Volume 94 Issue 18

Page 1

Opinions PAGE 5

Culture PAGE 11

Sports PAGE 15

Fordham lacks Muslim and Jewish leaders on campus.

More students are now taking a gap year between high school and college.

Men’s soccer loses two important Atlantic 10 matchups.

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SERVING THE FORDHAM UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY FOR OVER 90 YEARS

1918-2012

OCTOBER 24, 2012

VOLUME 94, ISSUE 18

Fordham Foundry Opens in Fordham Plaza Students, Business Incubator Partners With the New York City’s Small Business Services to Expand Entrepreneurship Program By KELLY KULTYS ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Fordham’s Center for Entrepreneurship, through its partnership with New York City’s Department of Small Business Services (SBS), opened the Fordham Foundry, a small-business incubator, on Monday, Oct. 15. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and several other elected officials were on hand to unveil the 30,000-square-foot facility located at 400 Fordham Road in Fordham Plaza. The space includes not only the Fordham Foundry, but also NYC Business Solutions Services and a Workforce1 career center. The facility’s goals include “supporting the Fordham community in developing and launching businesses, creating businesses that remain in the Bronx and spark economic growth and job creation and serving the existing greater Bronx community of entrepreneurs,” according to a press release from Fordham’s eNewsroom. The Fordham Foundry will serve primarily as an incubator for new startup businesses within the Fordham community. Plans for the Foundry began approximately two years ago, when Dr. Christine Janssen-Selvadurai took over as director of entrepreneurship in the Gabelli School of Business (GSB). “I had this pea in the brain that if we wanted to be recognized and acknowledged as a leading entrepreneurship program at the

Residents Rally For KARA

Kingsbridge Armory Rally Focuses on Social Justice By TAYLOR ENGDAHL COPY CHIEF

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH ZANGHI/THE RAM

The Foundry, located on Fordham Road and Webster Avenue, shares space with Workforce1 and NYC Business Solutions.

undergraduate level, we needed an entrepreneurship major, which I’m currently working on, and we needed an incubator,” Janssen-Selvadurai said. Janssen-Selvadurai worked with several members of the GSB faculty, including Professor Mitchell H. Fillet and Dr. Donna Rapaccioli, dean of GSB, to put this idea into action. They received a lot of support, especially because their plan was going to help provide an environment that would foster job creation. “A year ago, a finance professor, Mitch Fillet, came on board and he and I have been like partnersin-crime ever since,” Janssen-Sel-

vadurai said. “I realized there was no way I could have done it myself, and so I’m very grateful for his partnership.” Janssen-Selvadurai and Fillet’s preliminary plans were put into place this July with the help of the City of New York, especially the Commissioner for the Department of Small Business, Robert Walsh. “We were introduced this summer to Commissioner Walsh, a two-time Fordham grad,” JanssenSelvadurai said. “He loves Fordham, so his team came on board as well. We had his team and government relations here, the whole shebang working on this.”

Their plans were quickly set into action during what Janssen-Selvadurai described as a “whirlwind” period of time. “Everything just went down in July,” Janssen-Selvadurai said. “It was crazy and I loved it.” The first step in creating an incubator was locating the right space. “We were looking for a space oncampus, but there were none, so we had to go off-campus,” JanssenSelvadurai said. “Then we were going to go right across the street from the Walsh Library. [Commissioner Walsh and the City of NYC] had already leased 30,000 square feet of space in 400 Fordham PlaSEE INCUBATOR, PAGE 2

This past Wednesday, Oct. 17, a group of Fordham students gathered on the steps of Walsh Library, preparing to walk to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church for a rally hosted by the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA). A division of a local grassroots organization focused on issues of social justice, the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, KARA seeks to unite the community around a redevelopment plan for the Armory that will be beneficial to Bronx residents. “We are proud of the fact that our organizing has led to verbal commitments from both developers around community space and living wage jobs,” Amanda Altman, a KARA organizer wrote in an email. “Now it's time to take the next step. Our community priorities must be in the lease with the city or in a Community Benefits Agreement, for us to know we have a deal we can count on.” SEE RALLY, PAGE 3

Stand-Up Takes Over Gotham Comedy Club Fordham’s Stand-Up Comedy Troop Participates in ‘Gotham’s New Talent Showcase’ in New York City, Provides Crowd With Laughs By DEVON SHERIDAN ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

Whiffs of phantom laughter and applause in the area of Collins Hall (on the freshman side of campus) have become something of a norm on recent weekend nights. The exact location of the laughter is the Blackbox Theater, a small, dark, mildly-intimate and relatively-unknown performance theater behind Collins. The source of the laughter? A happily-entertained crowd of students enjoying the witty ramblings and saucy jokes of Fordham StandUp. Formed in October of last year, Fordham Stand-Up has filled the hole for a much-needed on-campus-stand-up-group. The group has been regularly performing at the Blackbox since the beginning of the semester, with three shows to date and another show scheduled for this weekend, Oct. 26-28. Last Tuesday, the group took its talents far off campus, having landed a gig at “Gotham's New Talent Showcase,” a weekly stand-up show at the popular comedic venue,

Gotham Comedy Club. The show began at 7 p.m. As the clock ticked closer to showtime and the tables began to fill, Fordham students surely recognized the abundance of fellow classmates around the room. In fact, the show was informally dubbed on the stand-up group's Facebook page as “Fordham Night.” Eight of Fordham StandUp's group, ranging from sophomores to alumni, performed on the night. They were: Chris Lee, FCRH ’11; Dennis Flynn, FCRH ’12; Anthony Schepis, FCRH ’13; Tim Rozmus, GSB ’13; Michael Drosos, FCRH ’13; Drew Rotunno, FCRH ’14; Tim Bridge, FCRH ’14; James Murtagh, FCRH ’15; Nick Pappas, FCRH ’15; and Jeffrey Sharkey, FCRH ’15. For the young entertainers, the show was both a happily-received affirmation of their comedic brand and another accomplishment to cross out on the aspiring comedians’ to-do list. “The entire night was surreal [...] Being able to perform your own material at a legitimate comedy club in front of not only friends and

COURTESY OF TIM ROZMUS

Members of Fordham’s Stand-Up Comedy Troop provided the audience with an evening of entertainment. New York strangers, but professional comedians as well, and have it be successful is awesome,” Tim Bridge, FCRH ’14, said. Prior to showtime, the group was informed that a comedic scout would be present in the crowd, undoubtedly adding a sense of importance to the mood, if not a little extra unexpected pressure.

Another unexpected presence in the room on Tuesday night was that of Jim Gaffigan, a popular and successful stand-up comedian and actor, who stopped by to practice new material. “We all look up to Gaffigan and some of us know his discography almost by heart, so for him to perform there that night was

awesome,” Mike Drosos, FCRH ’13, said. “When he arrived halfway through the show, we all just stopped worrying about our own sets.” Gaffigan stood poised on stage, professionally delivering joke after joke, but more impressive were the young Fordham amateurs who SEE COMEDY, PAGE 11


PAGE 2•THERAM•OCTOBER 24, 2012

SECURITY

BRIEFS

Oct. 18, Hughes House, 5-10 p.m. A laptop was stolen from a student’s apartment. Security is investigating the theft.

Oct. 20, 189 Street and Arthur Avenue 2:10 a.m. Security responded to an incident involving several students having a dispute. FUEMS responded to the quarrel. One student received minor injuries. The student did not want to report the incident to the police and was referred to the dean of students.

Oct. 20, 28 Arthur Avenue, 6 p.m. A student setoff the smoke alarm after burning food. The FDNY responded to the incident. The apartment was ventilated. There were neither injuries nor damage reported.

Oct. 20, Lombardi Fitness Center, 1:45-3 p.m. A student reported that $82 in cash was stolen from his wallet while he was in the weight room. No other property was stolen from his wallet. Security is investigating the theft.

NEWS

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Business Incubator Looks to Spark Job Creation FROM INCUBATOR, PAGE 1

za. On the 7th floor is NYC Business Solutions, [a group] which provides a lot of free resources to start-up businesses. Commissioner Walsh said ‘how about we give you some space on this floor? Then we can partner up.’” Once Janssen-Selvadurai and her team secured the space, they began working on the practicalities and details to get the Foundry up and running. Right now, the space for Fordham Foundry is about 2,400 square feet, but they are hoping to expand the space depending on demand and user needs. “[The construction company] literally moved walls for us,” Janssen-Selvadurai said. “[Commissioner Walsh] said that whatever Fordham wants, he’ll do it.” The incubator will serve the entire population of Fordham, including current undergraduate students in the Gabelli School of Business, Fordham College at Rose Hill and Fordham College at Lincoln Center, in addition to graduate students, alumni, faculty and staff. “It’s not just for students in Gabelli,” Janssen-Selvadurai said. “I want to make that clear. Great business ideas don’t always just come out of the business school. Anybody from the Fordham community is able to come in and use this space.” The space costs $300 a month to rent, a fee that goes towards providing users with a variety of different services. “[The price] is a steal, because [for that price] users get this open, collaborative workspace,” JanssenSelvadurai said. “We take care of all the technology. If you need a phone number for your business, we can take care of that for you, along with office equipment and supplies. There are computer labs

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH ZANGHI/THE RAM

Those who become members of the Foundry will have access to office space, technology and a mentor program. and conference rooms which we with an outside financier. you have a much greater chance have access to. We’re going to have The first tenants of the Foundry of success because you’re in a rea formal mentoring program, peowill be able to access their space ally nurturing environment to help ple who are relative to members’ on Nov. 1. An application process you and you work with a mentor, needs. We’re going to have training is required for those who believe so your chances of success go way and workshops for our members, they have a profitable small-busiup,” Janssen-Selvadurai said. “I bringing in experts for discussions. ness opportunity. get so sick of hearing [from stuWe’re looking for high-profile en“The application is nine pagdents] about unemployment and trepreneurs who can come in once es long, and it’s very in-depth,” how they can’t find jobs. Here’s or twice a month to come in and Janssen-Selvadurai said. “It inthe message I have for students — work with the students, which cludes questions such as: Have stop with the system, challenge the is awesome because they have a you done your research? Have you status quo. Why should you have wealth of knowledge.” done your diligence? What’s your to go work at a company and make Students who do not have the concept? What kind of help do them money, make them rich. necessary funds to pay for access you need? Who’s on your team? Why don’t you start something, to the incubator can receive help [That’s] just so we have a good there’s so many problems to solve from many sources, including apidea about where you are and are out there. Why don’t you be the plying for a scholarship which can you ready to come in.” problem-solver?” alleviate anywhere from 50 to 100 Janssen-Selvadurai and her team The Fordham Foundry looks percent of the cost. Also, the Fordare very excited to have created to add to a growing entrepreneurham Foundry has set up a microthis facility for Fordham students, ship department, which according loan program, called The Ram especially in the current, uncertain to the Bloomberg’s Businessweek Fund, where students can take out economy. Entrepreneurship Rankings, has small loans to get their businesses “Statistics show that if you already jumped from 83rd place in running without having to deal start a business in an incubator, 2011 to 44th in 2012.

Fordham in the Bronx By JEFFREY COLTIN STAFF WRITER

Highway to Halloween: Oct. 22, 584 E 198 Street, 11:30 p.m. Security responded to a past burglary. Six students who live in the apartment were all absent from their home for 15 to 20 minutes. None of the students locked the door. The students discovered two laptops missing upon return. NYPD was notified and is investigating the burglary.

—Compiled by Karen Hill, Assistant News Editor

Searching for Costumes, Students Turn to Fordham Road Halloween time in grade school means doing spooky word searches in class before going home and trick or treating up and down the street. Halloween for many adults means sitting by the door all night with a big bowl of candy, passing it out to the neighborhood kids. College students usually find themselves somewhere in between. Professors rarely assign spooky word hunts, and very few receive trick-or-treaters to their dorm room or off-campus housing. But one Halloween ritual does remain for college students: wearing costumes. Fordham Rose Hill students are particularly lucky, being located next to the shopping mecca of Fordham Road. “Honestly, if you ever need to find something, you’ll find it on Fordham Road. It has yet to fail me,” Jesus Leon, FCRH ’15, said, He has big plans for Halloween week. “I’m dressing up, I think, starting Friday, depending on what’s going on at Fordham,” Leon said.

“So Friday, Saturday, maybe Sunday if I’m feeling wild, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.” That’s potentially six costumes, and Leon has been scouring Fordham Road to find some of the best. “The Salvation Army store off of Fordham Road [2359 Jerome Avenue] had some really cool stuff. I’m going to be MC Hammer one night, so I got these really cool parachute pants with cool African print, and I bought this black jacket with a purple lining.” While the Halloween costumespecific store that temporarily occupied a space on Fordham Road (described by Leon as “halfway up the hill”) has not appeared this year, students still have many options in the neighborhood. Two costume stores occupy spaces immediately west of the Fordham Road 4 train station, and Laura Maurizio, FCRH ’13, says she saw a Halloween-themed convenience store rife with masks “closer to 187th and Hughes.” Like many students, Maurizio

is hoping to find her costume on Fordham Road. “I don’t know where else I’d get a unitard,” she said, needing a fullbody, blue unitard and a blonde wig to complete her costume. Domenick Lasorsa, FCRH ’15, hasn’t decided a costume yet, but is looking to buy local as well. “[I’ll] maybe go to a thrift store or place like that, get some funky clothes[…], on Fordham Road possibly,” he said. He too, sings the praises of Fordham Road. “I love it,” he said. “They literally have everything you could ever need. Anything you need for college, they have there…They’ve got everything on that road.” Even if a student fails to find a costume at the clothing stores on Fordham Road, the other stores can give inspiration. “One that I really want to do one day is to buy the ‘We Buy Gold’ sign, the ‘Compramos Oro,’” Leon said. “I would love to wear that one year as my Halloween costume.”

THIS

week at

FORDHAM Thursday, Oct. 25, Information and Communication Systems, Hughes Hall Room 307, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, President’s Ball, Lombardi Field House, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, A cappella Teaser Concert: B-Sides, Ramblers, Satin Dolls and F#s Collins Auditorium, 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, Ballroom Fantasy, Contemporary Science Fiction and Ballroom Dance, McGinley Ballroom, 9 p.m.-12 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, Charades, CSA, Student Lounge, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, CAB Cinevents!: Men in Black 3, Keating First, 9 p.m.


theramonline.com

Students Gather to Rally for KARA FROM RALLY, PAGE 1

The rally began at 6:30 p.m., with musical performances from the St. Nicholas of Tolentine Prayer Circle Band and New Day Choir, as well as a beautiful meditative chant from a Buddhist monk, which made KARA’s appreciation for those from any and all religions and backgrounds clear. Then, the rally’s emcee and KARA member Alice McIntosh reminded the audience of KARA’s goals in engaging in this project. “The Armory must work for us,” she said. The crowd responded positively to her words, shouting affirmations and clapping between sentences. Available to all were copies of KARA’s community benefits principles, eight requests that were presented to both developers and representatives from the office of Councilman Cabrera as means for the positive redevelopment of the Armory. The principles included appeals for full-time living-wage jobs, at least 60,000 square feet of community space, a new highquality school outside of the Armory and opportunities for Bronx-based businesses to expand within the Armory. Also mentioned was the need to have the principles written into the lease between the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and whichever developer is selected. The premiere of the rally was that both developers were invited to speak to the community about their respective redevelopment plans. Only one accepted the invitation; while KNIC, the acronym for the developer intending to turn the Armory into the Kingsbridge National Ice Center, was not in attendance, Young Woo turned out with a handful of his business partners. Woo gave a presentation about his plan for the Armory, which he calls “Mercado Mirabo.” Inspired by the idea of traditional town squares found in many Latin American or European countries,

Woo explained that his “Mercado Mirabo” would be equally community-oriented, with plenty of space for professional and recreational sports programming, as well as room for Bronx businesses to expand and areas designated for other events such as community meetings. Following the presentation, Woo was asked to respond to a myriad of questions from audience members. In a blog post on KARA’s Tumblr, Angela Owczarek, FCRH ’14, a volunteer with KARA through Fordham’s service-learning program, noted that many of Woo’s responses to many questions were less than satisfactory. “Despite promises of a community-first Armory vision during their presentation, Young Woo and Associates evaded specific questions about whether the 982 permanent jobs its project would create would be living-wage jobs,” Owczarek wrote. She also commented on the mixed reactions to Woo’s presentation from the community. “While most were appreciative of the fact that Young Woo and Associates showed up, I know many of us also left asking if our most important desires for the Armory—more after-school programs for Bronx youth, a place where education can be celebrated in a variety of forms, an area for commerce, culture and community in which consumers, workers and residents of the Bronx alike can be treated with dignity and respect — would be manifested into a deal we can count on,” she wrote. KARA continues to work to ensure that the plan eventually selected by the EDC will have a positive impact on the surrounding Bronx community by seeking a Community Benefits Agreement or by having its principles written into the lease. When the developer is officially chosen this November, supporters hope that this hard work will pay off.

NEWS

OCTOBER 24, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 3

Washington, Alda Among Hall of Honor Inductees

PHOTO BY CONNOR RYAN/THE RAM

The newest inductees to Fordham’s Hall of Honor were recognized at a black tie reception Monday night.

By CONNOR RYAN NEWS EDITOR

Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, recognized the four newest inductees to Fordham’s Hall of Honor at a ceremony Monday night in the Garden Terrace of New York’s Botanical Garden. One hundred of Fordham’s highest-level donors, school administrators and a few invited guests gathered for the black tie reception. The late Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., former Laurence J. McGinley chair in Religion and Society; E. Gerald Corrigan, Ph.D., GSAS ’65; Alan Alda, FCRH ’56; and Denzel Washington, FCLC ’77, are the newest additions to the Rose Hill administration building’s Hall of

Honor. High-profile actors Washington and Alda did not attend the event. Edith Dulles Lawlis, niece of Cardinal Dulles, accepted the recognition on his behalf. Cardinal Dulles was a professor at Fordham for 20 years, until his death in 2008. Corrigan stood in front of the dining room with McShane and Robert D. Daleo, GSB ’72 and board of trustees chair, to accept his framed certificate of recognition. Corrigan was the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from 1985 to 1993. He currently serves as chairman of Goldman Sachs Bank USA. Alda is a six-time Golden Globe and Emmy award winner. He was nominated for an Osacr in 2005 for

his performance in The Aviator. He has also been nominated for three Tony awards. Washington has won two Oscars and served on Fordham’s board of trustees from 1994 to 2000, according to a press release. Washington donated $2 million to Fordham last year and endowed the Denzel Washington Chair in Theater. The Hall of Honor, established in 2008, “recognizes the accomplishments of alumni whose lives have exemplified and brought recognition to the ideals to which the University is devoted,” according to a press release. There is a duplication of the Hall of Honor on the second floor of the Lowenstein Center at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus.

McShane Hosts Opening Ceremony of McGinley Fitness Center Fr. McShane, David Roach and Other Staff Members On Hand to Formally Welcome Fordham Community Members Into the New Facility By KELLY KULTYS ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Although the McGinley Fitness Center opened for students and faculty on Monday, Oct. 15, an official inaugural ceremony was held on Monday, Oct. 22 at 4 p.m. Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, opened the ceremony with a welcome address. “When the space in the Ramskellar became available,” McShane said, “we decided to move forward with this project and give the students a facility where they have plenty of space, a space that is tripled the size of the facility in the Lombardi Center.” Following McShane’s address, Father Patrick Ryan, S.J., the Laurence J. McGinley professor of religion and society, blessed the facility. Then the doors were officially opened to the public by McShane, David Roach, the recentlyappointed athletic director, Jeffrey Gray, senior vice president for student affairs, and Marc Valera,

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH ZANGHI/ THE RAM

Rev. McShane holds the door open for students who attended the fitness center’s inaugural ceremony on Monday.

director of facilities. Some students, especially those who had not had the chance to visit the facility yet, were able to use the brand-new center. They were able to walk through and view the cardio machines, as well as learn how to use some of the

newer equipment properly. The rest of the event included meeting some of the staff members of the fitness center, such as Sarah Bickford, coordinator of fitness and recreation for the McGinley Fitness Center, Mike Roberts, assistant director of athletics

for club sports and recreation and Jeanne Molloy, registered dietitian with Sodexo. Molloy was also handing out healthy snacks, such as trail mix and granola, at the event. Bickford and Roberts are thrilled that the new fitness center

is open for student use, and are especially thrilled by the group fitness aspect. Fitness classes, many of which were free to students, officially kicked off after the opening ceremonies concluded. Many students are happy with the new fitness facility’s wide variety of equipment. “It’s really spacious and it offers so many more options, such as body bars and medicine balls, that the Lombardi Center never had,” Elizabeth Hughes, GSB ’15, said. Certain aspects of the fitness center were a surprise to students who were accustomed to the Lombardi layout. “I didn’t expect the LED lighting in the windows,” Hughes said. “I really think it adds to the atmosphere in the center.” The last step in officially completing the new facility will be to name the center officially. At the event, McShane mentioned briefly that there will be a contest held to decide what the facility’s name will be.


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OCTOBER 24, 2012

PAGE 5

Muslim and Jewish Students Are Afterthought at Fordham By CANTON WINER ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR

“I went to an Islamic school for eight years [before coming to Fordham],” Bushra Mian, FCRH ’15, said. Mian, the president of the Muslim Students Association (MSA), is a Muslim student at Fordham. While Mian’s choice to enroll in a Catholic university may seem somewhat odd on the surface, she is hardly an anomaly. A Sept. 2 article in The New York Times notes that Muslim enrollment in Catholic schools has been growing across the nation. Yet Mian, and other students from non-Christian faiths, are often treated as an afterthought here at Fordham. The University does not have a part-time rabbi or imam on staff. The Jewish Student Organization (JSO) is not even an official student organization, and MSA only exists because of the initiative of individual students. The number of Muslim and Jewish students at Fordham is not published or made publicly available. Requests for information from the Office of Institutional Research (OIR), which processes this data, were not responded to by press time (though OIR had 10 days to process the request). MSA and JSO’s selfreported number of active members are roughly 25 and 12, respectively. While students of non-Christian faiths are inarguably a minority at this university, they certainly deserve the same amount of care as any other student on campus. “During orientation and tours, Fordham shows that they are welcoming to all groups,” Mian said. “But I feel that all of the individual actions [of welcoming] were done by MSA.” Fordham may claim to believe in welcoming people of diverse backgrounds — even Red Sox fans, as Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, would say — but it has yet to put words into action. For example, why is there no rabbi or imam on staff ? “Fordham needs a part-time

rabbi on campus,” Morgan Vazquez, FCRH ’13 and the president of JSO at Rose Hill, said. “There is only so much you can do yourself.” Mian shares these sentiments. “Our [Muslim] religious practices do not require much, but we could do so much more with an imam,” she said. Vazquez and Mian agree that having a rabbi and imam, respectively, on campus would be good for spiritual guidance and would promote spiritual growth. Campus Ministry supports the idea of helping students of all faiths to embrace and grow in their religion. “In Campus Ministry, we want to support the flourishing of everyone’s faith life,” Conor O’Kane, associate director of Campus Ministry at Rose Hill and director of Interfaith Programs, said. “In an ideal world, we would have a chaplain for everyone on staff.” O’Kane also expressed hope that as JSO continues to grow, Fordham can get its own Hillel (Jewish campus life center). However, he says that it is simply not within Campus Ministry’s budget to bring a parttime rabbi and imam on staff. While Campus Ministry itself may not have the funding to do this, the University certainly does. If Fordham has the budget to bring Jay Sean to campus for Spring Weekend, meticulously maintain the landscaping and create a beautiful new gym in the Ramskellar, among other things, then the budget for a part-time rabbi and a part-time imam can surely be found. Campus Ministry’s website asserts that helping students of all faiths to grow in their spirituality is a duty that is tied to the University’s mission. “Fordham’s Campus Ministry supports the faith of all students and encourages them to embrace their own religious faith traditions during their formative collegiate careers,” Campus Ministry’s website says. “The University would not be true to its mission if it did not do so.” Fordham’s failure to provide a

part-time rabbi and imam on campus does this mission a disservice. The presence of these spiritual leaders would provide an invaluable pillar around which Jewish and Muslim students could gather. Additionally, there are many traditions of each religion for which an imam or a rabbi is necessary. The Jewish High Holy Days, for example, are much more meaningful under the guidance of a rabbi. The weekly Friday prayer for Muslims (jum’ah), which is a communal and congregational prayer, cannot be done without an imam. “[MSA] is trying to start a weekly Friday prayer, but we cannot do it without an imam,” Mian said. “An imam on campus would unite us.” Similarly to Catholicism, Islam and Judaism are religions in which community is very important. Worship, conversation and fellowship are all greatly enhanced by, if not completely dependent upon, the existence of a religious community. This is another area where Fordham is lacking resources for non-Christian students. “We are a community where people of all faith traditions […] will find companions on the journey to spiritual growth,” Campus Ministry’s website says. Campus Ministry certainly believes in this and is not merely paying lip service to religious diversity. Mian points out, however, that Campus Ministry’s statement is not necessarily true. “[The Muslim community] is hard to find at Fordham. I cannot find any Muslim professors even, so students rely on each other.” Some would say that clubs like MSA and JSO exist to solve this problem by creating community. While this is true to a certain extent, the classification of these groups as clubs is, in and of itself, problematic. “One problem that I have with the Office of Student Leadership and Community Development (OSL&CD) is that they would not grant club status to JSO because of membership numbers,” Vazquez said. “But if JSO helps just one student, then it is necessary.”

PHOTO BY KATE DOHENY

Bushra Mian (left) and Morgan Vazquez are the presidents of MSA and JSO.

MSA and JSO are, as Vazquez notes, subject to almost the same treatment as all other clubs. JSO, for example, is not technically a club on campus because its membership numbers are not high enough for it to be officially granted club status. MSA, on the other hand, is an official Fordham club. “Our budget is a little over $2,000,” Mian said. “But other than that, we need to have bake sales and stuff.” MSA and JSO should not merely be clubs; they serve a different and much greater purpose than any “club.” The Ski and Snowboard Club, for instance, should not share the same status as MSA and JSO. Conor O’Kane agrees that Campus Ministry needs to be involved in organizations like MSA and JSO. “There is a difference between an organization that facilitates one’s spiritual life and one that deals with social activities,” O’Kane said. “It is important for there to be a strong connection between Campus Ministry and those groups.” O’Kane notes that some universities place student religious groups completely under Campus Ministry, while others function under the spheres of both student life and Campus Ministry. “Campus Ministry might be better suited [than OSL&CD] to serve

some specific needs [of MSA and JSO],” O’Kane said. “This is not to say that OSL&CD is deficient in any way.” In this area, Campus Ministry appears to be on the right path. “Right now, 100 percent of our [JSO’s] budget comes from Campus Ministry,” Vazquez said. “I do not think we need a faculty advisor [as required by OSL&CD]. We should be under Campus Ministry.” Vazquez is right. Not only is Campus Ministry better equipped to meet the needs of student religious organizations, but the significance of this move is of symbolic importance as well. Classifying MSA and JSO as clubs alongside the Outdoors Club and Fordham’s a capella groups places a degree of lesser value upon these religious organizations and trivializes their importance. The situation of Jewish and Muslim students at Fordham is certainly far from perfect. Vazquez, however, says there is reason for hope. “I think we are on a good path right now,” Vazquez said. “The awareness is really starting to come together.” If Fordham is to live up to its Jesuit mission of openness, we should all hope she is right. Canton Winer, FCRH ’15, is an undeclared major from West Palm Beach, Fla.

NYC Schools Require Entrance Testing Reforms By AUSTIN THOMAS COPY EDITOR

Recently, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education claiming that the admissions process to New York City’s top high schools discriminates against blacks and Latinos. The NAACP argues against using a standardized exam — the SHSAT — as the only criterion to admit students to three public math-science magnets (Stuyvesant High School, Bronx High School of Science and Brooklyn Technical High School). The argument is based on data published in the New York Daily News showing over 30 percent of test-taking whites and Asians being offered admission to one of these schools compared to five percent of blacks and 6.7 percent of Latinos. But the NAACP is ignoring the situation’s nuances. It is not because

FRANK FRANKLIN II/AP

Stuyvesant High School is one of New York City’s specialized high schools.

of their ethnicity that black or Latino children are rare at the specialized high schools. Rather, other factors that correlate with race create the illusion of a primarily racist system. “Primarily racist,” you say? Yes; I will borrow the vocabulary of late writer and philosophy professor at

San Francisco State University Mary Anne Warren, Ph.D., and make a distinction between primary racism, which is morally unacceptable, and secondary racism, which is morally acceptable. Consider a job opening to which two applicants respond, one minority and one white. If the

minority is more qualified and is denied the job on the basis of his being a minority, the hiring decision shows primary racism. If the white is more qualified and is given the job based on qualifications independent of race, the decision shows secondary racism. Because the minority was denied the job for reasons independent of race, the decision is meritocratic and therefore morally acceptable. The SHSAT-based admissions process is secondarily racist. The exam itself is not racially biased — it contains only multiple-choice reading, logic and math questions and is not the object of the NAACP’s contention — and the cutoff score for a school does not vary by race. Instead, economic and cultural inequalities appear to give whites and Asians an upper hand. Richer families can afford to live near better primary schools, pay for private schooling and hire tutors. And certain cultures may value academic achievement more

than others do. These economic and cultural inequalities, in turn, correlate with race. In four of five boroughs of the city, blacks and Latinos each have lower median incomes than whites or Asians. And cultures associated with Asian ethnicities — from my experience in a high school that was roughly 50 percent Asian by enrollment — often emphasize academic achievement. (Asians constitute 72 percent of enrollment at Stuyvesant, 62 percent at Bronx Science and 60 percent at Brooklyn Tech despite representing only 15 percent of New York City’s public school enrollment.) Blacks and Latinos are not disadvantaged because of their race; it only appears that they are because the disadvantaging factors of poverty and cultural apathy towards academic achievement are more prevalent among the city’s blacks and Latinos. They are denied admission to top SEE SCHOOLS, PAGE 6


OPINIONS

PAGE 6• THE RAM • OCTOBER 24, 2012

The Ram Serving campus and community since 1918. The Ram is the University journal of record. The mission of The Ram is to provide a forum for the free and open exchange of ideas in service to the community and to act as a student advocate. The Ram is published and distributed free of charge every Wednesday during the academic year to the Rose Hill, Lincoln Center and Westchester campuses with a readership of 12,000. The Ram office is located in the basement of the McGinley Center, room B-52.

www.theramonline.com Advertising: (718) 817-4379 Executive: (718) 817-4380 Publishing: (718) 817-4381 Editorial: (718) 817-4382 Newsroom: (718) 817-4394 Fax: (718) 817-4319 theram@fordham.edu Fordham University - Station 37 Box B Bronx, NY 10458 Editor-in-Chief Olivia Monaco Managing Editor Victoria Rau Executive Editor Sarah Ramirez Business Editor Lindsay Lersner News Editor Connor Ryan Assistant News Editors Karen Hill Kelly Kultys Opinions Editor Rory Masterson Assistant Opinions Editors Ricky Bordelon Canton Winer Culture Editor Scharon Harding Assistant Culture Editor Devon Sheridan Sports Editors Chester Baker Dan Gartland Assistant Sports Editor Matt Rosenfeld Copy Chief Taylor Engdahl Copy Team Anne Marie Bogar John Bonazzo Talia Boyer PJ Brogan Nikos Buse • Megan Connor Rosemary Derocher Elise Frangaj Mary Galli • Deirdre Hynes Stephanie Kawalski • Leona Lam Francesca Leite • Lauren Manzino Shannon Marcoux Valerie Meyer • Meghan Mulvehill Daniel Murphy Katie Nolan • Anthony Pucik Allison Russell • Andrew Santis Kirsten Simons • Austin Thomas Photo Editor Michael Rezin Assistant Photo Editor Elizabeth Zanghi Design Editor Elizabeth Mallozzi Web Editor Anne Couture Assistant Web Editor Daley Quinn Faculty Advisor Dr. Beth Knobel Opinions Policy The Ram appreciates submissions that are typed and saved on a disk in *.rtf, *.txt or *.doc formats, or sent to the staff via e-mail at fordhamramletters@gmail.com. Commentaries are printed on a space available basis. The Ram reserves the right to reject any submission for any reason, without notice. Submissions become the exclusive property of The Ram and will not be returned. The Ram reserves the right to edit any submissions. The opinions in The Ram’s editorials are those of the editorial board; those expressed in articles, letters, commentaries, cartoons or graphics are those of the individual author. No part of The Ram may be reproduced without written consent.

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From the Desk of Connor Ryan, News Editor The first step to making any good decision is to gather and understand the related information — the facts. My dad taught my sisters and I that wise tidbit many years ago, and as we enter the last lap of this whodunit presidential election, I wonder if I’m prepared to make that good decision. I’d like to think that our duty, as responsible voters of the future, is to step past the silly catchphrases of debates, the accusations of false information and the constant spew of spin and opinion to look at the facts. The importance of fact is a crucial cog in any election machine, but it would seem as though the validity of statements made on both sides of the ticket have played a central role in this go-around. President Obama, for example, said in Monday’s debate that former Governor Romney had previously opposed any federal “assistance” for troubled automakers. He was incorrect — Mr. Romney has supported federal loan guarantees. Meanwhile, Romney took credit for the top scores Massachusetts grade-schoolers achieved while he was governor, but those scores had existed before he governed the state. Add into the mix opinion-enraged tweets and Facebook status updates that either perpetuate untruths or amplify utter static. Don’t

get me wrong, social media is great and it has done much good for both candidates. But there’s no doubt that it’s added to the noise we should all probably move away from — if for no longer than just a few minutes. “I just think the election should come down to a one-on-one basketball game,” was one status that floated down my Facebook news feed Monday night. “BIG BIRD! BINDERS! BAYONETS! YEEEAAARRGH!!! #debate #cspan2012,” read one of the tweets I saw. It’s a problem, as I have seen over and over again, when young people (in particular) replace professionally-informed fact with bits of anecdotal knowledge gained through Facebook feeds and tweets. The intersection of candidates falsifying information about their opponent’s record and Facebook playing into those falsifications makes it helplessly difficult to discern what’s true and what is not. Enter journalists — not citizen journalists, but paid professionals whose mission it is to provide unbiased fact and analysis to informed voters and promote the principals of a functioning democracy. The best way to stay informed, and take responsibility for your vote, is to read wisely. I am unabashedly a big fan of The

New York Times — in fact, some of my friends might tell you that I can be a bit obsessive. The range and depth of reporting, the diligence of analysis and the insight of daily feature stories undoubtedly contribute to the success of the newspaper. And since 2007, Fordham has generously provided 365 fresh copies of the paper to residence halls each weekday. “By providing a newspaper each morning at the front door of every residence, we not only encourage immediate connection to important events affecting students’ lives but hopefully we encourage lifelong habits of curiosity and engagement,” Chris Rodgers, Rose Hill’s dean of students, said of the readership program. Having said that, the liberal-leaning opinion pages of The Times have, for some strange reason, scared off many from reading the paper’s unrivaled political coverage in the news section. For those who don’t like The Times, Fordham also offers daily copies of The Wall Street Journal. Fordham also offers free online subscriptions for those looking to trade ink for pixels. The Washington Post, USA Today and Politico are also great avenues for staying informed. And yes — it’s impossible for any writer to move without just a hint of

bias, but you would be surprised. In a perfect world, checking a variety of news sources would provide you with unique perspectives, contexts and pieces of information that may ultimately help you make that decision on Nov. 6. But if you are still skeptical of subtle spin and only have time for one stop, check out FactCheck.org. “We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases,” FactCheck.org’s website says. “Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.” Step away from the noise of Twitter, the factual inaccuracies of the debates and take control of your vote. Whatever your political partiality, stay accurately informed and make good decisions — you are very much a part of America’s future. #FactsMatter.

EDITORIAL: Gun Control Ignored by Candidates Through three presidential debates and one vice-presidential sparring match, the candidates have talked about issues ranging from North Mali to Big Bird and other assorted “malarkey.” Yet, we at The Ram feel that one very serious issue has been neglected by both tickets: gun control. Gun control has only come up once in this campaign, notably at the Oct. 16 town-hall debate at Hofstra in which the audience asked the questions. Four years ago, Obama pledged to fight for the renewal of the ban on assault rifles, which was put in place in 1994 and expired in 2004. Signed by President Clinton and opposed by many Republicans in Congress, the Brady Bill outlawed firearms including AK-47s, Uzis and TEC-9s (though, admittedly, similar weapons could be purchased even under the ban). Obama’s administration has not only failed to renew the ban but has also remained fairly silent on the issue. Romney, on the other hand, now outright opposes the assault rifles

ban. In July 2004, however, thenGovernor Romney signed into law legislation that made the Massachusetts assault weapons ban permanent and not reliant on the 1994 federal ban. In fact, many states have their own bans in place, which are sometimes more stringent than their federal counterparts. More than 30,000 people are shot and killed in America every year, half of which are suicides, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). Recently, there has been a recent increase of gun violence in large cities, including Chicago and New York. Why, then, has President Obama neglected to fight for the ban and has Romney voiced his newfound opposition to the ban? The answer lies in three simple letters: NRA. The National Rifle Association (NRA) is determined to squash public discourse on the issue of gun control. The NRA opposes even reasonable measures to curb the explosion of gun violence in America. There is

no reason, as far as we can tell, that any citizen should need an AK-47. With atrocities such as the massacre in Aurora, Colo. (which involved the use of an assault weapon), the Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin and the shooting of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, we need to reevaluate the basis for easy accessibility of assault weapons. Furthermore, obtaining a gun permit, even legally, should not be facile; if the process takes a long time, that is probably better. One of the most disturbing common threads of the shooting tragedies of the past few years has been the ability of people who are mentally unstable to obtain weapons. Public discourse on gun control is being held hostage by the NRA at the expense of tens of thousands of American lives every year. The NRA refuses to even meet with President Obama and other Democrats to discuss the gun control issue, according to The New York Times. The NRA’s current political status

and influence distorts its original intent of developing better marksmanship and training civilians so that they could join the military if called upon. It has become, instead, a lobby that interrupts debate and discourse, especially in terms of the role guns play in the increased gun violence in urban areas around the country. Romney’s recent lack of backbone on the issue of gun control has earned him the endorsement of the NRA, which has spent over $12 million on this election during the 2012 cycle so far. The Republican candidate has decided to abandon the sensical gun control reforms that he supported while governor to avoid the multimillion dollar wrath of the NRA. In sum, the power of the gun lobby has not allowed a true debate and discussion on the issue.

Editorial Policy The Ram’s editorials are selected on a weekly basis, and are meant to reflect the editorial board’s view on a particular issue.

NAACP Well-Intentioned, But Wrong in Criticism FROM SCHOOLS, PAGE 5

high schools on the basis of performance criteria independent of their race, a secondarily-racist process that is nevertheless meritocratic and morally acceptable with regard to race. Students who come from wealth or from families who emphasize education tend to do better on the SHSAT and get into the best high schools. Black and Latino students can certainly come from such backgrounds, but since those who gain entrance tend to be white and Asian, the NAACP and its defenders conflate primary with secondary racism. Yet the process remains unfair. Students who might have otherwise flourished should not be blamed for their families’ economic situations. Since many Americans praise meritocracy and many others praise some

degree of equality, perhaps the best solution is a moderate affirmative action based on economic inequality. In the case of New York City’s public schools, this would mean changing the admissions process for the top three specialized high schools. It would not be a change driven by racial injustice but by economic injustice — and thus would help the economically-disadvantaged minorities for whom the NAACP advocated in the first place. Instead of evaluating only on test performance, the city could consider students’ grades and teacher recommendations, neither of which is easier for the rich to attain. Economic background should also be an admissions factor, as long as no quotas are enacted. The Specialized High School Institute, the city’s free

SHSAT preparatory program, should be expanded and further advertised to disadvantaged students. City residents’ stories depict a flawed system. “I had a fever the day of the SHSAT and missed the cutoff for Stuy[vesant] by a few points, although I got in to Brooklyn Tech,” Matt Windels, FCRH ’13, a 2009 graduate of Regis High School, said. “My sister had a higher GPA than I did, but her score missed the cutoff,” Christina Millamena, FCRH ’15, who attended Bronx Science for a year, said. When those who have benefited from a system consider it unfair, it seems high time for improvement. One local student even proposed that finances should play into admissions.

“There should be some kind of affirmative action […] based on economic factors,” Joe Campagna, GSB ’15, Staten Island Tech ’11, said. And indeed, this seems a reasonable and right measure for the city to enact. Of course, there would be no SHSAT controversy if attending an outer-borough public high school were an acceptable alternative. The brunt of reform efforts should benefit the non-exceptional majority, especially in light of education’s role in social mobility; we should aim, at the very least, to be a society that can look back and say, as urban policy expert Fred Siegel writes, “Poverty still persisted, but what it meant to be poor had changed.” Austin Thomas, FCRH ’15, is a physics major from Palos Verdes, Calif.


OPINIONS

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The Left Lane Conor

OCTOBER 24, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 7

Wage Gap Not Adequately Addressed

Righter’s Block

John P. Castonguay

Fucci

Obama Out-Debates Romney

Affirmative Action Must Go

Now that Oct. 16’s debate has ended, the 2012 election season moves into its final stage. Most polls place the two candidates in a statistical dead heat. To get a good idea of how the race is shaping up, one should note the energy and solid content of the Oct. 16 debate. The debate was a town-hall format, meaning that randomly-selected undecided voters provided and presented the questions. Coming off a lopsided defeat in the first debate, President Obama needed to take advantage of a format that showcased his charisma. It only took seconds for Obama to show how he was going to perform. The president came out swinging and never looked back. He made all the points that he failed to make against Romney during the previous debate. The energy was significantly higher, as the two candidates showed obvious malice for each other. When Romney made a comment aimed at Obama, the president rebutted swiftly and strongly. Obama made it clear that he was going to make Romney work for his votes. Obama took strong stances on gun control and the economy; his only real hiccups were his comments regarding the recent assassinations in Libya, on which he mainly dodged the questions. Although Obama appeared to be the stronger candidate, Romney did not falter greatly. Romney made it a point to make up for one of his shortcomings this campaign: the vagueness of his platform. Romney attempted to be clearer about features on his platform such as his tax plan and his ideas for gun control, but did have some glaring issues. The first mistake arose when he was attacking Obama about the deadly mismanagement in Libya; Romney criticized Obama because he did not call the attacks “an act of terror” — a patently false statement. Although against protocol, moderator Candy Crowley stepped in to set the record straight, much to the enjoyment of the audience. Romney’s second mistake occured when he was responding to a question about job creation. He tried to reference the time when he was governor of Massachusetts and needed to hire someone for a cabinet position. There weren’t many women candidates, and he asked why. Romney then said he was provided with “binders full of women” to evaluate for the job. This statement may not seem like much, but for a candidate already struggling to gain the female vote, a degrading statement like this could be major setback for his campaign. In the end, it is impossible to say that Obama did not outperform Romney overall. This victory, however, does not mean that Obama is in the clear. The race is just now starting to slowly swing back in Obama’s favor, but he is still behind.

Affirmative action has once again found its way into the national spotlight. On Oct. 10, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Fisher v. University of Texas (2012). Abigail Noel Fisher sued the University of Texas at Austin after her application for admission was denied in 2008. The district court and court of appeals were unimpressed with the arguments of Fisher’s legal team, but the Supreme Court, despite having seemingly decided the issue of affirmative action with the precedential case Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), agreed to hear her case. In this particular case, the University of Texas began using affirmative action in 2004 in an attempt to provide increased balance in the racial diversity of each class. The Obama administration backs the University of Texas. “Everyone competes against everyone else. Race is not a mechanical automatic factor. It’s a holistic individualized consideration,” U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli said. Using race as a factor in the admissions at all leads to a phenomenon known as “mismatch.” When race is used as a factor in admissions, the favored students’ grades or test scores are often raised. Thus, instead of creating a good learning environment for all students, certain minority groups start college with an academic disadvantage. Richard Sander, a law professor at UCLA, and Stuart Taylor Jr., a journalist and non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, argue that minority students with lower test scores would be better served by going to other institutions rather than the elite institutions they are being steered toward. A priority should be given to making sure students find the proper environment rather than being forced to attend a “better” university. Minority students are 80 percent more likely, according to University of Virginia psychologist Fred Smyth, to achieve career goals in the fields of science and engineering when they are attending a school that is a good match. Professors Sander and Taylor claim that affirmative action also causes social damage: “When colleges use large preferences, they interfere with social assimilation, and the minorities who are the ‘beneficiaries’ of these preferences often feel socially isolated and self-segregate.” Affirmative action attempts to treat outcomes while doing nothing to treat the underlying causes of disproportionate academic success. The currently conservativeleaning Supreme Court is likely to limit its scope while not completely overturning affirmative action. It correctly identifies the ineffectiveness of affirmative action as a solution to problems in the educational system.

CHARLES DHARAPAK/AP

Activist Lilly Ledbetter has led the national fight against workplace discrimination and for equal pay for women.

By KATIE NOLAN COPY EDITOR

In the United States, a woman earns, on average, 72 percent of what her male counterparts earn. At the presidential debate on Oct. 16, Katherine Fenton put this statistic forward as part of her question concerning pay equality. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010 women’s earning ratios were 81.2 percent of men’s earning ratios. The ratios vary by profession; the gap is also wider for women over the age of 35 than for women under 35. All ages, however, experience a wage gap. The existence of a wage gap is difficult to reconcile with women’s increasingly-prominent positions in the workplace. On March 26, 2012, Time magazine featured an article entitled “Women, Money and Power” by Liza Mundy. Mundy discussed the trend of more families being supported by female breadwinners. “By the next generation, more families will be supported by women than by men,” she wrote. She cited the Bureau of Labor statistic that four in 10 women outearned their husbands as of 2009. She also states that women make up 60 percent of college graduates and earn the majority of postgraduate degrees. She points out that women still account for only 38 percent of managers. Women are more likely to be supporting or co-supporting households on their incomes. Therefore, it is a huge economic problem that women are underpaid. As a demographic, women are highly-educated and possess valuable skills for an increasingly information-driven economy. The wage gap is going to hurt families as women are forced to get by on less than their male counterparts. In the presidential debate, neither candidate gave a perfect answer to Fenton’s question, but President Obama delivered the better response. “Both candidates did a great job telling us how unfair the wage gap is. Neither did a satisfactory

job explaining what they would do about it,” Shannon Morrall, FCRH ’15, said. Governor Romney did not present himself well on this question. He came across as condescending and out of touch with women, precisely at a time when major news outlets are emphasizing the candidates’ need to win the “female vote.” Romney attempted to portray himself as sympathetic to women’s issues in the workplace by recalling his own quest as governor to fill his cabinet with women. Romney’s administration had more women in top roles than any other state. This is commendable, but Romney was unable to articulate the point he was trying to make. Romney said that initially only men applied for his cabinet position and that he sought out qualified female candidates. Here is where the infamous sound bite comes in. Romney said that he was brought “whole binders full of women.” Why is this remark stirring up so much controversy? I think it is because of the visual image that this conjures. The image here is not of an environment where women are equal, but rather of an environment of tokenism that does nothing to further the cause of women in the place. This was obviously not the impression Romney was trying to make, but it was so poorly worded that he managed to achieve the opposite of the reaction he wanted. Romney also said that he was able to have so many women on his staff because he created a flexible schedule so that one of his female staff members could get home to cook dinner. This anecdote left a lot of women feeling that Romney was out of touch with the modern picture of family and work in America. In her article, Mundy explained that two income families see a more equal division of labor in the home and with the kids. Men, as well as women, need flexible schedules in order to get home and cook dinner. As women take over the role of breadwinners, the idea of a stay-at-home dad

or a husband taking on more of the homemaking responsibilities is becoming more common. By suggesting that the biggest obstacle to the success of women in the workplace is domestic responsibility, Romney appeared out of touch with the way two-income households operate. “I am disappointed in Romney’s poor wording regarding the ‘binder full of women’ comment, but I do think that was exactly what it was: poor wording,” Morrall said in response to Romney’s statements. “He’s proven that he is not the most diplomatic speaker, and I think his statement was a poor reflection of his actual beliefs.” Romney then segued into a discussion of his favorite topics: jobs and the economy. His big plan for ending the wage gap is to improve the economy and magically make employers want to hire women. He did not answer the question. Women are finding ways into the workplace; they are just not being paid equally for those jobs. President Obama did slightly better in his response. He too began his answer with an anecdote. His story about his grandmother hitting a glass ceiling, however, was more personal and better accomplished the task of portraying himself as sympathetic on women’s issues. He brought up his record in the form of the Lily Ledbetter Bill, which amended the statute of limitation on suits against pay discrimination, and his push to make education affordable through Pell Grants. He laid out his record on issues that are actually connected to the wage gap, but he fell short of providing new ideas on how to bring about total pay equality. He ended his initial response somewhat feebly by saying, “I’m going to continue to push on this issue.” Neither candidate seemed to have a plan of action to eradicate the wage gap, but Romney’s poor response has lost him a lot of ground with an important demographic. Katie Nolan, FCRH ’15, is an English major from Louisville, Ky.


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OCTOBER 24, 2012• THE RAM • PAGE 9

Facebook Poses Problem for Prospective College Students By JOSEPH VITALE STAFF WRITER

Prior to sending its graduating class off to college, my high school held a mandatory presentation in the final week of the academic year. To excite us even more about spending an hour in a cramped auditorium, the administration released no information regarding the topic, the format or the speaker of the presentation. The exhilaration of suspense finally climaxed right at the get-go: each slide showed an image of students from my high school partaking in obscene behavior, ranging from intoxication to lewd gestures. It was both a time of laughter and pity for the students whose weekend activities were being exposed in front of the entire student body. The focus of the presentation was Facebook and how our online presence affects how we are perceived. Accessing the images, the speaker told us, did not take a background in computer science or a knack for hacking security programs. All one had to do was type a student’s name in the search bar. So long as his or her privacy settings were minimal, anyone could see as much as he or she pleased, regardless of whether he or she was the student’s “friend.” This memorable introduction left me with a lesson or two about the power of social media and how it can be used and abused. Today, this phenomenon is being slowly incorporated into the college admissions process. Out of the 359 colleges and universities surveyed

by Kaplan Test Prep, 24 percent of respondents made use of Facebook and other social media outlets to conduct research on an applicant. Considering that there are no regulations preventing colleges and universities from utilizing social media sources, whether this is a fair way of judging applicants is a debate to which many students and admissions offices are paying attention. The dilemma lies in an argument concerning the blurred line between a student’s online presence and his or her college application. The truth is that there is not much difference between the two. Each time a high school student posts something on Facebook, it is as though he or she is adding to his or her application. For colleges, every picture of a student holding a beer-filled cup is like tacking on another personal interest. Every time a student joins a group championing the use of illegal drugs, it is viewed as comparable to adding another extracurricular activity. Every status about a student’s successful beer pong streak is akin to adding another skill. “A student’s online presence is just another part of his or her application,” said Michael Gaudio, FCRH ’16. “That’s why I have no pictures of myself I wouldn’t want my college admissions officers to see.” The most essential facet of being a student in search of college acceptance (and eventually employment) is recognizing the power of the Internet. In an age where first impressions are not found in a hand-

shake but on an online name search, institutions with competitive applicant pools are using every possible resource to find the most qualified individuals. “I tend to believe that we operate in a world in admissions where we believe the best of people,” Florence Hines, dean of admissions at McDaniel College, said in a U.S. News article. “We take the information that is provided to us and the fact that a student verifies it as the truth, and we go from there.” The solution is not to deactivate your Facebook account or any other online presence involving personal information. Wiping yourself off the Internet completely is not the right approach. Instead, the solution is to use social media to your advantage. Like your application, you control how others perceive you. We do this

on our college applications and résumé by highlighting our strengths and minimizing our weaknesses. Facebook can be used in a similar manner. Looking forward, as college students seek admission to graduate school and eventually look for employment, there are a few things that can be done to make use of online personas. For example, instead of uploading pictures of yourself passed out on the floor, you might want to upload ones showcasing your awards and achievements. Instead of favoriting groups about Charlie Sheen’s “tiger blood,” you should consider favoriting groups supporting charities, political parties and progressive organizations; instead of making status updates about how bored you are, post links to webpages that interest you. If an

employer ever comes across your profile, its content may make the difference between a job and unemployment. The key to strengthening your application or résumé is being more aware of the accessibility of information on the Internet. The purpose of tools such as Facebook is to show others how you want to be perceived. This allows them to decide whether they want to connect to you or not. As shown in the case of college admissions and employment, the next person checking out your Facebook profile may not be an interesting new friend, but someone who can affect your future in an impactful way. Joseph Vitale, FCRH ’16, is a communication and media studies major from New York, NY.

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH ZANGHI

College admissions offices sometimes check Facebook profiles of prospective students for further information.

Bloomberg’s Hospital Comfort Food Ban Goes Too Far By CHRISTOPHER KERR CONTRIBUTING WRITER

New York City’s personal savior is at it again, and this time he is trying to do the unthinkable: make hospital food even less appealing. Falling in line with his large soda and smoking bans, Mayor Bloomberg wants to take all forms of junk food out of hospital cafeterias and vending machines. Bloomberg is expanding on some changes made by 15 public hospitals and 16 private hospitals in New York City. While this idea does have some merit when it comes to battling our nation’s obesity problem and

promoting a healthy lifestyle for patients, it ignores hospital visitors and workers who often have enough to worry about without having a bag of carrot sticks shoved down their throats. Emily Hecht, a nursing intern at North Shore University Hospital on Long Island, will not be directly affected by Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed junk food ban. She sees how it could negatively affect city hospital workers and patient’s families, however. “Hospital life is obviously a struggle,” Hecht said. “People work ridiculous hours and are there sometimes six or seven days a week. For visitors, they obviously have enough on their plates

without being forced to eat something they don’t want.” According to Hecht, the rigors of hospital life sometimes require a little jolt of sugar. “It’s amazing to see how far a chocolate bar or some little piece of junk food out of the vending machine can help you get you through your day,” Hecht said. This idea of the power of “comfort foods” has largely been ignored by the Bloomberg bans. Whether it is French fries, a large soda or a Hershey’s bar, a lesshealthy alternative can sometimes be the best thing for a person stuck in a stressful situation. Michael Hassett, FCRH ’14, agrees, citing his own recent hos-

MIKE GROLL/AP

Mayor Bloomberg’s recent proposal to remove junk food from hospital cafeterias could bring down patient morale.

pital experience. “When my mom was in the hospital a few weeks ago after she broke her ankle, she had me go to the vending machine for her favorite comfort food: a pack of Skittles,” Hassett said. “I’m not going to say the Skittles saved her life or anything, but I definitely think they helped her focus on something other than her pain.” In this case, it seems patently unfair to keep a patron from enjoying a little comfort food to help cope with an injury. By ignoring this, Bloomberg’s ban subjects patients and their families to more stress than they would otherwise have to endure. Another major difference that makes the junk food ban more controversial than Bloomberg’s smoking ban is that the latter prevented those who smoke from harming those who do not. Hassett said he appreciates that Bloomberg is trying to protect New Yorkers from the potentially life-threatening effects of secondhand smoke, but he does not see that ban and the proposed junk food ban as the same. “I understand the smoking ban because smoking affects other

people through secondhand smoke and things like that,” Hassett said. “But what’s the harm of letting people have the foods they actually want when they’re stressed?” In the end it comes down to this: How far can the government go to save the people from themselves? At what point do the citizens of New York City need to collectively say “enough is enough”? Joseph Sgro, FCRH ’14, claims that now is the time to make a stand. “It has really gotten to be too much,” Sgro said. “I was a fan of [Mayor] Bloomberg’s smoking ban, but not so much his large soda ban. Here, he looks like a bully by forcing people to live the way he wants them to live[…]I just don’t like it.” Many others share Sgro’s sentiments, and it is up to the citizens of New York City to fight to keep comfort foods in hospitals, because sometimes all it takes to help get through the day is a bag of Skittles. Chirstopher Kerr, FCRH ’14, is a communication and media studies major from Buffalo, NY.

Are your friends really tired of hearing you complain? Write for The Ram’s opinions section. E-mail us at: fordhamramopinions@gmail.com


PAGE 10 • THE RAM • OCTOBER 24, 2012

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Fordham Stand-Up Takes Gotham FROM COMEDY, PAGE 1

delivered probably just as many laughs per minute as Gaffigan; most notably James Murtaugh, who had the extremely difficult task of immediately following Gaffigan (who performed midshow and was allotted approximately eight extra minutes). Armed with a guitar and harmonica, Murtaugh confidently strummed along with one-liners and witty self-deprecating jokes, such as: “I love music, that’s why I play guitar on stage. But recently my band broke up […] because there’s just not enough call for a cappella dubstep.” Fordham Stand-Up’s downright witty and insightful jokes combined with confident poise last Tuesday night is the product of hours of hard work and dedication to practice. “We really are at a place now — a year after founding the club — where we understand each other’s styles and aren’t hesitant to discuss our ideas for hours,” Drosos, the leader of the group, said. “Our primary duty to one another is to make sure we are experimenting with our writing, performing as often as we can and — most simply — getting better.” The guys’ creative support for one another and the overall chemistry of the group is apparent, and it is manifested in a group dedicated to tweaking and improving its craft.

Since its inception almost a year ago, Fordham Stand-Up has performed an approximate average of one show a month. No doubt, a show-heavy schedule not only spreads awareness around campus’ but also allows for the comedians, especially the younger guys in the group who have had less experience, to become more comfortable on stage. This was something that impressed the staff at Gotham and secured the group’s on-stage spot. In order to schedule a show at Gotham, the group was required to send in videos of the individual performances. The cause was also facilitated by the group’s status as a college stand-up squad. “Andy Engel — the director of new talent at Gotham Comedy Club — has been very interested in NYC collegiate stand-up performers, particularly if they are a part of an organized university group or club,” Drosos said. “Andy and our group have collaborated on producing this show since early September.” He also noted that Fordham was the first university to have a “New Talent” night. To perform, all eight comedians were required to secure 10 reservations each, and, as a result, there was very much a Fordham “home team” vibe in the room on Tuesday night. Even the show’s emcee Ryan Reiss noted the pro-Fordham vibe at Gotham, and, while the

COURTESY OF LAUGHSTUB.COM

Other than the comedians from Fordham Stand-Up, Gotham has hosted Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle.

show wasn’t formally named “Fordham Night,” Reiss referred to it as such multiple times throughout the night. “We are so grateful for the support the Fordham community has shown us. Without such a

community, it would be very improbable that any of us would be doing stand-up,” Drosos said. “Part of what made performing at Gotham so much easier for us was the collection of familiar faces in the crowd. It helps so

much.” Drosos said. Fordham Stand-Up’s next show will be this Sunday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Blackbox Theater in Collins’ Hall. It will feature material from the newest group members.

Students Find Opportunities During Year Off By HANNAH O’DONNELL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Most high school graduates spend the summer before their freshman year of college stressing about future roommates and picking a major, but not Madison Snider., FCRH ’15. “I decided to take a gap year, because the idea of having the opportunity to do more traveling seemed like the coolest thing ever,” she said. “I knew that there wouldn’t be another time in my life where I could so easily take a year to explore and dedicate it

all to myself without having to sacrifice other things.” According to UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute, about 1.2 percent of first-time college freshmen in the United States choose to defer their college enrollment for a year. During this time off, they immerse themselves in life-enriching activities such as volunteer programs, internships, traveling experiences and other outlets for personal development posthigh school. For Snider, this meant enrolling in a 12-week course at the

Ballymaloe Cookery School, an award-winning French technique cooking school located in County Cork, Ireland. “[Ballymaloe] was on a massive organic farm and focused strongly on cooking and preparing food in time-honored ways, using top-quality ingredients,” Snider said. “The school itself was very formal, with real exams and a strict curriculum. I also studied wine, something I was able to do there because I was of legal drinking age. I lived in a courtyard of cottages with other students my age and had such a

COURTESY OF BALLYMALOE.COM

Some explore favored hobbies and interests, such as cooking, during their gap year. The gap year can still be a time for learning.

good time.” When her time at Ballymaloe came to a close, Snider headed to East Africa and spent four months travelling to different towns while volunteering with a British organization. “One of my favorite parts of the year was climbing and summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, which took seven days and was one of the most exotic and fulfilling experiences of my whole life,” she said. Profound gap year experiences like Snider’s are common in the United Kingdom and Australia and have only recently gained friction in the U.S. Though gap years can by no means be considered mainstream within the states, the number of American students deferring college for either economic or personal reasons continues to grow. “It was daunting to be doing something so ‘unusual,’ but I liked that I was creating my own agenda for the year and kind of dictating how I wanted my future to play out rather than having my college counselor do it for me,” Snider said. Fordham is just one of many schools in the area that permits incoming freshmen to take a year to explore. In fact, competitive universities like Harvard, MIT

and Tufts have actually begun to encourage newly-admitted students to take gap years, as it can work to enhance one’s résumé. Princeton University’s Bridge Year program allows select students to engage in a nine month service program before they enter college. This program allows incoming freshmen involved with the program to live with local families and receive intensive language training and volunteer placement at program sites in China, India, Peru or Senegal. If a student’s time, whether abroad or in the states, is wellplanned, it can mean great things for his or her understanding of the world and future employability. “Taking a gap year was the best decision I could have made,” Snider said. “It gave me the chance to step back from my life at home and really get to know myself before I came to college. Having those experiences that I had while away and living on my own before college was something I wish everyone could have the chance to do.” As the popularity of gap year programs continues to increase, students around the country are beginning to see the gap year as a productive and interesting option.


PAGE 12 • THE RAM • OCTOBER 24, 2012

The Seersucker KEVIN ZEBROSKI

The Seersucker provides a wealth of knowledge on sartorial fundamentals, contemporary male fashion and the mastery of personal style. The tie is an interesting piece of clothing. It serves no obvious purpose. It doesn’t keep the wearer warm, hold together a placket shirt or cinch the waist like a belt. It doesn’t even conceal a flask. The tie, nonetheless, is a unique article of clothing, and as formal male attire has remained rigid and conservative over the years; a tie can convey the wearer’s personality. Ties come in a huge variety of patterns and prints including stripes, large scarf-styled prints, geometric tessellations, paisley, polka dots and sailboats. The striped tie recalls university days and school allegiance, making it a good way to display the ol’ Fordham maroon. Solid ties are boring. Scar-patterned ties have a large printed pattern like one that could be found on a lady’s silk scarf. The small, repetitive prints found on classically-styled ties are my personal favorite, as they have the potential to be paired with a striped or solid shirt. The most important aspect of matching patterns is to avoid redundancy. Tie pattern type and the weight of the pattern should be different than that of the shirt you’re wearing. The width of the tie is the other important factor to consider when shopping around for a new neckpiece. The slim ties hovering around the two-inch width are a modern callback to an American retro style. The lobster-bib fourinchers that were popular in the ’80s look ridiculous on everyone. The timeless three-inch width will always be OK, and, in my opinion, is the ideal width. I see the modern slim tie as a casual alternative to the three-inch tie. Slim ties look best when made of light silk twill. A lightweight weave allows for smaller and tighter knots, and a thicker weave is better material for tying chin pillows. Hermes and similar brands make a large variety of three-inch ties in a silk twill. They are a costly investment, but you will not need to worry about the perils of investing in a frenetic trend; the threeinch, silk weave tie will remain in style for years. And now for the knot. I only tie a “four-in-hand” out of preference. Fleming’s original James Bond only wore the “four-inhand” because he viewed the “Windsor” knot and other triangular knots as an indication of meticulous and vain behavior. There’s some insight to be found in this bit of roughly-paraphrased fiction. I think that the simplicity and minimalism of the four-inhand outshines any of the visual qualities of a thicker knot. The “Windsor,” or “full-Windsor” as people have taken to calling it, is symmetrical, large and garish. The “four-in-hand” is effortless, efficient, sleek and rakish. It’s your call.

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Dining Out: El Tequilazo Overall Location Food Quality Atmosphere Hospitality Price $$ (Out of 4

’s)

By CONNOR RYAN NEWS EDITOR

The dilapidating façade of El Tequilazo (43 W. 46th St.), stuffed helplessly in the middle of an airtight block of washed-up restaurants and stores, will not catch your eye from the sidewalk. To compensate, three neon signs hang off the front of the cluttered building (but the biggest of the three has almost completely failed, making it ironically difficult to identify the place upon first glance). Having said that, the clichéd concept of a transformative threshold absolutely rings true in the case of this cozy Mexican and Colombian restaurant. It is almost seven o’clock, the front door opens and you walk into a large, single room that seems to be almost darker than the night sky you were just standing under. In fact, most of the light seems to be coming from green glow sticktype devices, which are scattered throughout the room. The bar unabashedly takes up the lion’s share of the space, and patrons quickly flock to empty stools for the tail end of happy hour. Smooth Mexican music blasts in the background and some couples are up dancing and

singing along. There is no doubt: it is a party. Thankfully (for me, anyway), there is more to the story. A welllit staircase across from the front of the bar leads you to El Tequilazo’s second-floor dining room. The dining area, which houses 11 tables and a small bar, immediately strikes the winning combination of party atmosphere and family dining experience. The serendipitous ambiance adds a lot to El Tequilazo’s respectability. Small green plants elegantly hang from the ceiling beside multi-colored lights and fake stained-glass windows; authentic pieces of Mexican art adorn the brick walls and Pitbull’s thumping bass is felt through the floorboards and in your shoes. (The sound level just nips at the point of strained conversation.) The wait service is consistently diligent, and the food is a leap above average. Warm homemade tortilla chips are certainly one of the dinner’s high points. The menu items cost anywhere from $7-$26. Based on the quality of the food, the service of the staff and the ambiance of the place, the price is well worth the experience. Perhaps the greatest strength of the menu is its sprawling range. Mexican food connoisseurs, picky eaters (like me) and everyone in between should be able to find something to eat — and enjoy — at El Tequilazo. In particular, the chicken quesadilla ($9.95) is made with a rare level of attention, skill and authenticity. The tri-color enchilada

PHOTO BY CONNOR RYAN/THE RAM

The dessert flan de caramelo ($5.95) is nicer to look at than it is to eat.

PHOTO BY CONNOR RYAN/THE RAM

El Tequilazo restaurant combines Mexican and Columbian styles of cooking.

(three tortillas: one with cheese, one with chicken and one with steak, topped with green, red and mole sauce, with rice and beans on the side; $17) is also excellent, despite the steak’s lagging flavor punch. After dinner, the homemade flan sadly falls short of its beautiful presentation and left a certain something to be desired. But by the time I stepped back on the sidewalk and made my way home, all I could think of was the vibrant

energy of El Tequilazo. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (although I could not imagine walking in before 7 p.m.) every day from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Take-out and delivery are both available. The second-floor dining room is not wheelchair accessible. All major credit cards are accepted. For a full menu listing: eltequilazonyc.com. I am happy I peeked inside the dilapidating façade. I look forward to returning soon.

Editor’s Pick: Chuck Klosterman

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

In 2008, Klosterman was quoted saying “You grow a beard and things change.”

By MATT ROSENFELD ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Everyone has a favorite writer. Mine is Bill Simmons. I am admittedly a sports geek, so the “Sports Guy,” as Bill Simmons is called, is right up my alley. But there is another writer high on my list for a completely different reason: because he makes me think in ways I have never thought before. Chuck Klosterman is that writer. Oddly enough, I came across Klosterman when I heard him on Bill Simmons’ podcast. The discussion he brought up, the points he made and

the way he looked at things truly intrigued me. He caught my attention so much that, when I had the chance, I researched him and found out he had authored six books. This was back in 2010, and now Klosterman is at eight books: three non-fiction, two fiction novels and three essay collections. He is a columnist for The New York Times Magazine, and contributes or has contributed to numerous other magazines and websites, including Grantland, GQ and Esquire. Klosterman’s main focus is pop culture, but he also touches on sports, film and music. He raises points that

sound ridiculous at first, but after reading his essays, seem quite believable. What pulled me in when I was researching him were his writings on sports, and in particular, one essay he wrote for Esquire in 2008, in which he discusses baseball and why we still watch it, even though it is by far the most boring of the major sports, attracts fewer athletes and is the antithesis of our instant-gratificationloving, fast-paced society. Klosterman’s argument is that baseball remains compelling because of its unique scoring system. “Baseball has — by far — the best scoring system in all of sport,” Klosterman writes. “It makes uninteresting contests exciting, because it a) doesn’t have a concept of time and b) distributes runs in unorthodox increments.” This is just a taste of the kind of “out-of-left-field” take Klosterman offers on many interesting cultural topics. It is these ideas that make him so appealing to me. It started with sports. Getting to hear a fresh opinion on what consumes a large part of my life was something of which I wanted more. I do not read things that challenge my line of thinking often enough. I started reading his essays on sports, but Klosterman goes beyond sports. An example is his essay on how football is a grand example of conservatism and progressivism

in the same setting. It is his uncanny ability to make me go “Wow, you know what, that’s totally true!” that keeps me pursuing his work. Soon, I found myself reading his analysis on things like “Saved by the Bell” and how the show illustrates that the important things in life are inevitably cliché, or listening to him talk about how the industry of film watching has changed, because nowadays it’s normal to see a movie two or three times in the theater, whereas people used to see movies only once. If you’ve ever read pieces by Malcolm Gladwell, you know that he analyzes things from such a different perspective and makes you see things you never would have seen on your own. Chuck Klosterman is like Malcolm Gladwell, but instead of delving into the world of psychology, Klosterman writes about pop culture, about sports, about rock bands, and I think that’s why everybody needs to give him a chance. He most likely has written about a topic that you will find interesting, and when you find that essay, your literary world will be changed. His work might seem odd at first, but that’s because it’s so different. At the end of every one of his pieces, however, you feel like you have gained something: a different perspective, something new. I think that is something that we should all strive for when we read anything.


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WHO’S THAT KID? Samantha Marinucci A MEMBER OF FCRH ’13 DOUBLE MAJORING IN ENGLISH AND POLITICAL SCIENCE FROM YONKERS, NY What is your favorite aspect of Fordham and why? My favorite part about Fordham is the Jesuits. I believe in the Jesuit education, and it has made me the person I am today. If there was one thing you could change about Fordham what would it be? I would allow people to swim in the fountain and create three-day weekends. What is your favorite thing to do in New York City? Eat. All day. Every day. Any place that has good food, I am there. This includes the McDonald’s at Times Square.

What is a personal goal you would like to accomplish over your four years here? Win the stupid intramural t-shirt. This year I will win or steal one. I also will have my own personal golf cart and have my name on the wall in the Keating basement. What show, food, artist or movie would you consider your “guilty pleasure?” I watch really bad science fiction on the SyFy channel, and I know more about “Star Trek” than a normal person should. What is the biggest misconcep-

tion people have about you? That I like to talk a lot…oh wait…I do.

Take a look at the latest events and hotspots in NYC!

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring three things, what would you bring?

!

My teddy bear, a puzzle and graham crackers. If you could go back to your first day at Fordham, what advice would you give yourself? Don’t drop your laptop down the stairs. When a professor Facebook chats you, it is not that important. There is no need to run around screaming and lose your Spanish paper and go for two months without a laptop until your parents give you a “new” one from 1986.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

For music fans, New York provides few things better than its abundance of concerts. For Fordham students, especially Rose Hillians, few things are more frustrating than having to leave for a show two hours in advance and spending at least $10 on the ride there. But frustrations are at an end! With the revamping of Loews Paradise Theater on Grand Concourse, only five blocks up Fordham Road from Rose Hill, students now have another, much larger venue to see quality music. Already host to The Killers last month, Paradise Theater hosts British indie-trio The xx. Coming off the 2012 release of their sophomore album Coexist, The xx will quietly wade through their set, mixing old and new material. But don’t let their façade fool you, The xx is a band full of emotion, known for electric and mystifyingly magnanimous sets. The opening band is Brooklyn-based pop-psychedelic group, Chairlift.

Fordham Stand-Up Where: Blackbox Theater, Collins Hall When: Sunday, Oct. 25 Time: 7 p.m. Price: Free

What is your favorite class at Fordham?

Hot off a rip-roaring good show at Gotham Comedy Club, Fordham Stand-Up returns to Rose Hill Campus with renewed vigor. This time around, the group thrusts its newcomers into the spotlight as they take the Blackbox stage for the first time. The show starts at 7 p.m., but recent shows have seen the little theater behind Collins filled many minutes before showtime. Get there early and support the fresh faces of Fordham farce. Hungry after the show? Check out the Caf or, if you’re feeling classy, bring a date. Take them to SubConnection! - COMPILED BY DEVON SHERIDAN

COURTESY OF SAMANTHA MARINUCCI

ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

Above, Samantha is in her element. She makes moose calls during homework.

Ram Reviews

THE CASUAL VACANCY

This

The xx Where: Paradise Theater 2403 Grand Concourse When: Friday, Oct. 23 Doors: 7 p.m. Show: 8 p.m. Price: $42

Live in a box on Eddie’s. Juniors reading this, please remember to slip Caf swipes under the door.

I do a moose-like call when I’m doing my homework . . . my roommates can describe it better than I can, but very few know about it.

BOOK

Check

Send tips, event listings or comments to fordhamramculture@gmail.com

What are your plans, career or otherwise, for after college?

What is something that not many people know about you?

My Experimental Ink class is definitely a favorite right now. I ran around campus picking up nature for an in-class project. I managed to pull out an entire flower bed and had to run away while the Frank Bulfamante people chased me down.

OCTOBER 24, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 13

MUSIC TAME IMPALA: LONERISM

+++

MOVIE

MUSIC

SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS

JJ DOOM: KEYS TO THE KUFF

TELEVISION “LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON”

By JOHN BONAZZO

By DANIEL FINNEGAN

By PJ BROGAN

By PATRICK DOHERTY

By CONNOR McCAUSLAND

COPY EDITOR

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

STAFF WRITER

COPY EDITOR

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

J.K. Rowling ventures into new literary territory with The Casual Vacancy, her first book for adults. While this genre is not as natural a fit for her as the fantasy of the Harry Potter books, it is still an engrossing tale worth reading. When town councilman Barry Fairbrother dies suddenly, the fight over who will get his seat captures the attention of the whole town. The main issue of the race is what to do with “The Fields,” the local housing project. Throughout the novel, Rowling uses authentic English dialect. Muggle politics are a far cry from wizard adventures, and Rowling sometimes struggles to make the bureaucratic maneuvering and controversy interesting over 500 pages. Ironically, Rowling’s treatment of the issues realworld teenagers face sometimes lacks intensity as well. She is not entirely out of the Hogwarts state of mind. Small quibbles aside, The Casual Vacancy is an assured debut in a new genre for Rowling.

When frontman and creative genius Kevin Parker began constructing Tame Impala’s new album Lonerism, he knew the opening track “Be Above It,” which contains a barrage of incessant and pounding drums, would do the job of establishing the grand scale of the album. It is divided into three sections, with the beginning acting as a stepping stone into the album’s constructed reality. The other two sections build off of this reality, with the last part of the album functioning as a grand scale denouement. The album consistently harps on Tame Impala’s strengths with funky baselines and trippy reverbs, all while surrounding these instrumentation layers with lyrical themes of solitude and loneliness to which Kevin Parker has always given a unique universality. New drummer Julien Barbagallo also shows off his methodical and consistent technique. Tame Impala has managed to construct an accessible and unique follow-up to Innerspeaker.

Seven Psychopaths may just be the most violent anti-violence parable on celluloid. In it there are appearances from six separate serial killers, a homicidal dog-lover, a throat-slicing Quaker and an exploding head. The message of non-violence does not come until the end of the last act — with the help of a Tibetan psychopath, of course. Pacifism is not usually this fun. Psychopaths is not all guts and gore. In fact, the film is not an action movie at all. All the violence is quick and definitive (and bloody). This is a movie about writing and dialogue, with gunshots serving as punctuation marks. Those who have seen writer and director Martin McDonagh’s first feature, the nihilistic fairy tale In Bruges, will know the style. For those who haven’t, his style is like Tarantino’s with less pop culture and more bleak Irishness. With adored character actors and McDonough’s politicallyincorrect script, Psychopaths is a unique shooter movie .

London-born hip-hop artist Daniel Dumile started his music career, in the United States. Working with a variety of producers, ranging from mashupmaestro and popular producer Danger Mouse, DOOM has made a name for himself by experimenting with a vast array of lyrical styles and flows. During a world tour in 2010, however, DOOM, who was never officially naturalized in the States, found himself stuck in the U.K. The exile resulted in his newest collaboration, this time with abstract producer Jneiro Jarel. Calling themselves JJ DOOM, their first album together is titled Keys to the Kuff. Even with the new moniker, this is very much a DOOM-centric album. The emcee is as all over the place as ever, but this time featuring a London-centric point of view. Verses drift through subjects, themes and style, from Cockney rhyming slang to obnoxious reality shows. Keys to the Kuff is a fantastic hiphop record and another example of DOOM’s ever-changing flow.

Living in New York provides unique opportunities of which one must take advantage. I went to see a live taping of “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,” in its fourth season, at Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan. Gradually walking up the steps to the NBC lounge was exciting, and upon my arrival I was given a wristband by a famous NBC Page and escorted through the halls of the beautiful building. It was quite entertaining, to say the least. Fallon seemed somewhat jittery at first, but eventually slid into the groove of things and seemed to glide through the remainder of the show effortlessly. He got the crowd into it, worked with us and even chatted with us during some commercial breaks. To get tickets, I called NBC, and they gave me two available dates, one of which I selected right there on the phone. The number is on the website. It was painless. “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” can be viewed at 12:30 a.m. on weeknights.

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


PAGE 14• THE RAM • OCTOBER 24, 2012

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Fordham University Dining Services would like

to congratulate Fordham on opening the spectacular new McGinley Fitness Center! The new 7,800 s/f gym features a complete line of cardio equipment with individual flat screen

d stretch zone. televisions, fitness class studios, a weight room and The Facility is partnering with Sodexo at Fordham University and Jeanne Molloy, on-campus registered dietician to provide a comprehensive approach to wellness. To set up an appointment, simply email SodexoRD@Fordham.edu or text NUTRITION to 82257 Jeanne Molloyy > n Sodexo Registered Dietitian

Back by popular demand for one more time before winter!

Farmer’s Market Friday, October 26th 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Outside McGinley Creating Exceptional Experiences Everyday

A STUDENT BODY THIRSTS FOR CULTURE YOU ALONE CAN QUENCH THEIR THIRST WRITE FOR THE RAM CULTURE, AND SAVE THE FORDHAM COMMUNITY FROM CULTURAL IGNORANCE Contact us at: fordhamramculture@gmail.com or come to room B52 in McGinley, Tuesdays @ 6 p.m.

Still buying albums and listening to them from beginning to end? Still buying movie tickets for $14? Still reading books? Still watching TV on television?*

THEN COME WRITE RAM REVIEWS FOR THE CULTURE SECTION! *playgoers and videogamers are also welcome


OCTOBER 24, 2012

PAGE 15

Fordham Goes Winless in Pair of Atlantic 10 Contests Rams Earn 1-1 Tie in First-Ever A-10 Meeting With VCU; Fall 3-2 in Final Match With Richmond By MATT ROSENFELD ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

“You have to win games at home to make the postseason.” Men’s soccer Head Coach Jim McElderry said this heading into the conference schedule three weeks ago. The Rams had their first two conference home games this past weekend, but were unable to win at home as McElderry had hoped, as neither match resulted in a victory. Fordham played Virginia Commonwealth University, ranked second in the Atlantic 10, to a 1-1 tie on Oct. 19 before falling to Richmond 3-2 on Oct. 21. Fordham headed into the game against VCU knowing it would need a stout defensive effort to hold off the A-10’s top-scoring team, and the team would need that effort from players who did not have much experience on the pitch this year. Injuries have plagued Fordham thus far in the season, and the Rams faced VCU without five starters, including leading scorer sophomore Kalle Sotka. Both teams were stopped on early scoring opportunities in the 18th minute. First, Fordham sophomore goalie Sean Brailey held off an attempt from VCU freshman midfielder Devon Fisher. Then, Fordham quickly countered, only to see freshman Kyle Bitterman, last weekend’s hero, have a shot blocked by VCU senior goalie Andrew Wells. The first goal came shortly thereafter in the 22nd minute, when junior forward Jason Johnson played a ball through to senior Jason Haboush, whose shot hit the crossbar, but still got past Brailey to give VCU

PHOTO BY ALLY WHITE/THE RAM

Sophomore midfielder Ollie Kelly scored in a losing effort against Richmond in his first game back from an injury.

a 1-0 lead. That lead held until the 72nd minute. Fordham was able to get a set piece from about 23 yards out, and junior Julian Nagel drilled the shot past VCU’s Wells for the equalizer. It took strong defense from both sides to keep the point, as both goalies were forced to make saves at the end of regulation and during the overtime periods. “VCU is a top-level team,” McElderry said. “I was really proud of the way we defended. I was impressed by our ability to compete for 90 minutes plus against a very good team, even though we were down a couple of guys.” Richmond came to Jack Coffey

Field just two days later, and the Rams were no healthier than they had been against VCU. While regaining sophomore Ollie Kelly against Richmond, Fordham was without senior Michael Valencia, who injured his foot in the game against VCU, and junior Nathaniel Bekoe, who was suspended for one game for accumulating five yellow cards. Regardless of Fordham’s missing players, the team had to face the Spiders, who came in at just 1-4 in conference play. The game’s first half was a scoreless tie, however, and Richmond dominated play, ripping eight shots to Fordham’s one. Fordham came out of the gate fast in the second half when, just one

minute in, Kelly received a pass from senior Andre Seidenthal and delivered the first goal of the game on a blast from around seven yards out that easily beat the Richmond keeper. The goal was Kelly’s first of the season and gave the Rams a 1-0 lead. Fordham was able to hold that lead until the 65th minute, when Richmond junior Michael Forsyth’s free kick found teammate sophomore Nick Butler’s head and beat Brailey to even up the score at one. “We had a couple of our better headers of the ball not playing,” Coach McElderry said. “Their first goal was scored by a 6-foot-4-inch player that put pressure on our guys back there.”

Only seven minutes later Richmond struck again when sophomore Mark Rankin played a throw-in to fellow sophomore Timmy Albright, who was able to send a cross that freshman Christopher Hill headed past Brailey to give the Spiders the lead 2-1. The Rams then had to press, looking for the tying goal, which led to a counter attack that resulted in another Richmond goal in the 80th minute. This time sophomore Oliver Murphy beat Brailey on a breakaway with a blast into the upper-left corner of the net. Fordham fought back, scoring a second goal of its own as junior Taylor Gulbins corralled a rebound and put the ball past the goalie in the final minutes of the game. It was not enough though, as Richmond got the 3-2 victory. “It’s tough because we just don’t have a lot of bodies,” McElderry said. “And with a quick turnaround after an overtime game against a good team, we ran out of steam in the second half. I felt at times we couldn’t get back as fast as we wanted to, and it was difficult to defend one-on-one with heavy legs.” Currently sitting at 14th out of 16 in the conference at 1-2-2, Fordham must play well in its last four games in order to make the postseason. The top eight teams in the Atlantic 10 are invited to play in the championship tournament. The Rams will continue their home stretch on Friday, Oct. 26 when they take on Temple, before facing St. Joseph’s on Sunday, Oct. 28th in their last home game of the season.

Men’s Tennis Enjoys Superb Showing at ITA Northeast Regional By MAX PRINZ STAFF WRITER

The Fordham men’s tennis team was outstanding this past weekend at the ITA Northeast Regional in New Haven, Conn. Juniors Emilio Mora, Mischa Koran and Kuba Kowalski and sophomore Srikar Alla all participated in the tournament, becoming the largest contingent of players Fordham has ever sent to the ITA Regional. “To have four players in the main draw of singles and two doubles teams in the main draw is a great accomplishment for our program,” Head Coach Cory Hubbard said. “Just two years ago, it was the first time we sent any players to the regional and only got the mandated one singles and one doubles team in the main draw.” Fordham had more representatives in the tournament than any other school, except the Ivy League schools and St. John’s, which have nationally-ranked programs. The players’ hard work is clearly paying off, as the Rams are quickly closing the gap between themselve and the more elite programs. “This is a reward for these guys to get invited to the main draw, and they have all earned their way in to

the tournament, as many players get into the draw based on the name of the school, while my guys got in based on their play on the court,” Hubbard said. The Rams did not just make the tournament; they were historically successful in it. The Rams picked up their first-ever wins in doubles and singles play in the ITA Regional. Alla picked up the first win in singles, defeating Erik Kramheller of Fairfield, 6-3, 6-4, and Mora got the second win beating Brown’s Danny Hirshberg, 6-2, 7-6 (8). Mora and Koran teamed to win Fordham’s first doubles match. They defeated Freddy Marcinkowski and Ramy Bekhiet from Monmouth, 8-4. Saturday, Oct. 20 was the most eventful day for the Rams. Alla, Koran, Kowalski and Mora went a combined 6-1 on the day, beating players from top programs like Brown, Penn, Dartmouth and Yale. Four of the six wins were upsets. “To have all four players still in the tournament with a doubles team in the final 16 and two players in the final 16 of singles is a huge accomplishment,” Hubbard said after Saturday’s play. “We have made a lot of progress, but today, we showed we are right there with the top programs in our region. We created a lot

of momentum and there was a lot of buzz about Fordham among opposing coaches and players, recognizing how far we have come.” Mora and Koran defeated Brown’s Michael Reichmann and Tom Deighton, 8-4, to advance to the Round of 16. Alla upset No. 15 seed Jeremy Court of Penn, 6-3, 7-5. Kowalski defeated Marist’s Will Reznek 7-5, 7-6. Mora defeated Cameron Ghorbani of Dartmouth, 6-4, 6-3, to give the Rams their second upset on the day. Alla then got his second upset in the Round of 32 against Damien David of Buffalo, who he beat 6-7, 7-6, 3-0, as David retired in the third set. Kowalski scored the Rams’ fourth upset with his 6-3, 6-4 win over Daniel Hoffman of Yale. “(Saturday) was an unbelievable day and a historic performance for our program,” Hubbard said. The Rams ended play at the ITA Regional on Sunday, Oct. 21. Mora and Koran opened the day with an 8-5 win over Columbia’s Dragos Ignat and Eric Rubin. They then faced the No. 1 seed in the tournament and fell in the quarterfinals to Matija Pecotic and Zack McCourt from Princeton, 8-5. Mora and Koran were quickly down 7-2, but showed tremendous heart

as they battled back and gave themselves a shot at making the match 7-6, before ultimately falling short. In singles, Alla and Kowalski both fell to the third and fourth seeds, respectively. Kowalski was defeated by Vasco Mladenov of St. John’s, who is ranked 38th nationally, 7-6, 6-3. Alla fought hard and dropped only two break points, but eventu-

ally lost to John Huang of Yale, 6-4, 6-4. The Rams are quickly proving that they are a program to be reckoned with. “What’s even more encouraging with one doubles team in the last eight and two singles players in the last 16, is that all four of these guys return next year, and can go even further,” Hubbard said.

PHOTO BY PATRICK DOHERTY/THE RAM

The men’s tennis team is quickly developing into a strong contender.


PAGE 16• THE RAM •OCTOBER 24, 2012

SPORTS

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Fordham Women’s Tennis Concludes Fall Slate Golf Third at Lehigh By DYLAN BISSONETTE STAFF WRITER

Fordham women’s tennis played in the USTA Division I Women’s Northeast Regional Championships from Friday, Oct. 19 to Tuesday, Oct. 23 at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. This was the last tournament of the year, and the Rams were trying to finish strong. At the tournament, there were 46 schools. The Rams had to play well individually if they wanted to have a chance to participate in the ITA Championship. They struggled in both the singles and doubles. Senior Amy Simidian, sophomore Sarah Ali and junior Angelika Dabu all lost in close matches. Sophomore Bella Genkina won a close match and lost in a second. The doubles lost both of their matches. Simidian played Christine Ordway of Cornell in the first round. Simidian lost 4-6 2-6. Simdian played well this fall, but looks to improve in the spring. Simidian ended the fall at 5-4. Ali played Mariam Zein Rutgers and lost 4-6, 4-6. She was Fordham’s top singles player this fall. Ali ended this season 4-1. Dabu played Dorothy Safron of

Delaware. She lost 6-3, 6-1, 6-4. Dabu ended her season at 2-3. Genkina played Kathleen Uy of Rhode Island and won 5-7, 6-3, 7-5. She then played Egzona Marina of Fairleigh Dickinson University and lost 3-6, 1-6, ending her season 3-7.

Fordham’s doubles have been dominant this year. At this tournament, however, they were not. Simidian and sophomore Anika Novacek lost to Lauren Stratman and Kapika Vaidya 4-8. Novacek and Simidian ended their season 3-3.

Sarah Ali and Bella Genkina lost to Boston College 2-8. Ali and Genkina ended their season 4-3. Fordham tennis ended the fall season at this tournament, but the team is working hard to have a better showing in the spring.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL HAYES/THE RAM

The fall season is over for the Fordham women’s tennis team. The Rams will be back in action in the spring.

Volleyball Prevails in Five-Set Match Against La Salle By KENNY DEJOHN STAFF WRITER

The Fordham Rams showed off their resiliency last Saturday in their match against the La Salle Explorers in the Rose Hill Gym. A career-high performance from junior Sara Konkel and strong matches from senior Randi Ewing and junior Lisa Hipp were the keys to victory. In the first set, the Rams posted an incredible hitting percentage of .486 and made just one error. Hipp and Ewing each recorded

five kills. Fordham took the first set of what would turn out to be a very exciting match, 25-18. The score flip-flopped in the second set, with the Explorers winning by the same score. Fordham had to play catch-up right from the onset, as La Salle began the set with a 10-1 lead. The third set was tightly contested all the way to the end. With the score tied at 22-a piece, two kills and a service ace propelled the Explorers to the third set win. After winning consecutive sets, La Salle held a 2-1 lead in the match.

Junior Lisa Hipp had a team-high 24 kills in Fordham’s victory over La Salle.

Facing elimination, Fordham took control of the fourth set after receiving kills from Hipp and Ewing. After taking a commanding lead at 17-12, the Rams never looked back en route to a 25-20 set win. In the set, Hipp recorded six kills while Ewing recorded four of her own. With the match tied at two sets apiece, Fordham looked to finish off the comeback in the fifth set. The match had seven tie scores, and they all came from 12-12 on. The final tie came at 19-19. Hipp recorded her sixth kill

PHOTO BY ALLY WHITE/THE RAM

of the match at that point to give Fordham its eighth match point. Ewing and sophomore Lindsay Ritchie then came up with the huge block necessary to secure the win, 21-19. Konkel had a career match, posting a career-high 60 assists to go along with 13 digs and five kills. Hipp recorded her third 20-kill match of the season with 24 kills, nine digs and three blocks. Ewing posted a season-high 15 kills while also recording six blocks and four digs. Junior Carina Thompson threw in nine kills, four digs and four blocks of her own. Junior Maria Rodenberg had her third 20-dig match of the season, while also recording two aces. Freshman Brianna O’Neil contributed a season-high 13 digs with eight kills. Ritchie had a career-high four blocks with seven kills. With the big win, Fordham improves to 13-15 overall this season, with an Atlantic 10 record of 5-4. After the weekend’s matches, Ewing was named Atlantic 10 CoDefensive Player of the Week, the second time she has earned the weekly honor. Her exploits against Temple and La Salle were a big reason why she earned the award, as she recorded 13 total blocks in the two matches. That was good enough for a set average of 1.30. Ewing became just the fourth Fordham player to record 300 career blocks this past weekend, joining Christi Griffiths (419), Marija Markovic (351) and Katie Wells (323). Ewing, Konkel, Hipp and the rest of the Fordham volleyball team next play on Friday, Oct. 26 at the Rose Hill Gym against the Butler Bulldogs at 7 p.m.

By BOBBY THOMPSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Fordham golf team was in Bethlehem, Penn. this past weekend competing in the 2012 Lehigh Invitational. The two-day event was held at one of the largest private clubs in the U.S., Saucon Valley Country Club, which consists of three championship courses. The Rams battled the 7,051-yard Grace Course as they took on seven other collegiate teams in the field. After the final day of play, the Rams took third place with a team score of 600 strokes, finishing behind Big East opponents Villanova, who won comfortably with 580 strokes, and Rutgers, who edged the Rams by four. Rutgers tied for the low team of the tournament on Sunday, finishing at 596 strokes. Fordham scored better than the host team, Lehigh (603), and Bucknell (617). After 36 holes, co-captain Jason Del Rosso led the Rams with a two-day total of 148 (71-77), which put him in a tie for seventh. Right behind him in the top 10 was Brandon Nolan, who is having his best season as a Ram. He finished in a tie for ninth with a score of 149 (73-76). Senior co-captain Brody Nieporte carded a 1-under 71 to put him at a tie for third on Saturday, but finished in a tie for 16th after a windy Sunday round of 80. Junior Brandon Nolan thought the course lived up to its reputation. “I thought the course was in great shape, but the windy conditions on Sunday definitely played a factor, especially with the long finishing holes of 16, 17 and 18,” Nolan said, noting how most team members were playing well until they reached the Grace’s version of Amen Corner. Holes 16, 17 and 18 are a string of par 4’s, measuring in at 446, 437 and 445 yards, respectively, that gave the Rams trouble at the ends of their rounds. According to Nolan, multiple Ram golfers had good rounds going into 16, but were undone by the long, into-the-wind closing holes. Rounding out the top five for the Rams were senior Connor Monaghan in a tie for 23rd with 156 strokes (80-76) and sophomore Jeff Hogan in a tie for 26th with 158 strokes (82-76). The Rams will conclude the fall section of their schedule as they try to defend their title at the 2012 FDU Invitational in Alpine, New Jersey, where the team finished first out of nine teams in October 2011. Captain Jason Del Rosso hopes the Rams can come together for a solid team score. “I feel like this fall we have yet to all play our best at one event, and that’s why we haven’t won any tournaments like we did in the spring of 2012,” he said. Granted, the competition has been better this fall, but Del Rosso still believes that the team has yet to demonstrate its full potential. “We have a great opportunity this week at the FDU to defend our win from last year and end the fall on a high note and maybe even carry some momentum into the spring.”


SPORTS

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NHL and NHLPA Still Can’t Agree By ANTHONY PUCIK STAFF WRITER

The hope the NHL gave at the beginning of last week to fans anticipating the end of the lockout was shot down by talks that occurred a few days later. After a proposed deal was issued by the NHL on Oct. 16, the NHLPA countered with three separate proposals to the deal on Oct. 18. The result was a disgruntled NHL commissioner Gary Bettman who left the talks in Toronto only an hour after they began, calling the negotiations “disappointing.” Bettman went on to say that the NHL and NHLPA, “are not speaking the same language.” On Friday, the NHL canceled games through Nov. 1. How could this have happened? The NHL’s proposed deal seemed foolproof. Seemed. The six-year agreement the NHL proposed last Tuesday (with an option for the seventh year) can be found on the NHL’s website. The deal proposed that all 82 games of the season be played. The NHL would treat it like a year with the Winter Olympics: they lose a month of the season, so a game would be added to a team’s schedule every five weeks. Many of the major issues circulating the crux of the NHL lockout were sorted out in this deal, particularly player-owner shared revenue (Hockey Related Revenue, or “HRR”). In this agreement, the HRR would drop to a 50-50 split as opposed to the 57-43 split in favor of the players that is in place right now. The deal also included important contract specifications. The entry-level deals of a player coming from the AHL would be limited to two years if he is between the ages of 18 and 24, and a player must be over 28 or have eight years of service in the NHL to be an unrestricted free agent. Additionally, the maximum number of years possible on a player’s contract would now be five. Under the NHL’s proposed deal, the lower limit of the new payroll for each team would be $43.9 million and the upper limit $59.9. This was a major move by Commissioner Bettman and the NHL owners that led many to believe that the deal was impossible for the NHLPA and executive director Donald Fehr not to take. Coincidentally, that is exactly what the NHL wanted. The consensus among NHL fans was that this lockout was entirely the owners and

Bettman’s fault, that the NHLPA was willing to negotiate and the NHL wasn’t budging. With this new deal, however, it appeared that the NHL was willing to negotiate and the NHLPA was not, a smart public relations move for the NHL to get the fans back on its side. The deal was posted and the NHLPA spoke over the phone on Wednesday, Oct. 17 to try and set up a counteroffer to the NHL’s. When Thursday rolled around, it was reported that they had come up with three. Fans were extremely excited, thinking that one of those deals had to be close to giving them a full hockey season, but that belief was shot down within an hour. The first two deals turned out to be nowhere near what the NHL was looking for; they did not guarantee a 50-50 split of revenue immediately and would solely depend on the increased amount of revenue the NHL brought in, so there was a possibility that the 50-50 split wouldn’t be reached for years. The third deal was closer, but it was still not what the NHL wanted. The NHLPA would accept the 5050 split in revenue if player contracts would remain the same and there was little escrow involved (13 percent with no escrow meaning that the salary was off the cap and the rest with very slight escrow that go into the player’s share of the revenue). This was not what the NHL wanted either. The NHL wanted a 50-50 split of the revenue at the start of the deal, not to have a deal that could potentially lead to a split years down the road (the first and second proposals) or one that has a 50-50 split with a stipulation that really gives the players more than a 50-50 share (the third proposal). As of Saturday night, Oct. 20, the NHL and NHLPA did not have any scheduled meetings to discuss other possible deals to end the lockout. The deal that the NHL proposed gave a false sense of hope that the lockout would be done last week. Unfortunately for hockey fans, there were still a great deal of issues that were not addressed, and the NHLPA was not exactly willing to let them go. In order to preserve the 82-game season, the NHL and NHLPA have until Thursday, Oct. 25 to get a deal done, because training camp would start the next day on Oct. 26, and the season would start on Nov. 2. There is still time left, but with no meetings scheduled the possibility of a full NHL season looks very bleak.

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/theram_sports Varsity Scores & Stats Volleyball Golf- Lehigh Invitational Fordham 17 25 25 24 11 3 3rd out of 8 teams Temple 25 22 19 26 15 1 Konkel (FOR)- 49 assists, 21 digs Swimming- Men Matautia (TEM)- 30 kills Fordham 111 UConn 187 Fordham 25 18 22 25 21 3 La Salle 18 25 25 20 19 1 Fordham 135 Hipp (FOR)- 24 kills Bucknell 175 Scanlon (LAS)- 27 kills Women’s soccer Fordham 2 La Salle 3 Goals: Maksuti (FOR); 9’, 49’ Gray (LAS); 15’ Niemiec (LAS); 86’ Washington (LAS); 86’

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Swimming- Women Fordham 143 UConn 162 Fordham 173.5 Bucknell 125.5

Men’s Soccer Fordham 1 VCU 1 Goals: Haboush (VCU); 22’ Nagel (FOR); 72’ Fordham 2 Richmond 3 Goals: Kelly (FOR); 46’ Butler (RICH); 65’ Hill (RICH); 72’ Murphy (RICH); 80’ Gulbins (FOR); 84’

Athletes of the Week Shintaro Noguchi

Brienne Ryan

Junior

Senior

Swimming

Swimming

Noguchi was named A-10 Performer of the Week after winning both the 200-meter freestyle and the100-meter butterfly at a tri-meet against Bucknell and UConn.

Ryan broke the UConn pool record in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 55.38 and was named A-10 Performer of the Week.

News & Notes •

• •

Due to the NHL lockout, it might be a while before we see scenes like this.

OCTOBER 24, 2012• THE RAM • PAGE 17

Fordham has signed Manny Suarez, a 6’10” forward from Cliffside Park, N.J., to its 2013 men’s basketball recruiting class. The three-star recruit chose Fordham over Drexel, St. Peter’s, Long Beach State, Penn State and Monmouth, according to the New York Post. Fordham now has three commits from the class of 2013: Suarez, Syracuse-area native Denzel Gregg and Jake Fay, brother of current Ram Jared Fay. Gregg and Suarez both play on the Albany City Rocks AAU team. Senior volleyball player Randi Ewing was named Atlantic 10 Co-Defensive Player of the Week after recording 13 blocks in two weekend matches. The Fordham men’s soccer team lost to Richmond in the final meeting of the two teams. Richmond will discontinue men’s soccer after this season as it elevates its men’s lacrosse program to varsity status. The men’s basketball preseason USA TODAY Coaches’ Poll was released last week. Four of Fordham’s A-10 rivals received votes: Saint Louis, Virginia Commonwealth, Butler and Saint Joseph’s. Fordham recieved two votes in the most recent The Sports Network FCS football poll, the most votes Fordham has received this season.

Want to write for us? Tweet us (@TheRam_Sports) or Send us an email at fordhamramsports@gmail.com


PAGE 18• THE RAM • OCTOBER 24, 2012

SMITH SAYS ALEX SMITH

Well, Yankees fans, it looks like championship No. 28 will have to wait at least one more season. The Detroit Tigers swept the Bronx Bombers in four games in the American League Championship Series. Yankees fans have a right to be upset. Their team had the best record in the AL, yet it failed to reach the World Series. That said, fans should not take their anger out on Manager Joe Girardi. He did the best he could with the players he had and should not be blamed for the Yankees’ shortcomings. I worked as a beat reporter at WFUV for the Yankees this season. I attended about half of their home games and all five of their home playoff games. I had a firsthand view of this Yankees team. I was in the locker room after the games, and I was in the press conference room to hear Girardi talk following the big wins and tough losses. From everything I saw, Girardi is the perfect man to manage the Yankees. He is the calming presence that perfectly opposes New York’s media storm and bright lights. The problem with the Yankees in the postseason was not Girardi’s fault. It wasn’t Hitting Coach Kevin Long’s fault. What it all comes down to is that the Yankees players did not hit. New York hitters picked the worst possible time to go into a horrible collective slump. The only players who hit somewhat well in the playoffs were Derek Jeter (who went down with an ankle injury in Game 1 of the ALCS and did not return), Ichiro Suzuki and the new October legend, Raul Ibañez. Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher, Russell Martin and Curtis Granderson all hit below .200. Cano’s slump was incredible not only because he is one of the best hitters in baseball, but also because he finished the regular season red-hot, including a 4-4 regular season finale in which he had six RBI. While the multi-million dollar players received most of the blame for the playoff failures, Girardi also received a lot of criticism. Some fans claim he over-manages the game, when he should sit back and be less aggressive. Some fans are calling for his head, claiming that he was never the right guy for the job. To me, not only is he the best man for the job, but the job he did this season should warrant him some consideration for American League Manager of the Year. Think about this: Girardi virtually never had his full lineup available. Throughout the entire season, at least one key player was injured at any given time. Superstars like Rodriguez, Jeter, CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira all either missed a significant amount of time or played injured. Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera went down on May 3 and was lost for the entire year. De-

spite an injured and aging lineup, the Yankees were the best team in the American League. Girardi also remained cool and collected when the Yankees went on losing streaks and the media were ready to write the Yankees off for dead. Girardi has to be given some credit. Girardi did what he does best all season long: mixing and matching. With aging players like Jeter, A-Rod, Ibañez and Suzuki, and with veteran bench players like Eric Chavez and Andruw Jones needing time to rest, Girardi mixed in bench players and gave guys time off when they needed it. When players went down with injuries, he masterfully mixed in role players like Chavez, Jones, Jayson Nix and Eduardo Nuñez. Girardi’s best managerial moves came in dealing with a bullpen minus Rivera. When Rivera first went down, David Robertson was pushed into the closer role. He struggled at the onset, and Girardi was quick to appoint Raphael Soriano the closer. Soriano went on to save 42 games in five months and had an ERA under 2.30. Sliding Soriano up to the closer’s role was the easiest issue Girardi had in dealing with the pen. When everyone was moved up, it left the seventh inning role vacant. Joba Chamberlain’s offseason run-in with a trampoline had him out for a majority of the season. Girardi relied on names like Cody Eppley, Boone Logan and Clay Rapada to get one batter out at a time, and then made pitching changes based on matchups. When it came to managing in the playoffs, Girardi again did the best he could with the lineup he was given. Big name players weren’t hitting. Girardi faced the dilemma of leaving his star players in the lineup and hoping they break out of the slump or taking them out and relying on bench players. Some of the moves he made paid off. He pinch-hit Ibañez for Rodriguez in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the Division Series against Baltimore. Ibanez tied the game with a home run, and then hit a walk-off home run in the 12th inning to give the Yankees the win. By pinch-hitting for Rodriguez, and then benching him in the following games, Girardi may have broken his relationship with Rodriguez. Despite everything that Rodriguez said about being the biggest Girardi fan and respecting his manager’s decision, we all know that A-Rod has an E-Go. In fact, I’d be surprised to see him back in pinstripes next season. If the Yankees can find a team willing to take on his huge contract, or at least most of it, he will be moved. Girardi benched one of the best hitters the game has ever seen and may have pushed him away from the Big Apple, but when we look back we will say it was the right move. Yankees fans are spoiled. They think that not winning the World Series is an utter failure. With the team they had this season, maybe those fans are right, but they should not be upset with Girardi. The old saying goes, “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.” Well, in this case, Yankee fans should hate the players, not the manager.

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Senior Profile: Nick Synan

PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM

Synan placed first in the field at the Tribe Open on Oct. 13.

By RYAN SCANLON STAFF WRITER

Nick Synan is a senior captain of the Fordham’s men’s cross country team. The business administration major, who is concentrating in marketing, hails all the way from Iowa City. Despite being a long way from home, Synan has certainly left his mark on Rose Hill, running as a Ram for all four years of his collegiate career. The Ram: I have to ask out of curiosity, what is the cross country scene like in Iowa? Nick Synan: I’d say there’s a lot of corn fields. It’s very different, it’s a shock running out here…When you picture a cross country course, and it’s a lot of open space, not a lot of trails. Some meets you would end up running past pastures and livestock. TR: Being out there, what attracted you to Fordham? NS: I was born in New York [Mineola] and lived here until I was four [years old] and then moved out to Iowa. I always loved coming to the city, a lot of my family lives out here. It’s also different as [far as] pace goes. There’s a lot more going on, which is want I wanted. TR: Since coming to Fordham, were there any major injuries you had to overcome? NS: Last year, I was out for the beginning of the indoor season. I

had to take a month off, and it was my first injury ever. It was the most frustrating time of my life. Not being able to run for three or four weeks was the worst feeling. I think patience was the biggest thing. TR: It seems you’ve made the biggest jump in terms of improving your times this year compared to last year. What was the summer training like for you? NS: We go by the philosophy that quality is much better than quantity. I put in about 70-80 miles a week. I focused on quality and tempo runs. It’s easier to do a couple of tempo runs a week, not at race pace, but just a little faster, and that’s what I think certainly benefited the most. And that’s what I wanted to focus on with the team. Definitely getting in those tempo runs are going to benefit you in the long run. TR: Take me back to the IC4A Championships last cross country season at Van Cortlandt Park. That certainly looked to be your breakout race and it made others realize that you were the next “guy.” NS: I didn’t go to Regionals, so I just wanted to prove that I was really ready. And it was the last race of the season, there was so much adrenaline built up, you want to go out there and give it your all. Coming into this summer I knew Julian [Saad] was redshirting, Fitz [Kevin Fitzgerald] was gone, [Brian] Riley was gone, so I felt this was an opportunity to really step up. I wanted the

other guys to follow too and realize that we can do some great things this year. TR: On your relationship with Julian, it’s always great to have a close friend to run with and push you. What does it mean to have not only a teammate, but a friend running with you like that? NS: It’s awesome. Especially as a roommate, too, he’s always there to talk to. He always has great advice; we bounce ideas off each other. We’ve done a few workouts together this year, and whenever I have a question he’s always great to talk to. TR: You guys are off this weekend, but Oct. 27 is the Atlantic 10 Championships. What team and individual goals do you have for the race? NS: It comes down to who’s ready to race. I have goals in mind. I would love to get All-Conference. But it all comes to giving it your all and going after people. Anyone has a chance really. I don’t want to set our goals too high, but as a team I think we’ve really come prepared for this. It’s at Belmont Plateau, a course comparable to our home course [Van Cortlandt Park]. TR: I’m curious about this team’s future. Do you see Mike Turi having success? Quincy O’Connor’s running well; where do you see this team in two or three years? NS: I see Fordham getting on the page. We’ve progressed over the past few years certainly, but at the same time I don’t want this to end, to see this team progressively get better and better. We’re a young team. The junior class is very large, but each year we’re reloading with new freshmen. Quincy and Turi have been doing exceptionally. I’m excited to see how they do. I’m going to be following them because in the next few years, this team will be up there. TR: What are your plans for after graduation? NS: I would love to stay in the New York area. I’m always going to continue to run, maybe with a track club or something like that. I’m looking right now in marketing with food or beverage, something along the lines of that.

Water Polo Falls Despite LeBeau’s Record By JUSTIN OLSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

No one can fault the Fordham men’s water polo team for not hanging tough with both its opponents this weekend, least of all sophomore goalie Noah LeBeau, who had a record-breaking performance on Saturday, Oct. 20. LeBeau recorded a school record 21 saves in a scintillating performance, in addition to registering two assists and a penalty block; however, it was not enough. Underdogs at home to Mercyhurst, the Rams actually led for most of the game before falling late. Freshmen drivers Patrick Lenihan and Bobby Wurtz as well as senior utility man Alex Judge all scored for the Rams for an early 3-2 lead. The defense kept tight in the second period and Lenihan scored two more times to give the Rams a 5-4 halftime lead. The Rams were able to keep their one goal advantage through the third period with two more goals

by Lenihan and Judge and went into the final period up 7-6. Mercyhurst tied it quickly, however, and then scored another quick three goals to lead the Rams 10-7. LeBeau continued to play well to the end, passing Timmy Will’s school record for saves with 1:19 remaining in the game. The Rams were unable to mount a comeback, however, falling 11-8. The Rams quickly had another game on Sunday, Oct. 21, paying a visit to 14th ranked St. Francis Terriers. Again, the Rams hung tough with the favored team but were unable to close the door in the final period. After leading 2-1 in the first period the Rams went into a cold streak allowing St. Francis to finish out the period with five goals for a 6-3 lead. Three straight goals by Wurtz and freshman defender Davis DeFontes led the Rams back into the game, which they only trailed 8-7 with 4:14 left in the half, but the Terriers finished the half with a flourish

of goals of their own and they went into the break up 11-8. The Rams continued to hang tough in the second half as well, and after a penalty shot by Wurtz, they only trailed 12-11 with 2:27 remaining in the third period. However, Rams were unable to keep pace in the final frame, allowing nine unanswered goals from that point on. They were shut out by the Terriers defense in the fourth quarter, as the Rams lost 20-11. LeBeau didn’t have quite the performance he had on Saturday, making only five saves for the Rams. Wurtz and Allen led the Rams with three goals each. Defontes had two goals, and freshman defender Mike Hay and junior driver Dan Kearney also chipped in with one goal apiece. The Rams can take many positives from these two close misses against teams that were favored against them. The Rams finish off their regular season with a home conference game against Iona on Oct. 24.


Women’s Soccer Falls in Heartbreaking 3-2 Loss to Explorers

PHOTO BY PATRICK DOHERTY/THE RAM

Worden (left) and Maksuti had their Senior Night spoiled by La Salle.

DOMINIC KEARNS STAFF WRITER

On Friday Oct. 19, Fordham and La Salle battled in a fierce Atlantic 10 battle, with much at stake for each team. The Rams desperately wanted another conference win on Senior Night in the fight to reach the A-10 Tournament, while the La Salle Explorers looked to remain undefeated in conference play. Fordham enjoyed some rowdy home support, which added to the atmosphere on a cool, damp night. With both teams playing at a high level, the game had the potential to be great. From the opening whistle, the Rams played with aggression and poise, and sophomore Kristina Maksuti validated the strong play with a delightful eighth-minute finesse goal. The goal came on a brisk counterattack, as freshman Jojo Murino dribbled with pace and passed to Maksuti, who finished with her curling goal into the top right corner. The lead was short-lived however, as La Salle’s junior forward Leigh Gray used a glancing header off a strong cross from senior defender Amanda Komarnicki to level the score in the 15th minute. Gray’s effort bounced off the post, and senior keeper Rachel Suther had no chance. Despite that goal, the Explorers were generally on the defensive in the first half, and goalie Gabby Pakhtigan needed to make three tough saves to hold Fordham at bay. In the final minutes, La Salle finally found an offensive attack, but the Explorers could not capitalize on several dangerous crosses into the box. The teams ended the half in a 1-1 draw, and Fordham looked to improve on its solid effort. The final half could not have started any better for the Rams, as a Maksuti netted her second goal of the night on a powerful blast from 15 yards out. Freshman Vic-

OCTOBER 24, 2012• THE RAM • PAGE 19

SPORTS

theramonline.com

toria Camaj chipped a pass just over a La Salle defender, and the ball skidded on the soggy turf right onto Maksuti’s right foot for her one-time blast. The Explorers responded with a strong attacking effort. Fordham found it increasingly difficult to hold possession in the final 30 minutes, as La Salle pushed forward in greater numbers. With 15 minutes remaining, the Explorers had a flurry of activity, but Suther made two saves within 60 seconds to maintain the lead. La Salle’s forwards then missed two great chances on crosses, with one effort going over and the other narrowly missing the left post. In the 81st minute, freshman forward Jessica Kagan hit the crossbar for La Salle. With only five minutes separating the Rams from a seasondefining win, the Explorers stole the show with two shocking goals. The first came with 4:53 left, when another La Salle cross bounced around the box until Courtney Neimeic found it and scored the equalizer. Then Renee Washington headed in the second goal with 4:17 remaining, after Maryam Huseni provided a fantastic cross. After playing bravely for the entire contest, Fordham had nothing to show for it and suffered a bitter 3-2 defeat in its final home match. “It was our Senior Night, so we came out with a lot of energy,” senior forward Annie Worden said. “The loss was hard, because we all wanted it so bad. We can bounce back. We’re going to Philly next week, and we know we can win.” The Rams finished 1-2 on this three-game home stand, despite scoring first in each game. Fordham is now 7-10 overall and 3-4 in A-10 play. The Rams conclude the regular season with crucial games against the Temple Owls on Friday, Oct. 26 and the St. Joseph’s Hawks on Sunday, Oct. 28.

By DAN GARTLAND SPORTS EDITOR

Sometimes it’s funny how baseball works. The San Francisco Giants just won the National League pennant and will face the Detroit Tigers in the World Series starting this week. It’s not like the Giants haven’t been there before — they won the championship in 2010 — but this team is much different and its success is much more surprising. Only two position players from that 2010 team remain: catcher Buster Posey and third baseman Pablo Sandoval. Posey broke his leg in a violent collision at home plate last May and missed the remainder of the 2011 season. When he returned this year, there were serious doubts as to whether he’d be the same player who won the Rookie of the Year award in 2010. Sandoval missed five weeks this season with a broken hand. Strong pitching was crucial to San Francisco’s 2010 success. The Giants led the majors with a 3.36 team ERA, paced by Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum, who had won consecutive Cy Young Awards in 2008 and 2009. Closer Brian Wilson led the majors with 48 saves. Madison Bumgarner had a tremendous rookie year. At only 20 years old, his ERA was 3.00 and he had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio of any Giants starter. Jonathan Sanchez had a breakout season, posting an impressive 3.07 ERA while averaging more than one strikeout per inning. Cain and Bumgarner again had solid seasons this year, but Lincecum struggled mightily, as his ERA swelled to 5.18 and he was eventually relegated to the bullpen. Wilson tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow after appearing in only two games. He underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire season. Sanchez was dealt to Kansas City in the offseason in exchange for outfielder Melky Cabrera. Cabrera batted .429 in the month of May. His average stood at .346 on Aug. 14 when he was suspended for 50 games for violating the league’s perfor-

mance-enhancing drug policy. Despite losing their best hitter for the season’s final stretch, the Giants finished eight games ahead of the Dodgers for first place in the NL West. Without Cabrera, the Giants were 30-15. He was eligible to return after the team’s fifth postseason game, but the Giants have decided not to mess with the chemistry of their current lineup. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all has been second baseman Marco Scutaro. Scutaro was batting .271 on July 27 when the Giants acquired him from Colorado. In 61 games with San Francisco he batted .362. The 36-year-old Scutaro batted .306 overall, the best mark of his career. He really turned it on in the playoffs. After batting .500 in the NLCS against St. Louis, Scutaro was named the series MVP. So it’s only fitting that it was Scutaro who camped under a high fly ball, staring up through the rain drops as it fell into his glove for the final out of the Giants’ Game 7 victory.

The Giants only got to Game 7 thanks to another unlikely hero: Barry Zito, who has failed to live up to the $126 million contract he signed prior to the 2007 season. This year was the first time Zito won more games than he lost since moving across the bay from Oakland. The Giants turned to Zito in Game 5 of the NLDS, facing elimination down as they were down 3-1 in the series. He pitched seven and two-thirds innings of scoreless baseball, striking out six while allowing only a single walk. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the Tigers — with triple crown winner Miguel Cabrera, Cy Young candidate Justin Verlander and newly-acquired high-priced slugger Prince Fielder — are the favorites in Vegas. Sure, the Giants are making their second World Series appearance in three years, but these aren’t the same Giants — not by a long shot. They’re the underdogs, but it’s not crazy to think they can pull it off.

DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP

Marco Scutaro became the second mid-season acquisition to lead the Giants to the World Series, following the lead of Cody Ross, who did so in 2009. Both players won the NLCS MVP just months after joining San Franciso.

Upcoming Varsity Schedule CAPS=HOME lowercase=away

Thursday Oct. 25

Friday Oct. 26

TEMPLE 7 p.m.

Women’s Soccer

at Temple 3 p.m.

Volleyball

BUTLER 7 p.m.

Cross Country

Golf

Sunday Oct. 28

Monday Oct. 29

at Holy Cross 1 p.m.

Football

Men’s Soccer

Saturday Oct. 27

ST. JOE’S 1 p.m.

at St. Joe’s 1 p.m. ST. LOUIS 7 p.m. Atlantic 10 Championships Phila., Pa FDU Invitational Alpine, NJ All Day

Tuesday Oct. 30

Wednesday Oct. 31


OCTOBER 24, 2012

PAGE 20

Fordham Offense Flourishes Under Moorhead’s System By DAN GARTLAND SPORTS EDITOR

When Fordham traveled to Cincinnati on Oct. 13 to face a Bearcats team ranked 21st in the nation, the Rams were vastly outmatched. The Vegas sports books had the Rams as 40-point underdogs. The Fordham offense did what it has done all season long: gain yards and put up points. In Joe Moorhead’s first season as head coach, his new offensive scheme has turned one of the worst offenses in the FCS into one of the best. Fordham’s offense was absolutely abysmal last season. The Rams were shut out twice and never scored more than 24 points in a game. They averaged fewer than two touchdowns per game, second worst in the FCS. Fordham was 115th in the FCS in red zone scoring, converting only 61 percent of chances inside its opponents’ 20, and was 117th in average time of possession. The list goes on. In short, the statistics reflect just how bad that 1-11 team was. This year is an entirely different story. Fordham ranks 32nd in the FCS with 410 yards per game, compared to 98th a year ago with only 315 yards. The offense has led this team, not dragged it down. The Rams averaged more than 31 points per game in their first six contests on the way to their first 4-2 start since 2004. The fact that Fordham was able to gain 304 yards against a strong Cincinnati defense, which is ranked 39th in the FBS in yards allowed and 10th in points allowed, is a testament to the tremendous turnaround that

PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM

Joe Moorhead’s no-huddle offense has helped the Rams average nearly 100 more yards per game than last year.

Moorhead has helped engineer. Moorhead’s offensive system is the same one he ran as the offensive coordinator at UConn and Akron. The central feature is the relentless pace of its no-huddle attack. Apart from that, Moorhead says, it can be altered depending on what sorts of players are on the roster. “I like its adaptability, that there’s enough flexibility with the system that you can tailor the offense to the strengths of your players,” Moorhead said. “When we were at Akron, we were three wides and four wides, and our linemen were more zone blockers. We were more inside zone, outside zone and zone read, kind of

the things we’re doing now. When we moved over to UConn and ran it, we had big strong linemen and we were more gap-oriented. We ran the powers, we ran more gap schemes.” Moorhead said that implementing the scheme at Fordham went smoothly. “As we moved here it was a natural fit,” he said. “We had quarterbacks who could do a little bit of both — run and pass. We had excellent skill guys and we moved [redshirt junior Carlton Koonce] back to running back. I felt our line is more of a zone type, so we run more zone than man, but we do a little of both.” Another aspect of the adapt-

ability of Moorhead’s offense is the way the quarterback can operate either out of the shotgun or under center. At Akron, Moorhead estimates about 95 percent of plays were out of the shotgun. At UConn, where the Huskies had a talented fullback in Anthony Sherman (now with the Arizona Cardinals), that number was between 60 and 70 percent. Thus far, Fordham has operated nearly exclusively out of the shotgun. Part of what makes the offense so effective is its ferocious speed. Fordham typically uses less than 20 seconds of the 40-second play clock, giving the opposing defense very little time to diagnose what the Rams are trying to do. In order

to maintain that breakneck pace, the plays are signaled in from the sideline as the team approaches the line of scrimmage, rather than relayed by the quarterback in a huddle. “The players look over and that’s the first thing they see is the tempo and then the next thing is the formation and then there’s two guys that signal the play — one of them is live and one is dummy,” Moorhead said. “We change it before a series or we can change it during the series. Before we go out on the field we say, ‘Hey, this guy’s the live signaler.’ One guy’s signaling the real play and the other guy is sort of just window dressing.” While many spread offenses tend to be more pass-heavy, Fordham’s is a balanced attack. Moorhead says this goes back to his program’s overall philosophy of “controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.” “Our mindset is we want to be able to run the ball and dominate the line of scrimmage and physically impose our will on the opposition,” he said. “When you run the ball well, it forces the defense to crowd the line of scrimmage to stop the run. When they do that, it opens up the other things that you see in our offense: the quick passing game, the play-action passes and downfield throws.” The Fordham offense has only really struggled in one game: a 2813 loss to Villanova in the second week of the season. Apart from that, the Rams have been able to put plenty of points on the board, a big reason why they have a shot at their first winning season since 2007.

Mixed Results for Fordham Swimming at UConn Meet By TIM DEROCHER STAFF WRITER

The Fordham swimming and diving program kicked off its 2012-2013 season this Saturday, Oct. 20, with a tri-meet against Bucknell University and UConn at the Huskies’ Wolff-Zackin Natatorium. The women opened up their season with a split by defeating Bucknell 173.5-126.5 but losing to UConn 164.5-125.5.

The men, however, fell to both schools, losing to Bucknell 179120, and to UConn 191-105. The numbers did not tell the whole tale, as Head Coach Stephen Potsklan saw the meet as an opportunity to get a handle on his team. “We had a lot of freshmen, I didn’t know what to expect coming into this meet,” Potsklan said. “We’re really young as a team, the bulk of our team is underclass-

men and I wasn’t sure what to expect and was very pleased with the result of the meet.” The Atlantic 10 preseason polls ranked the women at No. 2 while placing the men at fifth in the conference. Potsklan reiterated his faith in his team. “They’re just numbers, I don’t really look at that,” Potsklan said. “The end result is the one I’m most concerned with.” In the pool, the women swept

PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM

The Fordham men’s and women’s swimming teams look to improve on fifth and second place A-10 finishes, respectively.

the two team relays, first winning the 200-medley relay in a time of 1:47.96 with the team of seniors Brienne Ryan and Alana Biagioli, junior Shannon Jones and sophomore Kelly Carroll. Then, Ryan and Biaglioli came back to take the 400-freestyle relay in a time of 3:32.85, along with fellow senior Kellie Lyver and freshman Chandler Lulley. Ryan went on to win two more individual events as well, taking the 100-m backstroke in 55.38 and the 200-m backstroke in 2:02.68. Ryan’s time in the 100-m was not only good enough to secure first place, but also gave her the new pool record in that event. The other two event winners for the Rams were both underclassmen, as freshman Shannon Lulley won the 100-m butterfly in 58.85 and sophomore Frances Warren won the 200-m butterfly in 2:07.46. The men also saw a combination of older faces and fresh talent bring in event wins. Junior Shintaro Noguchi and freshman Steve Sholdra both won two events apiece. Noguchi won the 200-m freestyle in 1:42.67 along with the 100-m butterfly in 50.02. Sholdra added his two wins in the distance events by winning both the 500m and 1,000-m freestyle events in 4:37.12 and 9:24.02, respectively.

Overall, both sides saw a combined total of 23 top-three finishes in the individual events. Of those 23, 12 of them were by underclassmen. This is testament to Potsklan’s faith in his older members to help mold the talent the Rams have on both the men’s and women’s sides. The head coach said he was pleased with the freshmen’s results especially. “They really got in there and stepped up, and performed better than what I was hoping for,” he said. Potsklan also spoke about the leadership the Rams should be expecting from upperclassmen Ryan, Biagioli, Noguchi and Devon Morris as the season wears on. It will be up to the leadership of this year’s upperclassmen to lead the raw talent of underclassmen to a good season culminating in the A-10 Championships in February. For now, it will be exciting to see how these fresh faces mature and develop under the wings of the older athletes in the upcoming dual meets against Marist, Fairfield and Boston University. The first of those is the Rams’ home opener this Thursday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m., as the Rams take on the Marist Red Foxes at the Lombardi Center.


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