, FCRH ’24, and Ava Coogan, FCRH ’25, began their tenure as executive president and vice president

Campus Center opened its arcade — the area that connects the student center and gymnasium. While the McShane Marketplace will be closed, new “destination dining” spots will be across campus for students to explore.

Overall, the semester ahead will include similar cultural and identity-based programming, plus brand new food options.

FFU is a union representing non-tenured and non-tenurefaculty members. If the university failed to meet the union’s demands, the labor strike was set to start on Jan. 30. The union’s ultimatum came after months of negotiations with Fordham administration and no guarantee of higher pay for union members, healthcare benefits for adjunct faculty, or pay parity among all university departments. On Jan. 18, FFU announced that the union and university administration came to a tentative agreement (TA) over the labor organization’s latest proposal. Later on in the semester, the agreement was ratified.

Non-tenured and non-tenurefaculty members weren’t the only group on campus unionizing. In a formal vote with the National Labor relations board in March, Fordham Resident Assistants voted 47-19 to ratify the Fordham Resident Assistants Union (FRA). The vote forced the university to recognize the union succeeding the university’s refusal to acknowledge the union a month prior.

By SEBASTIAN DIAZ MANAGING EDITOR

The 2022-23 academic year marked a monumental milestone in Fordham history: Tania Tetlow began her tenure as the university’s first layperson and first woman president as she was sworn into office on July 1, 2022.

Tania Tetlow: Year One Opinion

Succeeding Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., who retired from the position at the end of the fall 2022 semester after a 19-year tenure beginning in 2003, Tetlow was inaugurated as president of the university on Oct. 14, 2022. Prior to her role at Fordham, Tetlow served as president of Loyola University New Orleans.

The new president’s goals, laid out for the university prior to taking office, were

The university’s academic programs are expanding in SEE TETLOW, PAGE 2

In addition to the induction of

SEE CHANGES, PAGE 3

Students can follow find the union @fordhamraunion on Instagram for updates.

In March, the university lifted the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine mandate starting on May 15. Since the vaccine policy was heavily mandated throughout the pandemic, Fordham College

IN THIS ISSUE

Culture

Page 8

A Rundown of Fordham Traditions

Why You Should Join The Fordham Ram Sports

Intramural and Club Sports

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Fordham's campus transforms from green to orange as the seasons transition from summer to fall.

Above is an architectural rendering of what the McShane Campus Center will look like upon completion.

A Look Back: President Tetlow's First Year in Office

FROM TETLOW, PAGE 1 focused primarily on strengthening Title IX protocols, improving campus safety and emphasizing ideals of campus diversity, equity and inclusion.

Tetlow’s first major action across the university was the announcement of a 6% increase in the cost of tuition and room-and-board, to go in effect beginning fall 2023.

For the spring 2023 semester, students paid $28,460 in tuition, while that cost rose to $30,167 for fall 2023.

Additionally, alongside the rising cost of tuition, Tetlow also announced a $10 million increase to the financial aid budget to help offset the 6% increase. However, students remained vocal in opposition to the tuition increase. Following Tetlow’s announcement, the Ram asked for the opinions of various students.

Jordan Gomes, FCRH ’25, felt that “the biggest complaint students have with tuition increases is the fact that there’s so little transparency as to how the money is being spent... We all understand that all colleges do tuition increases, but when the increase is higher than that of schools with even stronger academic profiles than Fordham, such as NYU and Columbia, which raised tuition by 4.9% as opposed to 6%, you start to wonder what warrants the price hike. I can absolutely see this affecting Fordham’s enrollment and retention rate over the next couple years.”

Another student, Christina Boniello, GSB ’23, questioned the justification for the tuition hike:

“Where is the money going?

We see it’s in the landscaping and building. We have so many endowments — so much money flowing through this campus, it’s insane that they want more from these students that don’t have the money to do it.”

One of the other major conflicts to arise during Tetlow’s first year has been her discordant

relationship with the various academic labor unions organizing on campus through the fall 2022 and spring 2023 semesters.

Notably, Tetlow’s inauguration was interrupted by a marching protest from Fordham Faculty United (FFU), the labor union representing the university’s non-tenure track faculty.

The appearance of FFU at Tetlow’s inauguration foreshadowed the following wave of organizing academic labor unions that the newly-installed president would have to handle in the trial of her first year leading the university. Aside from FFU, the Fordham Graduate Student Workers (GSW) union and the Fordham RA (FRA) union would also go on to hold demonstrations, rallies and, in the case of the GSW, a strike.

The FFU’s long-contested negotiations with the university for better working conditions and compensation (including pay equity and healthcare) came to an end in January 2023 before the union’s threat to strike could materialize. However, negotiations between Fordham’s GSW and the FRA are still ongoing.

In a Twitter thread posted on March 31 by the FGSW’s official social media account amidst stalled negotiations, the union stated that “President Tetlow trades on her image as attentive, respectful, and competent.” The union went on to question this image, stating that the labor group has “showed up prepared and ready to go bargain a contract at every single bargaining session. Tetlow has showed up to exactly 0 of them, and today reiterated that she will not come to the table when the FGSW member asked her to her face.”

The FGSW’s demands include pay and stipend increases to match living wage standards, secure healthcare, shuttles to pick up incoming graduate students from the local airports, paid parental and caretaker leave and extended funding for graduate employees.

In response, Tania Tetlow sent

an email to the Fordham community detailing the administrative concerns of the graduate students’ unions various demands. In the message, the president said:

She is notably the first female and first layperson president of Fordham. efforts are stressors against university financing.

precedent for personalized student engagement.”

“We understand the desire of every student (and every person) to have a living wage, affordable housing, and free child care. But what we do not understand is the expectation that Fordham, a non-profit and a school, could provide all of this for its own students.”

Tetlow’s and the university’s relationship with the Fordham RA Union was off to a rocky start when the union first emerged in February; the FRA’s first struggle was in getting the new president to voluntarily recognize the union before involving the National Labor Relations Board to legally enforce recognition following a vote amongst wouldbe union members.

President Tetlow’s justification for refusing to voluntarily recognize the union boiled down to concerns over a lack of clarity regarding whether the union would cover RAs on the Lincoln Center campus and to “ensure that those voting have full information about the processes, dues and rules of a union before voting,” as stated in a message to the union delivered by Bob Howe, associate vice president for communications and special advisor to the president.

In March, the FRA voted to ratify the union into existence under the National Labor Relations Board, forcing the university to recognize the union. The FRA is currently undergoing negotiations with the university, though recent posts on the union’s Instagram page claim that the university has refused to meet with the union for bargaining sessions over the summer.

In an interview with The Fordham Ram, Tetlow stated that the ongoing unionization

Aside from her conflict with labor organizations, Tetlow spent much of the year communicating with and publicly presenting herself alongside various campus organizations, including WFUV, meetings with cultural club leaders and student press groups, The Fordham Ram and the Observer, during the spring semester.

In previous reporting done for The Fordham Ram following Tetlow’s meetings with students, Arthur Liu, FCRH ’23 and former president of Asian Cultural Exchange (ACE), stated:

“President Tetlow did the right thing by meeting with the cultural clubs — definitely a great step…. 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, who is an international student from Hong Kong, wished, however, that Tetlow increased engagement with the significant international student community on campus:

“There’s a trend of international students being sidelined, forgotten. We’re usually only seen in diversity statistics published by the university… I implore [Tetlow] not to squander this opportunity to connect with a demographic full of potential that has been long overlooked.”

Other students seem to hold similar feelings. USG Vice President of Communications and Marketing Ariadna Wong, FCRH ’25, praised Tetlow’s increased conversation and communications with the general student body. Wong said, “I believe President Tetlow has made solid strides to open opportunities for students to interact with her.” She continued,

“From individual office hours to a presidential student advisory council, she’s formed a

Some students, like Ruby Fishman, FCRH ’24, are still waiting to see what Tetlow will do to stand out from her predecessor. Fishman stated:

“I'm not sure what’s so different about her contributions to Fordham compared to McShane’s contributions.”

Like students, some faculty members seem to feel optimistic about Tetlow’s potential as she continues to act as university president.

English department chair

Mary Bly approved primarily of Tetlow’s engagement with faculty and students, especially when it comes to transparency and willingness to conversate. She stated:

“In my 20 years at Fordham, I find it challenging to point to a moment when faculty opinions were not only solicited, but listened to as well.” She continued, “[Tetlow’s] letters to the university strike a refreshingly authentic note.”

Some staff members at the university also say that they feel Tetlow has done a good job adjusting to Fordham.

Executive Director for the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) and Assistant Vice President of Strategic Mission Initiative, Julie Gafney, echoed Bly’s compliments on Tetlow’s engagement, saying:

“This year President Tetlow has focused on ensuring the university’s structures and strategies are in place to help achieve our visions of social justice through community engagement, as an embedded priority for all.”

Sworn into office in July 2022, the 2022-23 academic year was Tania Tetlow’s first year as president.

FROM SPRING, PAGE 1

Republicans felt that the community’s previous requests to loosen the mandate were disrespected.

The club took to social media and posted a statement demanding a public apology from President Tetlow and the rest of the Fordham administrators responsible for needlessly forcing students and staff into this distressing situation last fall.

Spring 2023 Recap and Ongoing News

FROM CHANGES, PAGE 1

the United Student Government, respectively. The 2023 –24 fall semester will mark the beginning of their term.

USG has also approved 10 new clubs to be introduced this fall.

The list includes the Rose Hill Soccer Fan Club, Vietnamese Students Association, Fordham Backstage, Walking Club, Association of Latino

In January, Deming Yaun, university dining contract liaison, told The Ram that there would be improved dining options in fall 2023. Yuan shared that the upgraded dining options would include additional smaller venues around campus, a convenience store, and new healthy and convenient food options. During a United Student Government (USG) meeting in

March it was announced that the McShane Campus Center cafeteria, the Marketplace, would be closed and under renovation during the 2023-34 school year. Beginning between Sept. 1 and Oct. 1 2023, the Marketplace closure will occur simultaneously with the start of “destination dining,” the installation of a variety of temporary dining options. While The Marketplace

is closed for renovations, new dining options will be available throughout campus in locations such as the McGinley Ballroom, Bepler Commons and McShane basement, expanded seating at Starbucks and Cosi and food trucks. The Marketplace will open briefly at the beginning of the fall semester with the current dining program and “destination dining” will begin in October.

Changes to Campus Continue Into the New Year

As the academic year was winding down, tuition prices were ramping up. On March 30, the Office of the President sent an email to the Fordham community announcing that there would be a 6% increase in tuition and roomand-board fees for the 2023-24 academic year. The announcement also caused a raise in student activity fees and budget cuts for clubs.

Professionals for America, Men’s Mental Health Union, Financial Literacy Outreach at Fordham, Ukrainian Society, the Citizens’ Climate Lobby at Fordham and the Badminton Club. The newly approved clubs will join a list of over 170 already active Rose Hill clubs and organizations.

Fordham is also unveiling several construction projects,

with the most prominent being the fully completed McShane Campus Center.

The campus center, which originally opened in 2022, is now connected to the Vincent T. Lombardi Memorial Center via a glass arcade.

The center houses the Ram Fit Center, Dagger John’s and several renovated spaces for students to work.

Early in the new semester, Fordham students can also expect a marketplace closure while the facility is renovated. The closure will last the entirety of the 2023 – 24 school year. New dining options will be offered because of the impending closure. One of the new options, a grab and go station located in the campus center, will be open this fall. Other

temporary options will also be open until the marketplace construction is completed. The estimated completion date for the renovation is fall 2024. Fordham is excited to welcome new academic programs and a renovated campus center for students. The changes are expected to better the quality of student life at Fordham, while furthering the core values of the university.

FROM THE FORDHAM RAM ARCHIVES

The spring 2023 semester saw the return of Spring Weekend (pictured above), an annual celebration of the season bringing students together for guest speakers, concerts and food.

COURTESY OF ALEX ANTONOV FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

The renovations to the McShane Campus Center continue, with current construction focused on the the building's interior. Photo above captured in February 2023.

Serving the Fordham University campus and community since 1918

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

Website

TheFordhamRam.com

Email Address theram@fordham.edu

Editor in Chief

Isabel Danzis

Managing Editor

Sebastian Diaz

Editorial Director

Jamison Rodgers

Production Editor

Michael Sluck

Multimedia Director

Frances Schnepff

Business Director

Matthew Colucci

Copy Chief

Hannah Boring

Assistant Copy Chief

Sophia Forlenza

News Editor

Emma Kim

Features Editor

Samantha Minear

Assistant News Editors

Sofia Donohue

Grace Galbreath

Opinion Editor

Nicole Braun

Assistant Opinion Editors

Evan McManus

Allison Schneider

Culture Editors

Kari White

Ilaina Kim

Assistant Culture Editor

Lauren Lombardi

Sports Editors

Nick Guzman

Maddie Bimonte

Assistant Sports Editor

Lou Orlando

Social Media Director

Rory Donahue

Digital Producers

Ava Carreiro

Julia Ocello

Grace Campbell

Claire Krieger

Visual Director

Skylar Harris

Photo Editor

Alexandra Antonov

Advertising Directors

Kathleen Hollinger

Grace Miller

Faculty Advisor

Beth Knobel

Editorial Policy

The Fordham Ram’s editorial reflects the editorial board’s opinions or views.

Opinion Policy

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of The Fordham Ram.

Submissions Policy

The Fordham Ram reserves the right to reject or edit any submission for any reason, without notice. Submissions become the exclusive property of The Fordham Ram. No part of the The Fordham Ram may be reproduced without written consent.

The Beauty of the New York Botanical Gardens

By EVAN McMANUS ASST. OPINION EDITOR

Fordham is a place that is full of things to do. I have been here two years and still have not done everything. However, there is one place at Fordham that I have been to many times and would consider one of my favorite things to do at Fordham. It is walking in the Botans.

The New York Botanical Garden, or “The Botans” as many people call it, is located across the street from the main entrance to Fordham. Yet when you enter, it feels a world away. The garden is 250 acres full of trees, plants, animals and peaceful paths. The greatest thing about the Botans is that it is free for all Fordham students. This is a great bargain because regular admission costs $35. Thank God we get free access because if I had to pay for every time I visited the Botans, I would be broke.

What is there to do at the Botans, you may ask? Well, a lot. A good way to get acquainted with the gardens is by taking the tram. It runs throughout the park and has plenty of stops to get off at. Also, the tram is a good choice if you just want to relax and watch the park go by from your seat.

When I visit, I like to go walking. There are many paths that meander through the park, which means you can walk a different

way any time you visit. My favorite walk is to go around the perimeter of the park. I start by taking a left at the entrance and walking by the enormous greenhouse. Sometimes, the greenhouse is open to the public, and I would highly recommend checking it out. Inside, there is a tropical rainforest biome and a tunnel that leads to a desert biome. In the winter, it is a great place to go and warm up. After passing the greenhouse, I like to take a right down a path surrounded by trees. In the spring, a collection of Japanese cherry trees bloom along the path, which makes it a scenic stop on the walk.

Further along the walk I take, there is a split. One of the paths leads across a bridge that goes over the Bronx River. Fun fact: The Bronx River is the only freshwater river in New York City. The other path leads into the “Thain Family Forest.” The Thain forest is the largest piece of untouched natural forest in New York City. I always like walking through the forest because it reminds me of the woods near my home in Massachusetts. After walking in the forest, you come across another bridge that is suspended high about the Bronx River. When standing on that bridge, seeing the trees, and hearing the roaring river, it is easy to forget that you are in the

middle of a bustling city.

When looping back to the entrance, there are two interesting areas to check out. The first is the “Chilton Azela Garden.”

Flowers are not my specialty, but I like how pretty they are. In the Spring, the Azelas in this section of the park sprout into a colorful display that is very calming to look at.

The other area is the “Native Plant Garden.” It is a garden full of plants native to the New York region, and at the centerpiece is a beautiful artificial pond.

If you want to sit down after a walk and soak in the sun, there are plenty of benches along the

pond to rest on.

Another reason to visit is the numerous year-round events held throughout the park. One popular event is the Farmers Market which takes place on Wednesdays from May 31 to Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors from around the City go, and it has been ranked one of the 10 best farmers markets in NYC by TimeOut New York. During the holiday season, the botanical garden hosts a holiday train exhibit in the greenhouse, which attracts many visitors. It is a popular place to visit because there are 200 miniature models of famous New York landmarks.

Disproving “College Student” Misconceptions

There are countless college stereotypes that one has likely encountered throughout their life, and they tend to set expectations for life on campus.

By NICOLE BRAUN OPINION EDITOR

The college experience, already a momentous period of growth and change in a person’s life, has morphed into something even more massive by the expectations and conceptions of many. Whether these were conceptions established by movies and television shows or by family members at your high school graduation party, they have probably melded together to create some huge, distorted and contradictory picture of what college will look like for you. I’m here to clarify that picture for you and clear up some of those misconceptions about what it’s like to be a college student.

The first that I’d like to dismantle is that the core requirements are bad and useless and universally disliked. You chose to attend Fordham because of its commitment to a liberal arts education and a common core is an integral part of that. Students complain because they think that the core

curriculum distracts them from pursuing their major requirements. But, the thing is, you have plenty of time and space in your schedule to take classes for your major, so you should try to enjoy the meandering subject requirements. You have the opportunity to learn about a variety of subjects from experts in that field — take the time to explore and appreciate them.

A related misconception is that once you’ve decided your major you’re stuck on that path until graduation. Most people believe that finding your major takes some trial and error, but that once you’ve declared, it’s all smooth sailing. The lesserknown side to that, however, is sometimes you’re not 100% sold on that decision. If you feel like you did not choose the major that is right for you, meet with your counselor to figure out a solution. If you took advantage of the core curriculum, you’ll probably have racked up a lot of baseline credits in a variety of subjects that can point you

in the right direction. The college experience does not confine you to just one major decision about your course of study. You’re allowed to change your mind.

Another misconception is that college is either four years of raucous, fun-filled partying or long, stressful nights spent in the library. The reality is that college is whatever you want it to be. College is a microcosm of real life, and odds are the average person is not living exclusively on the polar ends of those two extremes. There is a time and place for everything. When you have an essay due on Friday, it is appropriate to spend Thursday night in the library writing. It’s also okay to celebrate with your friends on Friday night once you’ve submitted it. You can build your college experience to be anything you want, but just try to make responsible decisions for both your academic life and social life.

This last misconception is the most important, and it’s one I wish I knew sooner. During your first few weeks of college, you will

most likely be caught up in the frenzy of making friends. College is a new chapter partly defined by new relationships, so this is a really important step. However, if you don’t come out of that month with a solid group of friends it can feel like it’s never going to happen, that everyone else who’s been looking for friends has found them and there’s no room for you. This is not true. You will make friends throughout your entire college experience, whether it’s someone down the hall in Martyrs’ or the classmate you sit next to in junior year. College lasts a long time, don’t count yourself out if you haven’t found your people in the first few weeks. Ultimately, everyone entering their freshman year has wildly different conceptions of what college will look like.

Though I’ve tried to dismantle a few of them, the beauty of college is learning for yourself which expectations are valid and which ones only exist in fiction, and having an experience that is totally unique to you.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM NEWS

Admission to NYBG is free for all Fordham students.

Why You Should Join the Fordham Ram

By MICHAEL SLUCK PRODUCTION EDITOR

Dear Incoming First-years, Welcome to Fordham!

In the next couple of weeks, you’ll be presented with a multitude of clubs, societies and teams to join. No matter what your interest or passion, there’s something here for everyone. And while it may seem overwhelming at first, we would just like to take this opportunity to invite you to join The Fordham Ram.

Originally established in 1918, in order to provide updates on campus happenings to Fordham students fighting abroad in World War I, The Fordham Ram has served as Fordham’s journal of record for over a century. In that time, the Ram has provided a forum in which students could express themselves, reporting not only on campus events, but also acting as a voice for student opinions on political and cultural issues. The Ram is entirely student-run; the writers, photographers and editors are all undergraduates.

The Ram is a great way to get involved on campus, allowing you to explore your different interests and see parts of Fordham you might otherwise miss. It’s a great opportunity to build up your resume. Finally, and most importantly, the Ram is a chance to meet an amazing community of writers and editors who are passionate about what they do.

Interested in writing for the Ram, but not sure where to start?

The Ram is divided into four sections: news, sports, opinion and

culture. Each section writes about different things, and you can pick the section that best suits your interests.

News reports on events happening on Fordham’s campus — everything from administrative decisions to student research projects. If you’re a journalism major, or someone who’s just passionate about journalism, then news might be the right section for you. You’ll gain experience conducting interviews, doing research and writing in a journalistic manner. Don’t have any experience? No worries. The Ram accepts all writers, regardless of past experience, and our editors will be happy to provide any guidance that might be needed.

If you’re interested in sports journalism, or just a big sports fan, then you might want to check

out our sports section. Not only do we cover Fordham sporting events, but you can find articles talking about sports from all over the globe — everything from F1 racing to World Cup soccer.

The culture section deals with cultural events happening in New York City, as well as wider cultural events happening nationwide. In culture, you can find articles about museum exhibits and concerts happening in New York City, as well as reviews of movies, books, albums, TV shows and more. If you’re a lover of the arts, then the culture section might be right for you.

The opinion section provides a space for Fordham students’ voices to be heard. In opinion, you can find students talking about their thoughts on domestic and international politics, societal issues and Fordham policies.

If you are passionate about politics, or have some thoughts you really want to share with the world, then opinion wants to hear your voice.

Don’t have any ideas for what to write? No worries. Every week, our editors send out a list of suggestions for articles that you can volunteer to write (or suggest your own). What’s more, you can write as much as you want— we have some writers who do weekly columns, and others who only write once a semester. It’s up to you. If you want to get a closer look into the newspaper process, then consider coming to copy editing. Copy editors are responsible for reading through articles, looking for errors in grammar and spelling. Not only is there free pizza, but you also get the opportunity to improve your editing (and by extension,

Read All About It in Your Campus Newspaper

fellow collegiate scientists are studying. The bottom line is that, whatever you’re into and obsessed with, odds are that other people are too and that there’s a student publication dedicated to it. Just take a look through any of the magazine racks at the entrance to virtually every building on campus to find one.

Eventually, the hope is that the interested reader will graduate to enthusiastic writer or editor for whichever publication grabs their attention. And while I could give you a spiel about how your contributions to and collaboration with publications keep them alive and running for years to come, the more individual reason is that writing will help you personally grow.

By NICOLE BRAUN OPINION EDITOR

When I was touring colleges, my parents advised me to pick up a student newspaper from every university that we visited. This served two purposes. The first was that I, a prospective college student journalist, would get a sense of how college student journalists wrote. The second reason was that I could get a feel for the university: what kind of events were going on at the school? What were the students interested in? Were their sports teams any good?

To be honest with you, I never read one of those newspapers. I dutifully picked them up, along with every brochure that was offered to me, and put them in my backpack where they eventually became crumpled beyond recognition. I can’t tell you whether it was worth it or not to read college newspapers as a prospective student, but I can tell you that now that you’re actually enrolled in a university, you should definitely take the time to rifle through student publications.

There is so much variety

to student publications besides your ordinary cut and dry newspaper (those are still worth your attention, though!).

There’s Mode Magazine, for all fashion lovers and those interested in graphic and digital design. If you have a battered composition notebook filled with poetry and short stories, take a look at Ampersand magazine or Bricolage, Fordham’s online comparative literature journal. More of a STEM kid than a journalism major? Check out BioMag to see what your

In college, no matter what you’re studying, you are bound to be doing some writing whether you like it or not. If you find that you have an interest in writing and storytelling and want to keep experimenting with your voice, there is really no better avenue for that exploration than at student publications. You can take risks — creative and stylistic — that may not be acceptable to your Composition II professor. Student journalism writing can open up so many doors of self expression, and you should not waste that opportunity.

writing) skills.

If writing is not your thing, then The Fordham Ram still has plenty of other opportunities, regardless of interests. If you love taking pictures, then our photo team offers plenty of opportunities to capture moments on or around campus. If you like business, then you could join our business team, and gain experience with advertisements and budgeting.

There are also plenty of opportunities to become more involved in the Ram. We’ll be hiring new staff in December. If you want to be a full-time member of the Ram, then we recommend getting involved now. Come find us at the club fair on Wednesday, Aug. 30, come to one of our interest meetings, or email us at: theram@fordham.edu. We can’t wait to meet you.

Joining student publications also means you can collaborate with peers who not only share your interest in whatever that subject is, but also similar goals. Such groups are a great way to make friends because you have already cut through some of the red tape of small talk — you have already found a commonality with the people in the group. If you want to feel seen, both in your personal and professional efforts and by a supportive community, you should get involved with a student publication.

I understand that this argument can sound a little biased coming from the Opinion Editor.

If you don’t want to take just my word for it, take Assistant News Editor Grace Galbreath’s or Social Media Director Rory Donahue’s, my fellow editors who wrote about how their involvement in the Ram positively influenced their college experience and led to self discovery.

Even if you don’t read or write for The Fordham Ram (please do, though), I implore you to get involved in some form with our school’s other publications. Doing so will help you gain a stronger foothold here at Fordham, and maybe help you find a part of yourself along the way.

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There are many clubs on Fordham's campus that allow students to develop a catalog of published writing.

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The Fordham Ram is a student-run weekly newspaper and university journal of record covering campus news, sports and much more.

Isabel Danzis, Editor-in-Chief

Do not overthink meeting new people! When I first got to college, I felt like everyone was already having a great time with their solid group of friends on the first day, and I was the only one feeling uneasy. That’s not true, everyone is in the same position and feeling the same way. So ask someone in your class or in your hall to get lunch, I guarantee they will be excited and relieved you asked.

Sebastian Diaz Managing Editor

Just take your time. There’s always such a rush and anxiety to figure out your entire life’s path as soon as possible, and it’s so easy to get exhausted when you’re constantly working toward “the next thing.” Take it easy, enjoy your coffee. You don’t need to know your exact path until next semester, at least.

Jamison Rodgers Editorial Director

Take a class just for fun! I know this sounds like an oxymoron for some people, but picking a class solely because the content is interesting or sounds like something you would want to know more about, regardless of it fitting into a core requirement or a major requirement, makes sure you have something in your class schedule you look forward to. This is especially important when most of your courses in the first two years will be dominated by core classes that don’t necessarily fulfill your interests. You’ll stay more engaged with your education by making it something you enjoy instead of just a box to check.

Michael Sluck Production Editor

Take advantage of your location! New York might be the most exciting city in the entire world. Whether you like movies, music or museums, science, cinema or sports, there’s something here for everyone. Don’t spend every weekend on campus. Fordham has a ton of programs that will take you off campus — go and explore.

Hannah Boring Copy Chief

The best advice my Dad gave me before college was to think of it like a job: If you get your work done from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., you can spend the next 5 p.m.-9 a.m. doing whatever you want. Of course, adjust to your personal schedule, but this advice helped me significantly during the first two years of college. Overall, just remember that the main point of college is to get a degree, and that can’t happen without putting in the work. When the work is done for the day, that’s when you can enjoy the fun side of Fordham!

Sophia Forlenza Asst. Copy Chief

Everybody is lost. Everybody. Even if they seem to know exactly what they want out of life, I can pretty much guarantee that in at least some aspect, we’re all struggling to find our place. Don’t let it scare you — see it as an exhilarating and wonderful opportunity, because it is! Explore as much as you can. Take as many different electives as Fordham’s core curriculum will allow. You might find a passion for linguistics or sustainable business or biochemistry that you never would have discovered otherwise. As cheesy as it sounds, you can’t find yourself if you don’t allow yourself to be a little lost.

Nicole Braun

Opinion Editor

Nobody has any idea what they’re doing! The college transition can be very nerve wracking and stressful, don’t compare yourself to others even if they seem like they’ve got everything figured out. Just be patient with yourself and your new environment — give it some time and things will start to fall into place.

Emma Kim News Editor

Don’t be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone. It is really easy to stick with what you know in college, but there are so many places to explore and school clubs to try out. Even if they don’t stick, you might meet someone new in the process. There will definitely be some bumps along the way, but it is totally normal to feel a bit out of place at first.

Samantha Minear Features Editor

Take failure in strides. For a lot of you, this may be your first time as a little fish in a big pond. You may get your first semester grades back and be traumatized at the results — it’s okay. The world isn’t going to end. Be patient with yourself, learn from your mistakes, and take freshman year for what it is: a learning experience. You are learning so much not only in the classroom but about yourself, so remember to keep moving forward! It will all feel easier soon.

Sofia Donohue Asst. News Editor

It’s normal to feel homesick while at college, especially during those first few weeks. Whenever I was homesick freshman year, I made sure to take some time to do things that I enjoyed doing at home such as going for a walk in the Botans, finding a quiet place to read, or calling my friends and family back home.

Grace Galbreath Asst. News Editor

Don’t be afraid to reach out to people, even if you do not know them well! One of the best ways to make new friends is by reaching out to people in your classes, dorm building and clubs. Everyone is trying to make friends and although it may feel daunting to be the first to reach out, it’s totally normal!

Nick Guzman

Sports Editor

Enjoy yourself! Freshman year is the only time in college where you don’t need to worry about internships or what you’re going to do with the rest of your life. Obviously you should be good about your school work, but don’t be afraid to have a good time! Freshman year is a special thing, and you often don’t realize that until it’s over.

Evan McManus

Asst. Opinion Editor

One helpful piece of advice that I was given before starting school was to put yourself out there and introduce yourself to people. During the first week, it was not easy to do. However, I got out of my comfort zone and started to talk to people. I am glad I did this because I met a lot of people and made new friends.

Kari White Culture Editor

Try new things by yourself. Going to club meetings, venturing into the city and even tagging along on RA-sponsored outings by yourself can seem really daunting, but partaking in activities that you enjoy is how you find like-minded people. Besides, everyone in college is eager to make new friends, regardless of their year. Be brave, go on a trip by yourself and meet some new people!

Ilaina Kim Culture Editor

Take yourself on walks. Whether it’s on campus or off, the ritual of solitary strolls is a wonderful way to ground oneself during the chaos of freshman year. Amidst the social and academic stresses of first year, create a quiet space for yourself to breathe and grow.

Lauren Lombardi Asst. Culture Editor

Acclimating to a new place is hard for anyone; while you may not want to put all your woes on your new friends, it is okay to share your feelings with those around you. For some people homesickness only lasts two weeks and for others it is the whole semester, but the main way to aid it, in my experience, is being open about the weirdness of this transition period. The chances are, others probably feel similarly to you. Having friendly faces and people to talk to will make a world of a difference in seeing Fordham as a home.

Maddie

Bimonte Sports Editor

College is your chance to start over! Anything you want to try that you previously didn’t, now is the time to try. In New York City and here at Fordham, there are so many opportunities to see the world around you and do things you never thought about. Take advantage of it, and don’t take yourself too seriously.

Ava Carreiro Digital Producer

Don’t feel pressured to find your forever friends right away. Of course, you should still try and put yourself out there as much as possible, but don’t take it to heart if you don’t feel like the first people you meet will be your best friends. When I was a freshman, my older friend told me that she didn’t find her core group until her first two weeks. I didn’t end up finding mine until three weeks in, but it’s three years later and we’re stronger than ever! Step outside of your comfort zone and talk to everyone that you can, and your best friends will come with time.

Alex Antonov Photo Editor

You’re not in high school anymore. Do the things you’ve always been too scared to do. Nobody is paying as much attention to you as you think. We're all just here to learn and grow. Have fun and be yourself!

Nicole DiPietro Executive Copy Editor

Freshman year has the potential to be one of the most transformative periods of your life, revel in it! Revel in your successes and in your failures. Though I know that 8:30 class won’t technically feel like it’s flying by, it will be over in a blink. So try your hardest to be aware that you’re living within the memories that future you will cherish the most. Oh, and call your family, they miss you!

Ram Van:If you are taking the Ram Van, you can board the van here, right past O'Hare Hall and next to the parking garage. The van will also drop you off here upon your return.

Keating Hall: The best known campus building is probably Keating Hall. Keating Hall is filled with classrooms and is also home to Fordham’s radio station, WFUV.

McShane Campus Center: The McShane Centeris hometo many activitieson campus. TheMarketplace,club suites, RamFit,the mailroom, Campus Ministry, Officeof Multicultural Affairs and Career Servicesall finda homeinthis campus hub.

Hughes Hall: This is the business school,soif you’rea Gabelli student, you can expectto spendalotof timein this building.

Edwards Parade: This campus green is located in the middle of campus and is a common place for students to work, relax and hang out in the warmer months.

Dealy Hall: Dealy is a common building for students to have class, especially those studying English, History, Anthropology and Psychology. But most importantly, Dealy Hall is home to the extremely popular campus Starbucks.

First-Year Halls: Most inlivefirst-years this ofsection incampus Loschert, Alumni Court South, Loyola, Faber, orMartyrs’ Queen’s

WalshLibrary:The libraryisagreatplaceto workandfindresources forclass.

By KARI WHITE CULTURE EDITOR

Fordham traditions punctuate the semester’s monotony, breathing life into campus culture. They bring the student body together, giving us a reason to celebrate together or granting us space to relieve some stress. For incoming students, it’s important to know at least a handful of traditions in order to find your place at Fordham — and to avoid ruining your next four years, but we’ll get to that later. College traditions help define a college culture, and Fordham’s many traditions do just that. They provide spaces for the student body to come together as they celebrate a victory, have fun or even just relieve stress. Some of these traditions were started decades ago, others are more recent. Some are facilitated by the administration, while others came into being just from the simple act of thousands of students doing the same, simple action each year. For incoming students, it’s important to know a handful of these traditions in order to firmly merge into the Fordham community. There is one tradition that each incoming student does need to know, however, to avoid cursing the rest of their time here…but we will get to that later.

Perhaps the most iconic Fordham tradition is the ringing of the Victory Bell, which occurs whenever a sports team wins a game. The bell, which is situated beside the Rose Hill Gymnasium, is from a Japanese aircraft carrier and was gifted to

CULTURE

Traditions at Fordham

the university in 1944 by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz to memorialize the lives claimed by World War II. The players, managers and everyone else present at the game will gather around the bell as the players ring it. It’s a wonderful celebration of school spirit and a touching memorial to those who lost their lives almost a hundred years ago.

Spring Weekend is another tradition that brings the student body together and is the spring semester’s answer to Homecoming. Rather than a football game, a 5k and a dance, the Campus Activities Board (CAB) organizes a music festival, comedy performance and celebrity guest, while the Residence Hall Association (RHA) manages the dance. Previous years have seen celebrities such as Kelsey Kreppel, musicians like COIN and comedians straight from the SNL stage. All of the events are free for students, and the musical festival even has free food. I’d highly recommend following CAB on Instagram (@ fordhamcab), as they’ll start posting information about prospective musical and celebrity guests weeks ahead of when they visit campus.

One of the most important traditions at Fordham is gathering on Edward’s Parade on warm, sunny days to soak in the sun and hang out with friends. During the first months of the year, you will see plenty of students laid out on picnic blankets in between their classes as they read novels, type essays or throw around a frisbee. Students also gather on Martyrs’ Green, the green outside the library and in the open spaces that litter Fordham’s Rose Hill

campus. There are lots of adirondack chairs and tables sprinkled throughout campus, where you can check two items off your to-do list as you study and tan. Participating in this tradition is a great way to drink in the gothic beauty of campus, connect with your classmates and make some new friends. Some of my favorite days have consisted of grabbing a drink at Starbucks, relaxing on Eddie’s with my friends and “doing work” together. (“Doing work” is in quotes because, even though our laptops and books might be open, little to no work ever gets done.) That’s the beauty of Eddie’s. It’s this beautiful, open space where students can simply enjoy being at college, surrounded by friends and peers.

During finals each semester, there are two traditions that give students room to breathe — and space to scream. The first is Midnight Breakfast, where the cafeteria provides a free meal to students studying late into the night. Members of the administration work alongside our beloved cafeteria crew, scooping eggs, tater tots and whatever else is on the menu onto students’ plates. Even though the cafeteria always seems close to bursting, there’s enough food for everyone to grab a bite before braving their all-nighter. (Or dozing off into a deep, definitely not anxiety riddled dream.) The other finals tradition is the Primal Scream, which is… exactly what it sounds like. During one night of finals week, students gather on Keating Steps to let

out all of their frustrations in one loud, thunderous howl. Unlike Midnight Breakfast, this is organized by students rather than faculty, and information about it is posted on social media. So, when finals rolls around, keep your eye on Instagram to find the date and time that students will be gathering. And, if you forget about it, don’t be too alarmed when you’re coming back from a late-night Boars run and hear what sounds like roughly 70 students screaming in unison. They’re okay. For the most part.

One of my favorite traditions, which is a bit less formal but just as vital to Fordham’s culture, is brunch on weekend mornings in the cafeteria. During freshman and sophomore year, I would see so many of my classmates sitting with their friend groups as they recounted the events of the night before, just as my group was. It was so nice to see everyone coming together,

reveling in the fun of college over their pancakes and yogurt bowls. Even though the cafeteria is closed this year, I am sure that we will find similar spaces to congregate on Saturday mornings…or on Saturday early-afternoons.

Finally we come to the tradition that will make or break your college experience: riding the Ram. In the space between Dealy and Hughes Hall, there is a bronze ram statue. All first-year students must ride the ram within their first 10 days or risk cursing the rest of their time at Fordham. Is that just ridiculous superstition? Are you willing to run the risk?

All of these traditions make Fordham’s campus culture come alive, and, like living things, they change over time. As you begin your college experience, become part of our culture by getting involved in campus traditions. In the next four years, you and your peers might even create some new ones.

The Best Things to do in New York City and Belmont

By RORY DONAHUE SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

When it comes to being a first-year student at Fordham University in New York City, there is no shortage of things to do. From exploring the local spots of Arthur Avenue to enjoying the many museums across the city, there are a range of activities to explore for all budgets and interests.

Starting off locally near Fordham’s Rose Hill campus, there are free and convenient places for students to enjoy without a commute.

My personal favorite is the New York Botanical Gardens, where students can enjoy grounds passes for free. Within the gardens are the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, the Thain Family Forest and more to see for a serene nature-filled experience.

Another local favorite is the Bronx Zoo, which is free for students on Wednesdays and has world-class exhibits like the Congo Gorilla Forest. Fordham’s Rose Hill campus is best known for its accessibility to the historical Arthur Avenue which features a variety of delis, bakeries, markets

and restaurants. Some of its best spots include Artuso Pastry Shop, Avenue Gyro, Casa Della Mozzarella, Colima Taqueria, Enzo’s, Prince Coffee House and Zero Otto Nove. I encourage all students to take advantage of the wonderful cuisine just footsteps from campus!

New York City is also home to many markets which sell the best crafts and unique pieces to decorate your dorm room or dress up your wardrobe. On the Upper West Side, best accessible by taking the Ram Van or Metro-North from Rose Hill, is the Grand Bazaar

which is NYC’s biggest curated market held on Sundays year round. It is located in a beautiful area on the Upper West Side filled with local shops and farmers markets, and is walking distance to Central Park. Another option is the Brooklyn Flea Market, which is held on Saturdays and Sundays. The market is located within Dumbo, Brooklyn, which is accessible by taking the MetroNorth into Grand Central, the 4 train to Union Square and then the F train.

Additionally, you can explore the amazing views that Dumbo offers just steps away from the

market.

New York is also home to many amazing museums featuring art and history of all time periods. Some popular ones include: the American Museum of Natural History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art and The Museum of Modern Art.

I encourage you all to research New York and discover activities that interest you.

Fordham and New York are amazing places to be, so enjoy your four years and take advantage of it!

Fordham is located on Arthur Ave., which has a lot of activites for students.

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Traditions are an important part of Fordham’s campus culture.

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New York provides countless opportunities for students to go to museums, see shows and more.

Talent in Every Corner of Fordham

By LAUREN LOMBARDI ASST. CULTURE EDITOR

Fordham University has talent in every crevice of its campus, and it is always a treat when our performance-based clubs decide to put that talent on display for our enjoyment. However, since there are so many clubs on campus putting on performances in all different places, I’ll map out where and when you can find good Ram entertainment.

Firstly, don’t be surprised if on a random weekday, in the first month of your freshman year, you’re hit with the sound of a collegiate a cappella while walking out of the newly re-renovated McShane Campus Center. You should expect it actually.

The annual Keating Steps event takes place in September, with Fordham’s performance clubs displaying song and dance numbers on the steps of the iconic Verizon-commercial-approved Keating Hall, overlooking Edward’s Parade. When you hear this, take a seat on Eddie’s and relish in the first stop on the list of the semester’s performances.

During Keating Steps you’ll hear a capella from various groups, including Satin Dolls, Fordham’s all-female and femme group who placed in this year’s International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella; b-Sides, the oldest co-ed group; Ramblers, Fordham’s all-male group and go-to’s for Valentine’s Day serenades (or “Ramblergrams”); and last, but not least, the Hot Notes, our jazz-fusion group

who released their album, “An Evening With the Hot Notes,” this month.

All four groups get together again in the latter half of the school year during a “spring teaser” for their separate spring recitals. Both the teaser show and recitals often take place in the Fordham Preparatory Theater or Keating First Auditorium.

Not only will you hear singing during Keating Steps, but you’ll see dancing of all kinds. The event features Sláinte, our Irish dance team; Jetés, Fordham’s ballet club; and Flava, the hip hop dance crew.

This spring, Flava hosted their semester-end showcase titled “Class Is In Session” in the Rose Hill Gymnasium. At points throughout the year, usually in the first month and during Spring Weekend, Flava does a surprise flash mob in the Marketplace. Before the dining hall closes for construction, make sure you invite a new friend for dinner and hopefully you’ll catch the performance!

In the spring of 2023, Sláinte competed in the Collegiate Irish Dance Association’s National Competition and brought their high energy back to Rose Hill in their annual recital entitled “Irish Night,” held in McShane Ballroom.

Every November, the Jetés perform “The Nutcracker” as a sweet welcome to the winter season. They perform a different show every spring, with the upcoming 2024 spring performance being “Peter Pan.” Both of their annual performances take place

in Collins Auditorium, and Friday classes that all are welcome to attend (with or without previous ballet experience) are from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Keating B23. There are many talented dance groups who don’t perform at Keating Steps.

Candela Latina is our Latinx dance group. During halftime at several Fordham Men’s Basketball games throughout the spring semester, Candela can be found showcasing their skills.

Expressions Dance Alliance, the contemporary dance group, is holding auditions on Sept. 1. In the spring of 2023, Expressions held their recital “Reverie” in Collins.

Fordham Falak is the Bollywood fusion dance team. Falak won third place in the 2022 Annual Naach Inferno Competition. Also, the team holds workshops throughout the semester for any students interested in learning or improving in this style.

Lastly, Dance Co-op is the allinclusive dance team for anyone who shares a passion for dance. The co-op holds workshops in Keating B23 and held their spring showcase, “Netflix Part II,” in Fordham’s Preparatory Theater.

Now, we move to Collins Hall, the home of several theater groups and so close to the freshman dorms that you don’t have an excuse not to attend!

The Mimes and Mummers, Fordham’s mainstage theater group, performs one show per semester. Last fall, the Mimes put on the hilarious “Urinetown: The Musical” and in the spring, the emotional, stripped down

“The Laramie Project.” If you’re interested in joining, auditions for their fall show, “Legally Blonde,” are on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 in Collins Auditorium.

The Theatrical Outreach Program (TOP) promotes classic and educational theater at Fordham and its members put on one performance per semester.

In the fall of 2022, TOP put on “Little Women” in an intimate performance. During the performance, the audience sat in rows on the Collins Auditorium stage, which made them feel as if they were a part of the story. TOP strives to not only entertain, but immerse.

The Fordham Experimental Theater (FET) group hosts original productions by students every

weekend with free admission. The shows are in the Black Box Theater, which can be easily found by going up the stone stairs behind Collins Hall.

FET is a host for originality at Fordham and offers opportunities for students to stretch their creative muscles, as they are a completely student-run group.

Enjoying a club’s performance is one of my favorite ways to spend time on campus, and by following the groups on Instagram, I always know when and where I can find a performance.

Despite being in New York, you never have to go far from Fordham to find quality entertainment; it’s all over the Rose Hill map.

To learn more, visit fordham.edu/gsas/accelerated or scan the QR code.

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The Satin Dolls a cappella group often performs around campus.

Volleyball Seeks Improvement in 2023

By BRETT TULIP STAFF WRITER

Fordham Volleyball is back this Friday, Aug. 25, with a slate of three games in the UNCW Hampton Inn University Invitational in Wilmington, N.C.. A new season means a new start for the Rams, looking to bounce back from their 13-16 record and below-average 7-11 record in conference play. In terms of conference ranking, they finished seventh out of the 10 teams in the Atlantic 10 last season and have failed to have a top-five finish in the last 10 years.

The program is a work in progress, but there is reason for optimism with younger talent coming through. The team will look to try to replace the four impactful seniors they lost last season in Aneliesa Cartledge, Chloe Pejouan, Aria De La Rosa and Megan Brzozowski. Star senior Mallory Lipski will be returning to the Bronx as a graduate student, which is a big help to a somewhat depleted roster. She will look to continue rising on Fordham’s all-time statistical leaderboards as she is already top five in multiple categories in addition to holding numerous single-season records.

Even with Lipski’s return, the departures of four key seniors and new recruits, like freshman

Lorenza Rosenkilde, along with new coaching hires, like assistant coach Chris Sullivan, create somewhat of a new age in Rose Hill for Fordham Volleyball.

They’ll start the year off by taking on the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Presbyterian College and Stetson University. These are very winnable matches, as the teams’ records last season were 6-19, 9-19 and 1514 respectively. Fordham will look to again start out hot as they did last season, but this time can hopefully keep the momentum going as they look to continue the success into the next few tournaments.

After the UNCW Invitational, they’ll stay local for the Big Apple

Cross Country Gears Up For Fall Season

By COLIN LOUGHRAN STAFF WRITER

As students return to campus and fall approaches, Fordham Cross Country prepares for another campaign in hopes of finishing at the top of the Atlantic 10 circuit.

The team will begin the season on Sept. 3 at the Stony Brook Invitational with head coach Brian Horowitz back for another year at the helm. Last season, the men placed eighth at the A-10 Championship and 19th at the NCAA Northeast Regional while the women finished 13th at the A-10 Championship and 33rd at the NCAA Northeast Regional.

side searches for more stability.

The Rams will also hope that their new crop of freshmen consisting of Sean Reidy, Tadael Mihret, Matthew McCabe, Jake Frayler and Jake Boerger will be able to make an impact over the course of the season.

On the women’s side, graduate students Alexandra Thomas and Mary Kathryn Underwood will join seniors Marin Bogulski, Carolyn Cardell, Maddy Kopec, Abigail Llach and Clodagh McGroary in a strong contingency of leaders.

Tournament where they’ll take on Columbia University and will rematch Quinnipiac University, a team they defeated last season. Following this, they’ll play in one more tournament at the 2023 Iona Volleyball Tournament before heading home and competing in the Rose Hill Classic and beginning conference play. This will be the toughest test for the Rams, as they have struggled in the past with keeping up with other teams in their conference. However, this year’s squad certainly appears to have all the makings of one that could breakout and finally push Fordham over the edge into a top volleyball program in New York and the A-10.

Intramural and Club Sports at Fordham

By NICK GUZMAN SPORTS EDITOR

Even if you aren’t a Division I Athlete, there are plenty of ways to play sports at Fordham. Whether you want something low-commitment like intramurals or something a little more competitive like club sports, Fordham has plenty of opportunities to get involved in different athletic activities.

Intramurals are organized, lowcommitment athletic activities that allow students to play their favorite sports regardless of ability. Currently, Fordham offers intramural soccer, basketball, volleyball and flag football. Registration dates for the fall are still being finalized, but all registration is done through the website IMLeagues. Once you use your school email to make an account, there are a few different ways to join your desired sport. If

you have a group of friends that you want to make a team with, you can form your own team and invite them using the “invite members” link on your team’s homepage.

If you don’t have a team, don’t worry! You can still play. Just list yourself as a free agent, which makes you available to all team captains who are looking to pick up extra players.

Regardless, intramurals are a great way to stay active and continue playing organized sports. All games are played on the Rose Hill Campus. And, it’s completely free!

If you’re looking for something more competitive, club sports might be right for you. Club sports are a step up from intramurals in terms of commitment and skill level. Often, you will be required to try out for a club sport and travel to away games. But if you play a club sport, the experience is an incredibly valuable and fulfilling one.

You’ll likely form a bond with your teammates that goes far beyond the field or court.

There are several club sports that are offered here at Fordham: baseball, crew, hockey, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s rugby, sailing, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, squash, tennis, wrestling and ultimate frisbee. Tryouts happen early in the fall semester. For information on the sport you’re interested in, visit the club sports page on Fordham’s website. In addition, most club sports teams have active Instagram accounts with tryout information and interest forms linked. Don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the teams if you are interested in joining. Although they vary in levels of commitment, both intramural and club sports are awesome ways to keep playing the sports you love throughout college.

Graduate student Colin Flood and senior Steven Zucca will lead a men’s side that includes a healthy mix of both underclassmen and upperclassmen. The departure of last year’s seniors means that the unit will rely on Flood, Zucca and seniors Daniel Asher and Justin Lombardi to step up during competitions.

Zucca particularly shined last season as the Team MVP. The Ohio native won the Jasper XC Invitational with a time of 24:35.7 and dashed his way to a number of other impressive showings. Ultimately, he was named to the Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference Team for his efforts.

Senior Ryan Fahey was the lone Ram to take part in all seven meets last fall as most of the men’s seniors were more competitive during the spring season.

Flood only competed in four cross country meets last fall, but finished 11th at the Jasper XC Invite in 25:49.7, and could offer more this year as the men’s

Bogulski and Thomas were two of six Rams to run in all six meets last season, and each of them will look to offer a similar level of consistency this upcoming campaign.

Last year’s team MVP Caroline McDonagh will attempt to follow up a massively successful sophomore year with an even better junior campaign. The Bronx native placed ninth at the Jasper XC Invite in 22:56.8. She also finished seventh overall at the Fordham Fiasco in 19:41.4. Freshmen Brenna Sears, Cate Roche, Kate Meeks, Megan McCann, Grace Kenny and Meredith Gotzman have joined the fray in hopes of aiding the women’s pursuit to climb the A-10 ladder.

The men and women of cross country have already begun training for what promises to be a competitive fall season.

The A-10 Championship is slated for Saturday, Oct. 28 in Dayton, Ohio.

The NCAA Northeast Regional is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 10 at Van Cortlandt Park.

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The volleyball team looks to improve their standing this year.

Many students play intramural sports on campus. Volleyball is one the most popular intramural sports.

Fordham’s cross country team kicks off their season on Sept. 3.

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Women’s Tennis Enters New Era

By JONAH RING CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“Leaf subsides to leaf…” will likely be the motto of the Fordham women’s tennis team this year, as a seemingly daunting, but certainly promising, rebuild seems to be in store for the program this upcoming season. This can be largely attributed to the fact that, while last year’s team had a highly successful 2022-23 campaign, finishing with a solid 11-7 record, winning the Atlantic 10 crown for the first time in program history and making the NCAA tournament (where they would unfortunately fall to the Princeton University Tigers in the first round), the majority of last year’s core no longer calls Rose Hill their home.

Avery Aude (named First Team All A-10), Rachelle Yang, Carlota Casasampere Escoda (named Second Team All A-10), Valeriya Deminova (named First Team All A-10) and Lindsay Hung (named First Team All A-10), have all moved on from the team, taking with them their energy, experience and technical bravado that provided the program with a spark and standard that will be certainly hard to replicate.

However, on a more positive note, the program still calls reigning A-10 Coach of the Year Michael Sowter its leader: a man who has simply been on fire recently, ushering the program to two of its best ever seasons in back-to-back campaigns (the team went 14-7 with an A-10 Championship Game appearance in 2021-22). Moreover, he not only returns three of the most talented players from last year’s team

Fordham Golf Swings for New Heights in 2023-24

in senior Eleni Fasoula (named First Team All A-10), sophomore Sofie Siem and junior Lorraine Bergmann, but also has a glut of talented incoming freshmen and new transfers to work with.

Headlining these newcomers to the greystone confines of Rose Hill are freshman Julianne Nguyen (a former Top 100 recruit according to TennisRecruiting.net), Indiana University transfer Xiaowei “Rose” Xu and Bryant University transfer Camila Baeza. Additionally, promising freshmen Anlin Xie and Xintong “Cindy” Zhou round out a strong recruiting class that looks poised to make an instant impact. With all this talent being molded by Coach Sowter’s undeniable coaching prowess, it would not be the slightest bit surprising to see this team potentially replicate the success that they enjoyed last year.

Taking a quick glance at the more logistical side of the upcoming campaign, while the schedule has not yet been officially finalized, one should expect the Rams to clash with a few of the usual suspects: the Bobcats of Quinnipiac University, the Black Knights of Army West Point and the Dragons of Drexel University. Moreover, Fordham will once again face off against a batch of A-10 teams due to conference requirements, with the crown atop their heads certainly putting a target on their backs for these in-conference showdowns.

The 2022-23 Women’s Tennis season is certainly going to be an interesting one for the Rams, as the brilliant team of years past is now gone, giving way to an equally as exciting young core that could make some noise.

By WILL TALLANT STAFF WRITER

As the summer comes to a close, a new semester and school year steadily approaches in the Bronx with the Fordham golf team gearing up for their second season under head coach Gary Murphy. Under Murphy in his first full season as head coach, the Rams’ best finish came back in early April during the Monmouth Hawk Invitational at Deal Golf and Country Club where the Rams placed second in the one-day outing.

However, arguably the biggest accolade for Murphy and the Rams came during the offseason when Fordham Golf was recognized as one of fifty-four Division I golf programs nationwide for their studies in the classroom, earning the President’s Special Recognition from the Golf Coaches Association of America for having a team cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Fordham was the only representative from the Atlantic 10 Conference to achieve the prestigious honor.

As for the play on the course, Fordham was led by five total seniors in 2022-23, including Andreas Aivazoglou, Charles Smollen, John Kryscio, Nicholas Manning and P.J. O’Rourke. Manning and O’Rourke, most notably, put together strong senior campaigns. With both seniors Both of which finishing among the individual top five in the Monmouth Invitational, O’Rourke and Manning had their best career finishes during the outing, with O’Rouke carding a

Women’s Soccer Seeks Postseason Berth in 2023

By NOAH HOFFMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Fordham women’s soccer team wrapped up head coach Magnus Nilerud’s first season by falling just short of qualifying for the Atlantic 10 Championship. A year in which they went 5-11-1 overall, but 4-5-1 in conference play, for a total of 13 conference points, put them in a tie for eighth place with Loyola University Chicago. Loyola, unfortunately, held the tiebreaker over the Rams, leaving them on the outside of the standings and without a shot for a Cinderella run at the Atlantic 10 Championship.

Heading into Nilerud’s second season in charge, Fordham will be without its top-two leading goalscorers from the previous year after the departures of both Kristen Cocozza and Natalie Velde. These aren’t the only critical players Fordham will be without this coming season, as the Rams’ 2021 leading scorer Caitlin Kennedy, who also appeared in every game last year, has moved on from the program.

Although the Rams will be without some impactful names from the past couple of seasons, they also have many returning players. Headlining the returning players are the 2023 captains, who are junior midfielder Abby Doyle and seniors Olivia Redden and Cambrie Arboreen. Doyle, going into her second year for the Rams after transferring before last season, was one of three players to start every game in 2022, also leading the team in minutes played for the entire

year. The other returning player to start every game last season was fellow junior midfielder Tristan McFarlane, who also finished second on the team in minutes played.

Arboreen headlines the women’s attacking front as the forward position leader as they try to replace last year’s offensive production from Cocozza and Velde. Helping out on that front will be junior Ryann Lucas, who was the team leader in assists with four, second on the team in points with six and was one of two returning players who were able to notch five or more points on the season. The other returning player to accumulate five or more points last season was Caroline Monahan, a graduate transfer student entering her second year for the Rams who had five points off two goals and one assist.

The 2023 campaign began on August 17 with a road loss against Drexel University. They followed that up with a home-opener victory over Wagner College by a score of 4-0. Four consecutive home matchups will follow before traveling north to face the University of Albany in early Sept. A-10 play will start the following week on Sept. 14, with a home contest against George Mason University.

That will start a stretch of 10 straight conference matchups to finish the season before the A-10s start in late Oct.

These 10 conference matchups will be crucial in determining where the Rams will end up in the A-10 standings and if they will clinch their first tournament berth under Nilerud.

74 in fourth place and Manning not only sporting a career-best finish at second, but shooting his lowest round score of his Fordham tenure with a 68. O’Rourke also carded career bests during the fall portion of the schedule when the senior tied his career-low round of 68 at the Ryan Lee Memorial and set a new personal record of 140 in low two-round score also during the Ryan Lee.

The duo of Manning and O’Rouke were tied atop the Fordham roster for the lowest score in a round in both the fall and spring seasons with a pair of 68’s as John Kryscio and Andreas Aivazoglou followed behindwith low scores of 70 and 71, respectively.

Even with the majority of the Rams’ roster being occupied by seniors, Fordham saw great production from underclassmen and rising juniors Jake Mrva and Chris Konefal. In an impressive sophomore season, Mrva set career bests all across the board. The Shrewsbury, Massachusetts native finished inside the top 10 for the first time of his collegiate career with his eighth place finish in the Metropolitan Championship back in early November, set a new

career-low three-round score of 220 in the Hartford Invitational, a low two-round score of 140 also in the Hartford Invitational and just one stroke behind O’Rourke and Manning for the team’s best individual score, carding a 69 during the Coca-Cola Invitational in April. Konefal was not too far behind Mrva’s top finishes with a solid 70 in the Hartford Invitational and also finishing inside the top 10 for the first time of his Fordham career and just one stroke behind Mrva to slot in a tie for 10th place in the Metropolitan Championship. Both Mrva and Konefal sport massive leaps in the right direction following excellent sophomore campaigns and look to become the newest leaders of what will be a rather younger Fordham Golf roster in 2023-24.

With the Fordham academic year starting in just over a week, word on the official roster and schedule have yet to be announced, but can be expected in the coming days or weeks. There is much to look forward to for this upcoming links season at Fordham as Gary Murphy and company are poised for another step in the right direction for this program.

Men’s Tennis Hits the Courts for Another Season

By MADDIE BIMONTE SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Men’s Tennis is back for another exciting season in the Bronx after their 2022-23 season came to a close in their second-round exit of the Atlantic 10 Championships back in April.

Last year’s wins and successes were a large part of their solid freshman core that only have gotten better over the season.

Sophomore Dhillon VirdeeOakley locked down the number two spot this past season, as he won 11 matches and was tied for second on the team in 11 singles wins. He tied for the team lead in doubles. VirdeeOakley was named A-10 Men’s Tennis Rookie of the Week back in April.

Things were solid even down the line, with sophomore John Mascone locking down things in the fourth and fifth positions, going 5-4 in singles action and was 3-1 at fourth singles. Sophomore Sampras Rakotondrainibe also showed his prowess in the fifth and

sixth positions. The former Rookie of the Week had a 12-10 singles mark as well as going 12-14 in doubles action.

The Rams had a pretty rough start to the 2022-23 season, going 1-6 in their first seven matches, but managed to find a good rhythm going into the later half of the season.

Their most impressive run came from their major upset of St. Bonaventure University at the A-10 Championships this past season. As the 10 seed, Fordham won the contest 4-2 with big wins from Virdee-Oakley, Mascone and Rakotondrainibe.

The duo of Virdee-Oakley and Rakotondrainibe posted a huge doubles win, with a score of 6-2.

The team now enters their second season under head coach David Slater, who joined the team following his career of coaching at Manhattanville College.

While the schedule for the upcoming season has yet to be finalized, the Rams expect to be competitive this year with a lot of returning players.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

This is men’s golf’s second season with head coach Gary Murphy.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Fordham women’s soccer looks hopefully towards this season.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Men’s tennis looks to improve upon last year’s success.

Water Polo Eyes Third Straight League Title

By LOU ORLANDO ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Success can breed complacency, and Fordham Water Polo has enjoyed its fair share of success.

They’ve raised the banner two years in a row, boasting back-toback Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) championships, and finishing last season as the second-best water polo program on the east coast. There’s a lot of success to rest on — but they’re not doing any of that.

“I think our guys are as determined as ever,” says head coach Brian Bacharach. “While we’ve had some success, our season was not a national championship.”

Despite two straight league championships, Fordham’s season has ended at the hands of Princeton University back-toback years in the NCAA tournament. Princeton is poised to be the top program in the east again and will likely need to be defeated if Fordham wishes to make headway in NCAAs.

Another obstacle the Rams will need to overcome is the departure of Nir Gross. Gross made an immediate impact in his lone season with the Rams, winning both MAWPC Regular Season and Tournament MVP. Commanding attention in the twometer area, he opened up the outside lanes, allowing a highpowered Rams offense to flourish.

“Nir was a special player, but he also brought a level of maturity and championship pedigree,” noted Bacharach. “He’s a tough guy to replace.”

Luckily for the Rams, they have a wealth of talent returning.

Headlined by juniors Jacopo Parrella, George Papanikolaou and Lucas Nieto Jasny, all of whom are coming off two straight

Men’s Soccer Looks Ahead to 2023

By MADDIE BIMONTE SPORTS EDITOR

100-point seasons, the Rams return their top-five point scorers from last season and look to be sharp as ever offensively.

To sweeten the pot, First Team All-MAWPC goalkeeper Thomas Lercari is back for his junior year, following a 339save season that ranks second of all time in program history.

The final piece missing is depth. While Fordham has built a roster fit to dominate the MAWPC, it’s been a step behind Princeton and the powerhouse programs on the West Coast.

They’ll seek to remedy that by adding seven players in their 2023 recruiting class. Joining the mix is junior Paul Armingol, a transfer from a St. Francis Brooklyn team that defeated Fordham in each of the last two seasons.

Incoming freshmen Christopher Gray and Barnabas Eppel have both won gold medals in national tournament play, while Christian Gotterup, Gabriel Guinane, Reid Thorson and goalkeeper Panayiotis Giannas round it out.

In October, they’ll have a chance to test their improved depth against the very best of the best when they travel to California for a six-game stretch. The trip includes a match against the University of California, last year’s NCAA champion, and every opponent who finished last season top 20 in the national poll. Success in the NCAAs sounds lovely, but winning the MAWPC championship remains the priority — and three straight certainly has a nice ring to it.

But who says you can’t strive for more?

As the program continues to rise on a steep upward trajectory, the signs are there. Fordham Water Polo is building towards something bigger.

After a difficult 2022, where the team recorded a 3-4-9 record, Fordham Men’s Soccer looks to bounce back this year after making some massive changes to their lineup and roster in addition to adding fresh faces to the coaching staff. Failing to make the Atlantic 10 Tournament this past season, the team is putting the past behind them as they welcome 15 new additions to the team.

Senior Murat Calkap, graduate student Kai Griese, junior Grady Kozak and sophomore Georgios Kantaras all joined the team during this past spring season. Now, eight transfers and three freshmen will take the field for the Rams this fall. They include graduate students Carter Abbott, Sigfus Arnason, Harper Cook, Jimmy Joyce, Louis Lehr, Luis Puchol, Liam Salmon, Shizu Yohena and the three freshmen, Niko Cappellini, Leo Perelman and Maclin Stover.

Helpfully, four of these transfers spent time at rival A-10 schools and can hopefully bring a competitive edge to the Rams’ squad.

Aside from the players, head coach Carlo Acquista announced the addition of a new assistant coach in Tom Giovatto. After an extensive head coaching career over the past 16 seasons at St. Francis Brooklyn College, Acquista is excited to have him join the team: “We’re excited to welcome Tom to Fordham Men’s Soccer. Knowing Tom and having watched his teams for the past two decades, I have the utmost admiration for him as both a person and a coach. He’s a brilliant soccer mind with a track record of success that will surely help us this season.”

Be sure to be on the lookout for returning Rams as well, with graduate student Timo Hummrich receiving pre-season honors for his efforts with the Rams. Hummrich received First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors last season after leading the team with six goals. In addition, he recorded three assists to bring his total to 15 points — a team-high. Senior Florian Deletioglu returns this year for his senior season and also had a strong season last year for the Rams, totaling three goals and

four assists for a third overall 10 points for the Rams.

Last season, the Rams had a very difficult time finishing games, with nine contests ending in a tie. Their conference play did not fare much better with the team finishing 1-2-5, recording their single win against St. Bonaventure University back in September, in what would be their last win of the season.

Looking at 2023, the skies are the limit for this team. A-10 conference play will open up against St. Bonaventure on Sept. 19, before dueling it out with Manhattan College for a rivalry game. Following that, the Rams have a difficult schedule facing St. Louis College on the road, who eliminated them during the 2021 A-10 playoffs in the second round.

More contests for the Rams include Davidson College, St. Joseph’s University, Rhode Island University, University of Massachusetts, Duquesne University and Loyola University Chicago for A-10 play.

The season opens up on Aug. 24 with play against Sacred Heart University at home on Jack Coffey Field.

Football Looks to Build on Historic 2022 Despite Key Departures

By NICK GUZMAN SPORTS EDITOR

2022 was a historic year for Fordham Football offensively. Quarterback Tim DeMorat broke just about every singleseason and career passing record in the Fordham history books and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. With 4,891 passing yards and 56 touchdowns, DeMorat’s 2022 season was one of the greatest in Fordham history.

Fordham were also historic defensively, but for the wrong reasons. While DeMorat and the Fordham offense set a school record with 594 points scored last season, the defense allowed 434 points, also the most in school history.

With the top-ranked offense in the Patriot League and the next-to-worst defense, the Rams were consistently in close, high-scoring contests. They eventually finished 9-3, losing heartbreakers to Ohio University and the College of the Holy Cross before finishing second in the Patriot League and falling to the University of New Hampshire in the opening round of the NCAA FCS Championship.

Despite the 9-3 record last year, head coach Joe Conlin’s team was so close to achieving more. But heading into 2023, key departures and some new faces have this Fordham team looking a little different than last year.

On the offensive side of the ball, DeMorat, running back Trey Sneed and receivers Fotis Kokosioulis and Dequece Carter all departed the program. While all were major contributors in 2022 and will be missed, Fordham still retains experience on offense. Junior running back Julius Loughridge returns after being named Second Team All-Patriot League last season, as does graduate student re -

ceiver MJ Wright, who hauled in 11 touchdowns and was an All-Patriot League Selection. In addition, Fordham returns four of five starters on the offensive line.

The biggest change will come at quarterback. For the first time since 2018, Fordham enters a season without Tim DeMorat in the quarterback room. CJ Montes, a sophomore transfer from the University of New Mexico, is the quarterback with the most experience on this roster. He played in seven games over two seasons at New Mexico, making two starts. Sophomore Jack Capaldi and senior Joey Gulbin are also options, but neither has much in-game experience at the collegiate level. Things will certainly look different at quarterback with no DeMorat, but the Rams have plenty of weapons offensively to be productive.

On defense, the biggest loss is All-American linebacker Ryan Greenhagen, who leaves Fordham as the school’s alltime leader in tackles. Junior James Conway, a preseason

All-Patriot League selection, will lead the linebacking core.

Fordham’s defensive line returns three of four starters, while the secondary returns two. Graduate student Stephen Williams II and sophomore Alex Kemper will look to hold things down in the defensive backfield, an area Fordham really struggled in last season. The offense looks like it has the tools to be at the top of the Patriot League, but the defense must improve from last year if Fordham wants to be successful.

The Rams open the season on Aug. 25 against the University at Albany, while Patriot League play begins on Sept. 30 away against Georgetown University.

Last year’s Patriot League title came down to a nail biting clash against Holy Cross in Worcester, with the Crusaders prevailing in overtime 53-52. This year, Fordham will host Holy Cross on Oct. 28, a game that could once again decide the winner of the Patriot League.

Some program legends may have departed, but the Rams still have the tools to put together a solid 2023 season.

Fordham’s water polo team looks to have another successful season.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Fordham Football looks forward after a historic 2022 season.