Volume 94 Issue 20

Opinions PAGE 9

Culture PAGE 16

Sports Insert

Airline fees rise as the holiday season approaches.

The Paradise Theater reopens with new shows, acts.

Winter Preview highlights the upcoming season.

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NOVEMBER 14, 2012

VOLUME 94, ISSUE 20

Student Outcry Leads to Canceled Ann Coulter Appearance College Republicans Split on Decision to Rescind Invitation ‘Maroon Square’ Discussion Revived

By CONNOR RYAN

By KELLY KULTYS

NEWS EDITOR

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Fordham’s College Republicans announced Thursday, Nov. 8 that they had invited controversial pundit Ann Coulter to speak at Rose Hill after Thanksgiving, but rescinded the invitation the next evening in light of a larger-than-expected negative on-campus response.

“Consistent with our strong disagreement with certain comments

by Ms. Coulter we have chosen to cancel the event and rescind Ms. Coulter’s invitation to speak at Fordham,” the group said in a statement released Friday.

Although the statement was signed by the group’s entire executive board, president Ted Conrad, FCRH ’14, vice president Emily Harman, GSB ’15, treasurer Joe Campagna, GSB ’15, and secretary John Mantia, GSB ’13, two of the four members have since come forward to say that they disagreed with the statement at the time of its publication. They maintain that their names were added to the document without consent.

“I did not agree with the rescinded invitation,” Mantia said in an email. “My name was added to that

During Thursday, Nov. 8 and Friday, Nov. 9, Fordham experienced major dissent throughout various areas of the University as it was announced that the College Republicans had invited Ann Coulter to speak on campus.

Many students and faculty had heated responses to the invitation, including Rev. Joseph M. McShane S.J., president of the University, who sent out a school-wide email.

In his email, McShane emphasized that, though Fordham did not support the College Republicans inviting Coulter to speak, the University strongly supports free speech on campus.

“Still, to prohibit Ms. Coulter from speaking at Fordham would be to do greater violence to the academy, and to the Jesuit tradition of fearless and robust engagement,” McShane said in the email. “Preventing Ms. Coulter from speaking would counter one wrong with another.”

Many students, after reading this email, believed that this would be a great time to reopen some of the free speech initiatives that were visited in the past and come up with new ideas

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Political commentator Ann Coulter was disinvited to speak at Fordham.

statement without my approval.”

Harman said she originally agreed with the sentiment that Coulter should not come to campus, but did not agree with the wording of the statement sent to the University community.

“I expected our executive board to sit down and discuss the matter, write the letter together and then

publish an official decision,” Harman said in an email. “That unfortunately was not the case.”

Conrad, Harman and Campagna said they agreed, before the group’s statement was sent out, that Coulter’s speaking engagement at Rose Hill should be canceled. Mantia said he disagreed with the decision.

SEE COULTER, PAGE 3

of their own. That is how the “Fordham Students for Free Speech” Facebook group was born.

The group states, “in light of Father McShane’s recent letter defending free speech as critical to our university identity, student organizers for free speech have new grounds to argue for their demands.”

The group’s purpose is to “generate ideas, facilitate communication and organize activities related to lobbying for students to have free speech at Fordham.”

“The group popped up due to the Ann Coulter event,” Stephen Erdman, president of United Student Government (USG), FCRH ’13, said. “It is looking at the statement that McShane issued regarding the Ann Coutler event and analyzing how that applies to what groups face when they try to bring speakers or host events.”

The founder of the Facebook group “Students for Free Speech,” Jeff Lockhart, FCRH ’13, wanted to create a space where students could unite and openly discuss ideas.

“I created the group because I wanted us to be able to organize our discussions and plans about freedom of speech on campus,” Lockhart said.

SEE FREE SPEECH, PAGE 3

An Inside Look at CAB’s Spring Weekend Concert Selection Process

By JOHN LEE STAFF WRITER

The Spring Weekend Concert survey revealed a surprising number of choices for which students could vote, featuring primarily indie acts and no mainstream musicians. The lack of any prominent acts in the recently released list showed a shift in approach by the administration and the student activity committees, reflecting budgetary concerns, the availability of the artists and the appropriateness of the music.

The primary committee who creates the survey and organizes the Spring Weekend concert, CAB (Campus Activities Board), has decided on a more pragmatic approach to creating the survey, which is sent out to all students during the fall semester. This approach was used as a means for students to grasp a realistic indication of what kind of artists the CAB is capable of booking.

“This year, the concert co-chairs made the deliberate decision to only have artists that are within the budget on the survey. In past years artists have been used as genre indicators, i.e. Avicii for electronic or Taylor Swift for country, and it seems to have confused the student body on CAB's budget and capability of booking these type of artists.

It is not what type of artists CAB wants but rather what the student body wants,” Lara Moseley, FCRH ’13, co-chair of the CAB Concert

Committee, said. “It is CAB’s objective to find an artist that both pleases the student body and the administration.”

The budget is the primary factor in deciding which artists are available to play at the Spring Weekend Concert. The relative inexpensiveness of indie artists compared to mainstream ones not only guaran-

tees their booking but also presents the possibility that two acts may be able to perform at the concert.

The budget itself remains a closely-guarded secret, known only to the CAB executive committee and University administration. The reason why the budget is kept from the general student body, and even from most of the members of CAB,

is because of its relative instability.

“I don’t actually know the budget, that is a very hush-hush thing within the CAB itself because it can fluctuate so much. You can say we have thirty-five grand now but next week we may have forty grand because we have excess cash that wasn’t used, so it’s always a grey area,” Alex SEE CAB, 13 Whitteker, FCRH ’14,PAGE a member of

CAB’s general board, said.

Money is not the only reason behind the prevalence of indie musicians in the survey. The success of the indie rock band MGMT who came to Spring Weekend at Rose Hill three years ago was also cited as a factor, according to Gina Meltzer, FCRH ’13, president of CAB. SEE CAB, PAGE 13

Students’ Families, Alumni Gather for Rose Hill’s Annual Family Weekend

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH ZANGHI/ THE RAM

Fordham family and alumni gather in ‘A Lot’ to tailgate before the main event of Family Weekend, the annual football game. Story, page 17. Photo spread, page 14.

PAGE 2• THE RAM • NOVEMBER 14, 2012

SECURITY

BRIEFS

NEWS

theramonline.com

Fordham Community Takes on Sandy Relief Efforts

By ELIZABETH ZANGHI ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Nov. 3, Finlay Hall, 4:50 a.m.

A student discharged the fire extinguisher on the third floor.

FDNY responded and The alarm was reset. There was neither damage nor injury. Security is investigating the incident.

Nov. 5, Martyrs’ Court Jogues, 5 p.m.

A student burned a cheese sandwich in the microwave.

The smoke set off the fire alarm.

FDNY responded to the event.

There was neither damage nor injury reported.

Nov. 8, O’Hare Hall, 2:15 p.m.

A student was trapped in a dormitory elevator. Mechanics responded to the entrapment and removed the student from the elevator without incident.

Nov. 10, Finlay Hall, 3:30 a.m.

A student broke the windows of the entrance door. The student was soon identified and referred to the dean of students to be reprimanded.

Nov. 10, Hughes Hall, 10:50 a.m.

A smoke alarm was set off due to steam in the mechanical room.

There was neither damage nor injury reported.

Nov. 10, Southern Boulevard between Bedford Park and the University 1-10 p.m.

A member of the Fordham community parked on Southern Boulevard. There was neither damage nor injury reported.

Fordham’s campus was relatively unscathed by Superstorm Sandy two weeks ago, but other areas surrounding New York City were not so lucky. According to NBC, the devastation caused by the storm is expected to cost over $50 billion to fix. Members of the Fordham community are stepping up to help ease the pain.

On Monday, Nov. 5, Rev. Joseph M. McShane S.J., president of the University, sent an email overviewing Fordham’s efforts. In addition to the counseling that continued to be in effect during and after the storm, he stated that the University was offering its available space as a shelter to “students, faculty and staff most affected by the storm.”

McShane also introduced the Hurricane Relief Fund that was instituted on behalf of those affected by the hurricane. The Fund accepts monetary and non-monetary donations, such as food and emergency supplies, which are divided between Catholic Charities and The Salvation Army as well as “those within the Fordham community directly affected and in need of assistance.”

Student groups on campus, such as Mock Trial, are finding ways to contribute to hurricane relief efforts as well.

“Mock Trial usually has a bake sale around Halloween and, for the past couple years, it’s been postponed because of weather events,” Meghan McLaughlin, FCRH ’15, director of fundraising for Mock Trial, said. “We decided to go through with this one, but because of Hurricane Sandy’s devastation in the region, we wanted to give back a little bit. Fifty percent of our proceeds will be going to the [Hurricane Relief Fund].”

The club ended up raising $208.76 overall, with $105 going to

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH ZANGHI/THE RAM

Members of the Mock Trial Club sold baked goods outside of the Walsh gate to help raise money for Sandy relief efforts.

charity.

Resident Assistants Amber Jackson, FCRH ’13, and Hannah Schaffer, FCRH ’13, took it upon themselves to bring relief efforts into their residence halls.

“Yesterday [Friday, Nov. 2] we just kind of met up in Campbell Café and Hannah was talking about all of the tragedies and devastation and we just felt like we needed to do something,” Jackson said on Saturday, Nov. 3. The two created donation boxes for students to contribute and gathered information for their residents on how to volunteer.

“We came across this thing called Occupy Sandy, and they had a whole bunch of places where you could volunteer and a whole bunch of places where you could drop things off,” Schaffer said.

Even two weeks after the hurricane hit, students are still organizing events to help raise donations for those affected by Sandy. Residence Hall Association (RHA) and Campus Activities Board (CAB) are planning Sound Out Sandy, a $5 benefit concert to be held on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 8:00 p.m. In addition to solo musicians and

bands, Fordham Flava, Expressions Dance Alliance, the Satin Dolls, the Ramblers and the B-Sides will be performing at the event. RHA and CAB will also be raffling off prizes such as an iPad Mini and Beats headphones. Through selling raffle tickets, the clubs have already raised over $500 for the president’s Hurricane Relief Fund.

Michael Meehan, FCRH ’14, president of RHA, explained that the event will provide more than simply monetary relief for storm victims.

“So many people at Fordham are from the tri-state area, so nearly everyone has a story connected to the hurricane,” Meehan said. “We’ve asked our performers to provide our audience with a brief anecdote about how the storm has affected them. So not only is it monetary relief for all victims, but it’s also therapeutic relief to those students most affected.”

One student performer, John Joseph Thornhill, FCRH ’13, was affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“I can empathize with those who were affected by Sandy,” Thornhill

Fordham in the Bronx

By JEFFREY COLTIN

Nov. 11, Fordham Rd and Third Avenue 7:30 p.m.

A staff member of the University took the Bx12 bus to Fordham and Third Avenue. An unidentified person opened her sports pack and took property from her bag.

Nov. 12, Finlay Hall, 3-5 p.m.

A student lost his black Nike backpack that held his wallet. He left it and his items in the laundry room of his dorm. When he returned two hours later, he discovered his knapsack containing his debit card, driver’s license, gift card and wristwatch were all gone.

Residential Life staff was contacted, but no lost property had been turned in to them.

—Compiled by Karen Hill, Assistant News Editor

STAFF WRITER

Students Diligent, Calm, Regarding Neighborhood Burglaries “The NYPD has launched a search for the suspect who burglarized six homes near Fordham University in the Bronx.” This lead-in for a CBS New York news story less than one month ago, on Oct. 20, documents just one of many security threats in the Belmont neighborhood since the beginning of this semester.

A man had been entering apartments through first-floor windows and stealing property from residences located in the vicinity of 188th and Hoffman. Hundreds of Rose Hill students live in the Belmont area, just south of Rose Hill, yet some students had not heard of crimes.

“No, I haven’t heard about that,” Cori Ring, FCRH ’13, said.

“Fordham doesn’t really do local news, so I had no idea about the robberies.” Ring moved into a first-floor apartment near 189th and Arthur at the beginning of the semester. Despite not knowing about the burglaries, her landlord just put cast-iron bars over the windows last month. Ring says

she feels safer with the bars.

“It made sense,” Ring said.

“We’re on the first floor and we’re girls. Everyone else has bars.”

Such is the life for many students in off-campus housing. The NYPD’s 48th precinct, encompassing Fordham’s campus, the Belmont area and areas south extending to the Cross-Bronx Expressway, have seen 169 burglaries and 375 robberies so far in 2012, according to the city’s CompStat program. These numbers are noticeably lower than the surrounding precincts, but slightly higher than those from last year, which had 163 burglaries and 338 robberies at this point in 2011.

Ring said she is not too worried. She lives very close to The Hookah Spot, a 24-hour convenience store on Arthur Avenue, and feels like the workers there keep an eye on suspicious activity in the area.

“They look out for us and they’re really good neighbors,” Leila Nabizadeh, FCRH ’13, said, in agreement with Ring.

While she relies on diligent neighbors, the number of burglaries surprises Nabizadeh.

“I know that there are issues on that corner [188th and Hoffman], that it’s not really the best part, but I didn’t know of there being so many break-ins,” Nabizadeh said.

Still, Nabizadeh said she feels safe, thanks to the heavy NYPD presence at “tri-bar” on 189th and Arthur and the security at nearby Fordham-owned housing.

Michael Prate, FCRH ’13, lives in the Fordham-owned Terra Nova House near 189th and Hoffman. He has heard of the burglaries on his street, but says he has never felt unsafe, despite his location. A guard stays at the gate all night, and the property is separated from the street by a tall wall and fence.

“It’s virtually impossible to get in unless a student lets you in,” Prate said.

Overall, Ring said she feels safe as she closes her third semester living off-campus. “It doesn’t take a genius to stay safe,” she said.

said. “Through this fundraiser, I want to provide as much encouragement, donations and support as possible.”

Though the relief efforts across campus are diverse, those running them are doing so with similar goals in mind, all centered around Fordham’s place in the community.

“I think for Fordham students we need to remember that we’re a part of the larger community in New York, whether it’s the Bronx, New Jersey, Connecticut — this entire region got devastated by Hurricane Sandy and everyone needs to do their part,” McLaughlin said.

“Just because we haven’t been affected doesn’t mean we’re not a part of the New York community,” Schaffer said. “I think that means we should feel some sort of obligation and desire to make the place in which we live better.”

In his letter, Fr. McShane closed with a request: “I would ask that you hold out just a little more compassion for one another, and for yourselves, as we struggle to recover from the storm.”

Additional reporting by Connor Ryan, News Editor.

THIS

week at

FORDHAM Thursday, Nov. 15, Jenga Mango, Commuting Students Association, McGinley Ballroom 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 15 Sound Out Sandy Concert O’Keefe Commons 8 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 15, Theology on Tap (21+), The Blend Café 9 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 17, Hurricane Relief Karaoke, Autism Speaks U, Pugsley’s Pizza 8 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Monday, Nov. 19, Expressions Dance Classes, Keating B-23 9:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 19, Thanks-Give-Away, Commuting Students Association, McGinley Ballroom 6 - 9 p.m.

NEWS

theramonline.com

Controversial Pundit Disinvited FROM COULTER, PAGE 1

Campagna later acknowledged that some board members were not together at the time the statement was written.

In the group’s statement, the executive board said it “[regretted] that we failed to thoroughly research [Coulter] before announcing her.” When asked to clarify via email, Conrad said that the group had not read enough background information.

“The executive board of the College Republicans failed to vet Ann Coulter’s past statements and writings,” Conrad said via email. “While we never gain universal consensus on the speakers we bring to campus, we do believe they have set a high standard that Ann Coulter does not meet.”

Conrad wrote the statement, according to Campagna, and intended to publish it before Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, sent an email to the Fordham community (including students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff ) on Friday afternoon, expressing his disappointment with the “judgment and maturity of the College Republicans.”

McShane wrote that Fordham — “in keeping with the canons of academic freedom” — would allow Coulter to speak on campus, even though “her rhetoric is often hateful and needlessly provocative.”

“The College Republicans have unwittingly provided Fordham with a test of its character: Do we abandon our ideals in the face of repugnant speech and seek to stifle Ms. Coulter’s (and the student organizers’) opinions, or do we use her appearance as an opportunity to prove that our ideas are better and our faith in the academy — and one another — stronger?” Mc-

Shane said in his email.

Both Mantia and Harman said they were disappointed McShane did not reach out to them privately and express concern directly to the group before sending the University-wide email. The statement the group released reiterated that sentiment.

“We made this choice [to cancel the speaking engagement] freely, before Father McShane’s email was sent out and we became aware of his feelings — had the president simply reached out to us before releasing his statement, he would have learned that the event was being canceled,” the College Republicans’ statement said.

Conrad said that the decision to rescind Coulter’s invitation was in motion by Friday morning.

“My heart sank as I read [McShane’s] email,” Harman said. “It was very embarrassing not only for me, but for our club to be called out when the situation could have been addressed directly to the club leadership.”

McShane sent a follow-up email Saturday afternoon to the Fordham community and commended the group’s decision to cancel the event.

“Allow me to give credit where it is due: The leadership of the College Republicans acted quickly, took responsibility for their decisions, and expressed their regrets sincerely and eloquently,” McShane said.

Mantia thought Coulter’s unpopular political views were not seen as problematic by those who were arranging her speaking engagement.

“We considered her controversial status as a good thing, as it would garner discussion on campus and buzz for the event,” Mantia said.

Harman said she believes Coulter is a strong voice for conserva-

tives, but added that the College Republicans do not condone or agree with all of Coulter’s previous statements.

“She uses provocative speech to entice debate and make a statement about what she believes in,” Harman said. “Bringing a person with such strong opinions to campus presents the opportunity for a powerful discourse on the varying ideals that Fordham University can represent.”

The right-wing commentator’s speaking fee is usually $20,000, but Coulter agreed to speak at Fordham for $10,000, according to Conrad.

“The funding was approved by the USG budget committee, and comes out of the student activities fee,” Conrad said.

Thursday evening, while the event was still scheduled to go on, students at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center gathered, mostly online, to protest Coulter’s planned on-campus lecture.

Lauren Zupkus, FCRH ’13, was one of the four creators of the Facebook event “Ann Coulter Dissent & Counter-Event Meeting! This Sunday!” Zupkus said the meeting was called potentially to plan an alternative event scheduled for the same time as the Coulter lecture.

“We did not seek to ban her from speaking entirely,” Zupkus said.

“But those who are hurt by her insensitive comments would have [had] an option to gather elsewhere and have a good time,” Zupkus said.

Hanna Tadevich, FCLC ’15, was one of the reported 12 students who organized against Coulter’s appearance at Lincoln Center, according to The Observer.

“We realized that more than just sitting here and racking jokes like ‘Oh, we want to egg her,’ we should actually do something about it and

NOVEMBER 14, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 3

COURTESY OF PREMIERECOLLECTABLES.COM

Mugged is Coulter’s latest book. She has published 8 New York Times bestsellers.

start a way for students to protest against this since we knew we weren’t the only ones upset about this,” Tadevich told The Observer.

Fordham community members from both Rose Hill and Lincoln Center also signed a petition on change.org disavowing Coulter’s scheduled visit. When the petition closed, shortly after the cancelation was announced, it had 2,102 signatures against the decision to invite Coulter to campus.

The story hit the blogosphere Friday evening into Saturday after Mc-

Shane sent his first University-wide email. The Huffington Post, Salon. com and Newsday, as well as several political blogs, have all picked up the story. More media inquiries were sent regarding the subject, according to Christopher Rodgers, dean of students at Rose Hill.

In recent years, the College Republicans have brought well-known political figures to Rose Hill, including Newt Gingrich, Karl Rove and Ari Fleischer.

Additional reporting by Canton Winer, Assistant Opinions Editor.

Response to Coulter Prompts Free Speech Initiatives FROM FREE SPEECH, PAGE 1

“I wanted to create and work in a space where students came together to discuss what kinds of speech were acceptable, and how best to work for those kinds of speech.”

Students for Free Speech brought up many points that reflect the University’s message on its prior views on free speech in relation to their response to the Ann Coulter event.

“I think that she should be allowed to speak, although I disliked

the decision to invite her, but the double-standard of allowing her to speak and also routinely blocking student speech made me very upset,” Lockhart said. “Where was our free speech during the Vagina Monologues or Spring Awakening? Where is Flava’s free speech when they have to bleep their music? Where is my free speech when I want to have “Queer” in a club name or constitution?”

The Facebook group currently has over 60 student members and

they have discussed a wide variety of initiatives regarding free speech at Fordham such as having teach-ins on this topic, hosted by professors and revisiting the Maroon Square proposal, originally propositioned by former USG president John Gordan, FCRH ’10. “[The proposal] was based off of the red square at Georgetown,” Erdman said. “It designated space for students as individuals or groups to host demonstrations or other events

COURTESY OF FORDHAM.EDU

The map, pictured above, shows all of the possible locations for the proposed Maroon Square free-speech area.

without prior approval.”

The proposal states that USG intended to “propose Maroon Square as an enhancement to the current policy, offering students a fair and reasonable compromise that would provide them the opportunity to speak publicly without prior permission at the expense of other means of official demonstration in more prominent locations.”

“The goal [of Maroon Square] was to promote academic discourse on campus,” Erdman said.

The proposal did carefully state, “while the space will provide for free expression, it is important to note that the establishment of this area will not serve as a sanctioning mechanism for any form of “hate-speech” targeting a specific person/persons of any particular race, religion, creed, ethnicity, ideological stance, gender, sexual orientation, handicap, etc.”

Despite the detailed proposal, however, the University eventually rejected the Maroon Square. “[There was] concern from administrators that the issues USG identified in the policy could be addressed by revising the demonstration policy itself,” Erdman said.

That is exactly what the incoming USG president, Sara Kugel, FCRH ’11, did.

“Sara [Kugel] met with Dean Rodgers and added some major revisions to the demonstration policy over the summer prior to the [2010-

2011] school year,” Erdman said.

The purpose of the demonstration policy is “to insure that freedom is maintained, expressions of assent or dissent cannot be permitted to infringe on the rights of the members of the University community or the community itself — not only their freedom to express positions, but their freedom to engage in other legitimate activities.”

Still, many students are concerned about issues regarding their freedoms on-campus, including organizing demonstrations or inviting speakers.

“I’ve been an advocate of free speech at Fordham for all threeand-a-half years that I have been here, and it has been largely a losing battle,” Lockshart said. “McShane’s letter gives us new hope. When the president defends speech that he strongly objects to on the grounds that free speech is critical to our mission and operation as an academy.

Censoring of students cannot be allowed to go on, and student affairs will have to change its policies.”

In the meantime, Erdman urges students who are concerned about these issues to attend many of the meetings held during the semester. “[They] should attend Student Life Council meetings held monthly, and the USG meetings held weekly ,” Erdman said. “These are groups concerned with issues just like theirs.”

PAGE 4 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER 14, 2012

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PAGE 5

Coulter Debacle Shows Best, Worst of College Republicans

By CANTON WINER ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR

Do not expect me to say this ever again: I feel bad for the College Republicans.

In a span of just over 24 hours, the College Republicans announced their plan to bring Ann Coulter to speak on campus, student body erupted in anger, Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, publicly admonished the group and the College Republicans canceled the event.

The sun set only once during this debacle.

I, like any other reasonable human being, despise Coulter. Like the apparent, or at least vocal, majority of the student body, I was shocked that the College Republicans invited her to speak, at a reputed price tag of $10,000, funded through the student activity fee.

It was a mistake for the group to invite a figure who insults and demeans practically every group of people — besides wealthy, white male Republicans — onto our campus. Coulter does not foster an intellectual discussion, and she represents the worst, desiccating branch of the GOP. All things considered, the College Republicans deserve some credit for their response to the outrage over their choice of Coulter. In the face of an overwhelmingly-negative reaction, the College Republicans showed considerable grace.

Instead of becoming defensive and hostile, the group quickly canceled the engagement and issued a gracious statement.

In a statement released to The Ram and signed by the executive board of the College Republicans, the group acknowledged the many reasonable “concerns” over their chosen speaker and apologized to the Fordham community.

“Looking at the concerns raised about Ms. Coulter, many of them reasonable, we have determined that some of her comments do not represent the ideals of the College Republicans and are inconsistent with both our organization’s mission and the University’s,” the statement read. “We regret that we failed to thoroughly research her before announcing, that is our error and we do not excuse ourselves for it. Consistent with our strong disagreement with certain comments by Ms. Coulter, we have chosen to cancel the event and rescind Ms. Coulter’s invitation to speak at Fordham.”

Despite McShane’s email rebuking the group just several hours earlier, the College Republicans claimed to have reached their decision to cancel the event on their own volition, and I am inclined to believe them.

I do, however, take issue with the College Republicans’ claim that their invitation was the result of an “error” in research. Many politically-uninformed people are aware of Coulter’s despicability. Coulter is not merely controversial, but a spigot of bigotry. She uses hate speech as a marketing tool. When her book sales flatten out or she is not receiving enough media attention, she turns to homophobic, racist, misogynist, sexist, xenopho-

GAGE SKIIDMORE/FLICKR

The College Republicans announced on Thursday, Nov. 8 that they had invited Ann Coulter to speak on campus.

bic and ultimately ignorant statements. Hate speech is Coulter’s meat dress. She recently tweeted that President Obama was a “retard,” and defended her use of the term even when it was later pointed out that it is extremely insulting to the disabled, nevermind utterly disrespectful to the president.

Frankly, I find it hard to believe that the College Republicans are so politically-uninformed that they would be unaware of Coulter’s more-than-controversial statements. Their research excuse suggests either that they are fools or that they assume we are. It simply should not require any research to realize that Coulter’s character is completely irreconcilable with the mission and ideals of Fordham and holds nothing for the future of the

Republican Party.

Additionally, it is disturbing that this is the wing of the Republican Party that the College Republicans chose to embrace. Coulter’s mindset can only lead to disaster for the GOP. Coulter has repeatedly insulted Hispanics, women and young people, groups that are becoming an increasing percentage of the electorate. She advocated abolishing the 26th Amendment, which grants 18-year-olds the right to vote, because “today’s youth are the infantilized, pampered, bicycle-helmeted children of the Worst Generation,” which is Coulter-speak for “liberal.” If the Republican Party hopes to ever win another national election, it must turn away from figures such as Coulter and become more in-

clusive. The College Republicans’ original choice to invite Coulter suggests that this reality escapes them.

While I admire the College Republicans’ response to criticism, their choice to bring Coulter on campus largely deserved its extremely negative reception. I only hope that the College Republicans understand that it is not merely a few freestanding quotes that makes Coulter’s invitation unacceptable, but the entire fiber of her being.

Bigotry is un-Jesuit. If the College Republicans could not figure this out through some research, then they may need a quick Google tutorial.

Canton Winer, FCRH ’15, is an American studies major from West Palm Beach, Fla.

Electoral College Presents Challenge to Democracy

By RORY MASTERSON OPINIONS EDITOR

On Nov. 6, it was projected that President Barack Obama would most likely retain his office over Governor Mitt Romney. It will not be official, however, until Dec. 12, the second Wednesday of the month, when members of the Electoral College meet every four years to cast votes on behalf of their constituents to elect the president.

The Electoral College, which is comprised of all state senators, state representatives and the electors from the District of Columbia, was originally devised to take some of the power away from the more populous states, which receive more representation in Congress.

President Obama won the popular election by over three million votes, sparking a question which seems to enter the public forum each election cycle: Is the Electoral College necessary?

“The Electoral College is a remnant of antiquity,” Christina Kennedy, GBA ’13, said. “It was an institution that was born of necessity when the United States first became a country, but now it seems outdated.”

The Electoral College came to be during a time when it would have been nearly impossible for a popular vote to represent the citizens of this nation properly. Elected officials voting for their districts would have

BRYAN BAER/MCT

Al Gore won the popular vote in the 2000 election for the presidency but lost the electoral vote to George Bush.

been much more practical in the 18th and 19th centuries, when voter fraud and a lack of voter knowledge had the potential to be much more rampant.

In today’s increasingly-connected, technologically-advanced world, however, both of those points can be rendered null. A party platform and a candidate’s ideals are mere clicks away and voter registration and identification has become a tightly-enforced system. Having a representative vote in place of the general populace alienates the very people to whom candidates cater on campaign trails, and some voters may feel as if their vote does not

matter in the long run, causing them to abstain from voting altogether.

A primary argument for the Electoral College is that it requires presidential candidates to spend time in so-called “swing states,” such as Ohio and North Carolina, which take focus away from highly-concentrated urban areas such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. It gets candidates to hold rallies in Colorado and gives great importance to unlikely states such as Iowa.

“The Electoral College brings candidates out of cities and allows them to directly interact with people who drive this country, like farmers and industrial workers,” Laura

Chamberlain, FCRH ’13, said.

Even if the system does encourage politicians to divert focus from the most populous areas of the country, the presence of the Electoral College makes it seem as if the very people rallying us to support them do not trust us. If the phrase “power to the people” is to be believed, the power should be placed more heavily in the hands of those people.

Although a discrepancy between the popular vote and that of the Electoral College has occurred on four occasions in the history of this country, the most notable incident in recent memory took place during the 2000 presidential election.

George W. Bush won the hotly-contested swing state of Florida after several recounts, thus giving him the election over former vice president Al Gore, even though Bush received roughly 500,000 fewer popular votes than Gore.

The aftermath of this election left many people with a bad taste in their mouths, especially concerning the Electoral College process. Bush’s presidency is far too recent to be analyzed objectively from a historical standpoint, but the backlash and anger that much of the country displayed in response calls the system into question.

Given that information on candidates is so readily available, it does not seem fair to allow our elected officials to take away the power that we have as voters. It penalizes a more prepared, more informed population; those who do not want to or are unable to vote can abstain, but those who put time and effort into becoming knowledgeable about politicians, policies and platforms may not be rewarded with a fair return. Congress is there to serve us in so many varied ways, but having them vote in our place cheapens the very ideals upon which this nation was founded. Perhaps we should put the notion of the Electoral College to a popular vote.

Rory Masterson, GSB ’14, is a business administration major from Fort Mill, SC.

PAGE 6• THE RAM • NOVEMBER 14, 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 Tom Haskin Deirdre Hynes Stephanie Kawalski • Leona Lam Tyler Lancaster Francesca Leite • Lauren Manzino Shannon Marcoux Meghan Mulvehill Daniel Murphy Katie Nolan • Anthony Pucik Sara Powers • Andrew Santis Kirsten Simons • Marlessa Stivala 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.

OPINIONS

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From the Desk of Victoria Rau, Managing Editor “I miss you” is one of the phrases that I write, text, say, read and hear most frequently. I’m always missing people. If I’m at school in New York, I miss my family and friends in Minnesota. If I’m home for the holidays, I miss my friends and quasi-family back at Fordham. After five months in South Africa, I can now add friends from there to the list. I still miss it and the people I met there, even nearly half a year removed from the experience.

In a way, I think that the Spanish translation of the phrase “I miss you” conveys its meaning better than the English. Me haces falta, literally “you are lacking to me,” communicates the statement’s bittersweet connotation; it is like saying, “you are a part of me and I feel like I am lacking you.” If there was ever a phenomenon that demonstrated this poignant concurrence of joy and pain, it is the phenomenon of missing — whether it is a person, place or even a way of life that is lacking. The pain comes in waves, punctuated by everyday happenings that prompt memories.

Sometimes, a measure of excitement rounds out these waves if a reunion is forthcoming, but other times we are not so lucky.

The joy, of course, comes most animatedly when we get to reunite with the people and places we love.

I’m convinced that we are

drawn to this type of joy by virtue of the human condition. People do crazy things, travel outlandish distances and endure otherwise-objectionable conditions just they don’t miss someone or something for 36 hours. I am as guilty of seeking that type of joy as anyone. In fact, I write this not from my desk, but from a bus entering its sixth hour on a journey to Boston. By the time I write my final paragraph, 48 hours will have elapsed and I will be on the return trip. The hours I spend on buses this weekend, which I prefer not to count, will be temporary and forgettable in the grand scheme of the weekend, during which I will reunite with several of my good friends from high school.

Accompanying the joy of reunion is the pain of missing something else, usually less noticeable in the context of short visits, but present beneath the surface nonetheless. Returning to something always means leaving something. For example, arriving home from South Africa prompted some of the most mixed emotions I have ever felt. Seeing my parents and returning home after five months was one of the happiest moments I can imagine, yet leaving South Africa, which had become my new home and new “normal,” was one of the most gut-wrenching things I have had to do.

The inherent source of these contradictory emotions is the fact that we cannot be in two places at once. Seeking the adventures and opportunities that ultimately have made me a better person and given me more things and people to miss has required me to leave my comfort zone and miss people along the way. In fact, I don’t think that I would appreciate where I’m from as much as I do if I had never left to live somewhere else, just as I could not fully appreciate my experience in South Africa until I was faced with leaving it behind.

As I near the end of my Fordham experience, I realize that I will soon add this place to my queue of things to miss. Homecoming may make a dent, but I will never be able to reunite fully with Fordham as it is to me now, because what I will really miss is this time in my life. This campus and all of its surroundings are part of it.

What I will miss more, though, is the frame of mind — the uncertainty, the freedom and the intensity of each moment — and the privilege of spending those years at a place like this with the people who helped make my experience what it is. From professors to friends to cafeteria staff to The Ram staff, what matters most is that I knew them during this formative time. If I reunite with these people years from now, it

will not be the same. With my friends, I imagine that it will not be better or worse, just different.

For everyone with whom my relationship is limited to Fordham’s sphere, though, I will have to be content with a memory.

Just as it is ultimately better to feel than to be numb, or to have tried and failed rather than to have failed to act, having something to miss is better than the alternative.

As I lament the fact that I’m always missing something, I have to take a step back and be grateful that I have so much to miss. I’m grateful for every time I have put myself out there and connected with new people or adapted to a new place. Through these experiences I have grown stronger, and missing the people and places associated with them is more a reminder of what has given me strength and will always be a part of me than of what I lack.

Considered in that context, the phrase “I miss you,” or “me haces falta,” is one I hope I can always use frequently.

EDITORIAL: Coulter Backlash Opens Opportunity Inviting Ann Coulter to do a speaking engagement at Fordham was a move in very poor taste by the College Republicans, for all of the reasons cited in the uproar surrounding her visit.

Especially in the wake of several incidents involving hate speech and discrimination on campus last semester, the decision to invite Coulter to espouse her divisive rhetoric in front of an academic audience was regrettable at best.

The student body need not agree with a speaker coming to campus; controversial speakers can challenge students’ ideas and expand their intellectual horizons. Bringing these types of speakers to help spark discourse enriches our intellectual environment.

The virtual storm of discontent voiced by Fordham students in the 24 hours following the initial announcement that Coulter would speak did not reflect mere

disagreement with Coulter’s ideas or principles, but displayed sheer outrage.

Coulter has made a name for herself through inflammatory, attention-seeking statements that do nothing to further intellectual dialogue. The student outcry at the prospect of welcoming her to our University was merited due to the countless insensitive, hateful comments that Coulter has made and will likely continue to make.

We at The Ram are proud that the student body did not passively accept the prospect of her visit, but we also do not support some of the equally-hateful speech used on Facebook and in the Twittersphere to protest Coulter and the incendiary, extreme version of conservatism for which she stands.

Some of the language used in this online debate on social media sites was highly inappropriate, distasteful and unbecoming of

Fordham students. Despite this, we are glad that the response was large and vocal.

As Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, implied in his statement, two wrongs do not make a right. Using hateful language to parry someone who has offended numerous groups with hate speech no more lives up to Fordham’s mission than does inviting Coulter to speak. Regarding McShane’s response to the incident, The Ram’s editorial board agrees with his position that disallowing the Coulter event was not the answer, that “the answer to bad speech is more speech.”

Although we shared in McShane’s profound disappointment with the College Republicans’ decision to use their influence and their share of the student activities fee on such a speaker, we do not support McShane’s method of publicly shaming the student group without first contacting

them privately.

A later statement from McShane praised the College Republicans’ decision (apparently made before his first statement) to rescind the invitation, but the hasty inclination toward public chastisement does not demonstrate appropriate respect for student leaders and groups.

All in all, we are proud of our entire University community, including the College Republicans, for declining to entertain Coulter’s particular brand of “politics” and feel that we can all breathe a deep sigh of relief that we can spend Thursday night, Nov. 29 engaging in a much more pleasant opportunity to join together for a good, common cause: Fordham’s first home men’s basketball game.

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.

Letter to the Editor To The Fordham Community: Just one simple man’s opinion: Nov. 10, 2012 is a sad day for Fordham, but a very good day for censorship and bullying.

I am no fan of Ann Coulter.

However, I think that the College Republicans’ decision to cancel the Coulter event after being publicly humiliated by President McShane was the wrong choice, no matter how disagreeable and controversial she may be.

Apparently (based upon reading the College Republicans’ an-

nouncement in The Observer), President McShane did not reach out directly to the organization before his public statement was issued. This is most regrettable if accurate.

My reading of President McShane’s statement is that it is very thinly-veiled bullying and an assault on the very principles he asserts. The public statement by President McShane treats, by extension, not just the College Republicans, but the entire Fordham student body in a condescending

and demeaning manner. It seems that the statement was meant to let you students know that you are mere children and that you will be humiliated publicly if you step out of line. From my vantage point, the very principles of academic freedom and speech were trampled upon.

President McShane is a very sophisticated communicator and his artfully-crafted statement lets him say that he did not force the cancellation; instead, thank God, clearer thinking prevailed. This is,

of course, most convenient, but based upon the statement, most predictable.

In closing, I quote a private statement of another member of the Fordham alumni community: “This was predictable. The University got the result they were angling for. He went way too far.

The noble thing would have been to show up and question her on her positions.”

Andrew Nargi Fordham College ’77

OPINIONS

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The Left Lane Conor

NOVEMBER 14, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 7

Sodexo Progresses; Work Still Needed

Righter’s Block

Fucci Congress Requires Compromise

John P. Castonguay Incivility Stains Coulter Debate

Well, everyone, the election season has officially ended, and it is back to reality for the United States.

It is time to face the reality that our government is divided internally, and Republicans and Democrats are at each other’s throats. Very little effective legislation has been passed in the Senate or the House.

These problems will come to a head in the next few months, with the appropriately-named “fiscal cliff ” looming and very little being done about it. The fiscal cliff is a term used to describe the effect that certain laws and policies are going to have on the tax burden of the American people and total government spending. This fiscal cliff is, in the most basic terms, a massive combination of spending cuts and tax increases that could potentially cripple the economy.

During the election, politicians were relatively quiet about what they were going to do about the cliff, and what legislation they were going to try to pass in order to steer the country away from the drop. As it stands, the Democrats are not in favor of any sort of large spending cut by the government, particularly in the form of social security or welfare; Republicans are for working to limit the size of the government and managing the deficit that way.

Most importantly, neither party is 100 percent in favor of extreme tax increases for the largest tax base, the middle class.

Recently, however, Obama has announced a plan to increase the taxes on the wealthiest Americans, a move that has been, for the most part, avoided by politicians with the implementation of trickle-down economics. Although there are ideas on the table to help resolve the fiscal cliff, partisanship could be devastating for every citizen of the United States.

House Majority Leader John Boehner announced after the end of the presidential election that he is willing to work with the president and House Democrats to solve the issue of the fiscal cliff. This is all fantastic, but it really does not mean anything, because it has become obvious that the legislative branch can talk the talk, but when it comes down to it, it cannot walk the walk.

Looking at when the federal budget needed to be passed just a few years ago, the gridlock was so severe in the House that there was almost no agreement upon what budget would be passed due to the failures of our two-party system.

Hopefully, in the coming months we will see Congress turn over a new leaf where compromise will finally be acceptable, and both parties will work together to benefit the American people rather than the egos of individuals. The people of the United States deserve better than what they have been receiving; the polarization of political parties has taken us down a path of inaction and self-destruction. This fiscal cliff is the perfect opportunity for the Republican-headed House to show us if it actually has what it takes to move forward through compromise and innovation. Although I am hopeful, I have my doubts.

So, how about Ann Coulter? This past week, Fordham was abuzz with the news that Ann Coulter had been invited to speak on campus by the College Republicans. Due to her controversial, abrasive style and hateful remarks, a protest movement quickly started in an attempt to convince the administration to prevent Coulter from coming. Within 24 hours of the announcement of Coulter’s appearance, Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, issued a statement declaring that he would not prevent the event from taking place. The message stated that Coulter’s appearance should be used as an opportunity to demonstrate the superiority of Fordham’s Jesuit Catholic ideals. McShane did write, however, “To say that I am disappointed with the judgment and maturity of the College Republicans, however, would be a tremendous understatement.”

The College Republicans issued a statement in response, announcing that prior to McShane’s statement, they had decided to rescind the invitation to Coulter. McShane issued a follow-up statement praising the College Republicans for acting quickly, accepting responsibility and expressing regret. He wrote, “[T]he University community, and our extended Fordham family passed the test with flying colors, engaging in impassioned but overwhelmingly-civil debate on politics, academic freedom and freedom of speech.”

Unfortunately, though predictably given the current state of national politics, the debate was far from civil.

The treatment of Ann Coulter and, in a disturbing turn, of the College Republicans, was appalling. Ann Coulter was called a bully, a homophobic bigot, “a vile creature” and worse on the social media pages of Fordham students. Civil discourse would have revealed that many of these labels cannot be factually supported. For example, Coulter is on the Advisory Council for GoProud, a group that represents gay conservatives.

In criticizing her sometimeshateful rhetoric, these students ironically spouted hate of their own. They failed to apply the Jesuit principles that they used to argue against Ann Coulter’s appearance in their treatment of Coulter and the College Republicans. In an exchange typical of the debate over Coulter’s appearance, a liberal student declared that Coulter should have her voicebox removed.

The ensuing exchange involved the words “twat,” “little girl” and “disgusting” in reference to the person with the opposing viewpoint.

This is just one example of the mudslinging to which Fordham students resorted. We should be ashamed that we, as Fordham students, were unable to rise above the level of incivility many ascribe to Coulter and resorted to verbally abusing people of different understandings. Next time you get into a disagreement with someone, think about whether or not the language you use reflects your recognition of their worth and common humanity. Be intolerant of hate in all circumstances, not just from those with whom you disagree. Then we will truly be worthy of McShane’s congratulations.

COURTESY OF SODEXO

Sodexo has made many changes in the Marketplace this year, such as the new make-to-order pasta station.

By DIANA FIGUEROA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Last summer, when the Princeton Review released its annual college rankings, with subjects ranging from campus life and academic life to the social scene and extracurriculars, it came as a shock to some (yet not so much to others) that Fordham University was ranked No. 1 for “Worst Food,” an 18-spot jump from last year. Sodexo Dining Services has been with Fordham for over 30 years and has continuously received criticism, not only from students, but also from the Department of Health.

In 2011, Sodexo was cited for numerous health violations, including mice, roaches, poor food storage and even miscellaneous items found in students’ food, from thumb tacks to grasshoppers.

While students continue to voice their distasteful opinions toward the food, putting Fordham’s dining and hospitality service in jeopardy, Sodexo still aims to make changes to improve the quality of food and to make the student’s dining experiences more pleasurable.

The beginning of the 20122013 academic year began with some nuanced changes to the dining services. The deli was moved from the inside of the cafeteria to the outside, near the seating area, to make room for a new station Fordham waited to unveil: the Tex-Mex station.

Since the Tex-Mex’s opening, Sodexo has continued to add more variety to the established stations, something that students have been requesting since their first steps into the five eateries on campus. Students’ options are growing: Some stations have expanded, and some, like the pasta station, have been modified to improve quality further.

“I can taste the food getting

better as they continue to add variety,” Vanessa Jovel, FCRH ’15, said. “But I can’t expect too much. You can still see the effort, though and that counts for something.”

Nick Lopresto, FCRH ’15, has also noticed the changes and now “sees more food in the Caf than ever. The quality of food and especially the way they present it to us are a lot better than before.”

Additions like the new flavored water station, however, have not received as much praise from students. A few have said that they would rather have better food “than fancier water.” Besides these modifications, the Marketplace in particular has been trying to change its appearance in order to appeal more to students.

More advertisements and decorations have been placed on the walls and within the eatery, yet some feel these types of changes are insignificant compared to the quality of the food served on their plates.

Natalie Galarza, FCRH ’15, a student involved in the Student Culinary Council (SCC), says that the “decorations are pointless when they should be focusing on the quality of the food instead. I don’t want to be questioning whether or not a decoration put up, like the beans in the vase, are for me to eat or just stare at when I eat.”

The SCC is a student-run organization that holds events, committees, fundraisers and cooking classes to help improve Fordham’s overall dining experience. The SCC has already held two farmer’s markets with Fordham’s new agricultural garden, St. Rose’s Garden, in order to show Sodexo’s improvement in terms of locally-grown produce, sustainability and nutrition.

“Food should taste more delicious and nutritious than before, so that students can actually enjoy their food and aren’t eating

just to eat,” Galarza said in response.

Advertisements now show whether different items in the cafeteria are organic, glutenfree or vegetarian. Sodexo has received praise, as students feel that their needs are now getting acknowledged and provided for more so than ever.

Furthormore, Sodexo has often been criticized in the past for being indifferent towards students when serving food. Students have seen improvements with the servers’ attitudes and approaches toward the students.

“They seem to care more about my well-being now,” Jovel said. “A smile says a lot.”

Some students, however, have said this is just a façade, and that because of the low ranking, they are being forced to put on a smile.

“I see no difference in how they are now than they were before,” Jennie Ramirez, FCRH ’14, said.

“They still need to work on listening to the students better.”

Galarza said. “Sometimes they do, other times they don’t. They have to focus more on giving the students what they want, all the time.”

Quality, variety and nutrition are some of the most-noted changes that students have seen.

While such steps are small, students would agree that small changes are better than no changes at all. It will take some time for Sodexo and its dining service to reach Bowdoin College’s level of “Best Campus Food,” but the adjustments, for the most part, are positive and have been enjoyed by the student body.

It will not be long until students are faced with bigger changes that will ultimately help to boost Fordham’s national rankings.

Diana Figueroa, FCRH ’15, is a communication and media studies major from New York, NY.

Do you have an opinion about anything in The Ram? Write us a Letter to the Editor.

E-mail us at: fordhamramletters@gmail.com

PAGE 8• THE RAM • NOVEMBER 14, 2012

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NOVEMBER 14, 2012• THE RAM • PAGE 9

Voter ID Law Criticism Is Misleading and Misguided

By PATRICK MULLEN STAFF WRITER

Many students got to vote in this past election for their very first time, and perhaps only registered to vote recently.

Nowadays, one cannot mention voting without mentioning the numerous instances of proposed legislation that would require voters to have a photo ID with them.

These laws, almost unanimously proposed by Republicans, have been criticized as attempts to hinder two typically-liberal demographics: minorities and students.

Are these claims reasonable?

Can something that will be applied equally to all races and creeds really be considered unjust?

In states that have had these laws passed, voting has been an issue, particularly for students trying to vote in the state where they are attending college. While it would seem that a photo ID could be easily obtained by someone fortunate enough to go to college, this has nonetheless been the subject of much controversy and debate.

Currently, four states (all of which are traditional red states) require photo IDs to vote, with many others having the option to ask to see one. In these states, an ID issued by a state university is valid, but an ID issued by a private university is not. Many students who do not have a driver’s license are unsure of what to do. If these laws were to be passed in the state of New York, where many people in the city do

not drive, it would cause additional problems.

According to Nick Grossbard, FCRH ’15, if these laws are to be in place, it is only fair that states provide free photo IDs. Otherwise, he notes, requiring someone to buy an ID could be considered a poll tax.

While the New Jersey resident was hesitant to say the intent was to take away votes for the Democratic Party, he admitted that was often the result.

In contrast, Samuel Martin, FCRH ’14, said that many of the criticisms of these laws are “totally unreasonable.” He said that proving you are who you say you are is considered the norm in just about every democracy, pointing to similar laws throughout Europe.

With all the debating over the constitutionality of these laws, it is sometimes easy to forget why these are being put in place: voter fraud.

The numbers actually show in-person voter fraud to be fairly rare, but as the politicians proposing these laws say, it can be easily carried out in many states. Considering this, while voter ID laws can be a good thing, it is still reasonable to question their necessity.

The ethics and the validity of these laws, however, should not be questioned. Republicans who propose and support these laws have been accused of being racist, but many have fired right back at Democrats, citing that it is inherently racist to believe that certain races are able to obtain photo IDs but not others.

Though perhaps not the most effective rhetoric, it does bring up an interesting point. These laws are applied equally to people of all races, ages and backgrounds. It is quite possible that a wealthy man or woman does not have a valid photo ID and would have to buy one. It is unfortunate for poor individuals if they must buy an ID, but it is a harsh reality.

In addition to this, if we look at this past election, these laws do not seem to be creating any change.

Sure, they may affect small numbers, but the Democrats who have been objecting to these laws have

seen tremendous results in the presidential election and in the race for the Senate. While voter fraud is certainly not the reason the Republicans lost these races, voter ID laws did not have an anti-Democrat impact on the states that have them.

It should be noted that photo IDs are a necessity for instances other than voting. To buy alcohol, one needs to have a photo ID. Are we truly more concerned over a twenty year-old buying alcohol than someone stealing a vote? Many times, when someone buys something with a credit card, he or she must show ID. It is not necessarily

because the cashier thinks the person is stealing from someone else, but just to make sure of the person’s identity. If photo ID laws were put into effect by all states, it would be used in a similar fashion.

People need to realize that these laws are not being put in place to disenfranchise anyone, but instead to make sure nobody’s voting opportunity is stolen by someone else. These laws are not destroying democracy, as some are claiming, but they remain consistent with the rest of our country’s laws.

Patrick Mullen, FCRH ’15, is an English major from Delafield, WI.

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH ZANGHI / THE RAM

Many states have passed controversial voter ID laws, which require voters to present photo ID in order to cast a ballot.

Airline Travel Is Becoming More Difficult, Less Affordable

By GIRISH SWAMINATH STAFF WRITER

Airline travel has recently become more of a nuisance than a convenience, particularly in the past decade, and as Thanksgiving break approaches, many students are likely to take notice.

In addition to inconveniences, such as security screening policies (arguably bordering on violating constitutional rights to bodily privacy) and excruciatingly long check-in lines, passengers are annoyed at having to pay higher ticket prices in this era of economic recession and skyrocketing fuel costs. As a result, they

subconsciously develop higher expectations for customer service from airline companies and tend to react especially poorly when faced with unsatisfactory service by airline employees.

While economic conditions force airlines to raise their prices, airlines are afraid to lose out on customers altogether. Therefore, they resort to sly marketing tactics, like lowering the prices of airline tickets while increasing numerous “hidden” fees. For instance, passengers are charged to check bags with most airlines. Passengers are also charged for food and drink services and for sitting in window seats, which were complimentary

until the rise in fuel costs. A more extreme case would be Spirit Airlines’ recent announcement that it plans to charge up to $100 for carry-on bags, due to the lack of storage space in overhead bins, even though ticket prices are abnormally below market value.

Airlines like Spirit attempt to create a perception in the minds of their customers that they are saving money by purchasing seats on their flights. This ploy results in other airline corporations outdoing one another, fighting for customers by lowering their fares.

This phenomenon, in addition to the rising prevalence of hidden fees, makes these fees no longer

WILLIAM DESHAZER/MCT

Even as actual ticket costs have dropped, additional hidden fees have risen exponentially over recent years.

hidden. Passengers increasingly understand the existence of such fees by adding the total amount of hidden fees to the advertised fare. They are aware of the deceptive marketing tactics used by airline companies and are no longer as likely to purchase the lowest priced fare.

In order to avoid the complications of adding in “hidden” fees, about which customers are now knowledgeable, airlines should stop charging these so-called hidden fees. Relieving the bargainhunting customer of the pain of recalculating airline fees in order to determine the least-expensive option is the smallest courtesy airlines can provide. Charging higher ticket fees upfront would be perfectly acceptable, as customers recognize the necessity for the companies to do so during tough economic times. When a customer pays for an airline ticket, however, he or she should expect complimentary services, including baggage check-in, baggage carry-on and food and drink, especially during long-distance flights.

Airlines are obligated to provide quality customer service to their passengers even though it might mean higher ticket prices. Charging for mediocre, small-scale basic services gives the airline industry a detrimental reputation of being brutally dishonest to its customers.

Not only do hidden fees reflect upon the dishonesty of the airline corporations for the sake of higher profits, but they are also ridiculously difficult to deal with

for people like college students.

Students, whether or not their parents financially support them, tend to have limited money in their bank accounts to pay for hidden fees when necessary. It is only fair that airline companies charge all fees upfront during the reservation process. Speaking from personal experience, for the sake of avoiding extra baggage fees, students must leave behind or donate additional items that they originally planned on carrying with them and re-pack their suitcases.

“I don’t think that [baggage fees] are required at all,” James Flanagan, FCRH ’14, said. “While they dissuade people from bringing an excess of items, airlines could at least improve their services overall to match the amount of fees [customers] pay.”

Though some students are frustrated with the situation of hidden air travel fees, others seem indifferent towards the presence of hidden fees. “[Airlines] haven’t lost any of my bags yet, and since I haven’t had a negative experience yet as far as bags go, I don’t mind the hidden fees,” Katherine Oberhelman, FCRH ’14, said. “There’s better competition due to the extra money coming into the industry. JetBlue rose in popularity over the past decade, bringing in better features such as more legroom and a better variety of snacks. So I guess it’s beneficial.”

Girish Swaminath, FCRH ’14, is a biology major from Monte Sereno, Calif.

PAGE 10 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER 14, 2012

OPINIONS

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Gay Priest Presents Opportunity for Catholic Church

By PATRICK MAROUN STAFF WRITER

Last month, Italian priest Don Mario Bonfanti shook the Catholic Church on Coming Out Day when he announced that he was gay. This situation obviously presents a potential dilemma for an institution like the Church. More importantly, however, it presents an important opportunity for the Catholic community to live up to its promises of love.

It is time to move past the kind of empty rhetoric that we have all experienced this election cycle and truly begin to love our neighbors.

That means loving them for who they really are, not who we believe they should be.

When asked to comment on Bonfanti’s announcement, Paul Ross, FCRH ’15, said, “It doesn’t bug me at all. I see nothing wrong with it.”

David Emami, GSB ’15, shared a similar sentiment.

“I’m okay with it,” he said. “Is he a good priest?”

Emami is right to be more concerned with Bonfanti’s performance as a priest. If Bonfanti is being a good spiritual leader for the members of his congregation, then that is all that matters. Furthermore, I challenge my fellow Catholics to evaluate and potentially amend their definitions of what a good spiritual leader does.

A good spiritual leader empowers the members of his or her community to be who they really are.

“When you go to talk to [any other] priest, [presumably] he’s attracted to women, so there’s no real difference talking to a priest who is attracted to men, as long as his life is devoted to God,” Marc Alibrandi, FCRH ’15, said.

While it is true that Bonfanti does not act upon his sexual attraction to men, which ultimately means he is not sinning, Catholics should reject this defense of Bonfanti in favor of a better, more loving one. Bonfanti, and every other homosexual man or woman for that matter is a person, and they too are created in God’s image and have human dignity. One hundred twenty years of Catholic social thought is based on the idea that human dignity is bestowed by God, yet we deny members of the LBGT community their full humanity. We deny them the ability to be fully themselves. There is no justice in that.

One of my personal mentors, who just so happens to be gay, once told me “Gay people have two birthdays; the one when they came into this world, and the one when they become who they really are.”

That really resonated with me, and I hope that it does with you too. As a straight man, I am afforded the ability to be who I am without fear of stigma or rejection, but not everyone lives with the same comfort that I do.

“There’s no reason that him being gay and him being a priest have to be mutually exclusive,” Ross said. And there is no reason to say

ERIC SEALS/MCT

Italian Catholic priest Don Mario Bonfanti used Coming Out Day to announce publicly that he is gay on Facebook.

that being gay and being a Catholic have to be mutually exclusive.

With that, I want to reinforce the call for love in the Catholic Church.

In order to truly love someone, you have to step outside of yourself.

We cannot continue to hold other

people to our own personal understanding of what is “natural,” because what feels natural to us may not to someone else. We must welcome members of the LBGT community as who they are, and not only as who we wish for them to be.

Just as in art, the beauty of our society and our world is a product of all of the different and great people in it, and the contrast that they create.

Patrick Maroun, FCRH ’15, is a theology and political science major from Norwood, Mass.

Are your friends really tired of hearing you complain?

Write for The Ram’s opinions section.

E-mail us at: fordhamramopinions@gmail.com

This holdiay, count your blessings and pray for those affected by the hurricane.

The Ram wishes you a happy Thanksgiving!

Note: There will be no issue of The Ram next week, due to the holiday.

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PAGE 12 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER 14, 2012

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FamilyWeekendatFordham Photos takenandcompiledbyElizabethZanghi

PAGE 1• THE RAM • NOVEMBER 14, 2012

WINTER PREVIEW

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Women’s Basketball Will Lean on Upperclassmen MATT ROSENFELD ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

It is that time of year again: basketball season. After a disappointing 12-18 season last year, the Fordham women’s basketball team has high aspirations heading into this year’s campaign.

The Rams finished 12th in the Atlantic 10 last season, good enough for a berth to the A-10 championship tournament, in which they were eliminated by St. Joseph’s.

Heading into the new year, the Rams biggest task will be replacing guard Becky Peters, a thousand point scorer in her career at Fordham and senior leader of the team last year.

“We didn’t just lose a great scorer in Becky,” Head Coach Stephanie Gaitley, who is now in her second year at Fordham, said.

“We lost a great leader and a great kid, but I think the kids replacing her will give us more depth.”

The players that are tasked with replacing that production are three additions to this year’s squad.

Redshirt junior Erin Rooney joins the team this year after sitting out a year as per NCAA transfer rules.

Rooney transferred to Fordham last year from Monmouth University in New Jersey. She started all 33 games for Monmouth in the 2010-11 season and was named Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year. She will be a starting guard for the Rams heading into their forthcoming season.

Another new talent in the Bronx is Samantha Clark. The highly-touted recruit from Neptune, N.J. committed to Fordham last winter and is expected to make a big impact in her first year on campus.

Clark amassed many honors in her career at St. Rose High School. She was named a top-100 recruit, No. 21 at her position (forward) by ESPN, selected as a

Track Looks to Continue Indoor Success RYAN SCANLON STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM

Junior Abigail Corning is one of the main upperclassmen on whom Fordham will rely during the 2012-13 season.

McDonald’s All-American honorable mention last year and was a finalist for the 2012 Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year.

“Sam is young, but she is really smart,” Coach Gaitley said.

“Something you cannot teach is having a feel for the game, and she has a high basketball IQ. Plus, she can score and is a very intelligent defender. I see her getting major minutes this year.”

Finally, transfer graduate student from the University of South Carolina Marah Strickland will join the Rams after sitting out a year. Strickland started her career at the University of Maryland.

Named the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year coming out of high school, she joined the Terrapins in 2007-08. In her year at Maryland, Strickland was named an Atlantic Coast Conference

All-Freshmen honorable mention pick and was second in the ACC in three-point shooting.

Strickland then landed at South Carolina, where she played in about half of their games in the 2010-11 season before leaving for Rose Hill.

Now finding herself in the Bronx, her talent gives her the opportunity to be a big contributor to the Fordham offense.

“Marah gives us good size and good length,” Coach Gaitley said.

“She is an outstanding shooter.

She’ll be one of the top shooters in the Atlantic 10. So with Marah, you get instant offense.”

That is not the only thing the 25-year-old brings to the program. Being the oldest and most experienced player on the team, Strickland will also be taking a leadership role this year for the

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH ZANGHI/THE RAM

Graduate Student Marah Strickland is a transfer who brings a lot of experience to the Fordham team.

Rams.

“I’m a little bit older, being a graduate student,” Strickland said. “So I am definitely hoping to bring a lot of leadership and experience to the table. Being able to play with a lot of great players at my other schools and seeing the leadership there, I’m excited to bring some of that here.”

Experience is one thing that Fordham has this year.

Coming off of a year in which they only had one senior, the Rams expect to start all upperclassmen, bringing back four of their five starters from last year, including senior guard Arielle Collins, the team’s leading scorer last year.

Strickland and Rooney, along with junior guard Abigail Corning are the captains of this year’s team. Having two juniors as captains, along with four seniors on the roster, provides Fordham with a strong group of leaders.

Fordham was picked 11th in the Atlantic 10 preseason rankings. The below-average position in the conference is one the Rams are hoping to exceed this season.

“I picked us sixth,” Coach Gaitley said. “I think we’re going to be in the middle of the pack and I wouldn’t be shocked if we were at Barclays Center for the [A-10] Championship game. But for that to happen, things have to break your way. We need to be injuryfree, we have to be putting it together at the right time and there is so much parity in the Atlantic 10 that anybody can beat anybody.”

The Rams have already started their season and are currently undefeated. Fordham opened the season by revenging last year’s opening game loss with a 60-43 win at Albany. They continued their success on Sunday in Ithaca, N.Y. with a 58-50 defeat of Cornell.

Fordham’s next game will be their home opener on Sunday, Nov. 18 when they host Delaware State.

The Fordham men’s track team came off an impressive campaign last winter, finishing third overall in the Atlantic 10 Conference with a number of All-Conference honors and terrific performances at the IC4A Championships.

Key athletes who will not be competing this winter (due to graduating or redshirting) are Julian Saad (school record holder in 3,000-m run), Kevin Fitzgerald (defending A-10 champ in 1,000m run) and Nick Delligatti (senior leader and staple on Fordham’s 4x400-m relay).

Still, many pieces are returning to the men’s side. Junior David Fajoyomi, a native of Hungary, had an exceptional season high jumping last winter, winning the conference by clearing 6’10”.

Fellow junior Sam Houston is also returning as the school record holder in the heptathlon.

His overall versatility makes him a strong All-Conference contender this season after barely missing the cut last year.

The Fordham 4x800 relay has been a dominating presence in the Atlantic 10 in recent memory, winning its fourth-straight conference title a season ago. The Rams will again look to taste victory in this relay.

Notable athletes who take part in this effort include senior John Cosgrove, junior Ryan Polo, senior Mike Rossi, sophomore Danny Green and senior Sean Atkinson.

Newcomers include crosscountry standout freshman Mike Turi, who will concentrate on the one mile or possibly the 3,000-m run.

The women’s team did not share the same success as the men last season, but did have some bright spots and will look to capitalize on its strengths this coming season.

Key departures on the women’s side include Kelly Connolly, who will be missed, as she provided a solid leg in the women’s 4x800-m relay and placed well in the 500-m run throughout the season.

One key returnee is junior Titi Fagade, who earned second team All-Conference for her efforts in the 500-m run. She will certainly look to challenge for the conference title in whatever middle distance event she is called on to run.

Junior Courtnay Newman also provides strength in the field events with her high-jumping prowess, which landed her just short of All-Conference honors last year.

The women’s 4x400 team broke the school record during this past outdoor season and will look to return to form with a possible new runner to replace graduate Elisabeth Warren.

Fagade should be featured in that relay along with sophomore Melissa Higgins and junior Averie Sheppard.

Fordham kicks off indoor season with a home meet on Friday, Dec. 7 in the Lombardi Fieldhouse.

WINTER PREVIEW

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NOVEMBER 14, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 2

Chris Gaston Looking to Cement Legacy in Final Season

By CHESTER BAKER SPORTS EDITOR

Although senior power forward Chris Gaston will be attracting some NBA scouts to Rose Hill Gym this season, Fordham’s big man is staying focused on the task at hand this season.

“I’m expecting a lot, I want to make the tournament, I want to win a lot of games,” Gaston said. “I want to do what I came to do as a freshman.”

The time for the New Jersey native to accomplish all of his goals as a Ram is quickly expiring, as he comes into this season with just a few months remaining in his collegiate basketball career.

Gaston, who entered the year as the school’s 11th all-time leading scorer with 1,428 points, has been pivotal in the rebuilding process for the Rams.

The 2012 Preseason All-Atlantic 10 pick has been a key factor in every Fordham highlight over the last two years, putting up 18 points in the win over No. 22 Harvard last season, as well as having a doubledouble in the team’s upset of St. Johns in 2011.

Following a dismal freshman season in which his team won only two games, Gaston has seen Fordham make marked improvements since the introduction of Head Coach Tom Pecora, who led the Rams to seven wins in 2010-11 and 10 wins last year. To ensure the continuation of the program’s newfound success, Gaston spent

hours in the gym over the summer in the hopes of becoming a more pure shooter.

“I’m doing a lot of things different this year,” Gaston said. “[Coach Pecora] has me picking and popping more. So it’s expanding my game. I’m going to shoot a lot of jump shots, it’s going to be a whole different game. I added a new jump shot to my repertoire, so that’s going to be big for the team.”

Developing into a stronger player away from the basket will allow Gaston to spend more time away from the paint, making it harder for teams to double team him down low.

Fordham’s main attraction scored 19 points in the team’s season-opening loss to Texas State.

Gaston was stifled by Pittsburgh, who limited him to four points on Monday, Nov. 4. The power forward got somewhat back on track when playing Robert Morris yesterday, Nov. 13, putting up 11 points.

The number of quality guards Fordham boasts, such as junior Brendan Frazier, sophomore Brian Smith, redshirt sophomore Jeff Short and others, will also allow Gaston to improve his skills as a floor general.

“I have more of a role dribbling it and kicking to a guard who’s going to knock it down,” Gaston said. “Everybody’s been working all summer, knocking shots down, so I’m very confident in the guards that they are going to maintain that and keep it going in the sea-

son.”

As one of only two seniors on the roster, along with guard Khaleed Robinson, Gaston will be asked to lead Fordham to a successful year. He has been sure to learn from previous leaders such as Kervin Bristol and Alberto Estwick.

“They were vocal guys during practice,” Gaston said. “I feel like I’m an assistant coach on the floor.

I’m going to be like the coach on the floor and that makes the game easier.”

It has not always been easy for Gaston, however, as he was benched at times last season for violating team rules. Pecora will be looking for the 6’7” forward to step up as a captain of the team.

“He can’t have those silly little things, and they’re not bad things, they’re not violent things, they’re just immature, silly, little things,” Pecora said. “He realizes it’s not about numbers. The only number that matters is the number of wins.

To put a stamp on his career here as a successful one he needs to be a leader as we turn the corner and find a way to have a winning season.”

While Gaston attempts to become the first Fordham player taken in the NBA Draft since Ken Charles, who was taken by the Boston Braves in the 1973 draft, the senior will be looking to cement his legacy on the Rose Hill campus.

“I want to be remembered as a tough competitor, a hard worker

every day,” Gaston said. “I just want to be remembered as a great guy. Everybody says a Fordham man is something you want to be and I want to be a Fordham man.”

In his final season at Fordham, now is the time for the senior to

put the Rams on his back, while preparing the younger members of the team for the future.

Gaston will have his chance to do that this season, as he tries to lead the Rams back to postseason play.

RAM ARCHIVES

Gaston has averaged 14.8 points per game in his three years at Fordham.

Squash Hoping to Continue Steady Improvement

By MAX PRINZ STAFF WRITER

RAM ARCHIVES

The squash team was ranked No. 45 in the nation in pre-season polls.

The Fordham squash team has its home opener on Dec. 1 when the Rams take on Virginia, NYU and Navy. The triple-header will be the first of three home dates for the Rams, who will have five matches in the Bronx. These matches will be of great importance to this team, which has five seniors. The team has just 10 players, so experience will certainly be a driving force in the Rams’ 2012 campaign.

The squash team is coached by Bryan Patterson, who enters his third season at Fordham. Coach Patterson was born in England and attended St. John’s College in Yorkshire.

Before arriving to coach the Rams, Patterson served as the squash director for CitySquash, an after-school enrichment program based at Fordham. Patterson played on the professional circuit, rising as high as 16th in the world rankings. Most of his coaching experience comes from organizing national teams. Patterson managed the U.S. U13, 15, 17 and 19 squads from 1995-99.

Patterson has been integral in turning the Fordham squash program around. He coached the Rams to eight wins in 2010-2011, and moved their ranking up eight spots to 47th. The Rams finished 5-13 a year ago and continued their rise in the rankings, finishing 46th. The program looks to move even closer to the 40th spot in

the rankings this season, and will have experience on its side with its large senior contingent.

Three of the five seniors on the team are serving as tri-captains this year. Alex Williams, Jack O’Brien and Ethan Brooks will lead the team in their final year at Fordham. All three were key contributors a season ago.

Williams was one of only two players to play in all 18 matches last year. He was a versatile player, contributing from the fourth to the seventh slot in the lineup and compiling six wins. Williams was also honored at Fordham’s Breakfast for Champions for academic excellence.

O’Brien was also very important to the Rams success last season, as he played between the first and third slots. He contributed to a big win in the College Squash Association Team Championship when he defeated Cole Rochon of Bryant University. Brooks rounds out the senior leadership for the Rams. Brooks was a constant in the lineup last season, and played between the fifth and eighth slots.

Brooks played a key role in the Rams’ victory over nationallyranked NYU when he defeated Ramy Toma in straight sets, and he was also honored at Fordham’s Breakfast for Champions along with Williams. They will certainly look to build upon last year and improve Fordham’s already promising future. Patterson is most excited about Fordham’s potential this year.

“Fordham is a university that is

on the up and has a plan for the next five years,” Patterson said.

“This is a terrific university with a beautiful campus and great academic standards.”

This season’s most exciting matchup will come against Vassar.

Fordham and Vassar have played several close matches, facing each other many times over the last couple of seasons. Last season, the Rams faced off against Vassar twice, winning the road match while dropping the home one.

This year, Vassar appears on the schedule twice yet again, and both are critical matches for the Rams.

“Vassar are our local rivals and we are always looking to win,” Patterson said.

NYU, another local rival, appears twice on the Rams’ schedule for this season. The Rams were able to defeat NYU 7-2 in the only meeting between the schools last season. This year, NYU will travel to the Bronx twice to play the Rams. NYU starts the season ranked 52nd, so both matches will be key for the Rams as they try to continue their move up the rankings.

The CSA ranks the Rams 45th in its pre-season rankings, which makes Fordham one of 12 schools that have moved up from the end of last season. The program has been built from within, and seniors Williams, O’Brien and Brooks are perfect examples of this. This season, Fordham will rely on the experience of their talented seniors as the team continues to set its sights higher.

PAGE 3• THE RAM • NOVEMBER 14, 2012

WINTER PREVIEW

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Men’s Basketball Will Rely on Young Talent

By DAN GARTLAND SPORTS EDITOR

If there is one word that can summarize this season’s Fordham men’s basketball team, it is ‘youth.’

Seven of the 15 players on the Rams roster have never played in a college game, but the team is deceptively experienced. Four starters from last year’s team are back this season, including Preseason First Team All-Atlantic 10 forward senior Chris Gaston. Junior Branden Frazier and sophomore Bryan Smith — Fordham’s second and third leading scorers last season — will be counted on to lead the backcourt.

Gaston, Frazier and Smith were joined in the starting lineup for the season opener against Texas State by freshmen Jermaine Myers (at point guard) and Travion Leonard (at center). Freshman forward Ryan Rhoomes and redshirt freshman guard Jeffery Short also saw plenty of action.

Fordham head coach Tom Pecora knows that with so many young players, he will have to rely on the ones who have collegiate experience.

“A lot of the freshmen got a lot of minutes last year, so they’re seasoned veterans,” he said. “That’s what I’m referring to them as and I’m trying to convince them of that. I think some nights we’re still going to show our youth, but it puts a lot more of a burden on Chris as a senior and Branden Frazier as a junior to play a lot. Those

two are going to be on the floor quite a bit.”

Frazier is well aware that he and Gaston will be thrust into leadership roles.

“It’s about going out there and just showing them what to do on the floor, just setting a good example on the defensive end, on the offensive end and even off the court,” he said. “We should be a role model to them. That’s just the biggest part, because overall they know how to play the game, they just have to learn the experience, and that’s what me and Chris have.

We’re just trying to pass it on.”

This is Pecora’s third season at Fordham. Prior to his arrival, the Rams were one of Division I’s worst teams, but they have made significant progress under his guidance. Last season, Fordham won 10 games for the first time since the 2007-08 season. The Rams still finished last in the A-10 for the fourth consecutive year, but their three conference wins were more than they had in the previous three years combined. This season, the team hopes to get back to the A-10 tournament for the first time since 2008.

“The young guys are learning from us and they want to win just as much as we do,” Gaston said.

“Everybody’s out here trying to win, that’s the mindset here. Everybody wants to win and move on to the [A-10] tournament.”

Qualifying for the conference tournament will be a little tougher this year, as the A-10 welcomes

VCU and Butler. The addition brings the number of teams in the conference to 16, but, as in previous years, only 12 will qualify for the tournament.

Perhaps Fordham’s biggest challenge will be playing 10 of its 13 non-conference games on the road. Last season, Fordham struggled away from the Rose Hill Gym, going 1-13 in road games. This

year, Fordham will play a whopping 20 away games.

According to Pecora, the roadheavy schedule is a result of “cleaning up old contracts,” reciprocating on the home-and-home arrangements with schools like Texas State, Georgia Tech and Harvard, who all came to Rose Hill last season but will host the Rams this year. Pecora called the schedule

“too tough,” but still believes his team has a chance to succeed.

“With the exception of the schedule being a little heavy, I think the talent is in here for us to win some games,” he said. “If we can ‘get them old,’ so to speak, basketball experience-wise, then I think we can have some success. I think this young, talented group is going to be alright.”

RAM ARCHIVES

Branden Frazier is the only junior on Fordham’s roster and will be counted on to lead a young Fordham backcourt.

Swimming and Diving Looks to Improve on Strong 2011-12 Season

By TIM DEROCHER STAFF WRITER

The NCAA swimming and diving season is a long one. It started back on Oct. 20 for the Rams and continues through late February with the Atlantic 10 Championships, and then on to the NCAA Championships in late March.

The expectations for the Rams this season are relatively high with the women having finished second at the A-10s last year and the men

in fifth place.

Key upperclassmen returning for the men are seniors Devon Morris and Thomas Yi and junior Shintaro Noguchi. The women also have plenty of older talent returning with seniors Alana Biagioli, Brienne Ryan and Kellie Lyver attempting to lead a team that is heavy with freshmen and sophomores.

As a team and a school the ultimate goal for the season is to place as high as possible as a group at the

A-10s in Geneva, Ohio this February. As Head Coach Steve Potsklan puts it, “The end result is the one I’m most concerned with.”

Knowing that, it is only appropriate to examine how these swimmers performed at A-10s last year to see what we are in for this season. While numbers can lie, and previous performances do not mean anything in the present, if last year’s A-10 performances mean anything, then they can only count for good with this talented

PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM

The Fordham women finished second in the Atlantic 10 Championships last season, while the men took fifth.

group of athletes.

The trio of Morris, Yi and Noguchi account for two first-team performances, two second-team performances, three school records and one A-10 record at the Championships last year.

The women live up to a similar standard, a standard that probably would have been higher if it were not for the outright spectacular performance of former Ram swimmer Courtney Collyer at the last A-10s. Still, Ryan is a first-team performer with with three school records at the A-10s. This, accompanied by Lyver and Biagioli’s membership in multiple second teams and school-record-setting relay teams, makes up a pretty solid resume from six returning swimmers.

As proven by the performances of this year’s team thus far, having a few good swimmers will not win you an A-10 Championship, and it would be unjust not to mention the depth that the Rams displayed during last year’s season that helped secure the results it did. The Rams have plenty of talent returning for this season. This long list of individuals accounted for plenty of performances and accolades won in the form of A-10 Performer of the Week and Rookie of the Week awards.

The dual meets consist of most of the buildup in the swimming and diving season. Last season the women compiled a 9-2 record at these meets, while the men came into the championship season

with a 3-8 record. The women will be looking to keep up that kind of season in search of their second A-10 title since the 2009-10 season, which they so narrowly missed out by placing second in both the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. The men will be looking to improve upon last year’s decent performance. These goals could be accomplished with an interesting mix of senior leadership and freshman talent.

“We have a lot of freshmen, we’re very young as a team even though we have some super talent returning,” Potsklan said.

Between the incoming freshmen and guidance of athletes such as Brienne Ryan, it is fair to say it should be interesting to see how this season plays out.

We have already seen some of this dynamic in action, early action though it may be. So far this season, the men have put together a 2-3 dual meet record while the women have gone 3-2. The Rams also put together some impressive swims at the Princeton Invitation just this past weekend.

The second half of the pre-conference season sees Fordham competing in eight more dual meets for the men and nine more for the women. Many of these teams, and therefore other swimmers, are from A-10 schools, so these will be great chances to see how the Rams and their competition perform on the small scale before they are brought up to the larger stage of the Atlantic 10 Championships.

NOVEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 13

Celebrities Lend Hands to Victims of Hurricane Sandy

By ALYSSA CARMUSCIANO STAFF WRITER

With winds gusting up to 80 miles per hour and millions of people losing power, Internet, phone service and even their homes, the entire East Coast was greatly impacted by Hurricane Sandy, possibly the most destructive storm to hit the tri-state area in recent years. Thankfully, Fordham only lost some trees and Internet service for a few days. Other parts of the Northeast, however, were not as lucky. A time like this calls for action and support among citizens of the East Coast.

Many celebrities were also directly impacted by the storm. Katie Holmes and her daughter Suri were forced to evacuate from their NYC apartment and relocate to a nearby hotel after they lost power and water.

In addition, Jason Segel, Michelle Williams and Williams’ daughter Matilda experienced flooding in the ground floor of their apartment building and were also forced to relocate.

Even members of the entertainment industry who did not have to evacuate were greatly affected by the devastation and began to pitchin. A day after the storm, Ben Stiller was spotted in Brooklyn serving breakfast to hungry families at a local shelter.

Lady Gaga, who grew up in New York City, donated $1 million to

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Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake distributed relief backpacks for three-and-a-half hours alongside fellow celeb Timbaland.

the American Red Cross. New York athletes also ventured to the different boroughs to donate food, clothing and supplies to the local shelters and to assist in the cleanup.

This past weekend, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel visited hurricane victims in Far Rockaway, Queens, which was one of the most severly damaged areas.

“Taking in the devastation caused

by Hurricane Sandy ... my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone that was affected,” Timberlake tweeted on Nov. 1.

Celebrities are hosting television specials and benefits to shed light on the extent of the devasta-

tion and to encourage people from around the country to donate money and supplies to those who lost everything.

The cast of “Jersey Shore” is teaming up with Architecture for Humanity for a special benefit called “Restore the Shore” this Thursday, Nov. 15. They will collect donations that will go towards rebuilding the parts of the Jersey Shore that were destroyed by the hurricane.

Also, on the Friday after the hurricane, NBC showed a special concert that brought together many famous artists including Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi

and Christina Aguilera to benefit the relief effort and to also lift the spirits of those greatly affected by the storm.

So, how can we help the victims?

Fordham is also calling on its students to take part in the hurricane relief effort in many ways.

Conor O’Kane, the associate director of campus ministry, encourages students to participate using four key points: pray in solidarity, donate immediately, act and support.

“If there is anybody in our Fordham community who is in need of support, we ask them to contact campus ministry or give us their

name, and we’ll be happy to reach out to them,” O’Kane said.

According to O’Kane, donations of money, goods and, very importantly, our time are at a premium.

“We are partnering with five different agencies: Catholic charities in Brooklyn, Queens and Camden, NJ, and also the Salvation Army in NY and NJ. It is important in dealing with a natural disaster that people feel the urge and desire to help.”

The Kingsbridge Armory on Jerome Avenue serves as a major distribution center for clothing and supplies, and students can visit the Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice to learn more about it.

O’Kane also strongly encourages students to visit the Fordham Campus Ministry website to find out more about how to help, even when media coverage of Hurricane Sandy dies out.

“It is still important to attend to our brothers and sisters,” O’Kane said. “This is a commitment we make as our identity as a Catholic school and our call to be prophetic in the world.”

On Thursday, Nov. 15, RHA and CAB are hosting a benefit concert called “SOS: Sound Out for Sandy,” with performances by the B-Sides as well as student bands and other performance groups.

This is event will be a way for students to unite in solidarity and lend their support to the victims of this disaster.

CAB Discusses Spring Weekend Concert Process; Indie Genre Dominates Survey CAB, FROM PAGE 1

Still, even indie artists have been known to have unexpected problems pop up that may affect their budget. Last year, Foster the People was booked to play for the Spring Weekend concert. Their single, “Pumped Up Kicks,” however, shot up to number one in the billboard charts that year.

Therefore, Foster the People went from being an opening act to headlining their own tours.

This resulted in the band getting a much bigger tour, being able to demand much more money and also not being in the New York area at the time. The band pulled out of the event and because CAB and the Fordham administration could no longer afford the performance. Jay Sean, the rapper, was then booked to play at the concert, in a last-ditch effort to have a musician perform and save the event.

There are other reasons for the influx of indie rock acts on the list, reasons that pertain to the conservative nature of the Fordham administration. Hip-hop is a genre that does not have much of a presence in the survey. This is because of the prevalence of controversial lyrics in hip-hop songs compared to those in indie rock, as hip-hop lyrics are not generally believed to be in support of Fordham’s mission statement endorsing Jesuit ideals, as stated by Mosley.

There are past stories involv-

ing hip-hop musicians, however, that reveal a bit more about why the administration is reluctant to embrace hip-hop. Ghostface Killah, a member of the Wu-Tang Clan, who came to the campus several years ago to perform at the Spring Weekend concert, left much controversy in his wake.

“We can’t think of a lot of different acts because of what Ghostface Killah did,” Whitteker said. “Reportedly, Ghostface Killah was drinking and smoking weed with students and, allegedly, sleeping with students. Basically, a lot of different past things have come to bite us in the ass.”

These tight restrictions by the administration show that the actual hosting of the event and the process leading up to the concert is full of complications and trials for CAB, who must maintain a balancing act between the administration and the student body.

The process begins with the two co-chairs of the CAB Concert Committee and the creation of the Spring Weekend concert survey that is sent out to students.

The co-chairs composed a list of musicians that they can afford.

The administration advisor and Fordham agent then go through the list and advise the co-chairs on which artists can get through the administration process.

Next, the two co-chairs hold a meeting with the general board of CAB and discuss achievable artists. Based on these discus-

sions, the survey is created and sent out to the student body.

Next, student votes are counted and a list of artists is sent to the administration to seek approval from deans and Rev. Joseph McShane, S.J., President of the University. After approval, Fordham’s agent informs the two co-chairs on scheduling and pricing for the artists during the month of April. It is then entirely up to the co-chairs to make the decision. If the musician says yes, the concert is able to proceed.

When the musicians arrive, CAB must also cater to their needs and demands. Some of it is relatively simple such as food and drinks, but other requests are

more difficult, taxing and downright menial.

An example of this is Stephan Jenkins, the lead singer of Third Eye Blind. When the band came to the university two years ago to perform, Jenkins asked to use the school weight room before the show was to start, resulting in the band getting to the stage late.

CAB will go through this same process this year and will announce who their chosen performer will be at a later date.

Jay Sean, who performed last year, did not get a great reception from the student body, admitted Whitteker, but he feels that this year CAB will be able to pull off a good show for the entire school.

“I think we have a very dedicated group this year.” Whitteker said. “These are people that want to get things done. They want to do what’s best for the students.

They might be the students who are not happy with how things went last year, and might want to do something that they’re happy with this year.”

“CAB has to be the security for these events, and you don’t want to be setting up and dismantling for things you don’t believe in and things you don’t enjoy,” he said.

“We’ll do our best to really get what is going to be the most enjoyable event for the whole campus.”

PHOTO BY STASHA O’CALLAGHAN/THE RAM

Last year’s concert was rumored to feature artists like Fall Out Boy and Foster the People. Jay Sean (“Down”) came instead.

PAGE 14 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER 14, 2012

The Seersucker

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Dining Out: Giantina Ristorante

KEVIN ZEBROWSKI

The Seersucker provides a wealth of knowledge on sartorial fundamentals, contemporary male fashion and the mastery of personal style.

James Bond is a style icon, and with the recent release of Skyfall we have all been reminded of this.

Ian Fleming described the original James Bond wardrobe most concisely in The Man with the Golden Gun, wherein Bond wears a “single-breasted dark blue suit, a white shirt, a thick knitted tie” — one of my own favorite articles and “black casual” shoes. Bond’s tailoring was presumably done by Savile Row tailors. Savile Row is to tailoring what Wall Street is to finance.

The contemporary 007, Daniel Craig, has been very involved in Bond’s wardrobe. Actor involvement in wardrobe affairs is a trend I would like to see become more prevalent. The actor, whose job is to understand a character completely, should know what his or her character would wear.

Craig’s personal sense of style means Bond is dressed head to toe in Tom Ford’s suits, shirts and ties. Ford is an American designer responsible for saving Gucci from creative and financial bankruptcy around 1995.

Ford now has a fashion house of his own that emphasizes the importance of proportion, an emphasis that has brought the Tom Ford brand away from the contemporary skinny everything trends.

In a way, Ford’s convictions have bridged the gap between modern and traditional in a way that works perfectly for Skyfall, a movie that plays with an identical motif.

Everything Craig wears in the movie looks made for the character. The unstructured hunting jacket, the dark Billy Reid peacoat and, of course, the short, midnight blue, shawl lapel tuxedo are standouts. The dark blue Tom Ford suits that Bond wears for most of the film, however, are perhaps the best part of his wardrobe.

Bond’s tie is a perfectly subtle, dark blue pattern tie without the type of loud embroidery that would call attention to a spy. He sticks to the shirt-matched pocket square folded into a solid flat edge.

James Bond does not make fancy shapes with his handkerchief. It is also notable that Bond does not wear belts in the movie, as belts would restrict ease of movement.

I’m not a fan of belts either. I think they break up the geometry of the human silhouette in a weird way.

Perhaps the most important detail of Craig’s suit, aside from the impeccable tailoring, is the consistent use of the small “four-inhand” tie knot. The four-in-hand creates the smallest possible knot one can craft with a necktie. It’s the polar opposite of the chin pillow “full windsor.” Ian Fleming wrote of Bond’s disdain for those who wear their neckties too fancifully.

Fleming’s Bond attributed neurotic peacock tendencies to such men. Craig pairs the four-in-hand with tab collars to create a sleek, no-nonsense look; James Bond does not care much for nonsense.

PHOTO BY DANIELLE GARRAND/THE RAM

PHOTO BY DANIELLE GARRAND/THE RAM

The Italian restaurant is located on E187th Street and Arthur Avenue.

By DANIELLE GARRAND CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A far cry from Pugsley’s and cafeteria chow, Giantina Ristorante delivers authentic Italian food just a couple steps off of the famous Arthur Avenue.

Almost every student has visited the classic local joints, but this nearby gem has flown under the radar.

From the second that the aromas of freshly made pastas, soups and Italian dishes greet you at the door, it is clear that Giantina is no commonplace restaurant.

Open every day except Wednesdays, the eatery is packed with customers waiting to experience the fabulous fare.

The sponge-painted entryway is adorned with headshots of celebrity fans who have made a stop

This pasta contains pesto with goat cheese and is a Giantina specialty.

in the restaurant, as well as vinwait. tage movie posters, creating a soWith classic dishes like chickphisticated-yet-relaxed vibe. Their en parmagiana ($14.75), fettucmedium-sized bistro is filled to cini alfredo ($13.25) and special the brim with marble tables that delights such as lobster ravioli can accommodate large groups or ($18.95), it is impossible to stay a parties of one. Mirror-covered hungry for long. walls are framed with wine racks The varied menu also features and hanging pica “From the Sea” tures of the owner’s section that offers Overall Location family, furthering all types of seafood Food Quality the comfortable enand crustaceans, as Atmosphere vironment. well as delicious Hospitality As soon as a hunsandwich options.

Price $$ gry person opens If you are opting (Out of 4 ’s) the leather menus, it for a lighter fare, is clear that he or she the extensive list has come to the right place to feed of soups and salads will not disa healthy appetite. appoint. Most meals are priced in As each table is seated, the the $15 to $20 range, unless you guests are given almost an entire opt for one of the fancier selecloaf of warm bread with olive oil tions such as the filet mignon with for dipping, on which everyone mushrooms ($25.50). should be sure to nibble as they A word to the wise, however:

Only walk into Giantina’s if you are willing to dedicate two hours to a meal, otherwise you may become slightly irritated with the rather slow service.

As Fordham students do not frequent the restaurant as often, the staff tends to cater to locals a bit faster. Do not be surprised if they stop to chat with a couple from the community as your stomach grumbles.

If you do not mind waiting an extra 30 minutes for a meal that tastes as home-cooked as your mother’s best dish, bring a group of friends and use the time to relax with good company.

Even though Arthur Ave’s options may seem exhausted, do not take this authentic Italian joint off your radar just yet, or you risk missing out on some of the best food Little Italy has to offer.

Editor’s Pick: Andy Pettitte

By DAN GARTLAND SPORTS EDITOR

When I was five years old, I went to my first-ever baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Derek Jeter had won the Rookie of the Year award the previous season, and the stands were full of people with “We love Jeter” signs.

It was hard not to love the talented young shortstop, and I wanted to emulate him. There was only one problem: I’m left-handed, so I couldn’t be a shortstop. Instead, Andy Pettitte, the Yankees left-handed starter, became my hero.

As a five-year-old, I saw Andy Pettitte as a future version of myself, figuring that in 15 to 20 years I would be a left-handed pitcher for the Yankees.

Whenever I used the “create-a-player” feature in baseball video games, I would make a left-handed starting pitcher named Dan Gartland and give him a No. 46 jersey, the same number Pettitte still wears.

While the reasons for my obsession at the time might not have been the most well thought out, as I got older I learned to appreciate Pettite for his actual game.

Pettitte is perhaps best known for his success in the postseason. He owns the record for the most all-time playoff game wins with 19 total and is a big reason why the Yankees won four World Series between 1996 and 2000.

In the regular season Pettitte is a very good pitcher; in the postseason he is great. His ability to turn it on when

it matters most is truly remarkable.

Years down the road, when I think about his career, I’ll probably envision him standing on the mound in a playoff game on a cold October night, his hat pulled over his eyes, staring at his catcher, a left fist clenched in front of his mouth as he tries to warm his fingers with his breath.

Pettitte is also a master of one of the game’s most underutilized tools: the pickoff move. He is widely regarded as having the best pickoff in baseball, a move that is more art than anything else. As a left hander, Pettitte has the advantage of facing first base when he operates out of the stretch, which allows him to look directly at the runner. He brings his front leg back and toes the thin line between a legal move and a balk as he turns his hips toward the runner and makes the throw. Pettitte’s 102 career pickoffs are a major league record, and amazingly, he has only been called for 11 balks in his 17year career.

Pettitte left the Yankees twice: in 2004 when he signed as a free agent with his hometown Houston Astros, and when he retired after the 2010 season. When he chose to return to the Yankees this season after sitting out in 2011, I was thrilled, but still skeptical as to whether he could be as effective as he was prior to retiring. At 40 years old, the zip is gone from his fastball.

But what he lacks in velocity, Pettitte makes up in accuracy and pitch selection. By effectively mixing in his cutter, Pettitte was able to become one of

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

The former Houston Astros player is a five-time World Series champ as a Yankee.

the Yankees’ most reliable starters.

I would be remiss to avoid any mention of Pettitte’s implication in the Mitchell Report, the Congressional investigation into performanceenhancing drug use in professional baseball. Indeed, Pettitte’s name did appear in that report. He admitted to using human growth hormone, but only to recover more quickly from an injury, and only before it had been outlawed by the MLB.

With 245 wins, Pettitte is a borderline Hall of Fame candidate. If he does indeed play next season, his name would first appear on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2018. His postseason success should help his case, but it is still unlikely that he will receive the 75 percent of votes necessary for enshrinement. Still, if I ever became a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, he would have my vote.

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Shoppers Leave Turkey Behind for Black Friday

By LAUREN MANZINO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Autumn is a time of harvest, celebration and togetherness.

A rich pallete of color refreshes our atmosphere as the leaves turn. Apple and pumpkin picking outings book our weekends.

The scents of the season are introduced, as aromas of cinnamon, cider and cranberry are the themes of many small gifts and swirl through bakeries.

With our preparations for the supreme festival of Thanksgiving to round out our fall bliss, we are swept with a sense of rustic elegance likened to that of the First Thanksgiving many years ago. With the holiday season on the horizon, is your shopping list ready?

We mark our fervors of thanks and togetherness with a flavorful Thanksgiving meal and are reminded to count our blessings.

The art of gratitude, however, is soon overlooked as many yearn for more than just another slice of pumpkin pie.

Less than 24 hours after the final slab of turkey is gobbled up and the last spoonful of mashed potatoes is swallowed, many gear up to satisfy yet another hunger — the hunger to shop.

Black Friday, traditionally the day after Thanksgiving, is widely recognized as the kick-off of holiday season shopping. Routinely the busiest shopping day of the year, “Black Friday” indicates the point at which retailers begin to turn a profit, or are “in the black.”

The day conjures visions of long, winding lines, packed shopping carts and stampedes of shoppers.

Having been granted a day

off of work, there are some who choose to spend the day perched on the couch filling up on Thanksgiving leftovers.

Others, such as Sam Lubrano, FCRH ’15, opt to spend the day filling shopping carts, making their first purchases for the Christmas season or take advantage of some of the season’s lowest prices.

“I do participate in the craze,” Lubrano said. “It has been a tradition for my brother and I to go Black Friday shopping.”

Early bird deals offer popular products at low prices, and the incentives to shop, it seems, are endless. Some stores will offer a free gift card for purchases made between certain early morning hours on Friday, as well as hourly promotions and rewards.

Others will put out spreads of pastries and provide coffee to energize buyers. These door buster sales only come around once a year and, for the most insistent shopper, are absolutely worth lining up for.

Throngs of consumers flock to the stores before the doors even open, looking for extreme discounts and great gift ideas.

Some shoppers are only out for the bargains, while others enjoy the social experience with family or friends.

“It is like a bonding experience,” Lubrano said. “We make up a plan Thanksgiving night of all the stores we want to go to.

We usually leave at 2 a.m. and don’t get back until around 8 a.m.”

Department and chain stores plan to open hours early, some at midnight, giving authenticity to the saying “dine-and-dash.”

Some of the world’s largest retail-

ers, Walmart for example, plan to begin their sales even before the dishes are cleared from the table on the evening of Thanksgiving Day. Macy’s, Best Buy and Kohl’s will all open at midnight this year, staggering their promotions to make certain items available at different times throughout the early morning hours.

Black Friday 2012 is officiated online as well this year with websites featuring Black Friday published ads and coupons.

As the craze ensues, many question whether consumerism overshadows the essence of the Thanksgiving holiday. Clare Larson, FCRH ’15, is looking forward to spending time with family and making time for reflection.

“I never participate in Black Friday because I think it detracts from the message of Thanksgiving and reinforces the materialism that has come to characterize the holiday season,” Larson said.

Monica Cleary, FCRH ’15, said she agrees.

“I think Black Friday often affects the meaning of Thanksgiving,” she said. “It conflicts with Thanksgiving’s message of gratefulness and appreciation for the people and things we have in our lives that are most important. It supports a culture of excess and materialism.”

The overwhelming commercialization of such holidays as Thanksgiving and Christmas has come to dictate a sense of urgency, not to sit cordially around the dining room table, but to rush out, shop and spend.

So come this Black Friday where will you be — in line or on the couch?

NOVEMBER 14, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 15

!

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

Check

This

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

Commemoration of Imam Hussain Where: McGinley Center When: Thursday, Nov. 15 Price: Free

COURTESY OF TAGRIHB NEWS

A prominent figure in Islam, Imam Hussain was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the most prominent religious leader of his time. At the time, however, the area in which Hussain lived was ruled by an oppressive autocrat who sought to ally with Hussain because of his large number of followers. Fearing that any solidarity with the dictator would compromise his morals, Hussain decided to flee the country. Unfortunately, he never successfully left the country and was murdered along with his followers. Now considered one of the great Muslim martyrs, Hussain’s life is commemorated on Ashura, a day of mourning. Artifacts from Iraq, flags from his shrine and people ready to answer any questions you may have on the subject will be present at the event.

10th Annual Thanks-Give-Away!

Where: McGinley Ballroom When: Monday, Nov. 19, 6 p.m.

Price: Free Sponsored by the Commuting Students Association, Fordham’s annual Thanks-Give-Away is pretty much the Puritan’s version of RamTown. Students can share a delicious turkey dinner with classmates at 6 p.m. on Monday in the McGinley Ballroom, and money donations automatically make you eligible for “fabulous prizes.” Students can bring in canned goods to McGinley between 1 and 6 p.m. any day this week to become eligible for prizes. Prizes include dinner with Dean Rodgers, winter gear and various Reebok swag.

- COMPILED BY DEVON SHERIDAN ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

Ram Reviews MUSIC

THEATER

WOLFGANG GARTNER AT TERMINAL 5

CYRANO DE BERGERAC

MOVIE SKYFALL

+++

TELEVISION “THE WALKING DEAD”

MUSIC THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS SOUNDTRACK

By CODIE LANDSMAN

By RICKY BORDELON

By PATRICK MULLEN

By CHRISTOFER NICOLETTI

By PATRICK DOHERTY

STAFF WRITER

ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

COPY EDITOR

On Friday, Nov. 9, Hard NYC presented Wolfgang Gartner as a part of his Love & War Tour at Terminal 5, in the Meatpacking District. The 26year old electronic DJ had the crowd captivated during his nearly threehour set.

During the show, Wolfgang dropped many of his more popular beats such as “Illmerica” from his most recent album Weekend in America. One of the crowd’s indisputable favorites was his collaborative track with DJ Tiesto, “We Own the Night.”

Enthusiastic fans adorned in everything from bright tights and glowing necklaces to wolf hats and fur boots flooded the two-floor venue.

As for Wolfgang’s thoughts on EDM being just a fad? He replied, courtesy of an “Ask Me Anything” Reddit interview:“No, it’s always been here. It goes through cycles. It’s at the top of one right now, and I don’t know if this particular cycle has a bottom anywhere in sight.”

He tweeted that this tour in New York was “pretty much the best weekend of my life.”

I’m sure fans feel the same.

Nose. There, I said it.

The most famous nose in literature is back on Broadway.

Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of the French classic Cyrano de Bergerac opened on Oct. 11 at the American Airlines Theatre.

This production features a new English translation from French by Ranjit Bolt, who preserves Edmund Rostand’s rhyming couplets and some of the play’s French nuances.

Cyrano (Douglas Hodge, La Cage aux Folles), a large-nosed lover, poet and soldier, seeks the love of the beautiful Roxane (Clémence Poésy, Harry Potter), who is not physically attracted to him.

Overall, the play was very entertaining, but some of the most dramatic moments moved too quickly, especially at the end of the final act.

The rushed language at these moments can be difficult to understand, and more time would better convey the emotion and dramatic effect of the scene.

The play is a quite enjoyable and classic production that, despite its flaws, all theatre fans should rush too.

Skyfall, the 23rd official James Bond film, seems like a conscious effort by filmmakers to compete with the blockbuster superhero films of the past few years. The action is bigger and more intense, the camera is more free and flowing and the villain is more indestructible.

Skyfall is its own movie. Director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) brings his signature direction to a series that many felt had lost steam after 2008’s mediocre Quantum of Solace.

Bond is back and arguably better than ever.

While the action and the plot are exciting, it is the characters that keep you attached. M (Judi Dench, Shakespeare in Love) and Mallory (Ralph Fiennes, Schindler’s List) both have many sides to their characters (though I wish there was more to Mallory, mostly because Fiennes is one of my favorite actors working). Even Bond is given more character development than usual; some of his background is released while still keeping him appropriately enigmatic.

See it soon before everyone spoils it.

In the first episode of Season 3, viewers are introduced to a more militaristic and autocratic style of living for the group of survivors. Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln, Love, Actually) and the group are found scrounging for food and materials in an abandoned house. They ultimately decide to organize and fight to take control of a prison. The group hopes to use the prison as a shelter after the destruction of the farm on which they lived in the prior season. The stakes are raised further by the impending birth of Rick and his wife Lori’s (Sarah Wayne Callies, “Prison Break”) baby.

This season has also introduced the characters of the Governor (David Morrissey, “The Deal”), the katana wielding and zombie-pet owner Michonne (Danai Gurira, My Soul to Take) and the reintroduction of Daryl’s brother Merle (Michael Rooker, “JFK”) who Rick left for dead in the middle of Season 1.

Viewers can expect an even better season of “The Walking Dead” than the previous one, as this season has already had no qualms about killing important characters.

For the soundtrack, musician RZA has called forth various friends and collaborators, both new and old, to contribute to what may end up being the best component of this action-packed movie.

The opening track, “The Baddest Man Alive,” is a well-working collaboration that sets the stage for the rest of the soundtrack. Black Keys-style fuzzed-out guitars and distorted vocals frame the song, while the RZA maintains the overall theme of the album. RZA raps boastful declarations that refer to his role in the film, Blacksmith: “I snatch food from the mouth of a tiger/Take a gasoline bath and I walk through fire.”

The rest of the soundtrack is composed of similar collaborations, ranging from old-school, roughly-stylized group tracks to soulful solo sessions. Not rushed or crowded, the team-ups include Talib Kweli and RES, Method Man and StreetLife and those artists packed onto “Tick Tock,” including Pusha T, Raekwon, Joell Ortiz and Danny Brown.

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PAGE 16• THE RAM • NOVEMBER 14, 2012

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WHO’S THAT KID? Ann Pierret A MEMBER OF FCRH ’14 COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES MAJOR COMPUTER SCIENCE MINOR FROM ARLINGTON, TX Describe yourself in a couple of sentences.

What is your favorite thing to do in New York City?

I’m very ambitious and involved in a lot of different things on campus like “Fordham Nightly News,” WFUV and campus ministry.

I’m also a big Texas Rangers fan.

My favorite thing to do is to not plan anything, but start walking and find something to do. I also really like the High Line and eating at different places, like Southern Comfort and Pad Thai, both on Ninth Avenue.

Oh and Chipotle, of course. And Artichoke Pizza.

What is your favorite aspect of Fordham and why?

My favorite aspect of Fordham would have to be the people. I’ve met some really awesome people here.

They are all very interesting and have challenged me in different ways. They have really helped me figure myself out.

If there was one thing about Fordham you could change what would it be?

The school spirit because I feel like not a lot of people have spirit, like at our games. Not many people show up, which is way different from what I was used to in Texas.

What is something about you that not many people know?

I used to dance for 15 years. I danced tap, jazz, ballet, musical theater and hip-hop for a year. I danced from age three and danced for fun. I prefer theater, which I’ve been participating in while at Fordham. I’ve been in Little Shop of Horrors, and last year I was in Urinetown.

Beth Knobel, who’s now my advisor. It was just really interesting. We kind of went into different people who have obviously innovated the TV and news world.

What is a personal goal you would like to accomplish over your four years here?

PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM

I would like to have dinner with Father McShane and Monsignor Quinn. I think that would be a lot of fun and very interesting. I’d like to see Father McShane’s headquarters, or we could just go to their favorite place on Arthur Ave. What show, food, artists or movie would you consider your “guilty pleasure”?

Despite popular belief, Ann Pierret is not personal friends with George Bush.

Because I’m from Texas, people think that George Bush is my best friend, that I ride a horse to school, milk cows before I go to school and that there are tumbleweeds everywhere.

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

What is your favorite class at Fordham?

I’d have to say “Reba” and “Pretty Little Liars” are my guilty pleasure TV shows. I love Nutty Bars and the movie Stand By Me. River Phoenix is in it, and it’s really good.

After college, I want to start out as a news reporter and then work my way up to become a news anchor. I want to travel throughout the country and then the rest of the world.

My favorite class was TV News Innovators. I took it with Professor

What is the biggest misconception people have about you?

If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring

with you?

This is a tough one. I would definitely have to say my GameBoy, which I don’t care what you have to say about that. I would bring a camera with pictures of people I know on it, for me to look at.

I would bring lots of food, of course, especially Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Nutty Bars.

If you could go back to your first day at Fordham, what advice would you give yourself?

I would have told myself to take classes in the core that would later fit into my major and minor.

Historical Theater Now the Bronx’s Best New Music Venue

By DEVON SHERIDAN ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

Four blocks from scenic Rose Hill, Fordham Road intersects with Grand Concourse in the northwest Bronx.

Nowadays a hub of bustling shoppers and bargain store franchises, the Fordham Road and Grand Concourse intersection was once at the heart of a mostly residential, middleclass New York City neighborhood and a popular source of metropolitan culture and weekend entertainment for the families who called the Bronx home in the 1950s.

While the landscape surrounding Fordham has changed over the past decade, remnants of the not-sodistant past endure. Strolling through the neighborhoods outside our school’s gates, one will notice the insipid designs of brownstone housing projects, mixed in with the lingering remains of an architectural movement that led to the construction of unique, lively city buildings.

Two blocks south of Fordham

Road stands Loew’s Paradise Theatre, an impressive and enchanting reminder of playful, Baroque-inspired metropolitan architecture.

Originally opened in 1929 for the purpose of screening films, Loew’s Paradise Theatre has gone through a series of ownership changes, renovations, closings and re-openings since its inception. The theater’s decrepit history may also factor into its relatively-obscure reputation.

Until its most recent opening in 2006, Paradise Theatre stood dormant for 12 years. A series of recent renovations, many of them aimed at restoring the theater’s original distinctive interior, has left the theater revamped and, in many ways, reenergized.

Designed by master theater architect John Eberson and completed in September of 1929, Loew’s Paradise Theatre was once described as one of the five “wonder” theaters in the New York City area. Along with theaters in Brooklyn, Queens and New Jersey, the Loew’s theater chain

sought to bring high-class entertainment to the boroughs and areas of New York, excluding Manhattan, by building grandiose “movie palaces.”

Most popular in the early 20th century, movie palaces were known for atmospheric ceilings and extravagant architecture. Eberson constructed Paradise, like many of the 1,200 theaters he designed in his lifetime, with the lively beauty of the great outdoors in mind: The ceiling is painted blue, complete with fake clouds and trees adorning the walls. Consequently, moviegoers enjoyed films as if they were seated at an outdoor amphitheater, not in a cavernous hall cramped between hundreds of other buildings in the Bronx.

“My grandmother lived in the Bronx during her childhood,” Tom Perry, FCRH ’15, said. “I haven’t been to the [Paradise] Theatre yet, but she tells me she used to go there all the time. I guess that’s where all the cool kids would hang out.”

Over the years, the theater’s illustrious façade has faded, and its

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

The theater was designated as a New York City Landmark in 1997. A small fire last Monday caused minor smoke damage.

exterior has blended in with the nondescript buildings that surround it.

Perhaps this has played a role in the theater’s relatively anonymous status on-campus. Or perhaps students are remiss to invest at a night in a rundown old theater situated in an area in which they have been told to keep their heads down and their phones in their pockets.

The unique beauty of Paradise Theatre, however, lies with its interior. The grand lobby, gilded from its two-story ceiling down to its ornate pair of double-doors, is a tribute to Paris’s vaudevillian theaters of the 18th century. The dim lighting and fading paint combined with the regal wrought ironwork leaves one expecting a sudden fight to break out between the pirate from the Captain Morgan commercials and the original cast of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.

Up the stairs, past the grand foyer on the second level and out onto the balcony, the neutral eye immediately notices two things. For one, the sheer size of the auditorium is almost breathtaking.

“It seems like you’re a million miles away,” Oliver Sim, The xx bassist and co-vocalist, said to the fans on the orchestra balcony three Friday nights ago.

Here, Eberson’s vision of an illusory indoor sky-ceiling turns from laughable into, “Wow, that looks pretty cool.” The illusion is also deceivingly realistic. When I showed a picture of the auditorium to a friend, she remarked, “Wait, I didn’t know the show was outside.”

Unfortunately, the trees that once lined the walls have long since been banished from the interior, but a certain a residual effect remains; if it is not as convincing as it used to be, it is

still a playful and rare aesthetic.

Perhaps more noticeable than the ceiling is the 30-foot-tall golden parapet that lines the wall of the auditorium. Complete with imitation Roman-god style statues, which stand atop the parapet as if guarding the audience, this decorative second wall turns the auditorium into a room incredibly detached from reality. Instead, the architecture aims to send its viewers back to Venice in the days of Mozart and Beethoven, with a little touch of Disney magic on the side.

In the past year, Loew’s Paradise Theatre has played host to an array of shows typically relegated to venues such as Terminal 5 and Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan or Williamsburg Hall in Brooklyn. On Sept. 18, a day after releasing their new album Battle Born, The Killers came to Grand Concourse Road, playing the first rock show at the venue since its 2006 reopening.

Last month, the popular emo-funk trio The xx promoted their new album, Coexist. What was supposed to be a two-night stint at Paradise was unfortunately relegated to a single performance when the Sunday show was canceled due to complications caused by Hurricane Sandy. The night before The xx show, quasi-R&B breakout artist The Weeknd took to the stage bringing his sou’ful tunes along with him.

Scarcer than optimal, but validated in terms of quality and diversity, the recent lineup of shows at Loew’s Paradise Theatre gives students seeking musical entertainment something to cheer about.

So, go to a show and support local Bronx culture and the efforts being made by individuals to keep the area an important part of the New York entertainment scene, won’t you?

CULTURE

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NOVEMBER 14, 2012• THE RAM •PAGE 17

Parents Bring Joy to Students on Family Weekend

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH ZANGHI/THE RAM

Some students felt disappointed when their parents could not attend Family Weekend. Long flights kept families apart.

By KRIS VENEZIA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Students got to display their rooms to their families over the weekend, as the annual Fordham Family Weekend ran from Nov. 9 to Nov. 11.

Joe Lynch, FCRH ’15, said this gave him the perfect opportunity to demonstrate to his parents that he has matured since high school.

“Back in the day, I was a very messy kid,” Lynch said. “Now I’m a little cleaner. I even make my bed every day.”

Joe’s mother, Rose Lynch, agreed that her son’s room was spotless, but she said she still worries about her “baby boy.”

“The room looked nice,” Mrs. Lynch said. “I was pleasantly surprised, but I’m always thinking about him when I’m at home.

There’s just so much he has to do on his own, like get his own food, do his laundry, bathe and, of course, there’s class to worry about.”

Fordham had a plethora of events to keep parents busy over the weekend.

The itinerary included a lecture from Rev. Joseph McShane, S.J., president of the University; the football game against Lafayette at Jack Coffey Field, in which the good guys emerged victorious; and a concert by the University Choir.

Brittney Tobin, FCRH ’15, and her family cheered on the football team as the Rams battled for victory on Saturday afternoon.

“It was a perfect fall weekend for my family and I to enjoy Fordham football,” Tobin said. “I believe they got to experience everything I love about Fordham.”

Some students, whose parents could not make it to Fordham over the weekend, were able to spend time with their friends’ families.

Jeff Coltin, FCRH ’15, grew up almost 2,500 miles away from the Bronx in Phoenix, and the Coltins could not come to Family Weekend. He said he was not disappointed because he had a blast getting together with mothers, fa-

thers, sisters and brothers of other Fordham students.

“I love meeting my friends’ parents and getting a taste of what their life is like away from Fordham,” Coltin said. “It would have been nice to have my family around, but if I did, it would have been harder to meet my friends’ families.”

Rebecca Van Sambeck, FCRH ’15, was also family-less, but this did not stop her from getting involved in the weekend’s festivities. She stood in front of O’Keefe Commons to greet parents and answer any questions they had about the campus.

“My favorite part of the weekend was talking to all the friendly parents and seeing how genuinely excited they were to be here,” she said. “The food in the Caf also seemed better than usual. I think they stepped up their game to impress the parents.”

Kenny Ducey, FCRH ’15, did not use any swipes at the Marketplace when his parents, Ken and Kerry Anne, came to town.

Instead, the Ducey clan went to Arthur Avenue for dinner.

“I did not want my parents to have to sit in the cafeteria with some of the best Italian food just a few blocks away,” Ducey said. “It’s also nice when you don’t have to pay for the food.”

Ducey’s mother, Kerry Anne, is a longtime listener of Fordham’s radio station 90.7 FM WFUV. The radio station has its headquarters in the basement of Keating, and she was able to get a tour of the facilities.

“It was a treat to see the studio

where [disc jockey] Dennis Elsas broadcasts from,” Mrs. Ducey said.

“I’ve been listening to him since before Kenny was born.”

Underclassmen were not the only students to receive visits from family: Even graduate students had loved ones come to see them.

Claudia Morell studies at Fordham’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Her mother, Diana Morell, made a trip south from Canada to spend time with her daughter. Claudia said she was surprised when she heard that her mother would be in town.

“She called me when I was at work on Friday afternoon and told me she would be here in a few hours,” Morell said. “I was really scared because my [off-campus] house was a mess, but she was nice about it and helped me clean.”

With Thanksgiving break just around the corner, the tables will turn for some students as they travel to their parents’ homes for the holiday.

Lynch said he cannot wait.

“I’ll be honest, a free meal on Arthur Avenue was awesome, but there’s nothing like Thanksgiving dinner at the Lynch house,” Lynch said.

Mrs. Lynch joked about some alterations to their home, but said she is also excited to have her son back at the dinner table.

“I haven’t told Joe yet, but his room is now a Zumba studio,” Mrs. Lynch said teasingly. “In all seriousness, I miss having Joe around, and I know his father does too, and when he comes home for Thanksgiving it will make us very happy.”

“Boy Meets World” Next in Line to Produce Hit Spinoff

By MARLESSA STIVALA COPY EDITOR

While modern television is not completely void of creativity, it is no secret that many networks are littered with remakes and adaptations of already-existing shows. Even if a show is not an exact replica of a previous show, familiar plot lines and characters often beg the question: Hasn’t this already been done? Of course, familiar television shows can sometimes feel this way for a reason — that is, in the case of a spinoff.

Spinoffs are always risky.

Capitalizing on the success of a beloved show may seem like an ideal way to continue to enjoy both commercial and financial benefits, but it does not always work out this way. While both Frasier Crane and Joey Tribiani were popular characters on “Cheers” and “Friends,” respectively, time proved that Frasier was a much more successful character outside the Boston bar where “everyone knows your name,” than Joey was without his fellow, well, “friends.”

Though “Frasier” and “Joey” each had different levels of success (if it was not evident enough from the former’s highly-rated 11-season, multi-Emmy-winning run versus the latter’s average two-season stint), both spinoffs

did have the advantage of airing right after the shows off of which they were based ended.

So, what will happen now that “the powers that be” are currently working on resurrecting a beloved, nostalgic sitcom that has been off the air for 12 years and focuses on a completely new character? This premise either has the potential to be so crazy it just might work, or so far from the original that it will disappoint fans everywhere and prove to be a mistake.

What is the latest show being worked into a spinoff, you may wonder? One hint: Fe-feFeeeeny.

That is right. The major Disney buzz seems to revolve around the fact that a “Boy Meets World” sequel/spinoff is currently in the works. The title for this series is (ready for it?) “Girl Meets World” and will focus on Riley Matthews, the preteen daughter of Cory Matthews (Ben Savage, “Car Babes”) and Topanga Lawrence (Danielle Fishel, National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze), aka one of television’s most iconic couples.

While everyone knows nothing could ever quite replace or recapture the original series, what makes this new series so promising is the fact that both Savage and Fishel are apparently in talks to reprise their most fa-

mous roles. Fishel herself even recently tweeted a cryptic yet encouraging message: “Just want you guys to know that @BenSavage and I have talked and we’ve decided...Thanksgiving is going to be delicious this year!”

If Savage and Fishel do officially sign on along with the original production team for “Girl Meets World,” this could lead to a good show. (And if they do not, would Disney dare to replace them? That definitely would not end well.)

Of course, a “Boy Meets World” sequel of any form would not feel right without Shawn Hunter (Rider Strong, Borderland), Eric Matthews (Will Friedle, “Batman Beyond”) and of course George Feeny (William Daniels, “Grey’s Anatomy”) along for the ride. Would a complete reunion of the original cast be too much to hope for?

What ultimately makes “Boy Meets World” such a timeless ’90s gem is the fact that its themes and lessons are relevant no matter what generation comes to appreciate its episodes and characters. The show was not about secretly being a pop star, spy or any of the other non-relatable plot lines that teen shows tend to focus on nowadays. It was about life: the honest, heartwarming and sometimes painful lessons of everyday life. Life is

COURTESY OF FLICKR

“Boy Meets World” ran from 1993-2000 on ABC. The spinoff pilot will film in 2013.

never easy, but, ultimately, one is never alone. As Cory said in the “Boy Meets World” series finale: “Even though it will seem like the world’s going out of its way to teach you these hard lessons, you’re going to realize that it’s

the same world that’s given you your family and friends… you’re going to come to believe that the world’s going to protect you.

Boy meets world. Now I get it.”

Let’s hope “Girl Meets World” “gets it,” too.

PAGE 18 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER 14, 2012

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The Annual Winter Concert Of the Fordham University Band Will be held on Sunday, November 18, at 3 p.m.

At the Leonard Theater

Admission is free Reception to follow

NOVEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 19

Women’s Basketball off to a 2-0 Start

Rams Earn Road Victories Over Albany and Cornell to Open Season

By MATT ROSENFELD ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham’s women’s basketball team started its season this past week with two road games at Albany and Cornell. The team comes back to the Bronx at an undefeated 2-0, having beaten Albany by a score of 60-43 and Cornell 58-50.

The season officially began on Nov. 9 in Albany, NY when the Rams took on the Great Danes, the defending America East Conference champions who defeated Fordham in last year’s season opener. The Rams would not let history repeat itself.

Fordham picked up an early nine-point lead after a 12-0 run in the middle of the first half. A pair of three-pointers from seniors Charlotte Stoddart and Arielle Collins led the run, and a stalwart defense held the Albany offense without a basket over a seven-minute stretch.

At the start of the second half, the Rams extended their lead to 15 points after a couple of threepointers from Collins and senior Erin Rooney.

Fordham’s defense would not rest, only letting the Great Danes

get to within nine points before starting to pull away. The Rams hit 10 of 12 free throws down the stretch to seal a victory to begin their 2012-2013 campaign.

There was not much time to rest on their laurels, however, as the Rams traveled to Ithaca, NY to take on Ivy League member Cornell.

Fordham led for most of the first half, getting an early lead when graduate student Marah Strickland hit her first three as a Ram. At its height, Fordham’s lead was as many as six, with just over five minutes left in the first half. A 10-4 Cornell run evened the score at 28 to close the first half, however.

The Big Red grabbed the lead early in the second half with a three-pointer, but Fordham answered quickly with a layup by freshman Samantha Clark and a three by Collins.

The two teams swapped leads for most of the second half, the lead never getting higher than four points for either team, until a Strickland layup gave Fordham a 51-46 advantage with three minutes to play.

Cornell would not quit, though, as it closed to within one point at

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH ZHANGI/THE RAM

Erin Rooney is playing in her first season for Fordham after sitting out last year due to NCAA transfer rules.

51-50, but it had to start sending Fordham to the free-throw line, where the Rams — mostly Erin Rooney — put the game out of

reach. Rooney hit six free throws in the last minute and a half to secure the victory.

The win puts the Rams at 2-0 for

the first time in a decade. Fordham has its home opener this Sunday as it hosts Delaware State at Rose Hill Gym.

Men’s Basketball Opens Season with Three Road Losses Fordham Stumbles out of the Gate, Losing to Texas State, Pittsburgh and Robert Morris

By DAN GARTLAND SPORTS EDITOR

The Fordham men’s basketball team cannot seem to buy a win on the road.

After winning only one game

away from home last season, Fordham dropped three road games to open the 2012-13 season, falling to Texas State, Pittsburgh and Robert Morris.

The Rams’ season opener was last Friday, Nov. 9 against Texas

State. When the two teams met at the Rose Hill Gym last year, Fordham won 81-70 behind a career-high 35 points from forward Chris Gaston. Gaston, now a senior, turned in another solid performance this time around,

RAM ARCHIVES

Bryan Smith was the only Fordham player to record double digit points in each of the team’s first three games.

recording his 53rd career doubledouble with 19 points and 14 rebounds, but it was not enough as Fordham lost 86-76 to the Bobcats.

Fordham was in the game as late as the final minutes of the first half. A basket from freshman Jermaine Myers, the Rams’ starting point guard, gave Fordham a 31-30 lead with 3:56 remaining in the half. Texas State, though, would close out the half on an 11-3 run to take a 41-34 lead into the locker room.

The Bobcats carried their momentum into the second half, stretching the lead to 14 points at 52-38 with 15:23 remaining in the game. The Fordham deficit stretched to as many as 17, when the team trailed 61-44 with 11:55 left to play.

Fordham was able to cut into the Texas State lead, drawing to within five at 65-60 with 6:46 left, but that was as close as it would get.

Fordham struggled from the free-throw line, going 14-24 (58.3 percent). The Rams shot 61 percent from the free-throw line a year ago, tied for 331st in Division I (out of 344 teams).

The following Monday, Nov. 12, Fordham took on Pittsburgh in the first round of the preseason NIT, losing 86-51.

Once again, Fordham hung tight in the early going. The Rams trailed 16-15 with 10:21 remaining in the first half, but Pitt closed out the half on a 21-3 run to hold

a 37-18 halftime lead. Fordham was unable to get back into the game in the second half, as the Panthers started to pad their lead.

Gaston was held in check by a defensively sound Pitt team, scoring only four points. Sophomore guard Bryan Smith and redshirt freshman guard Jeffery Short were the only Rams in double figures with 11 points apiece.

Fordham had a chance to bounce back with a win against Robert Morris on Tuesday night.

The Colonials, like the Rams, entered the game at 0-2, having lost to Rider and Lehigh. Fordham, however, was unable to find a way to win and dropped its third straight game.

Fordham was within striking distance throughout the first half, eventually heading into halftime down 37-29. Fordham opened the second half on a 10-2 run, tying the game at 39 with 16:47 left to play. That was the last tie score of the game, though, as Robert Morris went on to win 74-58.

Junior guard Branden Frazier played a tremendous game, leading all scorers with 21 points. He also added seven assists and four rebounds. Gaston turned in his second straight mediocre performance, managing only 11 points and six rebounds.

Fordham will have a shot at its first win of the season on Monday, Nov. 19, when the Rams play in the consolation pod of the preseason NIT. The opponent and site have yet to be determined.

SPORTS

PAGE 20• THE RAM • NOVEMBER 14, 2012

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Strong Showing for Fordham Swimming at Princeton Invitational

By TIM DEROCHER STAFF WRITER

The Fordham swimming and diving teams competed at the Princeton “Big Al” Invitational this past weekend on Nov. 9 and 10 against Princeton, Georgetown, Lehigh and The College of New Jersey. While there was no team scoring, the Rams still had plenty of visible results from the meet.

The Rams had four event wins coming from three swimmers at the invitational. Freshman Steve Sholdra kept up his dominance in the longer freestyle events, winning the 500-yard in a time of 4:35.18 and then the 1,650 in 15:40.61.

Junior Shintaro Noguchi notched a win as well in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 49.99. Noguchi took down the 47-swimmer field in the event fairly easily, as the gap between him and the second place finisher was larger than the collective gap between the second through fifth place finishers. Senior Brienne Ryan rounded off the wins for the Rams, giving the women a win in the 100-yard backstroke, clocking in at 55.79.

Sholdra and Noguchi also had multiple top-five swims in other events as well. Noguchi finished second in the 100-yard freestyle in 46.74, fourth in the 50-yard freestyle in 21.09 and fourth in the 200-yard butterfly as well, with a time of 1:55.97. Sholdra’s other two top-five swims came in the 400-yard individual medley and the 200-yard butterfly, finishing third in both. His times were

4:07.76 and 1:55.70, respectively.

Adding to the list of top-five swims for the men were sophomore Pat Militti in the 100-yard butterfly, coming in fourth in 51.60, and senior Thomas Yi, who took third in the 200-yard backstroke in 1:55.46 and fifth in the 100 backstroke in 52.53. This brought the Rams’ individual topfive performances to 11 for the meet.

While the men took three of the four event wins, the women fared equally well, raking in 11 individual top-five performances as well.

Ryan also won second place with a 2:01.02 performance in the 200yard backstroke and third place in the 50-yard freestyle in 23.86.

Sophomores Kelly Carroll and Jordan Tomimatsu each had two of these finishes with Carroll finishing second in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:06.47 and fourth in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:07.73, while Tomimatsu finished fifth in both the 100- and 200-yard backstroke finishing in 59.24, and then 2:06.54. Freshmen Anna Marshall and Megan Gehrich had second place finishes, with Marshall finishing the 200-yard breaststroke 2:25.74 and Gehrich clocking in at 4:35.21 for the 400-yard individual medley. Sophomore Megan Zarriello and senior Alana Biagioli finished off the top-five swims, with Zarriello finishing the 500-yard freestyle in 5:07.56 to finish fifth and Biagioli swimming the 200-yard freestyle in 1:56.28 to finish fourth in the event.

This meet also saw a larger ar-

ray of relays in the competition than any of the previous dual meets offered. Of the five relays, the men placed third in both the 400-yard freestyle and 400-yard medley relays. The freestyle team of Noguchi, Yi, Militti and sophomore Nick Burbidge finished in 3:09.34 while the medley team of Yi, Sholdra, Noguchi and Militti finished in 3:30.41.

The women’s top relay team was the 400 freestyle team of Ryan, Biagioli, freshman Chandler Lulley

and senior Kellie Lyver, who came in at 3:33.96. The women also finished third in all of the other four relay events. The 200-yard freestyle team of Ryan, Lyver, Biagioli and freshman Shannon Lulley finished in 1:37.47. The 200-yard medley team of Ryan, Carroll, Shannon Lulley and Biagioli came in at 1:48.64. The 400-yard medley team of Ryan, Marshall, Lulley and Biagioli clocked in at 3:54.90. Last was the 800-yard freestyle team of Zarriello, sophomore Frances War-

ren and freshmen Theresa Goehring and Megan Foster finished in 7:58.34.

The Rams will be taking part in another competitive invitational meet this weekend before returning to a stretch of dual meets. This Friday through Sunday, the team will compete at the Bucknell Invitational. It will be interesting to see if the top performers can keep up their winning streaks and whether overall depth will continue to be a prominent feature for both teams.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM

Though there were no team scores at the Princeton Invitational, the Rams turned in many impressive individual efforts.

Squash Tops Vassar, Dropped by Haverford XC Nears End of Season

By MAX PRINZ STAFF WRITER

The Fordham squash team started its 2012-13 season off strongly, splitting its two matches in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. last weekend.

The Rams defeated rival Vassar 8-1, and lost to Haverford 9-0. It was an important opening weekend for the Rams, as the matchup with Vassar was given a lot of hype.

Fordham came into the weekend after a somewhat-disappointing outing at the Navy Round Robin two weeks ago. The Rams played five matches at the Round Robin tournament, but were only able to come away with one win. The team defeated Sewanee

5-4, but suffered lopsided defeats against Navy, Bucknell, Johns Hopkins and Washington.

Sophomore Ross Garlick’s victory at the seventh spot was the deciding point in the Rams’ lone victory of the weekend. Garlick stormed all the way back from a two-set deficit, winning the last three sets 13-11, 11-5, 11-9, giving the Rams their first victory of the year.

Fordham’s trip to Poughkeepsie was slightly more successful. The Rams’ first match came against rival Vassar Brewers. Vassar is a rival that Fordham has faced several times in recent years, and was considered a key matchup on this year’s schedule. The Rams got

RAM ARCHIVES

The squash team will not be in action again until Dec. 1.

strong victories from the fourth through ninth slots, and added a victory from freshmen Kincaide Webster at the second slot for the 8-1 win. Senior leaders Alex Williams and Ethan Brooks paced the team with their wins at the third and fourth slots.

The second match of the doubleheader saw the Rams take on Haverford. This match did not go nearly as well for the Rams as they were defeated by a score of 9-0. The match was much closer than the final score would seem.

Matchups at the second through seventh slots all went at least to a fourth set, with Paul Monaghan’s matchup at the sixth slot going all the way to a deciding fifth set. Again led by the tough seniors Brooks, Williams and Jack O’Brien, the Rams fought hard but ultimately fell short. With the loss against Haverford, Fordham fell to 2-5.

It was a decent weekend for the Fordham squash team. Coach Bryan Patterson was pleased that the team was able to knock off Vassar.

“Vassar are our local rivals and we are always looking to win,” he said to CollegeSquashAssociation. com. “However, all of our matches are key matches for us.”

Patterson knows the team must build on the strong showing against Vassar for the rest of the season.

The Rams’ next match will be another doubleheader when Virginia and NYU both come to the Bronx on Dec. 1.

By RYAN SCANLON STAFF WRITER

The Fordham men’s and women’s cross country teams kept running following Hurricane Sandy, making no excuses through the unorthodox climate change.

Pre-Sandy, Fordham raced in the Atlantic 10 Championships Oct. 27, the first in a tough stretch of races to finish out the season.

Newly-added Butler took the conference’s men’s team title in impressive fashion, scoring 38 points by its top-five finishers.

Fordham’s men finished in the middle of the pack in eighth out of 16. Freshman Mike Turi was the first Ram to finish, at a time of 26:37 to earn 28th. The women’s team was led by junior Anisa Arsenault, who finished in 18:39 (5-km) to earn 27th.

The storm came and went the next week, and snow shortly followed, thereafter creating conditions not ideal for racing or training. This past Saturday, Nov. 9, the Rams took part in their penultimate race: the NCAA Northeast Regional meet in Madison, Conn. Both the men and women faced stiff competition as some of the nation’s top programs released their top runners into the field.

Iona College, led by the overall winner, senior Mitch Goose, took the men’s team title, accumulating 45 total points. The men finished 25th out of 34 teams on

the 10-km course. Junior Mike Belgiovine finished 85th in the incredibly crowded race in a time of 32:07 to lead the men.

Senior Nick Synan was fewer than 30 seconds behind him (in 32:42) but placed 124th. This gap illustrates the nightmare packing must have been for teams. Fordham as a team was very close, with Turi finishing 131st (32:50), junior Kevin Harvey 148th (33:12) and sophomore Jon Annelli 165th (33:33) finishing up. All five Rams who scored were within 90 seconds of each other.

The women’s team fought valiantly to finish 26th out of 37 teams on the 6-km course. Arsenault continued her impressive cross country campaign by leading the women yet again with a time of 22:25 to finish 127th overall. Sophomore Mara Lieberman was right behind her in a time of 22:27 to finish in 130th.

Fellow sophomores Danielle Drummond and Melissa Higgins came in at 22:51 and 23:10 to finish 151st and 169th, respectively. A strong race by freshman Suzy Sikorski earned her the last scoring spot for the Rams. She finished in 23:11 at 171th, right behind Higgins.

This coming weekend Nov. 17, the Fordham cross country season will come to a close with presumably the team’s final race of the season, the ECAC/IC4A Championships at Van Cortlandt Park.

SPORTS

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Is It Time For Greg McElroy?

By PATRICK DELACRUZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I have a couple of confessions to make. First off, I am a Jets fan. I have been a fan since my youth, and I will continue to bleed green and white for the rest of my life. As a Jets fan, I have been accustomed to many years of disappointment. With that being said, I am only human, and I am losing my patience with this year’s Jets team.

At the moment, the Jets have a disappointing record of 3-6. They are coming off three straight losses; furthermore, they have five losses in their last six games.

It seems that nothing has gone right for the Jets this year. In Week 3, Pro-Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis was carted off the field with a torn ACL, marking the end of his season.

Just one week later, the injury bug plagued the Jets once again, as wide receiver Santonio Holmes suffered a season-ending foot injury.

It is clear that the Jets are not at their best without Holmes and Revis; however, excuses cannot be made for the poor play the Jets have shown on the field.

It does not seem like the Jets are going to be improving anytime soon in their current state. Although the Jets’ remaining schedule is relatively easy, a playoff spot seems to be out of the question.

I have accepted the Jets’ fate as a team that will miss the playoffs for the second straight year. With lackluster play coming from the offense, defense and special teams, it is extremely difficult to remain optimistic about this team.

The National Football League is a quarterbacks’ league. A team with a legitimate quarterback has a great chance to win every week.

Unfortunately for the Jets, the quarterback position has brought nothing but inconsistent play, resulting in controversy about who should be given the starting job.

Heading into this season, I was a strong advocate of having Mark Sanchez as the starting quarterback. Some Jets fans were quick to support Tim Tebow as soon as he joined the team. Having just come off of a miracle season with the Denver Broncos, I could not blame these fans for supporting the almighty Tebow. Yet, I could not give up on “The Sanchize” so easily. I felt that Sanchez deserved one more year.

Well, the year has come, and I must admit: I was wrong.

For the Jets to succeed, they need

a change at quarterback. Sanchez has been given enough opportunities to prove his worth as a quarterback in this league. He has all of the physical tools to be successful, yet he lacks the mental ability needed to execute at the professional level.

Sanchez’s career has been characterized by high turnover totals.

Whether Sanchez has failed to read secondary coverages or has failed to recognize blitz packages, he has shown an inability to consistently handle pressure from opposing defenses.

The only consistent aspect of Sanchez’s play is the fact that he is consistently inconsistent. I can recall numerous times where the Jets have reached the red zone, only for Sanchez to turn the ball over. Sanchez most certainly has the potential to move the ball down the field.

At the same time, the Jets quarterback is equally capable of ending these drives by throwing a pick or coughing up a fumble.

So, if Sanchez is going to be benched, it must be Tebow Time.

I sure hope not.

I get it. Tebow led the Broncos to the playoffs after the Broncos started off 1-4 with Kyle Orton at the helm. I acknowledge the fact that Tebow led the Broncos to a playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tim Tebow is a phenomenal leader. He is a model citizen and possesses the so-called “intangibles” that few quarterbacks have in this league.

He is not a great quarterback. The most glaring flaw in Tebow’s game is his lack of arm strength. Tim Tebow is, at best, a wildcat quarterback.

Last year, Denver Broncos coach John Fox admitted that he adjusted the offensive playbook in order to facilitate the playcalling for Tebow.

Fox never believed in Tebow’s capabilities as an effective passer. As much as I admire Tebow’s character, I must admit that I don’t believe much in Tebow’s quarterback skills either.

That leaves Alabama alumnus Greg McElroy next in line for the starting job. As of this moment, I’m inclined to believe that McElroy should be considered for the position. While the preseason has little significance, it should be noted that McElroy threw the only touchdown for the Jets throughout the whole preseason. I’m not saying that McElroy will solve the Jets’ problems, but at the end of the day, the Jets have nothing to lose. McElroy is worth a shot.

NOVEMBER 14, 2012• THE RAM • PAGE 21

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/theram_sports Varsity Scores & Stats Football Fordham 7 10 14 5 36 Lafayette 10 10 0 7 27 Koonce (FOR)- 189 yds rushing Zweizig (LAF)- 285 yds passing

Women’s basketball Fordham 28 30 58 Cornell 28 22 50 Rooney (FOR)- 15 pts, 5 rebs DiMagno (COR)-11pts, 9 rebs

Fordham 28 30 58 Cornell 28 22 50 Rooney (FOR)- 15 pts, 5 rebs DiMagno (COR)-11pts, 9 rebs

Swimming- Men Princeton Invitational Top performers: Sholdra- 1st place in 500and 1,650-yd freestyle; 3rd place in 400-yd IM

Swimming- Women Princeton Invitational Top performers: Ryan- Four individual topten finishes

Squash Fordham 0 Haverford 9 Fordham 8 Vassar 1

Men’s basketball Fordham 34 42 86 Texas State 41 45 76 Gaston (FOR)- 19pts, 14rebs Wright (TSU)-19pts, 12 rebs Fordham 18 33 51 Pittsburgh 37 49 86 Smith (FOR)- 11 pts, 3 rebs Moore(PITT)- 20 pts Fordham 29 29 58 Rob. Morris 37 37 74 Frazier (FOR)- 21 pts L. Jones (RMU)-15pts, 9 rebs Volleyball Fordham 15 22 25 25 15 3 URI 25 25 13 10 13 2 Hipp (FOR)- 14 kills, 21 digs Steffen (URI)- 11 kills, 11 digs

Athletes of the Week Bryan Smith

Erin Rooney

Sophomore

RS Junior

Basketball

Basketball

Smith was the only Fordham player to score double digits in the Rams’ first three games.

Rooney had 31 points combined in her first two games as a Ram, as Fordham started the year with a pair of victories.

News & Notes •

• • •

Redshirt junior running back Carlton Koonce had 189 rushing yards in Fordham’s 36-27 victory over Lafayette, raising his season average to 136 yards per game.

Koonce is now sixth in the FCS in rushing.

With Fordham’s victory over Lafayette, the Rams improved to 6-4 on the season, clinching their first winning season since 2007.

Fordham’s chapter of Uplifting Athletes raised $1,500 for pediatric brain cancer research at last weekend’s game.

Three Fordham swimmers earned weekly honors from the A-10. Senior Brienne Ryan was named female Performer of the Week and freshmen Steve Sholdra and Theresa Goerhing took home Rookie of the Week Honors.

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/theram_sports PHOTO BY DAVE MARTIN/AP

McElroy won a national title at Alabama before joining the Jets.

PAGE 22• THE RAM • NOVEMBER 14, 2012

SMITH SAYS ALEX SMITH

Being a Philadelphia sports fan can be tough. Being a Philadelphia sports fan while living in New York is even tougher. I don’t get to watch many Philadelphia Eagles games, unless they are playing the Giants or are in the Sunday or Monday night games.

When I have gotten to watch the Eagles play this season, they have been horrendous. People around campus keep asking me the same questions: Should quarterback Michael Vick be benched? Is backup Nick Foles the answer?

After watching Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, I have discovered that the answer to both of those questions is a resounding “no.” While Vick is expected to miss this week’s game with a concussion, I still believe he is not the biggest problem on this team.

Let me be very frank. The Eagles stink. They are an incredibly disappointing team given the talent-ridden roster. The team went 8-8 last season thanks to a fourgame winning streak to end the year. Owner Jeffrey Lurie came out after the season, saying that another 8-8 year would not be acceptable. The 2012 Eagles are now 3-6 and have lost five games in a row. Andy Reid is the most successful coach in franchise history, but I have a tough time seeing him returning next year if things don’t change. With all that said, Vick’s performance has not been the problem. The major flaws in this team lie elsewhere.

The biggest problem for the Birds over the past season and a half has been the defense. The Eagles brought in big names like Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Jason Babin and Demeco Ryans to help bolster their defensive game. Babin has caused some trouble in the locker room, Ryans hasn’t been himself and Asomugha and Cromartie ought to go to a hospital for being burned so many times.

In my opinion, it all goes back to Andy Reid’s decision to promote offensive line coach Juan Castillo to defensive coordinator.

No typo there.

As Charles Barkley says in the hit film Space Jam, “It wasn’t a dream. It really happened!”

I wish it was a dream, Chuck.

It was a terrible choice in the first place, and it took Reid a season and a half to admit his mistake and fire Castillo. The defense doesn’t get pressure on the opposing quarterback: they are a pathetic tackling team and the secondary is incredibly inconsistent.

Through nine games this season, it’s been the offensive line that has stepped up as public enemy No. one in the eyes of Philly fans. It started back in the preseason, when All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters was lost for the entire season with a ruptured right Achilles tendon. Peters is one of the best offensive linemen in the league, and the Eagles have not

been able to replace him. Starting center Jason Kelce blew out his knee in September. Guard Danny Watkins has been battling injuries all season long. When right tackle Todd Herremans, who is in charge of defending Vick’s blind side, was lost for the season after suffering an injury against New Orleans in Week 9, guard Evan Mathis became the last man standing of the O-Line’s original crew.

The replacement offensive linemen for Philadelphia have been worse than the NFL’s infamous replacement officials. Yeah, that bad. In the Sunday night game against New Orleans, they allowed seven sacks to a bad Saints defense. Vick is the fastest and most athletic quarterback to ever play in the NFL. No team should be able to sack him seven times in one game. There are no excuses for that. And it’s been more than just that game. Vick has been sacked 27 times in eight-and-ahalf games. He’s also been forced out of the pocket and knocked around mercilessly in every single game.

This is why Nick Foles is not the answer. The rookie QB from Arizona can scramble a bit, but he is not a mobile quarterback. He’s a stand in the pocket kind of guy, and with this porous offensive line, I’m honestly scared for Foles’ well being.

I have to give the rookie some credit. In this weeks’ loss to Dallas, Foles stepped into action in the second quarter after Vick was knocked out of the game with a concussion. Foles passed for 219 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. While he showed flashes of brilliance at times, and made me feel confident in the future, he also showed that he’s not ready to be a starting quarterback in the NFL just yet.

He threw a number of dangerous passes, one of which was picked off by Brandon Carr and returned for a score. He also fumbled the ball in the end zone in the game’s final minutes, when the Eagles were within one score. He threw a few passes across his body and off his back foot, and he had another pick that was called back because of a penalty. Foles needs more time to develop and should not be thrown into the fire when the offensive line is as terrible as it is.

I know Vick’s numbers aren’t great. I know that he has been turning the ball over at an alarming rate. But the Eagles cannot give up on him yet. He was so good out of nowhere for this team in 2010, stepping in for Kevin Kolb in the season opener and putting up an MVP-like season.

He has since been rewarded with a massive contract to which he has not lived up. But he is still the biggest weapon in the NFL. When he is on his game, and is given time to throw in the pocket, he can be lethal through the air as well as on the ground. He has one of the strongest arms in the NFL and has become a much better passer. I’m glad Vick plays for my hometown team, because I know how good he can be.

In time, Foles will be the starter in Philly, and he’ll be very good, but it would be a terrible decision to throw him in the starting role right now.

I still believe in Michael Vick.

SPORTS

theramonline.com

Senior Profile: Ryan Higgins

By DAN GARTLAND SPORTS EDITOR

Ryan Higgins, a senior from Merrick, NY, has played football at Fordham for four years, but this is his first season starting every game as quarterback for the Rams. As a sophomore, Higgins started four games, replacing an injured Blake Wayne.

In 2011, his junior season, Higgins started the final seven games for Fordham, replacing a struggling Peter Maetzold.

With Higgins at the helm this season, Fordham has the 31st ranked offense in the Football Championship Subconference.

Higgins’ 255 passing yards per game are 18th in the FCS. On Oct. 27 against Holy Cross, Higgins led a last-minute gamewinning drive, throwing for 407 yards and was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week. It was Higgins’ second-career 400-yard game.

No other Fordham quarterback has eclipsed the 400-yard mark twice.

The Ram: Why did you choose to come to Fordham?

Ryan Higgins: The main reason was probably the proximity to my home on Long Island. Then when I was recruited here, they told me that I was their No. 1 quarterback, and the other schools that I was looking at said I was either No. 2 or No. 3, so [Fordham] had the confidence in me to tell me I was their top guy and they wanted me here.

I came on my visit and I thought it was a great fit for me.

TR: Even though they said you were the top guy, this is your first season starting every game. How does it feel to have your hard work pay off ?

RH: Especially during my senior year, to be able to start every game and have the season that we’ve had, with our first winning record since 2007, that’s a pretty special feeling, especially going through everything that my senior class has gone through — with last year, going 1-10. Who would have thought that this would ever be possible? But then Coach [ Joe] Moorhead came in and he made us believe.

PHOTO BY ALLY WHITE/THE RAM

Higgins won the starting quarterback battle during summer training camp.

have the right pieces, which I think we do have, with [redshirt junior running back Carlton Koonce], we have wideouts on the outside — [senior Nick] Talbert, [senior] Greg Wilson, [senior] Blake [Wayne], [sophomore] Brian [Wetzel] — all those guys make plays. Running the high-tempo offense we have now, getting those guys out in space and having [Koonce] run the ball, I think it’s really tough to stop.

TR: You had a great game a few weeks ago against Holy Cross, and I asked Coach Moorhead what he thought about your performance and how you’ve progressed throughout the season. He said that your growth has been “astronomical.” What do you think the reason for that is?

having that extra pressure thrust on you?

RH: I think it was just extra pressure for that Cornell game [in which Nebrich was injured], just because I wasn’t expecting it. But then as you look back, I started seven or eight games last year, so I know how it feels to be the only guy out there and be the starting quarterback, incorporating some of the stuff that I’ve learned over the years of starting games. And then just having confidence in myself, being the senior quarterback, knowing that I have to be a leader, and step into a bigger leadership role now that Mike went down.

TR: You’ve got your last game next week. What is that going to feel like?

RH: I think it’s just game experience, confidence. Coach Moorhead lets me know every week that he has full confidence in me. He kind of hands me the reins to the offense and lets me do my thing on Saturdays. I think it’s just my confidence level. You build on it each week; you have successful games; you win games.

RH: I can’t even describe it right now. I haven’t really sat down to think about how it’s going to be my last football game ever. I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of emotion, especially because it’s senior day and our senior class is so tight.

TR: Going into the season you were expecting it to be a twoquarterback system, sharing some snaps with [sophomore] Michael Nebrich. What was it like having him go down with an injury and

RH: I’m a business administration major, so I want to do something in the business world, in the finance world. Maybe I’ll see if I can get a job in New York City. I’m keeping my options open.

TR: What are your plans for after graduation?

TR: Tell me a little more about Moorhead. What’s it like playing for him?

RH: He’s a genius. I could tell you right now he’s the best coach I’ve ever played for in my entire life. This man knows football better than anyone. If I came in to watch extra film, he’d have me in there for three or four hours just talking football with me. He breaks down every single play, for every single week, for every single game. He just knows what he’s doing. During the game he puts us in the right spot all the time.

TR: How do you like playing in his system?

RH: It’s awesome. I love the spread; I love the option. If we

PHOTO BY ALLY WHITE/THE RAM

Higgins is second in the Patriot League with 255.4 passing yards per game.

Volleyball Closes Out Season with Comeback Win Over Rhode Island

PHOTO BY ALLY WHITE/THE RAM

Maria Rodenbergh will be a senior leader for the Rams next season.

By KENNY DEJOHN STAFF WRITER

The Fordham volleyball team played just one game this past week, as the match scheduled for Nov. 7 at Rider University was canceled due to impending inclement weather in the tri-state area. With no make-up date announced, that left the Rams with one final match before the playoffs.

The contest was on Saturday, Nov. 10 against Rhode Island. Seniors Michele Keathley and Randi Ewing were honored before the game, and they were looking to go out strong with a victory.

The Rams dropped the first two sets, facing elimination early in the match. Fordham then put together one of its best stretches of play this season to make the match a close one.

The Rams quickly built up a 7-2 lead in the third set, and they would eventually increase that lead to as much as 12. Juniors Lisa Hipp and Carina Thompson each recorded four kills in the set. The Rams began their comeback with a 25-13 win in set 3.

Set 4 represented a decisive win for the Rams. They dominated the set, winning by 15 points.

Fordham posted a perfect sideout percentage, as Rhode Island never received a point from a serve. The team also had just one attack error, compared to 13 kills.

With the match on the line, the Rams built an early 6-3 lead in the deciding fifth set. The Rams would go up 9-5 before Rhode Island came storming back to tie

NOVEMBER 14, 2012• THE RAM • PAGE 23

SPORTS

theramonline.com

the set at 11 apiece. After trading sideouts, the Rams reached match point on a kill by freshman Brianna O’Neil. Thompson came up with the block that ensured the set win. Hipp finished with a match-high 14 kills and a careerhigh 21 digs. She also finished off the season with over 400 kills and 300 digs. Both of these were personal bests. O’Neil recorded 11 kills, and freshman Abigail Konovodoff finished with a season-high 10 kills and six blocks.

On Senior Day, Ewing posted six kills and eight blocks. The eight blocks gave her 329 on her career, third all-time in Fordham history.

Keathley contributed nine digs in the contest. Thompson added nine kills and six blocks, while junior Sara Konkel contributed 37 assists, nine digs and four kills. Junior Maria Rodenberg added 16 digs and seven assists.

The victory ends the Rams’ season with a record of 14-19, 6-8 in Atlantic 10 play. The loss for Rhode Island eliminated them from playoff contention.

Both Ewing and Keathley finished their Fordham careers on high notes on Saturday. Ewing finished as one of the most decorated blockers in the school’s history, while Keathley played consistently with the Rams from the beginning of her freshman year. She transferred in 2011 to Biola University, but Fordham welcomed her back for this 2012 season.

It will be difficult to replace the production of these valuable players, but the Rams have players in place to do their best at filling those positions.

By MATT ROSENFELD ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

This past Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers fired their head coach, Mike Brown. Brown was in his second year with the Lakers, and only five games into his second year at that. Many criticized the Lakers for a rash decision after an awful 1-4 start with their newly-formed “super team.” But I am here to defend the team’s decision. I believe the Lakers made the right decision in getting rid of Brown.

Now, I can’t fully endorse the decision to hire Mike D’Antoni over Phil Jackson. In my opinion, no matter what the situation or demands are, it is never better to have D’Antoni than Jackson as your basketball coach. But this is not a column regarding that decision. This is a column about the decision to fire Mike Brown.

Normally, I am for giving coaches a chance. In this day and age, franchises often fire coaches far too quickly, even when they have no solid plans for replacement.

There are special circumstances, however, and the Los Angeles Lakers are one of those circumstances.

This summer, the team made blockbuster moves looking to improve on its second-round exit in last season’s playoffs. The Lakers traded four draft picks in exchange for future Hall-of-Fame point guard Steve Nash. And in the move of the year, the team traded for Dwight Howard to give the Lakers a starting five that seems like it is straight out of a video game.

The Lakers have won 16 NBA titles in their illustrious history. In many ways, they are the Yankees of the NBA. When it comes to basketball, it is championship or bust in L.A. When they acquired Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, to go along with top-20 talents Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, expectations were set as high as they come. The only thing the team seemed to need was the direction of a competent coach.

Mike Brown was not that man.

Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard are not easily handled. These two have proven that time and again. The only coach that has reined in Bryant enough to get a championship out of him is Phil Jackson, perhaps the best NBA coach of all time.

Dwight Howard is no better.

Howard was quite the malcontent while he looked to get traded from

the Orlando Magic and got Head Coach Stan Van Gundy canned there.

The inability to manage the star players of his team is the primary reason that Brown needed to go.

The writing was on the wall: there would be trouble amongst the team when adversity struck regardless of whether or not Brown had enough time to implement his Princeton offense with the new roster. The preview was the 1-4 start, which saw Kobe’s death stares at his head coach and the second guessing of every move.

Many point to the Heat, when they created their “Big 3,” and how they too struggled in their initial month together as a similiar situation. There is a stark difference between the two, however, and that is the players’ feelings toward their coach. Throughout, the struggles in their two-year journey to a title, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were always behind their coach.

None of those guys have ever been one to call out the coach, or to challenge his authority. Miami liked its coach and the team was confident that they would turn their season around.

The same cannot be said for the Lakers. When owner Jerry Buss hired Brown, he did so without consulting Kobe. Now, that is not to say that front offices need to

check with their players before hiring coaches, but in a situation in which Kobe’s approval and temperament are a big factor in the team’s success, you would think the franchise would seek a coach who appeases the face of their organization.

Brown’s failure to manage his team was something that did not bode well for the future. Players coming back from injury or buying into his system are one thing, but a distinct lack of control is an issue that cannot be resolved on the court. And because of failures on the court, the Lakers had the opportunity to start fresh with a new coach and this newly-stocked roster.

Being 1-4 through not even five percent of your season is certainly not insurmountable, but going deeper and deeper into the season with the wrong guy at the helm would lead to another disappointing end of the year. The difference this time is that there will be far less tolerance for a subpar finish in Los Angeles with this historic roster in place.

The Lakers needed to make a change, and this was the perfect opportunity for that move. It will be interesting to see if D’Antoni, who has previously had issues with star players (see: Anthony, Carmelo), can clean up the mess Mike Brown could not.

MARK DUNCAN/AP

The Lakers fired Mike Brown after just six percent of their season schedule, the equivalent of an NFL team firing their coach before its first game was over.

Upcoming Varsity Schedule CAPS=HOME lowercase=away

Thursday Nov. 15

Friday Nov. 16

Saturday Nov. 17

Sunday Nov. 18

Cross Country

Wednesday Nov. 21

Pre-Season NIT Consolation Pod (Location TBA)

Men’s BBall

Swimming

Tuesday Nov. 20

COLGATE 1 p.m.

Football

Women’s BBall

Monday Nov. 19

DELA.WARE STATE 2 p.m.

.

Bucknell Invitational Lewisburg, PA ECAC/IC4A Champ.

at San Francisco 10 p.m.

NOVEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 24

Rams Overcome Early Deficit to Down Lafayette, 36-27 Fordham Notches First Winning Season Since 2007 as Defense Forces Three Interceptions

By CHESTER BAKER SPORTS EDITOR

The Rams secured a winning record for the first time since 2007, notching their sixth win of the season in a 36-27 victory over the Lafayette Leopards on Saturday at Jack Coffey Field.

Fordham was once again led by senior running back Carlton Koonce, who rushed for 186 yards and a touchdown. Senior quarterback Ryan Higgins was efficient, passing for 150 yards and two touchdowns, both of which were to sophomore wide receiver Brian Wetzel, who had 100 receiving yards, including an 89yard score.

The biggest momentum swing of the game came from the defense, however, when sophomore defensive back Jordan Chapman intercepted a pass from Lafayette sophomore quarterback Zach Zweizig and returned it for a touchdown in the third quarter.

“I definitely thought that was the turning point of the game,” Chapman said. “Whenever we make a good play, no matter who it is on the defense, it’s a team effort. It’s not just one person.”

Head Coach Joe Moorhead relished the opportunity to send the senior class out with a winning record in his first season leading the Rams.

“They’ve done everything we’ve asked of them as a coaching staff, they’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty,” Moorhead said.

“They’ve taken this program to new heights this year, and they’ve set the stage for what we’re going to be as a program.”

The win had a special meaning, as the team honored Ty Campbell, a young man whom the football team “adopted” in the summer of 2011.

Sadly, Campbell lost his battle with pediatric brain cancer on Oct. 17.

Fordham wore gold shoelaces and towels to help raise awareness for pediatric brain cancer in honor of Campbell. His brave battle also inspired Fordham to start a chapter of the Uplifting Athletes program, with senior defensive end Andrew Millmore serving as the president.

Higgins threw only one pick in the win, quite a feat against a Lafayette team that tops the Football Championship Subdivision in interceptions. Instead, it was the Fordham secondary that did the ball hawking, picking off sophomore quarterback Zach Zweizig three times. The defensive effort was made even more impressive by the fact that Fordham was playing without senior middle linebacker Mike Martin, who was out with a shoulder injury.

“Coach Moorhead and Coach [David] Blackwell always tell us if someone goes down, the next man has to do as good or better of a job,” Chapman said. “Losing Mike was obviously big because he is the center point of our defense. I think he is our best player. But the guys who stepped up, Kassim [Forbes] and Stephen Hodge did a great job stepping up today.”

PHOTO BY ALLY WHITE/THE RAM

Campbell’s interception return gave Fordham a 31-20 lead as the sophomore ran 69 yards for the touchdown.

The Rams saved their best efforts for the second half, as they outscored the Leopards 17-3 after trailing by three after the first half. It was a contrast from last week, when Fordham collapsed in the second half against Bucknell, scoring only three points.

“We’ve been harping on ways and trying to figure out what would make us more effective in the second half, and this week we decided as a team that we’re not going to talk about the second half,” Moorhead said. “Our focus was narrow. We focused on taking it one play at a time and going from there.”

The Leopards, who blew a 10-point lead, were caught off guard by the resurgent Fordham effort in the second half.

“We got pretty frustrated in the second half because we just weren’t making those big plays we were making in the first half,” sophomore wide receiver Mike Duncan said. “I think Fordham made some pretty good halftime corrections.”

The game had a little extra riding on it with Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton in attendance.

Higgins felt no pressure from playing in front of one of Fordham’s

most famous alums.

“I’ve been close with John over the last couple of years,” Higgins said. “We exchange text messages sometimes. I didn’t think I was trying to one-up him on the sideline or anything like that.”

Fordham saw its first drive stalled in Lafayette territory after failing to convert on fourth-and-short. The Rams were bolstered by a 26-yard run by Koonce, but could not make anything of it, surrendering the ball to the Leopards.

Lafayette used an old-fashioned flea flicker on their first play of the game, as Zweizig connected with Duncan for 49 yards. The Leopards capped off the drive with a touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Mark Ross, who beat Fordham’s junior cornerback Ian Williams to secure the lob pass in the back of the end zone, giving Lafayette an early 7-0 lead.

The early struggles continued for the Rams on their second drive, when Higgins was picked off by sophomore Shane Black, giving Lafayette the ball at midfield. The interception was Lafayette’s 20th of the season. The Leopards were able to convert the turnover into three

points, as freshman kicker Ryan Gralish connected from 36 yards out to stretch the lead to 10-0.

The Rams responded on their first play after the score. Koonce scampered 63 yards after being stopped initially, flying into the secondary for a big gain.

The senior running back finished off the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, giving the Rams their first points of the day and shrinking the Leopards lead to three, at 10-7.

Koonce had all 72 yards of Fordham offense on the scoring drive.

“It’s a good feeling any time coach calls your number in a particular situation to come through,” Koonce said.

After trading punts, Lafayette used another trick play to burn the Fordham secondary, faking an option to catch the Rams off-guard.

Zweizig again found Duncan on a deep pass, good for another 49-yard completion. With the catch, Duncan went over 100 receiving yards in the first quarter. Sophomore running back Ross Scheurman ended the drive with a short run for the score to make it 17-7 Lafayette.

The Rams answered with a big pass of their own when Higgins

PHOTO BY ALLY WHITE/THE RAM

Koonce bounced a 63-yard run to the outside in the first quarter after being swallowed up by the defensive line.

connected with sophomore wide receiver Brian Wetzel for an 89-yard touchdown strike, cutting into the Leopard’s lead, 17-14.

“I saw the safety trying to undercut the ball and try to catch it but I knew he wasn’t going to get to it,” Wetzel said.

For the first time that day, the passing attack produced for the Rams after they were held to just 19 yards through the air prior to the score.

Following a penalty on fourthand-inches on their ensuing drive, Lafayette was forced to settle for a 37-yard field goal by Gralish to bring the score to 20-14 midway through the second quarter. The Rams kicked a field goal of their own, as senior kicker Patrick Murray hit one from 31 yards out with 3:30 left in the second quarter, making it 20-17.

Fordham forced the first Leopards turnover of the game on Lafayette’s second drive of the second half when Zweizig was picked off by sophomore safety Jake Dixon, setting the Rams up at the Lafayette 25-yard line.

The Rams took full advantage, scoring six on a pass from Higgins to Wetzel, who also made a “highlight reel” grab on the drive. The touchdown gave the Rams their first lead of the game, 24-20.

Lafayette took a chance on its next drive, going for it from the Fordham 41 on fourth-and-5. The gamble did not pay off for the Leopards, as Chapman came up with his pick six to give the Rams a 31-20 lead.

A penalty-ridden defensive drive from the Rams aided Lafayette inside the Fordham 25-yard line, but the Fordham defense came up with a stop on fourth-and-long with under eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

On the drive, a roughing the passer penalty on senior nose guard John LaSure sent Zweizig to the sidelines for a few plays after the high hit.

Despite the win, the Rams compiled 13 penalties for 140 yards.

“We just seem to be a team to commit a lot of penalties this year,” Moorhead said. “The ones that are not smart, we’ve got to continue to grind away and eliminate those because it’s not good football. It’s not who we want to be as a team.”

Following another field goal by Murray after the Melanophy pick, Lafayette scored with 1:24 left in the fourth quarter, keeping the team’s hopes alive at 34-27. Those hopes were quickly dashed, however, when senior wide receiver Nick Talbert secured the onside kick.

Lafayette got the ball back with 14 seconds left, but surrendered a safety on a holding penalty in the end zone to give the game its final points.

The Rams will close out the season on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. when the Colgate Raiders come to the Bronx. Colgate defeated the Lehigh Mountain Hawks for the Patriot League Championship this weekend.

A win over the Raiders would give Fordham a perfect home record for the first time since 1970.