Volume 93 Issue 1

VALIDITY OF MEN’S STUDIES - PAGE 8

WOMEN’S B-BALL EARNS FIRST EVER VICTORY OVER GW - PAGE 15

SERVING THE FORDHAM UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY FOR OVER 90 YEARS

1918-2010

JANUARY 26, 2011

VOLUME 93, ISSUE 1

English Faculty to Vote on Bookstore Boycott

By CHRISTINE BARCELLONA OPINIONS EDITOR

During its Feb. 9 meeting, the English department plans to formally vote on whether to boycott the Barnes & Noble-operated University Bookstore. The decision to possibly boycott comes after unsatisfactory interactions with the bookstore; common complaints from professors include insufficient quantities of ordered books, untimely stocking, incorrect book orders, unreliable service and Barnes & Noble’s pricing.

According to its Web site, Barnes & Noble operates stores at more than 600 universities and pays for its own operation and marketing costs at these institutions, including payroll, insurance, benefits and inventory. The site also states that Barnes & Noble determines what percentage of the profits the universities receive after negotiating a contract with each institution. Members of the English department have requested information about who negotiated the contract at Fordham, to no avail.

The Barnes & Noble site also claims that “stocking every book for every student” is “a part of our contract” with universities; however, faculty members report that Barnes & Noble’s policy has appeared to cut each book order by one third, and to reorder textbooks at the same ratio.

Faculty have found that the bookstore often stocks incorrect editions of the books they ordered, and that the bookstore does not adequately update them on order statuses. One professor reported being assured that the requested textbooks were in the storeroom, later discovering that the books were never delivered.

The administration has formed a committee to investigate the bookstore and faculty claims. The English department had planned to vote on the possible boycott during their December meeting, but delayed the vote until their first meeting of the spring 2011 semester to give the committee time to look into the problems.

Some members of faculty believe that the administration chose to form the committee only because of increased pressure from the initiative to boycott the bookstore and anger over the store’s policies. Ten academic departments, representing disciplines in both the arts and sciences, showed their support during an Arts and Sciences Council meeting and pledged to follow the English Department in the boycott, if the department decides in February that they will formally go through with the boycott. The issue is also slated to come up before the Arts and Sciences Council at its Feb. 23 meeting.

Further details will follow.

Fordham Fails to Comply with Textbook Law Requirement for Disclosures and Book Availability Not Met; Bookstore Continues Not to Allow Textbook Unbundling

By MIKE BURKART STAFF WRITER

This semester should have marked a significant step forward in the way that college students buy their course materials. Here at Fordham, however, compliance with a new textbook law appears to have been bungled.

The new law, designed to increase affordability and transparency in the textbook selection process, requires universities and colleges receiving money from federal financial aid programs to list the ISBNs and prices of all recommended and supplemental course materials at the time of registration. In addition, it mandates that bookstores at these schools offer textbooks separate from packages that include other materials such as study guides and software.

As many Fordham students can attest, the school’s efforts fell short in several aspects. Although the online bookstore now lists ISBNs for course materials, Fordham failed to provide a complete list of required textbooks at the time of registration. As of Jan. 24, many courses still did not have books listed on the school’s Web site, and the bookstore still refuses to sell certain items unbundled.

While the portion affecting bundled textbooks went into effect immediately, the new law, The

PHOTO BY NORA MALLOZZI/ THE RAM

Fordham struggles to fully comply with all the benefits promised in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008.

Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, specified that schools must have these new disclosures in place for any courses starting after Sept.

1, 2010, affording Fordham nearly 15 months to implement a system that could fully comply. The school began its compliance efforts in early

2010.

“Last spring the deans communicated with the faculty about the new requirements,” Associate Vice President and Associate Chief Academic Officer Dr. Nicola Pitchford said.

During this period, Vice President of Finance Bob Steves, who over-

sees the University’s contracts with outside vendors, also began working with the bookstore, which is operated by Barnes & Noble, to ensure that the ISBNs would be listed.

“We’re still having faculty not submitting in a timely manner, but I SEE TEXTBOOK LAW ON PAGE 3

Latham Appointed Dean of FCRH

By PATRICK DEROCHER SENIOR EXECUTIVE EDITOR

After more than a year and a half serving as interim dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill, Dr. Michael Latham, who replaced former dean Dr. Brennan O’Donnell when the latter was named president of Manhattan College, was appointed dean of FCRH on Dec. 10, 2010.

The appointment was announced to the Fordham University community through an e-mail from Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University.

“In the course of his tenure as the interim dean of the College, he [Latham] has devoted himself to enhancing and strengthening the College’s efforts in the areas of international studies, science education and student advisement,” McShane said in the e-mail. “In the process, he has established an admirable reputation as a consultative and effective administrator.”

McShane, a former dean of FCRH, also praised Latham for his scholarship in the areas of modern American history, development policy and international relations, in addition to his efforts to expand and improve further opportunities for undergraduate research, especially in the humanities and social sciences.

“To not only acquire knowledge, but actually to help create it gives our students a much greater sense of investment in their own educations,” Latham wrote in an article published on Fordham’s Web site. He added

that students doing research in the sciences, despite their seriously limited resources, have made positive strides in those areas and have the potential to do even more.

Improving and expanding research has been one of Latham’s primary goals since taking the position of interim dean in Feb. 2009.

In past interviews with The Ram, he has cited the success of the Undergraduate Research Symposium as a positive step toward achieving this goal. Additionally, Latham has been instrumental in the creation of the Fordham Undergraduate Research Journal, a student-edited academic publication that began in the fall 2010 semester.

In addition to promoting undergraduate research, Latham’s major goals include developing international and science education at Fordham.

“If we’re really serious about preparing students to be leaders in a society that is increasingly connected globally, we must acknowledge that our students are likely to live outside of the United States at various points in their careers,” Latham said in the University press release. He also discussed the role that Fordham has as

COURTESY OF FORDHAM.EDU

Dr. Latham has permanently replaced Dr. Brennan O’ Donnell as FCRH dean.

the Jesuit University of New York, noting that the University’s academic mission and location make international education both feasible and especially important.

Latham, who has been a faculty member in the department of history since 1996, has held a wide variety of positions in his time at Fordham. A former freshman and sophomore adviser, Latham has also served on the Faculty Senate, including in its executive and salary

and benefits committees, in addition to acting as a member of the executive committee of the American Studies program and the director of the international political economy program. He was named an associate professor of history in 2002 and full professor in 2010, and has taught an Ignatian Education Seminar and graduate tutorial in recent years, receiving Fordham University’s award for undergraduate teaching in social sciences in 2007.

Sports PAGE 20

Opinions PAGE 7

Culture PAGE 11

Men’s Basketball Remains Winless in Conference Play

Point-Counterpoint: Revising Mark Twain’s Huck Finn

INSIDE

Rumored Zodiac sign change causes widespread worry..

NEWS

PAGE 2 • THE RAM • JANUARY 26, 2011

SECURITY

BRIEFS

USG President, VP Reflect on Successes, Identify Goals Sara Kugel and Caitlin Meyer Name International Student and LGBTQ as Continuing Priorities in Spring 2011 Semester

By VICTORIA RAU

Jan. 17, Campbell Hall, 7:35 p.m.

Food left burning on a stove caused a fire alarm to go off. The building was evacuated without incident. The FDNY responded and the fire alarm system was reset.

Jan. 21, Tierney Hall, 9:15 a.m.

Three brass fire caps affi xed to a standpipe on the roof of Tierney Hall were found missing in a monthly inspection after having been present in December. The cost of replacing them was $60.

Jan. 21, Walsh Hall, 8:04 p.m.

Cooking steak on a stove activated the fire alarm. Security opened the windows. The building evacuated and the security reset without injury or incident.

Jan. 21, Finlay Hall, 11:53 p.m.

A student was not allowed to sign in another student. Becoming irritated, he caused damage to the lobby door. The student was identified and is presently being investigated.

Jan. 22, Martyrs’ Court Lawn, 3:45 a.m.

A student lost her brown Coach purse containing wallet, credit cards, keys, her Fordham ID and cash. The locksmith was notified and changed locks appropriately.

Jan. 22, Queen’s Court, 3:45 p.m.

Burnt toast in the Student Deli set off a fire alarm in the building, which was evacuated. FDNY responded and there were no injuries.

Jan. 22, Queen’s Court, 9:05 p.m.

Newly installed breadmakers set off the fire alarm for the second time that day. The Deli’s manager was ordered to move the makers to another location to avoid a repeat incident.

Jan. 23, O’Hare Hall, 3:25 - 4:25 p.m.

A student became stuck in Elevator One between the second and third floors. FDNY was called in and removed the student. The student emerged uninjured.

Jan. 24, Larkin Hall, 5:40 a.m.

A water leak occurred in the basement of room 302. Facilities Management was present on the scene and damage, which was limited to the ceiling, is being repaired. The cause of the pipe break is as of yet unknown.

MANAGING EDITOR

Four months after identifying transparency, academics and the empowerment of club leaders as the major goals of their administration in an interview with The Ram, United Student Government Executive President Sara Kugel, FCRH ’11, and Executive Vice President Caitlin Meyer, FCRH ’12, said that they believe they have stayed true to these objectives.

Although they enumerated multiple achievements that fit under each of these three themes, Kugel and Meyer emphasized that their administration’s goals, as outlined in their election platform and in an interview with The Ram in September, are not a rigid outline but are fluid, according to students’ needs.

“Our overarching purpose was to listen and be attentive to what was going on,” Meyer said.

When asked of what she was most proud so far in her term, Kugel cited several tangible changes.

She recalled the town hall meetings that USG held with administrators, students and club leaders throughout the semester as well as the student bill of rights passed at the semester’s close as top achievements with regard to transparency.

Meanwhile, the new USG Website, usgrh.com, which has prompted praise from club leaders according to Kugel, as well as the creation of 11 new clubs, served to further the goal of empowering club leaders.

“It’s not just about creating these 11 new clubs, but we want

to make sure we’re giving them the resources along the way to stay above water,” Kugel said, acknowledging that USG and the Operations Committee must continue to work with clubs after their formation.

Meyer credited Bryan Matis, vice president of operations, FCRH ’12, with having a close relationship with club leaders that allowed USG to get a “more accurate read of the pulse on campus.”

“I’m most proud that we’ve been able to maintain that goal of identifying the real, fundamental issues of our community here, not to just create problems and work for ourselves,” Meyer said. She reiterated the opening statement of their platform, which reads, “our mission as student leaders is defined by our constituents’ needs and desires,” as a guiding principle for USG’s actions.

Kugel added that in lieu of “guessing” what clubs and students need, their administration made an effort to allow club leaders to explicitly define these needs, largely through the town hall meetings and a club leader survey.

One of the most common issues that arose on the survey, Kugel said, was discontent with the budget allocation process. In response to this dissatisfaction, a task force cochaired by Michael DiTanna, vice president of information technology, FCRH ’13, and Emily Amato, vice president of finance, FCRH ’12, has examined and reported on the flaws in the budget-allocation process. Currently, they are working with club leaders to amend the process, according to Kugel.

While Kugel and Meyer said that they have “no regrets” about

their term thus far, they did identify some areas on which they hope to focus more this semester. For both, the feelings of exclusion and insecurity that LGBTQ students raised when USG invited the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer student organization PRIDE Alliance to conduct a town hall meeting in November remain a significant priority.

“USG still has a ways to go in understanding some of the issues that were brought up last semester about feelings of insecurity on campus for being who they are and for the identities that they claim,” Meyer said, expressing a need to learn more about issues in order to better address them.

According to Kugel, Adam Remiszewski, GSB ’11, vice president of student life, will be leading a collaboration in order to talk further about the concerns students of varying sexual identities have regarding how they are treated in the University community.

Kugel said that USG is trying to provide a venue for these conversations and show support through events like the LGBTQ prayer service and vigil.

“We won’t be satisfied until we actually feel like those conversations are being productive,” Meyer said.

Kugel worked with Christopher Rodgers, dean of students, last summer to revise the existing demonstration policy, a contentious issue for the past several years, given the complicated process for obtaining permission to demonstrate. One revision allows students whose proposals to gather publically have been denied to appeal their cases before a panel

of fellow students and administrators.

“It’s not perfect, but I believe every USG has the responsibility of making it a little bit of a difference, so that eventually it will get to where it needs to be,” Kugel said.

“I think it’s really important that students at Fordham begin to enhance their sense of pride in this school and in being here,” Meyer said, acknowledging a sometimesperceptible sense of apathy on the part of Fordham students. She expressed a desire for USG to play a role in raising student awareness of the rich history and tradition inherent in Fordham’s identity.

THIS

week at FORDHAM Thurs., Jan. 27 Pre-Law Society Meeting, KE 319, 1p.m.

Thurs., Jan. 27 Nuyorican Poets Cafe National Slam Poetry Team, Ramskellar, 5:30 p.m.

Thurs., Jan. 27 Cinevents! The Social Network, Keating 1st Auditorium, 9 p.m.

Sat., Jan. 29 Concert: The Knocks, Rodrigue’s Coffee House, 8 p.m. -midnight Sun., Jan. 30 Model Auditions for Fashion for Philanthropy, O’Keefe Commons, 1-3 p.m.

Mon., Jan. 31 Yoga, KE B23, 5:30-7 p.m.

Got a nose for news?

Want to get the scoop on what’s going on on campus?

Just like writing about Fordham and everything that happens here?

Come and write for The Ram’s News Section!

E-mail fordhamramnews@gmail.com, and start writing with us today!

NEWS

JANUARY 26, 2011 • THE RAM • PAGE 3

TEXTBOOK LAW, FROM PAGE 1

wouldn’t say it’s their fault, though,” Pitchford said. “Together we’re not getting all of the data, and we’re still working on getting the word out.”

Students in line at the bookstore had not heard about the new law.

“That would be great,” Lauren McGrath, GSB ’12, said of the new requirements. “I do think they should have it when you register so you can shop around to save money.”

For their part, professors had varying degrees of knowledge on the subject. Of a number who were polled off the record, only one, a graduate student, could recall an e-mail in December notifying faculty of the new textbook disclosure requirements.

Another tenured professor had heard of the new law but had no knowledge of the procedures involved.

The rest, a mix of postdoctoral fellows and associate professors, reported they had not heard of any of these new requirements.

Although an investigation yielded numerous examples of the shortfalls in disclosure and unbundling requirements, the class ECON 3116, Macroeconomic Analysis, provides an example of both these problems in action.

For all but one of the sections, R01, enrollees have no access to online book lists, and for the one that does specify required materials, the book store refuses to sell the textbook unbundled.

“I only ever require the textbook,” Dr. Giacomo Santangelo, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Economics, said.

Students also confirmed that both in his current class and in

PHOTO BY NORA MALLOZZI/ THE RAM

Even the service advertised and offered by the Fordham University Bookstore falls short of what is required by a law passed by the United States Congress in 2008.

the past Santangelo specified only N. Gregory Mankiw’s Macroeconomics.

Employees at the bookstore said that they could only sell what was ordered and would not allow the Mankiw textbook to be sold without the bundled study guide.

“You can’t buy it by itself,” a worker whose nametag identified him as Henry said. He confirmed that the bookstore’s database said that only the bundled set had been ordered.

“Even if he did mistakenly order the course pack instead of the textbook, which my friends said has never happened, I think it’s really disingenuous of them to refuse to sell just the textbook,” Tom Batemarco, FCRH ’11 and a student in Santangelo’s class, said.

“I don’t know if it’s illegal or not, but it really violates the spirit of the law,” he said. “This is exactly why I don’t like to buy from the bookstore.”

Students have reported that

the new ISBN disclosure makes the online search process a little bit easier; however, many had to wait in line at the post office for extended periods of time.

“The worst situation is knowing that your books are in there but not being able to get to them,” Caitlin Nosal, FCRH ’13, said as she queued up in the package line. “Buying them online and having them shipped home would be so much easier.”

Workers at the Fordham post office had mixed reactions about

potentially having book shipments spread out over a longer period instead of all at the beginning of the semester.

“It might be better for the students,” Edward Palermo, a supervisor in the mail room, said.

“But we’re always working overtime.”

Under the new law, the United States Department of Education has sole authority to investigate and impose sanctions for noncompliance with these new provisions.

Fordham in Brief Times Reporter on Women’s Plight in Developing World Nicholas D. Kristof, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author and New York Times columnist, talked about his latest book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity For Women Worldwide, to a packed audience in Pope Auditorium at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus as part of the Phi Beta Kappa Lecture Series on Jan. 13.

He started his lecture with poverty and the dire situation of girls in rural China, and ended with the difficulty of effective intervention in the developing world, touching upon human trafficking, forced marriages of 13-year-old girls and mortality in childbirth along the way.

First, Kristof brought the audience back to rural China in 1990, describing the difficulty of keeping one 13-year-old girl in school in a small village because her parents could not afford the annual tuition of $13 (which included room and board).

“So many girls had to drop out of school because parents didn’t want to pay $13 in school fees for a daughter,” he said. “You should be educated not by your chromosomes, but by your intellectual ca-

pacity.”

According to Kristof, girls are not valued as much as boys in the developing world. “There isn’t enough food, so you starve your daughter to feed your son.”

He also told the audience about buying two women out of the Cambodian sex trade and helping to set them up in business with NGOs. “One cost $150, and the other just over $200,” he said. “I got receipts. When you get a receipt for another human being in the 21st century, it really brings home the dire circumstances for women.”

He called the oppression of women and girls “the moral challenge of our time,” similar to the problem of slavery in the 19th century and totalitarianism in the 20th century. Despite all of the problems he presented, however, Kristof is hopeful that their lives can be changed, and that empowering and educating women is a way to transform their societies.

“Women are not the problem, women are the solution,” he said.

He is optimistic about aiding change, not least because helping to do so can transform the lives of the donors.

“We have found out that if donors get involved, if they do more than give money, they are uplifted, too,” Kristof said. “When one engages in a cause larger than oneself,

it gives one a new perspective.”

The Graduate School of Education hosted the Phi Beta Kappa lecture in addition to a reception and book signing for Kristof following his talk.

Psychology Professor Receives Lifetime Achievement Award Dr. Celia B. Fisher, the Marie Ward Doty chair in psychology and director of Center for Ethics Education at Fordham, received a lifetime achievement award in the category of Award of Excellence from the Health Improvement Institute (HII) as one of the two researchers nationwide who promoted the protection of vulnerable, marginalized and at-risk participants through research.

The awards were announced on Dec. 6 by Dr. Peter G. Goldschmidt, M.D., president and founder of the HII, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality and productivity of America’s healthcare. Angela J. Bowen, M.D. (chair, board of directors, Western Institutional Review Board, Inc.) and three institutions working for ethical conduct in research, were also recognized.

Fisher is a nationally recognized expert who has chaired research ethics committees for the De-

partment of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency. Her recent work has focused on the ethics of research involving homeless and socially marginalized street drug users, with a particular focus on issues facing research workers collecting data in the field.

“Research must reflect the values and merits of those we are studying,” Fisher said in a recent interview about her work. “We must understand what their perspectives are; those perspectives must inform how we work. Otherwise, we could be harming them in ways we don’t realize.”

The Award program was created by the Health Improvement Institute and the Office of Human Research Protection was its founding sponsor. This year’s judges were drawn from provider, research review, compliance, legal and consulting organizations.

1841 Awards Celebrate Excellence as Employees and Individuals Fordham honored its employees with at least 20 years of service with medals at the annual 1841 Awards ceremony.

The 28th annual ceremony was held on Dec. 15 at Duane Library on the Rose Hill campus, where

15 employees were honored for a collective 300 years of service. The event was followed by a reception full of laughs, tears of joy and buckets of pride. The festive gathering included family members, former 1841 Award recipients, co-workers and many children.

At the event, the awardees’ personal anecdotes were heard and were praised for their exemplary work and dedication to the University.

“This is what Fordham is all about,” Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, said. “Fordham is a community bound together by love and able to move forward precisely because it is bound by love. It is our great fortune to have you — the ministers the Lord has sent to us to give life to this community. You minister to us with enthusiasm, humor, great devotion and extraordinary professionalism, generosity beyond measure and with great love.”

“On behalf of all here at Fordham, I thank you for all that you have done. I praise you for the life that you have given to the community and I beg you to stay at least 20 more years,” Father McShane said.

Former President James C. Finlay, S.J., established the 1841 award in 1982, in honor of the year Archbishop John Hughes founded Fordham.

PAGE 4 • THE RAM • JANUARY 26, 2011

NEWS

University to Break Ground on New Law School

By PATRICK DEROCHER SENIOR EXECUTIVE EDITOR

After a years-long series of legal battles, construction of the new law school and dormitory building at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus is set to begin this month, with an anticipated completion date of fall 2014.

Members of the University Board of Trustees unanimously approved the construction plans at the board’s meeting on Dec. 9, 2010, according to an e-mail that Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, sent to students the following day.

The construction project, which is a central piece of the University’s Excelsior | Ever Upward | The Campaign for Fordham’s fundraising initiative, has been delayed on numerous occasions by lawsuits, appeals and hearings. It cleared a final major hurdle on Aug. 18, 2010, when the Supreme Court of the State of New York dismissed a suit filed by residents of the Alfred Condominium on West 61st Street. The suit alleged that the Lincoln Center development plan, approved by the New York City Council in June 2009, was not in the spirit of land-use agreements to which the University agreed in 1961 when land was allocated for the campus.

“As you know, the University has been working quite assiduously for more than seven years to secure all of the necessary approvals from the City of New York and to line up financing for this project, and it was only in the past few months that we were able to overcome all of the obstacles that stood in our way,” McShane wrote in his e-mail.

He went on to assign responsibility for the relatively lengthy con-

COURTESY OF FORDHAM.EDU

Shown here in a rendering from Fordham University’s capital campaign Web site, the new law school building will be constructed over the next three years.

struction time, estimated at three or more years, to the complexities of the building’s design and the tendency construction in Manhattan to take a long time.

The new building’s architect is Pei Cobb Freed and Partners, a New York-based firm whose past projects include the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and an expansion to Paris’s Louvre museum. Standing 22 stories high, the $250-million building will house the Fordham University School of Law on the bottom nine stories and a dormitory housing about 430 undergraduate students will occupy the upper 12.

William Treanor, dean of the Georgetown University Law Center and former dean of the Fordham University School of Law, was complimentary of the building’s design.

“Pei Cobb has designed a building that is both elegant and iconic,” he said. “Even more important, the building will help advance the law school’s academic mission because it will provide the law school with critically necessary space and because the space has been designed with modern legal pedagogy in mind.”

With the new building, the law school’s square footage will more than double from 159,000 square feet to 349,000. This, according to McShane’s statement, will allow the

school to offer its students services that had previously been unavailable in its current, much smaller space.

Additionally, the residence hall, the campus’s first since McMahon Hall opened in 1993, will allow for a much larger, more geographically diverse student population at the Lincoln Center campus.

“When the Law School moves into its new home, the present Law School building will become available for use by schools and other units of the Lincoln Center community,” McShane said.

“As a result, these schools will finally be able to move forward with academic programs that we have dreamed of for many years, and to

provide our graduate and undergraduate students with better services,” he continued, emphasizing that the space freed up by the law school’s move would improve the quality and services of the rest of the academic units at Lincoln Center.

The presence of a long-term construction project has raised some questions regarding the student experience at Lincoln Center in the intervening time, an issue that McShane addressed.

“The coming years will, I am sure, be filled with some degree of disruption on the Lincoln Center campus,” he said. “I assure you, however, that we will do all we can to minimize that disruption.”

Fordham Replacing Aging Power Supplies at Keating Hall

By CONNIE KIM NEWS EDITOR

As part of a multi-year plan to replace the electrical infrastructure on Fordham’s Rose Hill campus, there has been construction work going on right outside of Keating Hall to replace the old main power supplies that run underground.

The campus has a power supply distribution network that is fed from Consolidated Edison off Fordham Road. The University owns the four main power lines that are underground, which are connected to the center of campus underneath McGinley Center.

Currently, the main power lines that Fordham owns are over 50 years old, which is too old to function properly.

“We are trying to replace [two of the four main power lines] now when there is less electric demand

because there is no use of air conditioning going on,” Marc Valera, vice president for Facilities Management, said. “The power lines come in through John Mulcahy Hall right to the south corner of Keating Hall, and as you can see, we have dug from Keating all the way down towards the steps that lead into McGinley center. We are working on replacing the old ones with a new electrical conduit, often called duct bank.”

Since the campus can function properly with only two of the four of main power lines, the construction work does not cause any electrical problems on campus. The other two lines are to be replaced later in the year.

Although there has been a delay due to the recent bad weather conditions, the construction work is set to be completed by midFebruary.

PHOTOS BY NORA MALLOZZI/ THE RAM

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PAGE 7

Point-Counterpoint: Revising Huck Finn

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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been published in numerous editions, but a recent edition, which replaces the “n-word” with “slave,” has stirred up controversy and objections from readers.

Removing Controversial Term Highlights Importance of Language in Novel

By BRIAN KRAKER OPINIONS EDITOR

Nigger: With its utterance taboo and usage censored by the media, the term bestowed with the moniker “n-word” may be the most polarizing word in the English language. This word conjures up images of America’s most extreme racial depravity and decades of cruelty enacted toward a single race. The word is so incendiary that many readers may not comprehend the content of this opening paragraph merely because of its use.

The “n-word” recently made headlines again, when publisher NewSouth Books announced a revised edition of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Led by Twain scholar Alan Gribben, the new version of the novel has replaced the “n-word” with “slave,” in an attempt to produce a text more suitable for young students in classroom settings. Yet the literary community has slandered the alternate version’s blasphemous censorship of a classic novel.

“I think [Twain] chose his words carefully and hoped that such diction would enable future generations to better understand the reality of this time,” Ashley Terletzky, a public high school teacher in New Jersey, said.

Although revising the text of Twain’s novel is an affront on the writer’s intent, these edits make the text accessible to a wider audience of young readers. The inflammatory nature of the “n-word” often creates awkwardness in classroom settings.

When students are asked to produce passages that bolster classroom discussion, repeating the word aloud may cause students to shy away from participation.

The goal of English courses is to encourage students to engage in literature, not to shy away from it. This edition serves as a PG version of Huck Finn, allowing young readers to enjoy Twain’s classic novel without the deterrent “n-word.”

Due to the inclusion of a single word, Huck Finn has been disappearing from curriculums across the country. Included on the list of mostcommonly challenged books in the United States, the novel’s accessibility has diminished over the years. The altered copy allows the banned book back into the classroom where it belongs.

The subdued version of Huck Finn parallels the traditional Thanksgiving story taught to children.

Staff Poll: When The Ram was polled, 2 staff members supported the revisions, 19 staff members did not.

Youths first learn of the camaraderie between Pilgrims and Indians, celebrating a communal effort to thwart a winter with a bountiful feast. Only years later do they learn of Indian reservations, the Trail of Tears and the subjugation of an entire race at the hands of the Pilgrims’ descendants. Its often necessary to present children with a tamer version of history or literature for them to gain interest in the subject, before teaching them the stark reality of mankind’s utter brutality.

Yet the awkwardness produced by this work may be a necessary evil of Twain’s novel. The author produced a book to portray the immorality of racism, not to glorify bigotry.

“The awkwardness students feel when they come across this word is essential in helping them to confront the casual way in which the word was used back then and the prejudices associated with it,” Terletzky said. “In fact, I kind of think Twain would have wanted us to feel this awkwardness.”

While the absence of the “n-word” certainly detracts from the provocative language of Huck Finn, it also highlights the significance of using the term. When students read the neutered version of Twain’s novel, there is a palpable difference in tone from the original. The magnitude of Huck’s climatic epiphany is lessened with the preceding inflammatory language, therefore highlighting the insidious nature of the word.

This revision serves as a linguistic study of the power of a single word. By replacing the “nword” with “slave,” the meaning of the book is significantly altered. This version serves as a testament to the power of a single word; however, the weight this term holds is only realized once it is removed.

This edition is not a revisionist threat against history, but simply an alternate version. Just as Shakespearean dramas are adapted to contemporary settings and speech, this revision is eliminating a once-acceptable word that has become taboo in modern context.

The “n-word” should not be eradicated from history or even classic literature. This revision is not a perfect way to introduce young students to Twain’s literature; however, it serves as a suitable compromise for the polarizing debate that has arisen around the “n-word.”

Brian Kraker, FCRH ’12, is an English and computer science major from Pompton Lakes, N.J. He can be reached at kraker@fordham.edu.

Revising Mark Twain’s Book Deprives Students of Full Discussion on Racism

By CHRISTOPHER KENNEDY STAFF WRITER

Not everyone will get a trophy. The Tooth Fairy is not real. You will not be able to buy a BMW right out of college. These are a few difficult facts of life. Not everything is warm and fuzzy. In fact, humanity has the potential to act in absolutely vile ways on an incredibly large scale. The longer we deprive children of these facts, the more we warp, perhaps permanently, their perception of the world.

Yet this seems to be what NewSouth Books is doing by removing the “n-word” from Mark Twain’s classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. By using a “censored” book such as this in classrooms, educators everywhere are missing out on a valuable chance to teach their students about an ugly but important part of American history.

We all know that racism has existed in this country for far too long. Yet most evidence for this comes from secondary sources, such as reading about Rosa Parks or Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-ins. Huck Finn, however, presents a way to understand racism firsthand. While the novel has been called an attack on racism by some Twain scholars, others say that it doesn’t go far enough. A flashpoint of this argument, of course, is the “n-word” used by all characters, but especially by Huck himself. No matter how racist these characters thought they were, their perception of race was obviously influenced by the 18th-century society in which Twain lived (the novel was published in December 1884 and takes place before the Civil War).

If people truly want to work against racism, they need to understand its origins and its history. Huck Finn, a novel written when racism was rampant, shows a time when some people thought of African-Americans as second-class citizens. Thus, the novel uses the “n-word,” frequently and without regard for its potential to harm. Twain makes no effort to hide the ugly truth of the late 19th century. Why should we?

Those in favor of the edited edition have argued that this will open up Huck Finn to a much wider audience. I question their premise on face. There is no doubt that the “n-word” is inherently uncomfortable, but removing it completely denies readers the opportunity to discuss why Huck would talk that way. Discussion about the word could also lead into talk about

use of such language today, what it means for a society struggling to overcome racial boundaries and how to prevent its use. The word needs to be treated delicately, but that does not mean it ought to be glossed over.

The other issue here is replacing the word with “slave.” The character the “n-word” most frequently refers to is Jim, an escaped slave.

Thus, the use of the word “slave” is historically improper in terms of the plot. Second, “slave” detracts from the strong, almost biting vernacular in which the novel was written.

One solution might be to delay teaching the book until higher grade levels, where an intelligent, more nuanced conversation can take place regarding Huck Finn, the society in which it takes place and what the book means for combating racism, then and now.

Even simply removing the book from school curriculums might be a better option, if the outcry is so large. Once we start changing great literature, we risk completely revamping the point of the work and ruining the author’s intentions.

I am reminded of one of the last scenes of my favorite movies, Thank You For Smoking, when the vehemently anti-cigarette senator Ortolan Finisterre announces a plan to digitally remove cigarettes from classic movies. He claims he is not changing history, merely “improving” it.

This, obviously, is classic Christopher Buckley satire. While the “n-word” is a much more serious issue than Humphrey Bogart’s habits onscreen, the underlying issue is the same. There are people, in this case the editors at NewSouth Books, who think that they have to take it upon themselves to clean up a nasty bit of history from over 100 years ago and to make it more palatable for today’s schoolchildren.

Racism and racial slurs are big issues that require complex conversation. I do not think there is a better place to start than with the attitudes and language of a great American novel.

Teaching The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is, I believe, a great way to explain that history is not all good news, and that humanity will be all the better for ridding itself of any feelings that caused Huck to think and speak the way he did. The topic will be difficult and in many cases fraught with emotion, but it must start somewhere.

Christopher Kennedy, FCRH ’12, is a theology major from Mystic, Conn.

OPINIONS

PAGE 8 • THE RAM • JANUARY 26, 2011

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From the Desk of Tom Haskin, Copy Editor One must be wary when objecting to the ways in which any sizeable research university spends its money. Invariably, there will be waste or imprudence in some form; at the very least, money is allocated in a manner that leaves somebody peeved. Dealing with an operating budget in the hundreds of millions of dollars is no simple task.

That being said, Fordham cannot be immune to all criticism of its budgeting, and it would be hard to argue that there is no need for improvement. In an attempt to rein in broad condemnations without practical solutions, I’ll try to keep my suggestions specific and limited.

Returning from my first experience with Global Outreach a week ago (the New York City project), I gushed about the program to anyone who would listen.

It was 10 days of reflection and “simple living,” of doing service work around the city and learning its history and culture, all while building a tight-knit community within a small group of peers. Nearly everyone I’ve ever spoken to about GO! programs has had genuinely positive, if not life-altering, experiences. The trips seem to be the perfect way to complement our Jesuit education.

If, indeed, the University and the Office of Student Leadership and Community Development saw Global Outreach as such an advantageous (if not essential) portion of one’s undergraduate experience, it would stand to reason that University funding for the trips would allow for as many students as possible to partake. But with more than half

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the best way to complement our education?

Unfortunately, the athletic office is not unique in its confounding practices. Take, for example, residence hall programming.

Though of course not every program needs to be to the Metropolitan Opera, the larger-thanlife-sized DJ Pauly D that greets me every time I walk out the door in O’Hare certainly sends a message. People can surely indulge in MTV, but when the University seems to be so openly advocating for it (and purchasing Tino’s for those watching the show), while kids either can’t afford or don’t get into something like a GO! project, I think it’s time we reassess our priorities.

I’m not saying that Fordham should pay for every kid who wants to run around South Africa or India for a week or two. The GO! program has an intensive application process that demonstrates the gravity of the commitment. Still, when 50 or more kids apply to one project with just 10 slots, what are we to tell those 40 others? Send them over to the Rose Hill Gym? Try out Residence Halls Association programming and win an iPad in a raffle? Go listen to Howard Dean or Newt Gingrich spew out the same meaningless political jargon that you could watch for free on cable news?

(To that last point, should Fordham really be spending tens of thousands of dollars for political celebrities to tell us that young people are the future of this country, or should that same Student Activities Fee money be used to support something like GO?)

Global Outreach aims to expand from its current 28 projects to 35 by 2016. This seems like an obtainable goal. But for every student who cannot participate because of cost or simply because of the quantity of applications, Fordham is losing something.

The argument also is not that skipping on Tino’s every Thursday night or on a batch of basketball t-shirts would miraculously pay for dozens of international plane flights. Obviously, the budgets for Residential Life, OSL&CD and the athletics department do not intersect in a way that allows for simple reallocations. When RHA is spending its money marketing football games when we already have an athletic office with full-time employees to do the same, however, it is quite apparent that we need to reassess the big picture.

What I’m most concerned about is the message that the University appears to be sending to its students. Entertainment has its place in a college student’s life, but so should reflective, educational and provocative experiences like GO! projects. When it’s so much easier and more accessible to find the former on this campus, it begs the question of what it really means to become a well-rounded individual at this Jesuit school.

The Value of Men’s Studies Programs

By KEVIN GUHIN STAFF WRITER

Copy Chief Celeste Kmiotek Copy Team Danny Atkinson Abigail Forget Tom Haskin Sean McGonigle Olivia Monaco Erik Pedersen Hussein Safa

of the projects costing upward of $1,000, it makes one wonder what exactly this University desires its students to do outside of the classroom.

If recent e-mails are any indication, the school wants its students to attend more basketball games.

As someone who frequents both men’s and women’s games, I am not opposed to last year’s massive budget increase. I support using college athletic teams as a way to build school unity, increase national profile and garner alumni donations.

Over the last few months, however, the crowds continue to be sparse while I have acquired, via game-day giveaways, multiple basketball and football jerseys, two winter hats, bumper stickers, bandanas, plastic cones, countless posters and no fewer than eight new t-shirts. If this is what the Board of Trustees approved last February, I’m scratching my head.

In the meantime, students have won cruise vacations while accumulating Ram Rewards points to turn into Best Buy gift certifiates, among other prizes, at the end of the year. Some of these giveaways admittedly come from special donations, but they still propogate an environment that suggests these are the things Fordham students should care about.

Perhaps Fordham would like its students to spend more of their free time supporting their classmates on the court, by no means a dishonorable aspiration.

But when students are literally paid to show up at games, many times leaving as soon as the booty is collected, I wonder why, exactly, the University thinks this is

For thousands of years, history has largely been (pardon the pun) his story. The hegemonic dominance of men in culture, philosophy and politics through a classically liberal education is inescapable and creates a large void in the study of women and the qualities attributed to them or femininities. The women’s studies movement worked to correct this imbalance by studying women and femininities throughout history and in the sciences to provide a more balanced and informative understanding of gender, society, history and the arts and sciences.

“Women’s studies offer history from the woman’s point of view,” Hallie Bowen, FCRH ’13 and a women’s studies major, said. She stressed that this was “a point of view rarely seen in most history classes.”

The need to reexamine the roles, treatments and depictions of women throughout history is an obvious necessity in a modern liberal arts college; however numerous universities, including Fordham, are now offering courses with a slightly different object of focus: masculinities.

Why study something that already pervades our culture? The insights can be surprising. Last

year I took a course called Writing Whiteness with Dr. Glen Hendler, director of the American studies program. The class studied the concept of whiteness as exemplified through film, literature, academic theory and philosophy. Growing up in suburban Nebraska, I never thought about what it means to be a white male or what effect those social constructs could have on my experience. I asked Dr. Hendler on the merits of studying a dominant group.

“Men have been studied plenty,” he said. “We don’t need men’s studies to ‘balance’ women’s studies, because the study of men still dwarfs the study of women. But men have been studied as if they had no gender (just as white people have been studied as if they had no race).

Men (like whites) have been treated as if they are the norm, and as if their particular ideas and perspectives were universal. The study of masculinity is an argument against both of those claims, normativity and universality. What happens if we study masculinity as a particular, partial perspective, rather than talking about ‘Man’ as the bearer of universal values? I think that’s where we get new insights . . . into the things we thought we knew already, as well as perhaps some really new knowledge.”

The point of courses studying masculinity should not be to focus

on man as a universal type, but on differing types of masculinity as social constructs throughout history.

Fordham’s women’s studies program offers a course called Men & Masculinity with the psychology department. Dr. Judith Green, the co-director of women’s studies, explained to me that the study of masculinities does not conflict with the study of femininities; in fact the two can work together as part of a greater pluralism of critical theories to broaden understanding and support for the rights and privileges of both groups. Both the study of men and the study of women both further the field of gender studies, which though it may not equally focus on both genders, finds valuable insights to both.

Dr. Green also pointed out an important distinction in the critique that history has already focused enough on men, but history has not focused on all men equally. Another benefit of the greater pluralism of critical gender theories is that the specific history of masculinities in marginalized groups can be studied and better understood. Although the sto-

ries of America’s founding fathers already offer a strong perspective on what it means to be a white landowner in the Northeast during the early days of the republic, it does not cover what it means to be a Native American man in the same time and place.

The study of masculinity is especially important because so much of history focuses on the lifestyle and accomplishments of men. It is not an attempt to diminish the value of women’s studies, but to enhance it by reexamining the assumptions and paradoxes that permeate the view of manhood, paternalism and other expressions of masculinity.

Kevin Guhin, FCRH ’12, is an English major from West Chester, P.A.

LAURIE HARKER/MCT

OPINIONS

JANUARY 26, 2011 • THE RAM • PAGE 9

Knowing Foreign Languages Is Vital Instead of Cutting Language Programs, Universities Should Emphasize Learning to Communicate in a Global Community

Unfairr Trade Eric Horvath Sudan for Sale

JARED LAZARUS/MCT

Classes teaching foreign languages, like Spanish, are valuable to students of all majors and disciplines, and will help them operate in an increasingly global world.

By SARAH TEYSSEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

With government-subsidized public universities and private schools alike tightening their budgets, there seems to be agreement on the perfect area to make some deep cuts: foreign languages. For example, the State University of New York at Albany recently suspended majors in French, Italian and Russian. The high cost of the small and interactive course setup required to teach languages well, the long time period necessary to acquire proficiency and concerns about the relevance of “outdated” European languages like French or German all contribute to many schools cutting the availability of majors or even any coursework in many languages. After all, the whole world speaks English anyway, right?

Even Fordham, a school that prides itself in preparing its students for “leadership in a global society,” is no exception. The core curriculum does not require students earning a Bachelor of Science degree to pass an exit-level foreign language course. While it might make sense to lift the burden of up to five additional courses off of pre-med students and others looking for careers in mathematics or the natural sciences, the waiver also applies to those earning degrees in the Gabelli School of Business.

Because GSB considers globalization one of its four areas of focus, the fact that its students do not need to learn any foreign

language seems ironic. Yes, most of the world can communicate in English, but is that enough? If GSB students really aspire to form networks and business relations around the world, they will need to be able to connect with business partners on a deeper level than just being able to get ideas across.

Everyone knows that if you order something in English in a restaurant abroad you will get your food, but if you make the effort to order in the local language, you will be greeted with an extra portion of admiration, friendliness and maybe even a free appetizer. In the

but in actuality there is no major, especially in the social sciences, that cannot be substantively enhanced by proficiency in a foreign language. Being able to read Rousseau, Aristotle, Kant and Marx in their original languages opens up a new world of meaning and true opportunity for scholarship and any relevant contemporary research in the social sciences will be severely limited if you cannot fully communicate with and thus truly grasp the background of those you are researching. For example, if you want to research the political issues that shape American politics today, Arabic and Farsi are invaluable; if you want

to understand evolving economic forces, Hindi and Mandarin will certainly come in handy, and anyone who wants to analyze current events will benefit from being able to read foreign news sources.

Studying foreign languages is essential to almost all academic disciplines and certainly to those aiming for Bachelor of Arts and business degrees, but Fordham should require all of its students to study languages up to the exit level. Fordham is known for its core and for giving its students a structure that requires them to study those disciplines that Fordham deems essential for being an all-around educated person, such history and philosophy, and in no way can it be justified that foreign languages are excluded from this list. There might, however, be ways for making the large requirement more relevant and approachable to non-foreign language majors.

Lower credit options might make it easier to fit foreign language study into crammed schedules, pass-fail based courses would encourage those afraid of studying more challenging options and departments supporting the study of specific languages through counting them as electives to their majors might help. Come on Fordham, let students show the world that Americans do own passports and are prepared to be true leaders in a global society by respecting that there are, in fact, people who do not speak English.

Sarah Teyssen, FCRH ’13, is an international politcal economy major from Erding, Germany.

Deborah Plummer, The Huffington Post

Allahpundit, Hot Air

“It will certainly be a different visual to not see half the room applauding and standing while the other half sits with folded hands.

If Democrats sit with Republicans, the movement will resemble the Whaca-Mole pop up heads in carnivals which is, at least, a far more interesting visual.”

“Does anyone think having Republicans sit next to Democrats for an hour will do anything to ‘improve the discourse’? There are plenty of other lame gestures you could make off-camera that really might increase the degree of civility, however negligibly: More inter-caucus luncheons.”

“What about all those liberal arts majors who love to rant against Fordham’s huge core and, especially, the multi-course language requirement when they are not too busy complaining about Caf food?” business world, this might translate into having the competitive edge in a million-dollar contract.

Many business students do understand that and the G.L.O.B.E concentration, the only GSB program requiring foreign language study, is becoming increasingly popular.

It seems relatively easy to convince business students of the importance of acquiring skills in languages such as Mandarin Chinese, especially as the economic power centers of the world are shifting so drastically. What about all those liberal arts majors who love to rant against Fordham’s huge core and, especially, the multi-course language requirement when they are

Issue of the Week:

Congress Seating A Look at the World Outside of Fordham from the Perspective of Professional News Bloggers

not too busy complaining about Caf food? Most cannot wait until they can concentrate on taking courses in their political science, history, philosophy, economics or communications majors and try to get the requirement out of the way by taking one or two courses in the language they already learned in high school, usually Spanish or French.

Of course there are general advantages to learning foreign languages, such as getting true insight into foreign cultures and realizing that the rest of the world does not in fact revolve around America,

See what commentators from the Left and the Right have to say about seating arrangements in Congress

Sitting in my apartment, hammering away at the million or so little dots that will be required to fill in a stippled map of Africa, I considered how my map may be outdated before I even finish it; Southern Sudan’s recent referendum to secede from the north is predicting an overwhelming vote for its independence. The disappointment is not that the country borders I have currently outlined will be incorrect in a few months, but that through so much civil war they have endured so unquestioned.

Partisanship in the United States provides a compelling parallel to the tribal distinctions that so strongly influence African politics and fuel African unrest. Like ethnic loyalties, partisanship seems to cloud rationality by requiring a sometimes-blind adherence to one’s party, regardless of its efficacy. American partisanship has proved to be so divisive that basic rights, such as health care, are boiled down to your affinity for red or blue, not insuring impoverished children. Tribal affiliations create a similar, yet more flagrant, stagnation, one where conflicts often come in the form of civil war.

“Working both sides of the aisle” in Africa is difficult when filibusters come in the form of gunfire.

As troublesome as partisanship is, it does not equate to ethnic loyalties (that would be like being cousins with every one of your fellow Democrats or Republicans).

Understanding the troubles partisanship causes domestically, I see few reasons why efforts like Sudanese secession have not been considered earlier and more often in Africa.

The United States is ensuring that the South’s vote for independence proceeds uninterrupted, surrounding its revolutionary rhetoric with the so-called victory for peace and human rights. Soon to be freed from the despotic political impunity of Khartoum, Southern Sudan’s massive oil reserves will be open for business to its allies abroad.

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, shares several similarities with Sudan; it is divided between Muslims and Christians, has an ongoing history of sectarian violence and, most importantly, has oil.

In the last decade, thousands of people have died in Nigeria due to ethnic clashes, which are only exacerbated by the imposition of Islamic Sharia law in several of its northern states. More than half of all Nigerians live in poverty, and presidential politics in the upcoming election this spring is creating national anxiety.

Nigeria is the United States’ fifth largest oil supplier.

Maybe not as drastic as complete secession, but shouldn’t we be at least considering a Sudanesestyle approach to the similarly beleaguered Nigeria?

On second thought, best not to fix something that’s not broken.

Eric Horvath, FCRH ’11, is an English and economics major from Long Island, N.Y.

PAGE 10 • THE RAM • JANUARY 26, 2011

OPINIONS

College Students Learn More than Study Concludes

By RACHEL RATTENNI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Several recent New York Times articles have reviewed the findings of sociologists Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa from New York University and the University of Virginia, respectively, who searched to answer the question of how much undergraduates actually learn in college.

Arum and Roksa followed a group of 2,300 college students from 24 universities through four years of college and into the job market, testing them in the areas of critical thinking, analytical reasoning and written communication. In their recently published book, Academically Adrift, Arum and Roksa reported the findings of the first two years of their study. The book concluded that by the end of their sophomore year, college students generally have not improved in the above-mentioned areas.

So are we really learning anything in college?

While the tone and conclusion of Academically Adrift insinuate that students are not learning in college, that conclusion is not entirely supported by the actual results of Arum and Roksa’s research. They say that by the end of their sophomore year, 45 percent of the students they followed showed little to no progress, a statistic that is not conclusive of their claim that the majority of college students are not learning anything. In addition, testing only for improvements in critical thinking, analytical reasoning and written communication eliminates everything students learn that is specific to their

DAWN MAJORS/MCT

Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa’s study suggests that many students learn little during their first two years of college.

major, which arguably makes up at least half of an undergraduate education. It is possible to assess how much is learned in college without accounting for major-specific knowledge.

According to their study, it seems as if college students feel they are not learning. However, when asked whether or not she believed she had improved in the areas of critical thinking, analytical reasoning and written communication throughout college, Jaclyn Lyman, FCRH and Goucher College ’07, believed she had.

“Absolutely; the repeated practice of assignments such as papers and lab reports led me to produce work I never would have been able to in high school,” she said. “I also wouldn’t have been able to get my current job at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center without my undergraduate coursework.”

Grace Curatola, Tisch School of the Arts at NYU ’14, agreed.

“I’ve definitely been improving,” she said. “My classes in college have been more challenging than those I took in high school. I also must say that while

I believe I have been improving, I have also been working very hard. I have gotten a lot out of my classes because I have put a lot into them; had I done the bare minimum, my gains would not have been as great.”

The underlying concept that students get out of college what they put into it is supported by Arum’s and Roksa’s research, which found that 32 percent of the students they followed did not take courses requiring over 40 pages of reading per week and 50 percent did not take courses where they had to write over 20 pages per semester. Unsurprisingly, they also found that the students who had taken classes requiring more reading and writing, or who studied for longer periods of time independently, scored higher on their diagnostic test, a finding that bodes well for Fordham’s large core curriculum, where even the courses required for freshmen are supposed to consist of over 20 pages of writing per semester or well over 40 pages of reading per week.

For many students, college is the first time during which they can really

choose the classes they want to take, how much effort they want to put into those classes and, sometimes, whether or not they even want to attend those classes. It is not surprising that of a group of students with such a high percentage who elect to take courses with minimal reading and writing requirements, 45 percent showed little improvement in their critical thinking, analytical reasoning and written communication skills. Perhaps Arum and Roksa’s study would have been stronger had it tested for how much motivated students who were taking challenging classes are learning in college.

Arum and Roksa’s study has another serious shortfall, in that it did not take into account that a significant part of what is learned in college has nothing to do with academics.

“My professors at Fordham have challenged and pushed me academically in a way unlike any challenges I had in high school,” Erin Murphy, FCRH ’14 said when asked what she has been learning. “I’ve also benefitted from being surrounded by racially,

socioeconomically and sexual-orientationally diverse students, who have been more likely to engage in an intellectual conversation than my more gossip-focused high school classmates were. Some of my most mind-opening conversations have been with other students at Fordham.”

The opportunity to engage socially with diverse students and to meet people whom students may not previously have met is an invaluable aspect of a college education that is hard to quantify.

Perhaps the main issue in Academically Adrift is not that there is a lack of learning taking place at American colleges, but that the college system allows for unmotivated students to slide by and earn a college degree without putting in substantial work. On the bright side, the results of Arum and Roksa’s research show that motivated students will continue to do well, as they found that their students with higher GPAs were more likely to be employed after college.

It seems that the review of Academically Adrift should have read, “Study finds that students at U.S. colleges are only learning if they are challenging themselves in their classes,” not “Almost everyone strives to go, but almost no one asks the fundamental question posed by Academically Adrift: are undergraduates really learning anything once they get there? For a large proportion of students, Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa’s answer to that question is a definitive no,” (The University of Chicago Press), but that probably would not have sold very many books.

Rachel Rattenni, FCRH ’14, is a biology major from East Hampton, N.Y.

JANUARY 26, 2011

PAGE 11

Ophiuchus Constellation Joins the Zodiac Signs

By CELESTE KMIOTEK COPY CHIEF

“What’s your sign?”

It is the quintessential pickup line. It is a cultural mainstay.

People everywhere, with varying degrees of seriousness and caring, at the very least know what their astrological sign is and that it, supposedly, affects their personalities and fortunes. Based on the constellations, these can allegedly serve as guides as to when to pursue certain feats, how to get along with certain people and, yes, whom one should date.

A recent controversy, however, has put these identities into doubt.

According to The Washington Post, a story run in The Minneapolis Star Tribune, which was written by Parke Kunkle, a Minneapolis astronomy instructor, triggered the controversy. The story described how the earth wobbles on its axis, changing the relation of the planet to the stars and thus changing the astrological signs.

The New York Daily News later clarified, saying that the Eastern philosophy of astrology, which calculates the signs based on the relations of the constellations to Earth, was forced to add the new constellation Ophiuchus, and thus the corresponding zodiac sign, to the traditional 12 signs as Earth shifted its position in relation to the stars.

According to Kunkle’s studies, the new order is: Capricorn ( Jan. 20-

Feb. 16), Aquarius (Feb. 16-Mar. 11), Pisces (Mar. 11-Apr. 18), Aries (Apr. 18-May 13), Taurus (May 13-June 21), Gemini ( June 21-July 20), Cancer ( July 20-Aug. 10), Leo (Aug. 10- Sept. 16), Virgo (Sept.

16-Oct. 30), Libra (Oct. 20-Nov. 23), Scorpio (Nov. 23-Nov. 29), Ophiuchus (Nov. 29-Dec. 17) and Sagittarius (Dec. 17-Jan. 20).

Meanwhile, in the more mainstream Western philosophy, which is based on Earth’s relation to the Sun and is thus established by the seasons, nothing has changed.

In this philosophy, which is the theory used by astrologers who create newspaper horoscopes and the like, the zodiac will continue to include the same 12 constellations and signs. Even within the Eastern philosophy, the technicalities preclude most people from being affected. The Duquesne Duke further explained that the change in Eastern philosophy only occurs for those born after 2008.

The Duquesne Duke also stated that the constellation Ophiuchus is not new; it was first described by the polymath Ptolemy between the first and second century A.C.E. Ophiuchus is also known as the Serpent Bearer, according to The Minneapolis Star Tribune. Legends say he killed a snake, only to have another snake appear and heal the first one using an herb, identifying the constellation as a healer.

Despite the updated reports, people everywhere are in an uproar

over what this change could mean to their personal lives. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that responses to the original article ranged from anger to defiance to consternation to delight as people realized the signs they identified with had changed. Kunkle, meanwhile, admitted that he is enjoying the attention and said that over 100 media outlets have requested to talk with him.

“It’s unreal,” he said to The Minneapolis Star Tribune. “This has been an exhausting hoot.”

News outlets are taking the idea and running with it. The Washington Post’s “Celebritology” blog gave snide accounts of how this would change celebrity’s personalities and thus their futures, while people all over the Internet are announcing their feelings about their new sign, with most pledging allegiance to their original one.

“I think it’s bizarre that everything has been switched around,” Katie Corrado, FCRH ‘12, said.

“I’ve identified myself as an Aquarius my whole life and its odd to just hear that I’m now a different sign.

I don’t follow horoscopes or anything like that, so I question the alleged science behind the entire shift.”

Others, however, think the whole ordeal is being overblown, and are in fact disgusted with the whole premise.

“I don’t buy into the whole horoscope trend anyway,” David

McSkimming, FCRH ’12, said. “I think it’s extremely easy for people to tell you how your days are going to go and what your personality is like and to see those consistencies in your life, but I think it’s a whole other and more admirable endeavor to create your own identity. It’s a reflection of how gullible and nearsighted Americans are and how much control the media has over us.”

In the end, for those who follow horoscopes, whether for fun or for serious guidance, do not fear. Those who identified with Gemini’s multiple personalities do not have to worry about taking on a Taurus’s stubbornness, and an Aquarius happily dating a complimentary Leo no longer has to worry that he or she is now a Pisces dating an uncomplimentary Cancer. The stars say everything will work out fine.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Due to the earth’s wobble on its axis, Ophiuchus was added as a zodiac sign.

This Year’s Award Nomoniations Are Unsurprising

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Natalie Portman plays Nina Sayers, who who dances in the ballet Swan Lake, as part of her role in the movie Black Swan.

By SARAH RAMIREZ ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

The Screen Actors Guild Awards may be this Sunday night, Jan. 30, but the show everyone in Hollywood is buzzing about is the Academy Awards. This year’s nominees were announced on Tuesday, Jan. 25.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the organization behind the Oscars, has once again nominated 10 films for Best Picture. The movies range from mega-blockbuster like Inception and Toy Story 3 to limited financial successes like Winter’s Bone and 127 Hours. Leading the pack with 12 nominations this year is the British film The King’s Speech.

The King’s Speech, based on

the true story of King George VI, racked up three acting nominations, including a nod for Colin Firth, who was nominated last year for his work in A Single Man, the front-runner in the Best Actor race.

Geoffrey Rush (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Helena Bonham-Carter (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1) were also recognized for their supporting roles.

In addition to having the most nominations, The King’s Speech also recently won the Producers Guild of America award, making it a serious contender for the night’s top prize.

So far, its biggest competition is The Social Network, which has already dominated both the Critics’ Choice Awards and the Golden Globes.

The Social Network, a controversial retelling of the life of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, earned eight nominations, including one each for director David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and writer Aaron Sorkin (Charlie Wilson’s War). For his portrayal of Zuckerberg, Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland) received his first nomination, in the Best Actor category.

Fellow Best Actor nominees James Franco (127 Hours), Jeff Bridges (True Grit), and surprise nominee Javier Bardem (Eat, Pray, Love) for the Mexican movie Biutiful, which is also nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, will face off against Firth and Eisenberg.

Bardem’s inclusion likely made way for AMPAS’ snub of Mark Wahlberg (The Departed) for his performance as Mickey Ward in the boxing drama The Fighter. His co-star Christian Bale (The Dark Knight) scored a Best Supporting Actor nomination as Ward’s brother. The women in The Fighter, Amy Adams (Julie & Julia) and Melissa Leo (Frozen River), were both nominated in the Supporting Actress category.

The supporting categories are notorious for being unpredictable.

Nominees in the Supporting Actress race, Jackie Weaver (Animal Kingdom) and Bonham-Carter, are joining Adams and Leo. The sleep-

er in the race, however, is fourteenyear-old Hailee Steinfeld, Bridges’ co-star in the Western True Grit.

One of last year’s Best Actor nominees, Jeremy Renner (The Town), as well as first-time nominees John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone) and Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right), close out the Supporting Actor category.

One movie that surprisingly did not receive any nominations for supporting roles is the psychological thriller Black Swan. Both Mila Kunis (Book of Eli) and Barbara Hershey (Hoosiers) were snubbed for their roles as a sensual ballerina and stage mom, respectively.

Black Swan’s Natalie Portman (Brothers) did, however, receive a Best Actress nomination for her performance as a prima ballerina slowly delving into madness. Like Firth, Portman is essentially a lock for the Academy Award, solidified by her recent commercial, albeit not critical, success No Strings Attached.

If anyone is a threat to Portman’s chances, it is Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right), who has been nominated for Best Actress twice before. Bening’s fellow cast member, Julianne Moore (A Single Man), was snubbed in favor of Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole), as well as Sundance darlings Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) and Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine).

Although the Best Picture race

has been practically narrowed down to a two-man competition, True Grit is a dark horse, with 10 nominations, including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for the Coen Brothers (A Serious Man).

Fan favorite Inception was nominated for eight awards, tied with The Social Network. Writer-director Christopher Nolan’s (The Dark Knight) inexplicable shutout from the Best Director race hurt the picutres’s chances.

This year, the Academy has again neglected to recognize Leonardo DiCaprio (Revolutionary Road), despite critical acclaim for his performances in Inception, as well as Shutter Island (which received zero nominations).

With its Best Picture nomination, Toy Story 3 becomes the second Pixar film to be nominated for the category, after 2009’s Up. The movie also made history for being the first sequel to be nominated for Best Picture without the previous films being considered for the same award. Like most Pixar movies, Toy Story 3 is favored to win Best Animated Picture.

Although this year’s nominations did have its fair share of snubs, overall the Academy’s choices were unsurprising. The real drama will take place on Feb. 27, at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, hosted

by Anne Hathaway and James Franco.

CULTURE

PAGE 12• THE RAM •JANUARY26,2011

Cooking With Clara Clara Ennist

Dining Out: Gerbasi Ristorante

COLUMNIST

Most cooking articles and television programs make things seem quite simple, with everything precut and perfectly arranged. The truth is cooking can be rather tedious, difficult and costly. At some point in all of our lives, however, we will have to change our definition of “cooking” from boiling water for pasta and heating some canned tomato sauce. That’s where I make my grand entrance to try to bring you a new recipe each week, mingled with some advice, to make cooking slightly easier and cheaper.

Calabaza Soup Servings: 8-10 Cost Per Serving: about $1.60 Ingredients: -1/2 tablespoon butter -1/2 tablespoon olive oil -1 onion, chopped -1 carrot, chopped -1 stalk celery, chopped -1 green apple, peeled, cored and chopped -2 medium pieces of calabaza, peeled, seeded and chopped -4 cups chicken broth Dash each cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and pepper Directions: In a large saucepan, melt the butter and mix with oil. Sautée the onion, carrot and celery about five minutes, or until soft. Add the calabaza, apple, chicken broth and spices. Simmer for approximately 30 minutes or until the calabaza is soft. Using a blender or food processer, purée the soup.

Peeling the calabaza proved to be somewhat difficult though. I recommend first removing the seeds and then placing the calabaza on a microwave-safe plate and microwaving it on high for about seven minutes. Let it stand for five to ten minutes and then peel the skin off.

Variations: If serving the soup as a delicate starter, or if you have a sweet tooth, try putting a dash of cinnamon and a sprinkling of diced apples on the soup.

Making the soup was extremely easy, but it was time consuming to chop all of the vegetables. I even tried to use a Slap Chop which worked well for the more watery ingredients like the celery, apple and onion, but when I tried to use it on the carrot it was so temperamental that I decided not to even attempt it on the calabaza. Midway through cutting the calabaza, I began wondering what the point of making this soup was if I could easily buy one of those little cartons of butternut squash soup that are in the store.

Let me try to reassure myself, and you, as to why it is sometimes better to make the soup yourself than buy it from the store. Homemade soup curbs your sodium intake (the typical carton of soup contains one third your daily intake of salt). Also, you are left with a larger quantity at a lower cost. Lastly, if you are making this meal for someone other than yourself, it is much more impressive to be able to pour the freshly puréed soup into a bowl and garnish as you see fit than pour some cold soup out of a carton and place it in the microwave and I can think of more than one occasion when it is advantageous to be thought impressive.

and their taste buds. It is a comfortable place to go for lunch or dinner, featuring dishes from Carolei, Cosenza, in southern Italy.

Family portraits line the walls, and the serene atmosphere includes European music and painted brick walls.

There is a touch of originality in just about everything Gerbasi serves. A meal at Gerbasi starts with a basket of bread accompanied by a house original: a delicious dipping sauce made with

extra virgin olive oil, sun dried well. The portion was smaller than tomatoes, capers, olives, walnuts expected and could have used a few and anchovies. It was well-blended more raviolis or a side to go with and would be perfect on top of a the dinner. This original choice plate of pasta. If the dipping sauce is tasty, but the sauce, which was is not enough to prove that Gerbareminiscent of melted butter, has si’s ingredients are fresh, the main the potential to be over-the-top. course will.

A dish I would recommend In fact, Gerbasi gets their ingremost from Gerbasi Ristorante is dients delivered daily. This sometheir pollo marsala ($18.50), sautimes causes certain menu items to téed chicken with mushrooms in cost more than usual, but the taste a Marsala wine sauce. The large is worth it. portion came with an array of fanThe evening started with clams tastic grilled vegetables, including areganate ($9.50). The chef baked onions, carrots, peppers, eggplant, and stuffed half a dozen littleneck zucchini, string beans, artichokes clams with seasoned bread crumbs. and mushrooms.

The clams were baked well and the This is a classic Italian meal breading was light, but this was with a twist. It also has the perfect complimented by a thick lemon combination of sauce and chicken; sauce.

Gerbasi’s the meat was moist Overall baked clams did, without drownLocation however, have a little ing in the sauce. It Food Quality too much basil. appeared that the Atmosphere Hospitality Pera e Gorgonzola chicken was mariPrice $$ ($11.50) was Gernated, since it was basi’s recommended juicy throughout. A (Out of 4 ’s) salad of choice. This suggestion for those arugula based salad unsure about mushincluded pears and chunks of gorrooms: Ask for fewer mushrooms, gonzola cheese, topped with dried as Gerbasi tends to be very liberal walnuts and orange vinaigrette. with them.

This appetizer offers the best of A trip to Gerbasi Ristorante is a both worlds; the arugula alone personal dining experience, as all with just the dressing is extremely restaurant-goers are treated like light and has a citrus flavor. Yet, family. The list of specials can get when the gorgonzola and pears fairly extensive at times and the are added, the salad has a creamilighting, especially during dinner, ness and an extra crunch. This first is unnecessarily dim. The service, course was portioned well and however, might be the friendliest definitely enjoyable. on Arthur Avenue. The wait staff is Gerbasi makes all its own pasta readily available and always lookon premises. It seemed fitting, ing for good conversation. therefore, to order a pasta dish as Gerbasi has big plans for the fuone of the main courses. I chose ture, including a year-round backthe ravioli di zucca ($18.50), a yard patio and a private party area butternut-squash stuffed ravioli, in the basement. Multiple chefs which was served in a brown butare in the Gerbasi family, giving ter and sage sauce and topped with them a personal connection and parmigiano reggiano cheese. understanding of food. This place Though at first, this dish was makes typical meals in their classweet due to a sprinkle of brown sic kitchen, but puts an original sugar, the cheese brought the flaspin on their offerings, as if giving vors together and the pasta and their menu items a Gerbasi seal of squash complemented each other approval.

personally and professionally.

The issue The Fighter focused on most primarily was Ward’s half-brother and mentor, Dicky Eklund, who struggles with a drug adiction. Ecklund, played convincingly by Christian Bale (Public Enemies), was a local legend in Lowell, Mass. after knocking down Sugar Ray Leonard in a 1978 fight. With his local celebrity and modest professional success, he became a role model for the younger Ward, who idolized Eklund growing up.

As Ward began his own professional career, however, Eklund, who served as his trainer, held him back with drug problems that were so severe they earned him a 1995 HBO documentary focused on his addiction.

Even though it would have made sense for Ward to move on from his brother, his overbearing family continued to play a prominent role in his professional career, providing more issues holding back Ward’s career. As Ward’s family, especially his mom, Alice (played

by Melissa Leo (Conviction), who took home the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress) contin-

ued to hamstring Ward’s career, Charlene Flemming (Amy Adams, Julie & Julia), who also happened to be Ward’s love interest in the story, provided a polarizing force in the film, pulling Ward away from his family.

When Flemming stepped into Ward’s life, she was greeted with immediate rejection from Ward’s family in the film and provided the voice in Ward’s head telling him that he did not have to live with such chaos. This put Flemming in direct conflict with the Ward family, with Micky Ward in the middle, and that tension eventually led to the most important decision in Ward’s life of whether he would choose his family or his career. This decision eventually paved the way for his championship career and provided a very interesting movie.

What really made The Fighter special were the performances given by the cast.

For those familiar with Bale for his performance in The Dark Knight, his role in The Fighter was startling. Bale transformed himself into an addict, losing an unhealthy amount of weight, as well

PHOTO BY JUSTIN LACOURSIERE/THE RAM

PHOTO BY JUSTIN LACOURSIERE/THE RAM

Gerbasi Ristorante is a traditional Italian restaurant, which makes its own pasta on site, located at 2389 Arthur Ave.

By JUSTIN LaCOURSIERE STAFF WRITER

For restaurant goers tired of the overdone rustic atmosphere found in most eateries on Arthur Avenue, and for those looking for slightly finer dining in a modern environment, I have just the place. On Arthur Avenue, just past 187th Street in the Little Italy area of the Bronx sits Gerbasi Ristorante, a relatively new restaurant (opened Aug. 16) that is grabbing people’s attention

Editor’s Pick: Oscar-Nominated The Fighter

By NICK CARROLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The last time I had this space to babble, I discussed my love for my hometown, Philadelphia, and one of its fine delicacies: Wawa.

Another notable characteristic of the fine city of Philadelphia is its rich boxing history. Until a few years ago, one used to be able to drive down Broad Street and see Joe Frazier’s Gym. The ageless Bernard Hopkins, 46, recently fought 28-year old Canadian Light Heavyweight Champion Jean Pascal to a draw in his hometown of Quebec City.

Also, Rocky ending the Cold War by knocking out Ivan Drago is unforgettable. Basically, Philadelphia has established itself as a boxing hub for decades. Naturally intrigued about The Fighter, I decided to give it a chance on a slow night.

The Fighter is based on the story of “Irish” Micky Ward, played

by Mark Wahlberg (The Other Guys), and his rise from obscurity to champion, despite putting up with a litany of family problems surrounding him that affected him

as adapting Eklund’s accent and mannerisms that were unique and made for a standout character. For his efforts, Bale earned a muchdeserved Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor and should collect more hardware over the next few months.

As previously noted, Leo won a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe, as Micky Ward’s mother.

Her character set the tone for Ward’s family and the tornado that surrounded the boxer. Between Leo and Bale, the story became very clear that Ward had to overcome severe hurdles in his boxing career that most professionals in any field do not have to face.

Sports movies and movies based on true stories usually do not do it for me. They generally are very predictable and lack the drama that makes a movie worth the outrageous prices.

Even though The Fighter’s story is not exactly groundbreaking or filled with twists, the acting made for a wildly captivating movie that even overshadowed the other well-reviewed movies I saw over break, namely The Town and Black Swan.

CULTURE

JANUARY 26, 2011 • THE RAM • PAGE 13

Fordham Students Travel to Belize for GO!

By SANDY MCKENZIE CULTURE EDITOR

Each year, Fordham’s Global Outreach program, of the Office of Mission and Ministry, enables students to travel to different countries throughout the world. According to the Global Outreach Web site, the goal of the program is for students to “learn about various issues of social, economic, political and environmental injustice, while living a simple lifestyle that fosters communal and spiritual growth.”

Some programs help students learn about a different culture by setting them up with a host family, while others require that students complete service projects.

A recent GO! project took place over winter break, from Jan. 1 until Jan. 9, wherein students traveled to Belize. The Ram’s Sandy McKenzie sat down with GO! team member Frank Coffey, FCRH ’12, to learn more about the GO! Belize experience.

The Ram: How did you apply for GO! Belize?

Frank Coffey: You fill out a GO! application and drop it off at the GO! office by the deadline. The application has essay questions and fills you in on the philosophies and policies of GO!.

TR: How did you prepare for

your trip and get to know your team members?

FC: Once our group was selected by our leader, we started weekly meetings as early as October. In the meetings we prepared for the trip as well as the culture we would encounter there and the project we would be carrying out. We also had to organize several fundraising efforts and carry them out which helped the team get together more often and get to know one another better. By the time of the trip it was like everyone had been best friends for years.

TR: How many people went on the GO! trip?

FC: There were 11 people in the group, 10 students and one chaperone.

TR: What was Belize like and what did you do there?

FC: Belize is a very small country, and we worked in its biggest city, Belize City. The country has an uncharacteristically high AIDS rate and suffers badly from poverty and crime, however; everyone is very friendly and always happy to talk.

The problems make it sound like a sad place but people were happy everywhere we went and welcoming to us. While we were there we worked with Hand-in-Hand Ministries and constructed a house for a family in need and some members

of the group spent time working at the Hand-in-Hand’s outreach center, a preschool-type place for children infected with or affected

by HIV. TR: Would you recommend that other Fordham students participate in the Global Outreach program? Why or why not?

FC: I would recommend it to everyone I know. You get to meet great people and develop great friendships in addition to seeing another and very different part of the world or country.

The things you can find there might be tough to comprehend or think about but they are important and can help change or develop your perspective on nearly everything. It’s difficult to describe the experience of a GO! trip to someone else, but ask anyone who has gone and I’m sure they will urge you to participate too. The things we saw and did on the trip will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Upcoming projects include GO! Nicaragua, GO! Guatemala and GO! Habitat. Each of these projects will be held in March. For more information on upcoming trips, as well as instructions on how to apply, visit GO!’s link on Fordham’s Web site. The site also contains information about scholarships and alumni.

what’s Know “what’s going on” on campus or in NYC?

Going

27

?

On

Send tips, event listings, or comments to theram@fordham.edu.

THURSDAY Restaurant Week Grotta Azzurra Restaurant 177 Mulberry St. Come enjoy a traditional Italian dishes at this historic restaurant that has been visited by celebrities such as Enrico Caruso and Frank Sinatra.

28

FRIDAY

Resturant Week Red Rooster Harlem 310 Lenox Ave.

Red Rooster Harlem offers comfort food and soulful sounds, along with a breakfast café.

29

SATURDAY

Restaurant Week Kellari Taverna 19 West 44th St.

Kellari Taverna is a Greek restaurant that features freshly caught fish and grilled lamb chops.

30

SUNDAY

Restaurant Week Maya Rrestaurant 1191 First Ave.

This brand new exhibit doesn’t just cover Pollock and de Kooning, but also the museum’s role in the Abstract Impressionist movement.

31

New York: The Game To begin The Game call (877) 787-2929

MONDAY

Explore NYC with friends by playing this sightseeing game.

01

TUESDAY

New York Culinary Tours Alleva Dairy 188 Grand St.

Take a walking tour of Little Italy and Chinatown to learn more about the history of NYC, while tasting some of the foods the area is known for.

02

Restaurant Week Devi 8 East 18th St.

WEDNESDAY

Treat yourself to some authentic Indian “home cooking,” including tandor-grilled lamb chops.

COURTESTY OF FRANK COFFEY

Students traveled to Belize over break for a GO! program, which is offered through the Office of Mission and Ministry.

— COMPILED BY SANDY MC KENZIE, SARAH RAMIREZ AND SCHARON HARDING

Ram Reviews TELEVISION

MOVIE

MTV “SKINS”

THE KING’S SPEECH

MTV takes its Monday lineup to the extreme with the American adaptation of the British hit “Skins.”

The racy teen drama revolves around a group of high school students and their struggles with love, drugs, alcohol and sexuality.

“Skins” falls incredibly flat. The acting is unnatural and this group does not have the charm of the British cast. The lines sound forced, while the interactions between cast members come off as awkward.

Despite this, “Skins” is incredibly addicting. The reputation and brilliance of the British counterpart keeps me hopeful. I had my doubts with the American version because of American TV regulations.

The British version involved nudity and bad language, and the American version has struggled to translate it.

Still, I look forward to what is in store for “Skins.”

The King’s Speech is the true story of Britain’s King George VI (Colin Firth, Love Actually) and his speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush, Pirates of the Caribbean), who helps him overcome a stutter that has been a source of humiliation since childhood.

His wife Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter, Alice in Wonderland) eventually convinces him to begin treatment with Logue, a speech therapist with unorthodox methods.

Golden Globe-winner Colin Firth embodies King George VI in a thoughtfully crafted and moving performance. He gives an accurate portrayal of stuttering and how difficult it can be to live with and overcome. Firth always maintains the character’s dignity and shows him as the brave, capable man he really is, even when George VI himself has yet to believe it.

MOVIE TRUE GRIT

This past fall, actor Jeff Bridges faced his toughest role yet: U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn.

The Coen brothers (A Serious Man) wrote and directed the film, based on the 1968 novel of the same name written by Charles Portis. Their version is very true to the novel.

The movie follows fourteenyear-old Mattie (Hailee Steinfeld, in her film debut) who travels to a frontier town to avenge her father’s murder. She hires Cogburn, to find her father’s killer, Tom Chaney ( Josh Brolin, Jonah Hex) in Indian territory. They team up with a Texas Ranger, Le Boeuf (Matt Damon, Hereafter).

The storyline feels very fresh.

The characters are also very memorable, with strong, distinct personalities.

True Grit has just been nominated for 10 Academy Awards.

BOOK

BOOK

STEPHEN CHBOSKY THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

RUTH REICHL GARLIC AND SAPPHIRES

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by Stephen Chbosky is a novel written from the perspective of a young boy entering his freshman year of high school. Chobsky’s first novel is written in a unique and captivating format. The reader gains insight of antagonist Charlie’s battles with drugs, family, sexuality and fitting in through letters he writes to an anonymous “friend.” The reader never discovers who the recipient of the letters is, but gains understanding and compassion for Charlie, who goes through relatable experiences and emotional growth.

The plot is fast-moving, leaving you wanting to know what will happen next in Charlie’s journey to self-discovery. Charlie is so lovable, that you can feel what Charlie feels, and eventually find yourself involved in the story.

Reichl begins with her grudging acceptance of the post of food critic. The former food critic for The L.A. Times, which she describes as comforting and nonthreatening, she had no real inclination to leave. Her husband nudged her to accept the offer after The New York Times approached her, and despite her work to make sure that she was without a doubt undesirable and would not earn the job, she got it.

The book ultimately addresses Reichl’s love of reviewing food pitted against her values. She faces her young son telling her how much he enjoys eating dinner with her, at home, among other obstacles.

I would recommend Garlic and Sapphires, in particular for foodies and journalists, but also for anyone who both likes a good meal, and who is uncertain what he or she wants from life.

TO READ THESE REVIEWS IN THEIR ENTIRETY, VISIT THERAMONLINE.COM AND CLICK ON “CULTURE” ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOMEPAGE.

CULTURE

PAGE 14 • THE RAM • JANUARY 26, 2011

Fordham Students’ New Year’s Resolutions

By SCHARON HARDING ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

Last month, we all said tearful goodbyes to 2010 and welcomed our new friend, 2011. This new year is filled with adventures to have, mistakes to make and opportunities to take. To make the best of the new year, many resort to new year’s resolutions to help improve their lives.

The resolutions around campus are diverse. Some are standard goals, expected from college students.

“My new year’s resolution is to do some form of schoolwork every day and not let things pile up until the last minute,” Mike Shapiro, FCRH ’12, said.

Others’ resolutions are a bit more creative.

“Today my resolution is think before you speak,” Brittany Salas, FCRH ’13, said. “Which I haven’t been doing very well.”

Although people often make resolutions to help them accomplish important goals, Fordham students seem to have a more lighthearted concept of the tradition. Many said they see the new year as a chance to create more fun memories.

“My resolution is to continue to hang out with my friends and have good times, and to meet attractive women,” Scott Valentine, GSB ’13, said.

As experience has taught many of us, however, resolutions do not succeed without a little work. Some students have created game plans to make sure their resolutions become reality.

“I’m going to start setting a schedule to do work more throughout the day and in between classes, not just wait until night,” Shapiro said.

Some people will even enjoy following their resolutions.

“I’m just going to continue what I’m doing,” Valentine said. “Maybe network a little more. Talk to some more attractive women.”

Valentine said that his resolutions come from the idea that college is about having fun on weekends and doing work during the week.

“My third resolution is to get an internship,” he said.

Like Valentine, many students seem to want to make 2011 a year of success, but also an enjoyable year.

“I just want to have a really fun year,” Ariel Beteta, FCRH ’13, said, “Good grades wouldn’t hurt.”

A lot of people around campus are new to the world of resolutions.

For many, this is their first time making a resolution. They are not letting their lack of experience discourage them, however.

“I have never really made a resolution before, but I hope I have success with this one,” Shapiro said.

Students are optimistic that

COURTESTY OF WIKIMEDIA

Each year, Fordham students work hard to keep their New Year’s resolutions .

WHO’S THAT KID? Brian Carcich A MEMBER OF GSB ‘11, MAJORING IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH A CONCENTRATION IN MARKETING FROM BOONTON, N.J. Where have we seen you?

You have most likely seen me as a Resident Assistant in Hughes Hall and Salice-Conley Hall.

Favorite childhood show and favorite current show?

Both are pretty embarrassing, but I’m still proud to say: “Gullah Gullah Island” and “Jersey Shore.”

Who would play you in a movie and why?

Probably Amy Poehler, because we’re both baby mammas and walking holidays.

If you could have dinner with any historical person, who would it be and why?

I’m not sure at which age an individual becomes historic (or if the person I chose could be considered a historical figure) but I want to have dinner with Betty White because she is hysterical, has a rockin’ body and has had a long, prosper-

their resolutions will prove both successful and beneficial.

“Hopefully I will start seeing results like better grades and less stress so I’ll want to keep doing it,” Shapiro said.

Fordham students are looking to make 2011 a big year. They have a good grasp on the most important part of a resolution: to make the current year better than the last. For some, happiness comes from good grades, while for others it comes from pretty girls. Everyone agrees that being happy is what is most important, however.

Of course there are some students that are already content with their lives.

“I don’t need a resolution,” Josh Itano, FCRH ’11, said.

For those not so lucky, a resolution may be the way to go to make the year a little brighter.

“If I’m outgoing enough, and I really try hard enough, everything will work out fine,” Valentine said.

If students keep this attitude, 2011 should be a great, interesting year.

and family, talking with Geraldine, a night out or anything music related. I also know this kid named Blowhey, but he has nothing to do with blowing off steam, or hay.

What is the biggest misconception people have about you?

People sometimes take me too

NYC’s Winter Restaurant Week 2011

By MEGAN FALCONE STAFF WRITER

It is no secret that Fordham has minimal dining options. In fact, the student body has practically exhausted the topic. By now, everyone knows the best off-campus restaurants and delivery services.

What everyone fails to remember, however, is the bounty of threecourse gourmet meals that can be found in Manhattan at a lower price than a single-course meal on Arthur Avenue.

From Monday, Jan. 26 through Sunday, Feb. 6, over 300 of New York City’s most outstanding restaurants will participate in this winter’s Restaurant Week. Hotspots across the city will be offering the finest cuisine at the low price of $24.07 for a full three-course lunch. Certain restaurants will also be offering dinner for just $35.

This highly anticipated week has been a semi-annual event since 1992. Food critic Tim Zagat and restaurateur Joe Baum wanted to give New York City restaurants a more friendly vibe, and felt the best way to do so was by making it possible for blue-collar New Yorkers to have the opportunity to dine at some of the best restaurants for a fraction of the price. Restaurant Week was launched during the week of the Democratic National Convention to promote restaurants to tourists.

A popular dining choice during Restaurant Week is the Central Park Boathouse. Located in the heart of Central Park with some of the best views in the city, The Boathouse is a New York City icon. seriously. It doesn’t take long to realize that I am very sarcastic and always have a good time.

Stuck on an island, what would you need?

Coffee. And a boat.

What is your dream job?

It can be seen in must-see movies such as 27 Dresses, When Harry Met Sally and Sex and the City.

For sushi lovers, Morimoto is an excellent choice. Morimoto, named for television’s “Iron Chef,” is known for its exquisite seafood options.

Anyone who craves a romantic, candle-lit dinner will love One If

By Land, Two If By Sea. Voted as “Most Romantic” in 2008 by Open Table users, the ambiance is an astounding combination of luxury and splendor. Zagat also declared this restaurant a “pop-the-question” destination.

For the chance to see celebrities such as the Manning brothers, Donald Trump and Sen. John Kerry, the celebrated 21 Club is an excellent choice.

Time Out New York also recommends that diners visit Nuela, a trendy new restaurant that claims to “bring a taste of South America to the Financial Distrct in New York City, combining the excitement and energy of South America cuisine and décor with a modern, urban, sabor.”

Restaurant Week is a highly anticipated event that only comes once each winter and summer.

Dining on a dime may not always yield the best results, but this week proves to be the exception.

In fact, it is guaranteed that the restaurants participating in restaurant week will treat you equally to their normal high-rolling, celebrity clients.

For a full list of participating restaruants, www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek features more information.

There are many things that I want to do. My ultimate goal is to be successful in whichever path I choose: media/entertainment industry, higher education, becoming one of the next “Real Housewives,” etc.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Teach me how to dougie!

ous career.

What would your ideal day in Manhattan consist of?

My ideal day in Manhattan would consist of dinner and drinks with friends, or maybe just drinks.

A typical day involves a ride on the Metro-North and my internship at MTV (still a good time, but not exactly the same).

If you could be anywhere and doing anything right now, what would it be?

It’s a tossup between sleeping in my bed and summertime at the beach.

Favorite class at Fordham and favorite professor?

Favorite class: Fair Trade & Microfinance, favorite professor (I have two): Brenna Moore and John Denniston.

How do you blow off steam?

Spending time with close friends

COURTESY OF BRIAN CARCICH

Brian Carcich is currently an Residential Assistant in Salice-Conley and a student in the Gabelli School of Business.

JANUARY 26, 2011

PAGE 15

Fordham Gets Back to .500 With Win Over George Washington Lady Rams Come Back from Seven-Point Halftime Deficit for First-Ever Win over Colonials

By ALEXANDER VILARDO SPORTS EDITOR

After going 3-4 between semesters, the Lady Rams (10-10, 2-2) earned a 59-56 win in the Rose Hill Gym against George Washington (5-13, 0-4) on Saturday.

It was a big win for the team, as it was down by seven going into halftime. It also was a big win for the Lady Rams because they had lost to the Lady Colonials in each of their previous 16 contests.

“It was a big game for our entire program because of what George Washington is all about,” Head Coach Cathy Andruzzi said. “They are one of the premier teams in our league.”

The Lady Rams knew the importance of a win for their program, and they transitioned from a slow first half to an exciting second half.

Junior guard Becky Peters was the leading scorer for the Lady Rams, as she netted 27 points to go along with six rebounds.

She scored the Lady Rams’ first seven points of the game, and she finished the day shooting an astounding 5-7 from behind the arc.

“Becky was on fire,” Andruzzi said. “She visualized the ball going in, and that ball went in.”

Senior forward Tiffany Stokes owned the boards, grabbing 10 rebounds in addition to 18 points.

PHOTO

BY SIMON SULIT/THERAM RAM PHOTO

BY NORA MALLOZZI/THE

Tiffany Stokes recorded her second straight double-double, posting 18 points and 10 rebounds in the win against GW.

Stokes shot just 6-16 from the field, but she drew a fair share of fouls, allowing her to shoot 6-7 from the charity stripe.

“I can’t say enough about the composure of Tiffany Stokes, playing 40 minutes,” Andruzzi said.

Sophomore forward Charlotte Stoddart suffered what appeared

to be a facial injury and did not return to the game after leaving with 10:46 left in the first half. Andruzzi said that the team is unsure of what happened on the play.

After being down during most of the game, the Lady Rams were able to tie it at 53 with a threepointer from Peters with 4:58 left

in the game. George Washington guard Danni Jackson immediately nailed a jumper at the other end to give the Lady Colonials a 55-53 lead. Stokes then sunk a layup after a pretty pass from sophomore guard Arielle Collins to tie it at 55. With 1:47 left in the game, the Lady Rams took the lead for the

first time since the 14:55 mark of the first half after senior forward Caitlin Shadbolt drained two free throws.

After Shadbolt’s two shots, George Washington forward Brooke Wilson sunk one of two free throws to cut the Lady Rams’ lead to one after being fouled by Peters.

On the Lady Rams’ next possession, Collins scored her only two points of the game but arguably her biggest two points of the season when she hit a floater in the paint over two George Washington defenders to lock the score at 59-56.

“We were fighting to the end, and I think everybody wanted to win that game,” Collins, who finished with two points, three assists and one steal, said. “When my shots aren’t falling, I still want to be effective on the court, and I like to have everybody on the same page.” “[Collins] does a really good job of getting the ball, passing it around the horn,” Andruzzi said. “She’s a good floor leader.”

The Lady Rams hope that this big win will spark the rest of their season. After games at St. Louis (6-13, 0-4) and Duquesne (16-3, 3-1) this week, the team returns to the Bronx on Wednesday, Feb. 2 to take on the Richmond Lady Spiders (13-6, 4-1) at noon.

Fordham Track Members Place Well Throughout January Meets

PHOTO BY SIMON SULIT/THE RAM

Sophomore Courtnay Newman took first in the high jump at the Metropolitan Coaches Invitational, and placed eighth in the 60-meter hurdles.

By CELESTE KMIOTEK COPY CHIEF

Despite the break from academics, Fordham’s men’s and women’s track and field teams recently competed at the Annual Christmas Classic Meet, held at Fordham’s Lombardi Fieldhouse on Dec. 10; the Metropolitan Coaches Invitational, held at the Armory Track & Field Center in New York City on Jan. 7; the NYC Gotham Cup, held at the Armory on Jan. 14; and the Yale Collegiate Invitational, held in Princeton, N.J., on Jan. 15. All

four meets were scored individually, rather than by team.

Both teams were pleased with their performances, as well as with the effort shown by the team members.

“We started off the season really well and with this kind of foundation the season should be great,” sophomore Courtnay Newman said. “For the most part, I don’t think many people were affected negatively by the break. We weren’t home for very long anyway, and as soon as we got back it was straight back to work and meets.”

The Christmas Classic ended with three wins each for the men and the women.

Senior Pat Brown came in first in the weight throw with 53’ 8.5”, good for his best performance of the season, while junior Kyle Kesses came in first in the high jump with 6’ 75”. Sophomore Sean Atkinson won the 500-meter dash, coming in at 1:06.2.

For the women, Newman finished first in the high jump with 5’5”. In the running events, Gallagher took first in the mile run with 5:12.4, while freshman Anisa Arsenault won the 3,000-meter run with 10:27.7.

This meet earned four team members Atlantic-10 Indoor Track & Field Weekly honors for the week. Atkinson won Men’s Performer of the Week for his win in the 500-meter dash, while Gallagher won the complementary Women’s Performer of the Week for her win in the mile, as well as for her performance in the 4x400meter relay, in which she placed second with 4:04.9. Freshman Ryan Polo won Men’s Rookie of the Week for his second-place performance in the mile, finishing in 4:24, while Arsenault received the Women’s Rookie of the Week award for her win in the 3,000meter run.

At the Metropolitan Coaches Invitational, the men earned one win and three IC4A qualifying times, while the women earned two wins and one ECAC-qualifying time.

For the men, freshman Michael Belgiovine won the mile run with 4:20.24, his best time this season.

Senior Brian Schmidt qualified for the IC4As in the 500-meter dash with a 1:04.36 finish, good for third place, while junior Kevin Fitzgerald also qualified, placing third in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:29.20.

The men’s 4x400-meter relay, consisting of Schmidt, Atkinson, junior Nick Delligatti and senior Christopher Lyons, finished second with 3:18.40, also earning them a qualification.

On the women’s side, Gallagher was the top collegiate finisher in the women’s mile with 4:52.44, qualifying for the ECACs, while Newman placed first in the high jump with 5’ 5.75”, her best performance of the season.

At the NYU Gotham Cup, the Rams and Lady Rams had three event wins and two ECAC/IC4A qualifying performances.

Sophomore Daniel Chediak won the men’s pole vault with 14’ 7.25”, his best performance of the season. The men’s 4x800-meter team of Atkinson, senior Tim Hutchinson, sophomore Michael Rossi and freshman Brian Walter qualified for the IC4As with their best time this season, 7:51.48, earning them second place.

For the women, junior Kelly Connolly took first in the unseeded 800-meter run with 2:21.85, her best time this season, while Gallagher won the 1,000-meter

run with 2:49.49, qualifying her once again for the ECACs. The teams finished the weekend at the Yale Invitational Meet with two event wins and three ECAC/ IC4A qualifiers.

The men’s distance medley relay team, consisting of Schmidt, Lyons, sophomore John Cosgrove and Fitzgerald took second, qualifying them for the IC4As with 10:03.06.

Both the 4x400-meter relay team (Atkinson, Delligatti, Schmidt and Lyons) and the 4x800-meter relay team (Polo, Rossi, Walter and Fitzgerald) qualified for the IC4As as well, although they had previously qualified. Both came in third with 3:19.03 and 7:52.56, respectively.

On the women’s side, Gallagher won the 800-meter run and qualified for the ECACs with 2:12.20, her best time of the season, marking her third ECAC qualification.

Arsenault took first in the mile run with 5:13.41.

As the teams get back into the semester, they are looking forward to what they believe will be successful showings.

“I think that we can expect a lot from this season judging by our performances at the first few meets,” Newman said.

The teams will next compete at the Metropolitan Championship on Friday, Jan. 28 and Sat., Jan. 29 at the Armory Track and Field Center, as well as at the Millrose Games on Friday, Jan. 28 at Madison Square Garden.

PAGE 16 • THE RAM • JANUARY26, 2011

ADVERTISING

SPORTS

IZOD Center Bad Idea

By MARK BECKER STAFF WRITER

I’m over this IZOD Center thing already.

For those unaware of what I’m referring to, our men’s basketball team has played two “home” games at the IZOD Center at the Meadowlands 30 minutes into Jersey and has two more left on the slate.

We played Villanova out there last year in December, and I will be the first to admit that it was a great experience. Part of it was the atmosphere, part of it the free buffet provided upon arrival and part of it that no one had anything better to do than bus over in the snow on a Saturday afternoon to see our hapless and hopeless team get crushed by a Final Four contender between exams. It was a good time, and I’d do it again.

Once, maybe twice a year, on a weekend, under the right conditions.

Not four times – twice on Wednesday nights, once on Sunday afternoon and once on Saturday afternoon – against conference opponents in games we could win with home court advantage interspersed randomly throughout the semester. Not a chance.

I’ll give Fordham a pass on the Temple game at the IZOD Center on Wednesday, Jan. 5.

It’s the middle of Winter Break, it’s a sure-bet loss, so we may as well take it to the IZOD Center and print it up on show bills for recruits. Fans are just as likely to head out to Jersey as they are to Rose Hill when on break – oh, except that trains don’t go out to the Meadowlands (the existing line runs only for Jets/Giants games) and Fordham provides transportation only from the Rose Hill campus, but more on that later.

The Saint Louis game this past Wednesday really irks me. A 7:30 p.m. tipoff during the first week of classes against a struggling Rick Majerus-led Billikens squad is a game to which I would’ve made it out in my first year or two here, but as a senior I have an internship, work and the occasional class to prepare for.

The weeknight travel is just too much of a burden on upperclassmen and likely most alumni, underclassmen are likely overwhelmed with the first week of classes after the long break and there’s absolutely no way to get to the Meadowlands from the city short of taking a train to Secaucus and grabbing a $10 taxi. A simple Ram Van every 15 minutes from Lincoln Center would go a long way to helping those working in the city on a weekday – I know, who would ever be caught in that position?

Besides all the logistical problems, I just plain don’t like playing what should be home games 30 minutes into Jersey. Our next IZOD opponent is Saint Joseph’s – a team with which we could play in our home gym, but against whom we’ll need to play that much better at the midpoint between our schools. Of course, the game is on a Sunday at 4 p.m. so who knows how many Ford-

ham fans will bother showing up anyway?

Giving up our home court advantage is foolish, especially in what would be close games if we kept them at the Rose Hill Gym. I understand that recruits may value playing games in a big-time arena in front of 10,000 fans, but here’s a newsflash, Fordham – we aren’t selling 10,000 tickets at the IZOD Center for a long, long time. Hell, we couldn’t give away 10,000 tickets. Things would be different if we were selling out the Rose Hill Gym even some nights, but when we can’t even top 2,000 unless we play St. John’s, we don’t need to be moving games to bigger arenas.

I’m offended that our athletic administration thinks it can simply move home games to an arena desperate for any action (Exhibit 1: they scheduled us for four games) in a clear attempt to both placate those demanding a new arena and sell recruits on playing in one. It’s a half-hearted effort, and it disgusts me.

The solutions here are simple: start with not scheduling any more “home” games at the IZOD Center – it’s not our gym, it’s not anywhere near our campus, there’s no easy way to get to it and we’re sure as heck not selling any more tickets there than at the Rose Hill Gym. Along with that, commit to either building a new, state-ofthe-art arena on the Rose Hill campus or sticking with the oldest gym still in use in Division I. Both have their pros and cons, which I’ll be outlining in a future post, and the truth is that Fordham can succeed with the proper commitment level and marketing strategy. We have to go one way or the other, however – not halfway between by playing random games at a remote location on inconvenient nights.

Just end the IZOD Center arrangement. It’s a great idea for one or two big games a year as big-name teams are more likely to schedule us in a larger arena, especially away from our campus, but to play conference games out there, and on weeknights, makes no sense to me.

Villanova last year was a good idea and worked well; but the administration has (surprise, surprise) botched things up and the fascination has gotten out of control.

Let’s scale it back a bit, call up Pitt, UConn, Kentucky and others and ask them to play there on a weekend afternoon when few students should be busy – again, with Villanova, the Saturday between exams was great, but maybe the long reading-day weekend that now exists would be even better.

I’ll be the first to sign up for those games next year, but I’ll be the last to sign up for another weeknight conference game at the IZOD Center.

Editor’s Note: Fordham plays again at the IZOD Center on Feb. 13 against St. Joseph’s and on Feb. 26 against Rhode Island, while the team only takes the court at the Rose Hill Gym three more times.

JANUARY 26, 2011 • THE RAM • PAGE 17

Men’s Basketball

Indoor Track

Women’s Basketball

Dayton 91 Fordham 57

Yale Invitational

Fordham 59 GW 56

Fordham

fg

Men’s 3000m

3pt ft reb tp a

1. Doyle, Northeastern, 8:26.84 2. Saad, Fordham, 8:27.98

GW

fg

3pt ft

rebtp a

Gaston

6-15 0-0 4-6 8 16 0

Men’s 4000m Medley

BOOKER

1-9 0-5 1-5 6 3 2

Bristol

1-3 0-0 2-5 6 4 0

1. Connecticut. unknown time

ABIONA

2-4 0-0 0-0 9 4 0

Frazier

4-12 3-11 0-0 0 11 2

2. Fordham, unknown time

MOSTAFA

2-5 0-0 0-0 2 4 1

Samuell

3-7 3-3 4-4 7 13 2

Men’s 400m

MYERS

4-11 2-7 5-5 3 15 0

Butler

2-8 0-3 0-0 1 4 0

1. Hall, Northeastern, 49.62

DAVIS

2-3 1-1 0-0 0 5 0

WILSON

4-8 0-1 1-2 5 9 1

JACKSON

6-15 2-4 0-0 5 14 6

PAINTER

1-2 0-0 0-0 2 2 0

Totals

22-57 5-18 7-12 33 56 10

Grayhack 0-0 0-0 1-2 2 1 0 Estwick

2-7 0-3 1-1 3 5 1

Moquete

0-0 0-0 1-2 3 1 3

4. Atkinson, Fordham, 50.15 Men’s 800m

Dominique 1-3 0-0 0-0 3 2 0

1. Johnson, American, 1:56.55

Green

3. Kelly, Fordham, 1:58.20

0-2 0-0 0-0 4 0 0

Men’s 4x400m Relay Totals Dayton

19-57 6-2013-20 38 57 8 fg

3pt ft reb tp a

1. Connecticut, 3:18.26

Fordham

fg

3pt ft

rebtp a

Stokes

6-16 0-0 6-7 10 18 0

3. Fordham, 3:19.03 Men’s 4x800 Relay

Stoddart 0-2 0-1 0-0 0 0 0

JOHNSON

4-10 2-6 2-2 5 12 5

1. Central Connecticut, 7:49.73

Bell

3-5 2-4 0-0 0 8 3

WRIGHT

4-11 1-1 0-1 5 9 1

3. Fordham, 7:52.56

Weekes

0-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 0

SEARCY

4-4 0-0 1-2 6 9 0

Women’s 800m

Peters

10-165-7 2-2 6 27 1

STATEN

3-8 0-1 1-1 4 7 10

1. Gallagher, Fordham, 2:12.20

Dale

0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 1

Collins

1-5 0-2 0-0 4 2 3

SPEARMAN 3-7 1-4 1-2 3 8 3 OLIVER

2-7 0-2 0-2 6 4 0

PARKER

8-15 8-14 3-4 3 27 3

Women’s 4x400m 1. Essex CC, 3:56.72

Zamora

0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Corning

0-0 0-0 0-0 3 0 1

1. Arsenault, Fordham, 5:13.41

Totals

21-57 7-1910-11 37 59 9

Swimming and Diving

Blocks - Abiona (2), Booker,

VONDERHAAR1-1 0-0 0-0 2 2 0

2. Fordham, 3:59.22

WILLIAMS 0-1 0-1 0-0 1 0 0

Women’s 1 Mile

FABRIZIUS 1-4 1-4 0-0 3 3 1 NOURSE

0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

KAVANAUGH 0-1 0-0 0-0 6 0 1 ZESTERMANN0-2 0-0 0-2 1 0 0 BENSON

5-7 0-0 0-2 8 10 0

HILL

0-1 0-1 0-0 1 0 0

ASMUS

0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0

Totals

35-7913-34 8-18 56 91 24

1. Fordham A (Ryan, Collyer, Bun-

Staten (2), Wright (2), Johnson,

2. Fordham B (Consentino, Biagioli,

Parker, Samuell. Turnovers -

Jones, Weiner), 4:02.70

Samuell (3), Butler (2), Dominique

Men 400 Yard Medley

Johnson (2), Kavanaugh (2), Gaston, Green, Oliver, Staten.

1

2

F

Fordham 20 37 57 37 54 91

Fordham 61 Charlotte 71 Fordham

fg

MCCARTHY 5-10 3-6 0-0 2 13 1 BENNETT

2. Heath, La Salle, 10:23.36

MACAULAY 2-6 0-0 1-4 4 5 0

BRINKLEY 1-2 0-0 0-0 4 2 0

5-8 1-3 0-1 2 4 3

2. Batson, La Salle, 1:46.39

GREEN

0-0 0-0 0-0 0 2 0

Women 200 Yard IM

BRISTOL

1-2 0-0 0-0 2 4 0

1. Collyer, Fordham, 2:09.20

BRISCOE

5-10 2-5 8-10 6 20 2

5-11 1-4 0-0 2 11 3

WILLIAMS 2-3 0-1 0-0 2 4 3

WORKS

SAMUELL

7-9 5-7 2-2 2 21 3

5-9 2-4 1-2 4 13 6

WALLACE

1. Wessel, Fordham, 1:56.29

1. Noguchi, Fordham, 1:43.43

GREEN

PEDDY

Women 200 Yard Free

5-18 2-8 2-2 1 1 3

BRASWELL 3-9 0-2 4-7 10 10 1

0-2 0-0 0-0 5 0 2

CONNELLY 2-4 0-0 0-0 4 4 2

BUTLER

WILDERNESS1-5 0-1 1-2 5 3 1

rebtp a

BELL

3-5 2-3 0-0 3 3 1

2-6 1-3 0-0 7 5 2

3pt ft

10:15.04

ESTWICK

BARNETT

fg

4. Grimmett-Norris, Fordham,

2-8 2-8 2-2 2 1 4

3pt ft reb tp a

Temple 71 Fordham 28

1. McGorry, Fordham, 10:17.00

5-12 0-0 0-0 9 4 1

Charlotte fg

Corning, Jackson, Peters

Temple

FRAZIER

25-597-23 4-5 24 61 13

Stokes (2), Wilson (2), Booker,

chi, Morris), 3:31.96 Women 1000 Yard Free

GASTON

Totals

lins (2), Myer (2), Stoddart (2),

2. Fordham A (Colton, Dwyer, Nogu-

1. Anderson, La Salle, 10:00.89

DOMINIQUE 4-6 0-1 0-0 1 8 1

(3), Collins (3), Davis (3), Col-

1. La Salle A, 3:31.09

Men 1000 Yard Free

3pt ft reb tp a

Stokes (2), Booker, Corning, Collins, Peters. Turnovers - Bell

Women 400 Yard Medley

ster, Lyver), 3:52.81

(2), Estwick (2), Frazier (2),

Jackson, Mostafa, Weekes, Wilson, Zamora. Steals - Abiona (2),

Fordham vs. La Salle

Blocks - Green, Wright. Steals -

Dayton

Shadbolt 1-11 0-5 2-2 4 4 0

2. Biagiolo, Fordham, 1:58.10 Men 200 Yard Free

2. Jordan, La Salle, 2:12.70

2-7 1-3 1-4 0 6 0 1-2 0-0 0-0 2 2 0

THAMES

5-6 0-0 1-4 6 11 0

Totals

30-627-18 4-14 36 71 17

Fordham

fg

Stokes

4-11 0-0 7-10 12 15 0

3pt ft

rebtp a

Stoddart 2-3 0-0 0-2 4 4 0 Bell

1-8 0-2 0-2 2 2 1

Weekes

1-3 1-2 0-0 2 3 0

1. Yi, Fordham, 1:57.87

Peters

1-10 0-3 0-0 4 2 1

2. Kundrat, Fordham, 2:00.39

Zamora

0-3 0-0 0-1 3 0 1

Women 1 mtr Dive

Corning

1-7 0-4 0-0 4 2 1

Totals

10-451-11 7-15 38 28 4

Men 200 Yard IM

1. Dorger, Fordham, 244.20 2. Krok, Fordham, 239.48 Men 1 mtr Dive

Blocks - Bennett, Thames. Steals

SHERRILL 1-7 0-0 1-2 3 3 1

1. Baker, La Salle, 268.58

- Peddy (3), Peters (3), McCarthy

SIRIN

3-5 3-4 0-0 5 9 2

5. Wong, Fordham, 171.83

(2), Macaulay (2), Wallace (2),

LEWIS

0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Women 3 mtr Dive

Bell, Bell, Bennett, Williams,

1. Salas, Fordham, 247.50

Zamora. Turnovers - Peters (10),

Totals

22-5111-2216-2341 71 12

Blocks - Gaston (3), Bristol

2. McLaughlin, La Salle, 241.88 Men 3 mtr Dive

(2), Braswell, Sherrill. Steals

1. Baker, La Salle, 289.13

- Dominique, Estwick, Green,

5. Wong, Fordham, 175.95

Green, Lewis, Samuell, Wilderness.

Turnovers - Wilderness (6), Gaston (3), Green (3), Samuell (3), Barnett (2), Butler (2), Sherrill (2), Sirin (2), Braswell, Briscoe, Estwick, Frazier 1 Fordham

2

F

31 30 61

Charlotte 34 37 71

Corning (3), Stokes (3), Bell (2), Bell (2), Peddy (2), Weekes (2), Zamora (2), McCarthy, Macauly, Stoddart, Thames, Williams

Visit theramonline.com for same-day game stories after home men’s basketball games. Also visit for blogs covering NBA, NHL, MLB, NCAA Basketball, NCAA Football and EPL

PAGE 18 • THE RAM • JANURARY 26, 2011

JONATHON ONATHON SMITH I have been obsessed with sports my entire life. All throughout grade school and high school, I was always the guy that people went to with questions about sports. I knew the rules, stats, schedules, everything. I played or attempted to play almost every sport out there.

In fact, if you had asked me during middle school if I would rather play sports or hang out with girls, I was probably the only guy that still wanted to play sports.

Even at a time when guys first started to notice that girls were not the enemy, there was no one around who was more into sports than me.

In simple words, I was a sports nerd.

As I have grown older, I have realized that there are more important things than knowing that Blake Griffin is averaging 22.9 points per game this season for the Clippers.

There are even more important things than being able to recite the entire 1998 Yankees World Series roster.

As I quickly approach age 20 and leave my days of teenage angst and listening to punk-rock behind me, I also find myself becoming less and less interested with sports statistics and figures.

I no longer care about a pitcher’s ERA and instead find myself caring about everything besides the game itself. I find myself more interested in strange things, such as what the pitcher had to eat before the game, why he ate it and if he has any superstitions.

I constantly wonder why our society is so drawn to sports and why most children today say their idols are athletes.

I guess what I am trying to say is that as I have grown older, I care mostly about the effect that sports have on our society.

I care about why we always root for underdogs. I care about how people from all backgrounds are connected by sports and how it is a great equalizer among people.

I always find myself pondering strange questions when watching sports.

Some of them are unanswerable, like, “How are sports one of the only things that bring people from all across the world together?”

Others are very answerable, such as, “How many hot dogs are sold at major league ballparks each year?” (about 21 million).

These are the things that I think about when watching sports.

This is what this column is going to be about. For the remainder of this volume of The Ram, my partner, Nick, and I will be switching on and off each week to write articles.

The column will be about whatever is on our minds regarding any recent sports happenings, thus the title, “The Weekend Tailgate.”

There is not a general theme, but the column will be devoted to shooting the breeze about the week in sports, just as we would in conversation at a tailgate.

As I said before, I am not a stats man anymore – I’ve grown up.

I care more about the essence and emotions that sports give people.

I could spend years researching the effects of sports on our society and still have questions. When it is my turn to write this column, I will always have questions that I am trying to answer.

Rather than focusing on actual events in the games, my writing will be about the effect of a certain game or how the outcome of a game or sports issue impacts the fans.

In the past, as my loyal readers (Hi, Mom!) know, I have written about topics such as taking risks in sports and why we, as fans, love when teams gamble and take risks.

I have written about underdogs, how everyone always wants to see them succeed, and how this reflects in our own lives.

Basically, I have written about events and phenomena in sports that affect our own lives. Things such as taking risks and being an underdog are relevant everyday in every person’s life.

Those moments in sports where we seem to learn a lesson, and where we seem to nod our heads and tell ourselves if the Rams can come from behind in the second half to beat St. Johns, then perhaps we, too, can acheive great moments from out of nowhere. Perhaps we, too, can be like the Rams.

This column will cover anything in which there is a moment in sports that can serve as a lesson to people, or inspire people.

Be on the lookout for more articles of this nature – how sports affect us and how they can have a large impact on our emotions.

I see sports almost as a religion.

People watch and play them so that they can escape reality for a little while. People live vicariously through teams, showing more emotion when watching a game or event than they do in most other aspects of their lives. It is not just one demographic that does this; it is people from all over the world and all walks of life.

The religion of sports, if it were a recognized religion, would possibly be one of the world’s largest. It would spread all over the world.

This is why sports are the great equalizer among the citizens of the world – we are connected in a way that no other thing can achieve.

They bring out a passion in us that causes us to act in ways that we normally would not, such as men crying or my girlfriend telling me to sit on the other side of the room when I do not root for her beloved Chicago Bears.

This is what I will bring to “The Weekend Tailgate.” I will try to get a grasp on some questions about sports and society. I am a fan above all else. I have played just about every sport I can think of; I have even curled. Despite my vast knowledge and following of sports, there are still many questions I have and many things that I wonder about.

So to everyone reading this, enjoy. I hope my curiosity about how sports resonates with people passes on to you.

SPORTS

Senior Profile: Caitlin Shadbolt

By CHESTER BAKER ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Caitlin Shadbolt came to Fordham last year after a long journey from Australia and Missouri before finally landing in the Bronx. Shadbolt is a second-year senior, and returned to the lineup for Fordham’s first ever win over George Washington after missing nine games with an injury.

The Ram: With the win today the team gets to .500. Is that where the team expected to be in preseason?

Caitlin Shadbolt: Yeah, we had very high hopes for the season. We worked hard in preseason, so we knew that we were going to be successful. So we’re happy with where we are right now.

TR: What were the goals for the team at the beginning of the year?

CS: We definitely want to make it to postseason play. We want to make it to the A-10 Tournament and hopefully the WNIT and we want to finish above .500 for the season.

TR: Where do you think the program is headed, do you ever see Fordham being a top-ranked team?

CS: Yeah, we’re rebuilding at the moment, so it’s going to be a long process, but were moving in the right direction. The attitude of the girls this year has been great, and it can happen in time.

TR: The team had some pretty close losses against Memphis, losing by one, and going to overtime in Kansas. You guys also lost 71-28 against Temple. What do you think the team needs to do to be more consistent against top-ranked opponents?

CS: Against Temple we weren’t playing our own game; we let them control the pace of the game.

When we were playing Memphis and Kansas, we were happy with how we played as ourselves. It had nothing to do with them, we focused on us. When we played Temple and Charlotte they took us out of our game. So the biggest key is to stay within ourselves and our own game and not what the other team is doing. And when we do that we can be unstoppable.

PHOTO BY NORA MALLOZI/THE RAM

Caitlin Shadbolt helped Fordham get back to .500 with a come back win over George Washington on Saturday.

TR: Last year you only averaged three points per game, you had 22 against Memphis and 20 against Kansas. What can you attribute to you scoring more this year?

CS: I worked really hard over the summer and preseason on my outside shot. I’ve always known I had the outside shot and I wanted to work that more into my game.

I think it’s harder for some of the post players to guard me out outside, so I think that’s a big advantage to my game.

TR: You’re from Australia, easy to tell from the accent. How’d you hear of Fordham?

CS: I was recruited out of a junior college in Missouri where I played my first two years. Coach Andruzzi is a good friend of the coach from that school, so she came for a visit.

TR: So along with Coach Andruzzi, what else made you choose Fordham?

CS: Coach was a big factor, but obviously being in the A-10 was a big plus, and Fordham academically is an amazing school, so it was the whole package.

TR: What is your favorite part of Fordham?

CS: I love basketball. It’s what I do everyday, I love the girls, I love the atmosphere. So I’d have to say just getting to come here and play ball.

TR: What’s your proudest moment as an individual?

CS: Either the Memphis game or the Kansas game, just because we weren’t expected to do anything against them. I went out there and showed that I could play against the big schools, and as a team we showed that we could play against them too.

TR: And your proudest moment for the team?

CS: Same thing, the Memphis and Kansas games.

TR: What are your plans for after Fordham?

CS: As of right now I’m probably going to head back to Australia. I want to get involved in some sports organizations and do something in marketing and advertising.

Squash Drops Two Against Ranked Teams

By BRODY NIEPORTE STAFF WRITER

The Fordham squash team returned from its long layoff over the Christmas holidays to face two very elite, highly ranked squash teams in Bates College and Wesleyan University. Both teams are perennial squash powers, and they both came into the weekend with top-25 rankings in the country.

Unfortunately, both teams proved to be too much for Fordham, with the Rams losing both matches 9-0.

Fordham kicked off the weekend with a match at Street Squash in Harlem against Bates. This match was the collegiate squash debut

for sophomores Matt Wynne and Robert O’Reilly. They are new additions to the team, and hopefully will continue to contribute in a positive way. O’Reilly seemed encouraged by the team’s effort.

“The two teams we played this weekend were two top-25 teams in the country, and it was cool to play against such great players,” he said, “I felt like our team played fairly well, and that we can use this weekend to get back into form, and get ready for this weekend’s matches.”

The next afternoon, Fordham traveled up to Middletown, Conn. to face Wesleyan. This match was also decided by a score of 9-0.

“It was really fun to finally get to play in a match after all the practice that we had been doing,” Wynne, another newcomer, said. “We faced tough teams this weekend, but we know we will continue to improve as players and as a team. I look forward to the rest of the season.”

Fordham has shown improvement early on this season winning two matches, bringing its ranking to No. 42 in the country.

Fordham will try to keep the ball rolling this coming weekend at the Siena Round Robin in Clinton, N.Y. Fordham will play multiple matches throughout the weekend. Fordham should have a good chance to improve its ranking.

Lady Rams Win Again, Men Continue Struggles

By ALEXANDER VILARDO SPORTS EDITOR

PHOTO BY SIMON SULIT/ THE RAM

Junior diver Elizabeth Dorger won two events against C.W. Post at the last meet

By BRIAN JASINSKI STAFF WRITER

After enjoying a week of fun in the sun on its training trip to Barbados, the Fordham women’s swimming and diving team continued its winning streak with a convincing victory over C.W. Post on Jan. 21. The women captured first in 12 of 13 events, defeating the Pioneers by a score of 121-57.

Sophomore Brienne Ryan and juniors Courtney Collyer and Elizabeth Dorger each won two events. Ryan won both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle with times of 24.44 and 53.93 respectively, while Collyer won the 200 butterfly (2:05.09) and 200 breaststroke (2:24.26).

Dorger won both diving events, posting a 242.25 on the one-meter board and recording a season-best score of 273.45 in the three-meter category.

While the women posted another victory against La Salle the following afternoon, the men fell to the Explorers by a score of 156-87.

The loss set the men back to 2-3, while the women improved to 5-1.

Ryan continued her dominance in the 50 free with a time of 24.14 seconds and won the 200 free in 2:01.61, her fastest finish this season. Collyer again finished first in the 200 fly and also won the 200

individual medley.

Ryan and Collyer also helped the women’s 400 medley relay record a season-best time of 3:52.81. Ryan’s starting split of 54.93 seconds in the 100 backstroke was fast enough for an NCAA “B” qualifying time.

Senior Megan McGorry also captured two events, the 500 and 1,000 free. She finished the 1,000 free in season-best fashion with a time of 10:17.00.

On the men’s side of the pool, sophomore Thomas Yi was the lone Ram to place first in two individual events, winning the 200 individual medley in 1:57.87 and 200 backstroke in 1:55.11. Yi also contributed a victory in the men’s 400 free relay along with teammates freshman Shintaro Noguchi, freshman John Kundrat and senior Billy Colton.

“Despite being exhausted from our hardest weeks of training, everyone swam very well and some even had their best performances of the season,” junior Kelly Bunster said. “Four hours of swimming per day [on training trip] really improved our endurance and it showed in our past two meets.”

The women will be looking to continue their winning streak, while the men will attempt to set their record to an even 3-3 on Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. when Fordham plays host to UMass.

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JANUARY 26, 2011 • THE RAM • PAGE 19

SPORTS

Cut them a break, New Yorkers. When you see them, don’t slap them across the face. Wipe their tears, put your arm around them and tell them that you’re proud of them. Yes, you can lie. You see, it just wasn’t meant to be. It literally could not have happened.

The Packers playing in the Super Bowl against the Jets? The football gods would never allow for that to happen. Do you honestly think Reggie White was up there before the start of the AFC Championship game on Sunday saying, “Hey, Vince, who should win the second game?”

There’s no way that those guys would let the Jets play against their Pack.

In fact, if Mark Sanchez threw for 500 yards and four touchdowns on Sunday evening, I bet Curly Lambeau would see to it that Ben Roethlisberger threw for 501 yards and five touchdowns. I bet Walter Payton would even agree with him.

You see, the Packers are one of the classiest, most storied franchises in NFL history. The Jets are, well, the Jets. If the two met in the Super Bowl, it would be like Frank Sinatra doing a duet with Britney Spears. It just wouldn’t work.

We all saw the Jets after they upset the Pats last week. They danced more than Billy Elliot and showed more birds than PetSmart. Braylon Edwards did more backflips than Carl Edwards, and Bart Scott yelled more than Miley Cyrus. Even Rex Ryan participated in a touchdown celebration in the endzone. The entire organization went N-U-T-S. The Packers? They went into Atlanta, one of the most difficult places for a visiting team to win, and easily took care of the Falcons. After the game, the Packers looked like they had been there before. They handled their postgame interviews with class instead of screaming into microphones; they shook hands with the Falcons instead of dancing and taunting the fans.

Even the coaches of the two teams are polar opposites. Rex Ryan, the head coach of the Jets, looks for attention almost as much as Lindsay Lohan. He even went so far as to say that the Jets’ first two playoff games were about him.

He’s cocky, he’s arrogant and he’s not the kind of guy you want your sister to date.

After the Jets were knocked out by the Steelers on Sunday night,

Ryan was still talking about how great his team is.

“I don’t think there’s many teams that could have gone through what we did,” Ryan told reporters.

Newsflash: The Packers, Bears and Steelers went through what you did; the Packers and Steelers went even farther.

“If people want to go ahead and criticize us, then go ahead,” added Ryan. “But you’ve really got no right.”

Seriously, Rex, did you see how your players handled themselves throughout the year?

Mike McCarthy, the Packers head coach, keeps to himself. He coaches, and his players play. He doesn’t seek attention; he seeks wins, and he gets them. Mothers probably love him. He says the right things, too.

Things like this: “Now we have an opportunity to achieve greatness, and that is winning the Super Bowl,” he told reporters after his Pack took down the Bears on Sunday.

Or this: “We felt we had them on the ropes there for a while. We just couldn’t get the game to a threescore game.”

See, Rex, he said the game could have been better for his team, and it won. Your team lost, your players handled themselves terribly throughout the regular season and postseason and you told us to not criticize them.

But maybe it’s not the different coaches that prevented the football gods from giving us a Packers vs.

Jets Super Bowl in Dallas. Maybe it’s the makeup of the two teams.

The Packers were far and away the best team in the NFC, but they’ve got an underdog feel to them, and they’re very lovable.

Their quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, was one of the most highly touted players in the 2005 draft, yet he slipped to 24th overall. Then he sat for three years behind an aging Brett Favre. Now he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the game.

Their running back, James Starks, was a college stud. He finished his NCAA career as Buffalo’s all-time leading rusher, and in 2008- ’09, he led the school to its first-ever bowl game.

What happened next? Starks tore his labrum and missed his entire senior season, dropping his draft stock. He slipped down to the sixth round, where Green Bay took a chance on the damaged goods.

Now he’s starting in the Super Bowl and has people wondering if he’s a future star in Green Bay.

How about cornerback Sam Shields? You know, the guy who made the interception late in the fourth quarter to end any hopes of a Bears comeback? He’s an undrafted rookie.

Tramon Williams? He was also undrafted – and cut by the Houston Texans – yet he led the Pack with six regular season picks. Now he’s got three in the playoffs.

The Jets don’t have that “special team” feel to them at all. Their quarterback, Mark Sanchez, is the complete opposite of Rodgers.

Sanchez was drafted fifth overall in 2009. He’s not known for being a hard-nosed football player.

Heck, he’s even done some modeling since being drafted. Rodgers wouldn’t make it 30 seconds into a photo shoot.

One of the Jets running backs, LaDainian Tomlinson, was an NFL stud. At one point, he was the best back in the league; he couldn’t be touched. Now? He’s still good, but he just doesn’t have the same glow that Starks does. LT gives the message that he’s in this for himself, not his team. It seems like his only goal is to wear a ring before he retires.

Ah, the Jets secondary. Where to begin? Darrelle Revis is arguably the best cornerback in the league. He’s also arguably the most selfish player in the league. The guy held-out for 35 days this past summer because he wanted more money. Revis won the argument and signed a four-year deal worth $46 million.

Antonio Cromartie, their other corner, is pretty good, too. Except he’s impossible to ignore off the field for two reasons. First, you’ve probably babysat one of his kids; he actually has six more of them than he did interceptions this year.

Second, the guy talks more than Kathy Lee Gifford, and his coach loves it. On Monday, Cromartie criticized the NFLPA and the NFL for their recent talks regarding contracts.

“It’s getting ridiculous when everything is always dealing with money,” he said.

Try telling that to Revis.

It’s simple, folks. The Packers play; the Jets talk. The Packers have a football coach; the Jets have a stage manager. The Packers have football players; the Jets have celebrities.

In the end, it would just never work out. While both organizations were in their Conference Championship games, the football gods knew that two football teams – not one – must play for the Super Bowl.

Upcoming Varsity Schedule CAPS=HOME lowercase=away Men’s Basketball

Women’s Basketball Indoor Track

Squash

Thursday Jan. 27

Friday Jan. 28

Saturday Jan.29

Sunday Jan. 30

Monday Jan. 31

Tuesday Feb. 1

Wednesday Feb. 2

BONNIES 1:00 p.m.

at Rhode Island 7:00 p.m.

at Duquesne 2:00 p.m.

RICHMOND 12:00 p.m.

Metropolitan Championship 3:00 p.m.

Siena Round Robin at Hamilton College

JANUARY 26, 2011

PAGE 20

Men’s Basketball Finds Itself at Bottom of A-10 Ladder Rams Look to Regain Confidence With New Point Guard

By MARK BECKER STAFF WRITER

It has been a cold Winter Break for the men’s basketball team – a 6-4 record has been upended by a seven-game skid, including an 0-5 mark to open Atlantic 10 play, most of the squad is in the middle of a massive slump (Fordham ranks last in the A-10 in field-goal percentage and rebounding margin) and few have been around to cheer the players on over five away games and two semi-home matchups at the IZOD Center following the sold-out crowd in the upset over St. John’s.

The recent losses have not been close either, as far as the final score is concerned. All seven have been double-digit losses, including a 34-point deficit to Dayton in the most recent game. Only sophomore forward Chris Gaston appears on the conference’s leaderboards, averaging 14.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game (11th, tied-fourth and fourth, respectively), all well below his rankings last season and in non-conference play this year.

Redshirt senior guard Brenton Butler is barely averaging eight points per game with poor assist numbers after an impressive stretch in early December, and his backcourt partners, junior Alberto Estwick and freshman Brendan Frazier, are averaging only 18 points together.

“A couple of those games have been closer than the score shows,” Head Coach Tom Pecora said. “The Charlotte and George Washington games were tie games with three or four minutes to go. We’re trying to win games, not keep it close. I understood that it was a possibility that once we got to league play, it’d be more difficult to get some wins.

We’re playing some very solid, experienced teams; we’re playing three freshmen and a sophomore – the lion’s share of minutes are going through those guys. But it’s better for your team in the long run, this year and hopefully next year.”

Not all of the problems are as serious as they appear, however. The beating the frontcourt has taken can be explained by the team’s poor shooting, as offensive rebounds are more difficult to secure than defensive.

Pecora also has reduced the minutes his starters are logging. There were 13 times over the first five games of the season when a player logged more than 35 minutes, whereas there have been only five occasions in which a player saw that amount of action in the five conference games thus far. Thus, their dip in production can be partially attributed to playing fewer minutes, hopefully leading to more efficiency in the long run.

Perhaps the most important note heading into the spring semester is the arrival of freshman point guard Lamount Samuell, a recruit whose debut was delayed until January due to a discrepancy with the NCAA clearinghouse.

PHOTO BY AARON MAYS/THE RAM

Sophomore forward Chris Gaston has seen his numbers drop since being last year’s Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year.

“He attended a public school and left for a year to attend a private school, but they dropped their sports program for financial reasons,” Pecora said. “He went back to the public school, but when he requested his transcript from the private school, they said that he had an outstanding balance and wouldn’t release the transcript.

He’s still going through growing pains. We hoped he would get some work in in November, but after that we were looking forward to getting him back for the Georgia Tech game, then the California trip.

We didn’t even have him for a full practice before the Temple game, but I thought it was good to send him out there to be ready for GW.” At 6’4”, with a relentless penetration dribble, Samuell is a rare allaround point guard reminiscent of Connecticut’s Kemba Walker and Villanova’s Corey Fisher, giving the Rams two potential triple-double threats (along with Frazier).

“He’s our only true point guard right now,” Pecora said. “Brenton did a great job but he’s a combo guard. Samuell’s assist numbers are dying because no one’s making jumpers, but I believe our shooters are good ones, and hopefully they’ll just get really hot for a week, like they’ve been in a slump for a week.”

The Rams’ most recent two games resulted in losses to Saint Louis (7-11, 2-3) and Dayton (155, 3-2) by scores of 68-55 and 9157, respectively.

In the Saint Louis game, also played at the IZOD Center, Gaston finally earned his 10th double-

double of the season, notching game-highs in points (24) and rebounds (10). Frazier also reached double digits in scoring with 11, but Butler fell just short with nine.

The two combined with Estwick to shoot only 1-8 from beyond the arc. Overall, the Rams shot a dismal 29.8 percent from the field and

committed 18 turnovers against only seven assists.

Three Billikens enjoyed three double-digit scorers and 16 assists on 46.9 percent shooting, including 45 percent on three-pointers.

Ten players saw at least nine minutes of game time for SLU, in contrast to only seven for the Rams,

which showed down the stretch as Fordham let the game get away after taking the lead with 12 minutes remaining.

The Dayton game was never much of a contest, as Fordham held its own and even took a brief lead at the 13:15 mark in the first half before the Flyers went on a 27-9 run to end the half leading by 17. That lead was quickly stretched out to as much as 42 with under five minutes to play in the second half before the Rams reigned it in against the Flyers’ walk-ons, ultimately settling for the 34-point loss.

Gaston led the Rams with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Frazier and Samuell each dished out two assists and netted 11 and 13, respectively. Samuell also pulled down seven boards and shot 3-3 behind the arc. Senior forward Jacob Green grabbed four rebounds in just 15 minutes, and junior center Kervin Bristol scored four points and grabbed six boards in only 14 minutes.

Junior guard Josh Parker led the Flyers with 27 points on 8-14 shooting from three-land, while senior forward Chris Johnson and sophomore forward Josh Benson also hit double digits in scoring.

Freshman point guard Juwan Staten dished out 10 assists. Seven Flyers scored at least five points and six pulled down five or more rebounds, while the team posted a 24-6 assistto-turnover ratio.

At 0-5 in conference play, the Rams share the basement of the A-10 with Saint Joseph’s and are one win behind La Salle and Charlotte. They will try to turn things around on Saturday, Jan. 29 against St. Bonaventure (10-8, 2-3) at 1 p.m. in the Rose Hill Gym.

PHOTO BY AARON MAYS/THE RAM

Redshirt senior guard and captain Brenton Butler is leading the team with 36.2 minutes per game this season.