Volume 94 Issue 4

Opinions PAGE 7

Culture PAGE 11

Controversy surrounds Planned Parenthood.

How relevant are the Grammys?

Sports PAGE 20 Patriot League offers scholarships for top athletes.

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FEBRUARY 15, 2012

VOLUME 94, ISSUE 4

Racial Slur Found on RA’s Door

RAM ARCHIVES

The “n-word” was written a black female RA’s door in Walsh; students on campus are concerned with the matter.

By CONNIE KIM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The “n-word” was written on a black female Resident Assistant’s

door in Walsh Hall last Tuesday afternoon, according to Office of Residential Life. A facilities worker scrubbed the word off the door next day, but the officials from

the Office of Residential Life say they are currently conducting an investigation to find the person who committed this crime.

“Last week, a member of our

resident assistant staff discovered an ugly and offensive racial epithet written in marker on her apartment door,” Kimberly Russell, assistant dean of Residential Life, said.

There are regularly incidents of vandalism throughout the dorms on campus; however, according to the officials from the Office of Residential Life, since this particular incident is more serious than other vandalism incidents that have occurred in dorms on campus, the Office of Residential Life is handling this incident more seriously by working with security.

“The staff member immediately made contact with facilities and this anonymous vandalism was removed,” Russell said. “At the same time, facilities reported the incident to security, and an investigation was immediately launched.”

Not all students were aware of the incident, because the facilities staff removed the offensive graffiti

Formerly titled “Benefit Week,” Residence Halls Association (RHA) has turned this philanthropic movement into a month long Series of Fortunate Events.

Headed by Executive Vice President Paul Caruselle, FCRH ‘13, the program kicked off on Feb. 7 with a poker tournament, and will last until the grand finale, the benefit auction held on March 2.

“I love the philanthropy aspect of it,” Caruselle said. “I love giving back, and I think it’s something that Fordham’s very good at.”

Last year, RHA decided to expand the program, moving from a week crammed with events to a month of activities to make it easier for students to attend multiple events.

“It worked out really well,” Caruselle said. “Our attendance skyrocketed and the amount raised jumped.”

The poker tournament provided a great start to the events, raising about $1,400. The money from the poker tournament was donated to Parents of Angels, a local Bronx charity that helps families who have children with autism.

“This [Parents of Angels], personally, is my favorite because of what it really does,” Caruselle said. “Our one event finances their meetings for a whole year, so that’s why we continue to give to them.

They’re almost reliant on us, so it’s

something that we like to do.”

The next event, a bingo tournament, took place on Feb. 8. The proceeds from Bingo and the next two events, Quizzo and the Valentine’s Day Hall programs, will go to benefit City Squash, a non-profit organization based out of Fordham that helps the youth in the Bronx achieve their full potentials, whether in school or outside of the classroom.

Quizzo, a monthly event sponsored by RHA, will take place on Feb. 16 in Dagger John’s. The only difference is this week’s proceeds will go on to help out the children involved in City Squash. RHA also ran Valentine’s Day “mini-fundraisers” inside each residence hall to benefit City Squash.

On Feb. 22, the Series of Fortunate Events continues with a beer and wine tasting event held at Dagger John’s from 6-8 p.m. right before the St. Bonaventure basketball game. It is $10 per person for students and faculty who are over 21.

“We hire a beer and wine guy to come in, and he selects the beer and wine he wants to give out for taste testing,” Caruselle said.

The proceeds from the tasting will to go to support people living with Alzheimer’s.

RHA is sponsoring a talent showcase, a new event this year which will be held on Feb. 23.

“In previous years, we’ve held a Battle of the Bands but the turnout hasn’t been what we would have liked it to be,” Caruselle said.

SEE CHARITY ON PAGE 2

SEE PRIZE ON PAGE 2

PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM

Events included in the program consisted of a poker tournament and bingo night.

This year, instead of bands, various performing groups from Fordham, including The Ramblers, BSides, Satin Dolls, Expressions and Flava, as well as individual acts, will be participating in the talent showcase. It will feature a panel of judges and will also include a crowd vote,

STAFF WRITER

where each audience member can pay $1 per vote to choose their favorite performance.

After the talent showcase, an annual event, the Letters to the Troops, will take place on Feb. 28 in the Ramskellar. RHA creates care

SEE VANDALISM ON PAGE 2

Residence Halls Association Kicks Off the Month-Long Series of Fortunate Events to Raise Money for Various Charities

By KELLY KULTYS

By EDDIE MIKUS

Fordham students may consider their professors to be the best anywhere. Such an assessment would carry more weight, however, if it comes from outside the University—as in the case of Political Science chair, Jeffrey Cohen.

Cohen’s book Going Local: Presidential Leadership In The PostBroadcast Age was recently awarded the Goldsmith Book Prize, which is given by the Harvard’s Kennedy School’s Joan Shorenstein Center to the work that “best fulfills the objective of improving democratic governance through an examination of the intersection between the media, politics and public policy.”

In his book, Cohen tracks how increased political polarization and new forms of news media have impacted the United States presidency.

“A generation ago, from the 1960s through 1980s, prior to cable television, the three big broadcast networks, The New York Times and The Washington Post pretty much determined all the news that people got,” Cohen said, describing the premise behind his work.

“Nowadays, we have a much more splintered news media, and partially because of the variety of new kinds of media out there, especially cable, but also the internet, the audience for news has declined.

Fewer people are reading newspapers, fewer people are watching the evening news.”

According to Cohen, this decrease in news viewership, combined with political polarization, has significantly altered one of the main tasks of the United States president.

“Because of polarization, one segment of the public doesn’t pay as much attention to him as they used to, usually people in the opposition party,” Cohen said about how the fundamental job of United States president has changed.

“Another segment of the public which used to watch the news and read newspapers is no longer. So the presidential strategy, it’s much, much harder for presidents to lead the entire nation.”

Cohen found that this shift in public values has ultimately forced presidents to change the way they approach their job.

“What they tend to do now is focus on their base, important interest groups and localities, where

RHA Launches Philanthropy Month ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Political Science Chair Wins Book Prize

NEWS

PAGE 2 • THE RAM • FEBRUARY 15, 2012

SECURITY

BRIEFS

Feb. 7, Goupil Hall, 1:45 a.m.

A student reported being harassed through Facebook and Gmail after an unknown person changed his passwords. Security and IT are investigating.

Feb. 7, Lombardi Fieldhouse, 6 p.m.

An unknown person stole an iPod classic from a student’s bag in an unlocked locker in the Fieldhouse. Security is investigating the incident.

Feb. 7, Loschert Hall, 11 p.m.

A guest of a Fordham student attempted to enter with a fake Fordham I.D. The Fordham student admitted to making the fake I.D. for his friend.

Feb. 8, 5 p.m.

A department at Fordham attempted to sell equipment on eBay. A person interested contacted the department and mailed them a fake $2,100 check for a $300 item. The person interested asked for $1,800 in return, but security caught on and realized it was a scam. They are investigating.

VANDALISM, FROM PAGE 1

immediately and school officials did not inform the student body about what happened.

Other students who heard about incident uniformly decried the use of racial epithets on campus, even if they disagreed about how it should have been handled.

“Not only is the act itself completely unacceptable and offensive, but also Fordham’s silence around the incident shows that we have a long way to go with dialogue surrounding racial issues on this campus,” Cassie Len, FCRH ’12, said.

“It’s classless and pretty racist, but it shouldn’t really be given too much attention because then the person who did it will get satisfaction that he wants,” Cesar Rizo, GSB ’14, said.

According to Russell, since the incident, security and the residence hall staff have been working closely with the Resident Assistant whose door was written upon and the other occupants of the apartment. They are also working closely with the Office of Multicultural Affairs to discuss responses.

“Our first concern has been the well-being of the RA and the students involved,” Russell said. “As all Fordham students know, our community does not tolerate use of this kind of language or the harassment of any of our students.”

In the meantime, the Office of Residential Life encourages students with any information about this incident contact the security at (718) 817-2222 or the Office of Residential Life at (718) 8173080.

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RHA Hosts Month-Long Charity Event CHARITY, FROM PAGE 1

packages that are sent out to troops stationed overseas. The care packages consist of donated items gathered by the RHA general boards in each of the residences halls across campus. Students can show their support by dropping off items, such as tissues, magazines or canned goods in one of the boxes located in the lobby of each hall. On the night itself, RHA board members will retrieve the items from the halls, while students can participate in writing letters to the troops from

A Series of Fortunate Events concludes on Mar. 2 in O’Keefe Commons with the annual Benefit Auction.

“Last year we raised close to $15,000,” Caruselle said. “This year we’re shooting a little bit higher.

We’re aiming for $20,000.”

With the exception of 2010, due to the earthquake in Haiti, each year the proceeds from the auction are sent to the Incarnation Children’s Center in Manhattan, which helps children living with HIV or AIDS. The auction consists of both a si-

“I love the philanthropy aspect of it. I love giving back, and I think it’s something that Fordham is very good at.”

6:30-10 p.m. “[The letter writing campaign] goes over very well. [The troops] sent us letters back last year,” Caruselle said. “They even sent us pictures of the guys wearing the Fordham hats around the bases.”

Throughout this whole time, there is consistent programming going on inside all of the residence halls, which will also go to benefit those living with Alzheimer’s.

“Each hall does their own different activity. I leave it up to them to choose what they would like to do,” Caruselle said. “They’ve always had some creative ideas, like in O’Hare, they’re selling ‘Bro-Hare’ pinneys, like we did last year, as a fundraiser.”

lent and live auction, with the largest prize being picks in the housing lottery.

“This year we’re having one, possibly two, first picks in the housing lottery,” Caruselle said. “What usually happens is a lot of kids will go in together, and if you win, you get the first pick of your grade in the housing lottery. You go in to ResLife before anyone else does, and you get to spot pick your room for next year.”

Besides the housing lottery, the auction benefits from many donations from all aspects of campus.

The majority of the organizations on campus, such as the United Student Government (USG), Campus Activities Board (CAB) and the

Political Science Chair Cohen Wins Goldsmith Book Prize PRIZE, FROM PAGE 1

Feb. 10, 179th and Creston Ave, 6:45 p.m.

A student reported being the victim of an attempted robbery.

An individual, “Billy,” asked the student to give him money or be shot. The student did not see a weapon, so the student continued walking. There were no injuries or property damage. NYPD is investigating.

Feb. 11, Loschert Hall, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

A student reported a 15-inch silver MacBook missing from the third floor lounge. The student left the laptop there and returned a few hours later to find it missing.

Security is investigating.

Feb. 11-13, Hughes Hall Construction The building supervisor reported that someone broke the lock at the construction gate. No property was stolen, and there was no reported damage. Security is giving special attention to the construction site.

— Compiled by Kelly Kultys, Assistant News Editor

RHA executive board, donate large prizes that students can win. Many administrators throw in their support, such as free dinners sponsored by the deans, as well as alumni and various local businesses outside of campus.

“I have alumni emailing me, asking me what they can donate,” Caruselle said.

The planning for A Series of Fortunate Events began in the summer, with the bulk of the work taking place between December and February.

“I worked very closely with Marisela Sigona, the vice president from last year. In fact I’ve known her my whole life, so I had a lot of experience with this last year, which made it easier for me this year,” Caruselle said. “It’s a huge undertaking for vice presidents of the general board, though, because they’re not executive board members, but they work just as hard as us. Without them, the events would be impossible.”

RHA’s A Series of Fortunate Events helps students participate in community service in ways they never thought possible.

“We would never run a program that we ourselves wouldn’t want to attend. These are all great events, each event has its own unique aspect,” Caruselle said. “I think a lot of times strictly philanthropy events don’t have a great draw to bring people to them, but what we try to do is create a philanthropic environment that’s enjoyable to be at besides just the satisfaction of giving back.”

they think they can generate extra support,” Cohen said of the conclusions he reached from his work.

Although having multiple news outlets might lead people to be more informed about their government, Cohen feels that there has always been a group of people that has not been politically inclined. In today’s world, this group has been led to pursue other interests through the large number of options offered them by new media outlets.

“There’s a cadre of people out in the public who have never been all that interested in politics or news,” Cohen said. “Now they have alternatives to fill their time . They can watch MTV or a movie station, whereas a generation ago they couldn’t because there were only three networks, and they all had news at the same time.”

He summed up this maxim by saying, “People who want to be well-informed can be, but people who are not motivated have a lot of other choices to do something else.”

In addition to the Goldsmith Award, Cohen’s book also captured the 2011 Richard Neustadt Book Award, which is given by the American Political Science Association for “the best book published that contributed to research and scholarship in the field of the American presidency.” A prior book by Cohen Presidential Responsiveness and Public Policy also won the Neustadt Award.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM.EDU

Mr. Jeffrey Cohen was recently awarded with the Goldsmith Award.

Cohen stated that a fundamental difference between the awards prevents them from being compared to each other in terms of academic prestige.

“There’s several different kinds of academic awards,” Cohen said.

“One kind of academic award is given by the different associations,

like the American Political Science Association. So that would be political scientists awarding political scientists. Those can be very prestigious.”

Cohen said that the Goldsmith Awards do not exactly fit that category.

“This is a different kind of award

because it’s not by political scientists to political scientists, it’s by academics to academics crossing over different fields. So I can’t say that it’s more or less prestigious as a major award by political scientists, but it’s a nice award,” Cohen said.

The Goldsmith Awards are also issued in the fields of investigative reporting and career journalism. According to the Shorenstein Center’s website, the book prize “has recognized distinguished scholarship by writers examining free speech, public television, race, journalism ethics and campaign advertising.”

When asked about his reaction to winning the award, Cohen said that he was “stunned.” He did, however, have a message to the Fordham community for how it should portray the award.

“There are a lot of very smart faculty members who do very important research,” Cohen said. “I’m rather flattered to get this kind of attention, but Fordham students should be proud not just about me, but about the large number of faculty who have contributed to scholarship as well as teaching in a classroom.”

He added, “There’s a lot of very good professors who have won awards or have made other kinds of contributions. So I don’t particularly want to be singled out. I’m flattered, but I hope that students would feel proud not just about me but about the faculty who teach them.”

NEWS

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FEBRUARY 15, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 3

Gabelli Sees Rise in Applications

By KATIE NOLAN COPY EDITOR

Rose Hill students have grown so used to the sounds of construction coming from Hughes Hall that they may have forgotten what that construction is for. The former residence hall will soon be a state-of-the-art building housing the Gabelli School of Business. It also serves as a symbol for a school that is rapidly growing. This growth is reflected in the number of early applicants for the Gabelli class of 2016.

Gabelli saw a 30 percent increase in non-binding early applicants this year and a 20 percent increase overall in applicants from last year. This reflects larger trends at Fordham; applications have increased for 21 consecutive years, with a seven percent increase in applicants this year alone.

The most startling statistic is that about 30 years ago, Fordham was evaluating 4,000 applicants; this year that number was around 34,000.

John Buckley, associate vice president for Undergraduate Enrollment, had some insight into the reasons behind these trends. For starters, Fordham’s Admissions Department

helping them get jobs after graduation.

This is extremely appealing to students looking for security in the current economic climate.

Finally, Buckley stated that location is everything. For a business student, New York City offers a wealth of opportunities for internships and job placement. Also, Fordham has alumni connections and networking opportunities centered around the New York area. This is certainly appealing to business students in particular, but also to Fordham college students in general.

The opinions of students reflect the trends that the Admissions Department is seeing. Melaine Falk, GSB ’15, cited the brand- new building with new technology and facilities as a major draw for her as a prospective student. She also cited the Global Business Honors Program, of which the class of 2015 is its largest class to date, and effective recruiting as major factors in her final decision.

Nneka Williamson, GSB ’15, switched from FCRH to GSB because she felt a business degree would better match her career goals.

“I think Gabelli Business School

PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM

O’Hare Hall, pictured above, houses integrated learning communities, including the West Wing and Wellness Housing.

Fordham Continues Tradition of Integrated Learning Communities

By CATHY LANDRY

Gabelli saw 30 percent increase in non-binding early applications this year and a 20 percent increase overall in applications. has been successfully tapping into new markets outside of the immediate geographic vicinity. Fordham has developed healthy markets in states like Florida, Texas, Illinois and California.

This trend is not limited to domestic markets either. The Admissions Office has two team members responsible for international markets, and China in particular has proven to be an important recruiting center for Fordham.

The business school has specifically seen a rise in applications for a variety of reasons. Buckley pinpointed four specific reasons for this trend. First, Gabelli has received several substantial alumni donations that have given the school a lot of positive publicity among prospective students.

Second, Buckley called the new building a “tangible change[…] a beautiful new business school at the heart of campus.” For prospective students touring the campus, it is hard to miss, and this massive upgrade has undoubtedly exerted a positive influence in a student’s decision to apply here.

Third, according to Buckley, in uncertain economic times, students are looking for an education that affords a level of practicality. Prospective students are asking more questions about internships, job placement and outcomes after graduation. Gabelli has a good track record of giving students real-work experience and

has a good reputation within the business community, and Gabelli also has a lot of opportunities for networking,” Williamson said.

Gabelli certainly has developed a strong reputation and was ranked as one of the top business schools in America by Business Week Magazine.

When analyzing trends like admissions statistics, it is important to put them in perspective and evaluate the larger admissions climate at other universities. Buckley also had some insight on this front. A number of schools are reporting growth in applications.

“Fordham’s growth is ahead of the curve,” Buckley said. Other schools have not experienced the radical increases that Fordham has experienced in recent years.

The Admissions Department has also noticed more than just an increase in numbers. The admissions pool has increased in geographic diversity and quality, as Fordham increasingly is pulling top academic talent from across the country.

This year, the Admissions Department has decided to accept a slightly smaller class than last year, suggesting that this rise in quantity and quality will drive down Fordham’s acceptance rate for this year.

Overall, the admissions trends for Gabelli in particular and Fordham in general are extremely positive as the Admissions Department works to create the class of 2016.

COPY EDITOR

Living on campus at Rose Hill has a number of benefits, but one of the most enticing is the opportunity to live in an Integrated Learning Community (ILC).

Fordham offers eight options for students seeking a different approach to living on campus. They are available to students of all grade levels and focus on many different interests, both academic and social.

Some of the most well-known ILCs are those offered to freshmen.

These are Queen’s Court, the Manresa program and the Science Integrated Learning Community (SILC).

Queen’s Court gives freshmen the unique experience of living together in a small, close-knit community. It offers hall traditions and activities such as Knight Court and Sunday New York Times Bagel Brunch. Students also commit to live in this community without the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“I lived in Queen’s Court last year, and it was a phenomenal experience,” Maggie Shelledy, FCRH ’14, said. “I loved that everyone made it our own experience, our own community.”

The Manresa program is another ILC option for freshmen. Located in Jogues Hall of Martyrs’ Court, Manresa offers the chance to live in a small community while taking classes with fellow residents, which helps to build close relationships between like-minded students.

Molly Dunbar, FCRH ’14, lived in the Manresa program as a freshman.

“It was a mistake actually,” Dunbar said. “I hadn’t wanted to be a part of an ILC and was placed in one accidentally. It turned out to be a very lucky accident; I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was about much more than academics. I met wonderful people living in [Manresa] who I am still close friends with.”

The third option for freshmen ILCs is SILC: the Science Integrated Learning Community, located

on the third floor of Alumni Court South. SILC is designed for students pursuing a pre-health or science major. Activities include peer mentoring, study sessions before exams and live-in tutors to help with the coursework. Of course, there is also the element of a close-knit social community.

“The workload for pre-med students can be overwhelming at times, and having a support system of students with the same workload was crucial for my freshman year experience,” Bianca Noronha, FCRH ’14 said.

Freshmen living in an ILC have another benefit: the comfort of a close community while being away from home and adjusting to life at college.

“It helped make the transition from high school to college, especially considering that I knew virtually no one at Fordham and lived thousands of miles away,” Craig Domeier, FCRH ’14, said, who lived in Queen’s Court as a freshman. “However, moving beyond freshman year, the need for the community was substantially diminished and I am glad that I now live in a traditional dorm.”

“It made establishing a group of friends and acclimating to college life much easier. Now that I’m comfortable at Fordham though, I don’t know if I would live in an ILC again,” Dunbar said. “I like the independence of living on my own and the diversity of people in my life now.”

One of the ILC options for sophomores includes the Integrated Learning Community for Global Business, or ILC-GB. Involvement in this ILC includes enrollment in GSB classes with other students on the floor and lectures and visits to firms in New York City.

The West Wing, another ILC, is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors. Officially called the ILC for Ignatian Leadership and Civic Service, the West Wing focuses on interdisciplinary study, connecting topics such as international affairs,

ethical business practices and public relations.

“Living in the West Wing has provided me with a wide variety of opportunities and experiences, such as taking part in trips to the City or participating in service trips,” Frankie Schleimer, FCRH ’14, said. “It has been a tremendous experience. I have made many new friends this year due to the various programs and lectures we attend as a community.”

SILC II is a continuation of the freshman option for pre-health and science majors, open to sophomores, juniors and seniors.

“My friendships and experiences through my ILC were so valuable that I decided to live on SILC II this year, and it has also provided me with amazing opportunities,” Noronha said.

The fourth option for an ILC is Wellness Housing, which is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors.

Wellness Housing encourages the spiritual, physical and mental health of its residents. Residents agree to live a lifestyle free from tobacco, alcohol and drug use.

ILC-GB, the West Wing, SILC II and Wellness Housing are all located in O’Hare Hall.

Campbell and Salice-Conley Residence Halls (CSC) are the final ILC option, open to juniors and seniors.

CSC tries to incorporate career and post-graduate services into the residence halls, offering workshops and support for students getting close to graduation. Perks include free dry cleaning and networking opportunities.

CSC also offers transition programming, such as how to find an apartment and business etiquette.

All of the ILC options at Fordham offer a unique approach to learning and living for their residents.

With the housing lottery quickly approaching, students interested in applying for an ILC should go online to access the application and contact the Office of Residential Life with any questions.

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PAGE 7

Planned Parenthood Misunderstood by Republicans

By CANTON WINER ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR

Susan G. Komen’s decision to discontinue its funding of Planned Parenthood on Jan. 31 resulted in a national uproar, leaving the breast cancer foundation struggling to tread water in a sea of negative publicity. After three days, over 600,000 signatures on various petitions denouncing Komen’s decision and more than $3 million in donations to Planned Parenthood from thousands of people across the country, Komen announced the reversal of its decision to discontinue funding to Planned Parenthood on Feb. 3. Only a few days later, on Feb. 7, Karen Handel, Komen’s vice president of public policy and former radical anti-choice candidate for Governor of Georgia, resigned.

While all of this is good news, Komen’s shocking announcement is not unprecedented, and certainly not the last attack on Planned Parenthood or on women’s health. Republican leaders put the government on the brink of a shutdown last year over government funding of Planned Parenthood, and Republican lawmakers have repeatedly introduced bills to defund the women’s health organization over the years. Republicans justify this egregious attack on women’s health by arguing that, as Republican Senator Jon Kyl (Arizona) put it, abortion is “well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does.”

This argument would make at least some sense if it were actually true. In actuality, abortions account for less than three percent of services provided by Planned Parenthood. When this was pointed out to Senator Kyl, his office responded that, “[H]is remark was not intended to be a factual statement.” Unfortunately, Kyl’s statements illustrate the sheer irrationality and blatant lies of Republican attacks on Planned Parenthood.

While some Republicans fabricate statistics and spew heated rhetoric about Planned Parenthood being some sort of haven for abortion enthusiasts, the reality is that Planned Parenthood provides a vital service to women, especially poor women.

The vast majority of services provided by Planned Parenthood are STD tests, cancer screenings, contraception provisions and other women’s health services, including pregnancy tests and prenatal care. The funding that Komen announced it would be rescinding goes entirely to cancer screening and treatment, and of the abortions the organization does provide, not a single one is paid for with federal funds or with Komen’s funding.

This is exemplified in Indiana Representative Mike Pence’s question, “What is more fiscally responsible than denying any and all funding to Planned Parenthood of America?” Pence, the chief sponsor of a bill drafted last year to bar the government from directing any funds to or-

GRAPHIC BY RORY MASTERSON

The majority of Planned Parenthood’s services include STD Treatment and contraception (Statistics from 2009).

ganizations that provide abortion services, purposefully poses his misleading question simply to obscure the facts. Planned Parenthood does not use any government money to provide abortions. The slashes in funding that Pence and his Republican colleagues are pushing will in actuality detract from crucial, nonabortion services that Planned Parenthood provides for poor women.

Many women in America cannot afford to see a doctor when they are sick, or get preventative care such as mammograms.

In many communities across the

country, Planned Parenthood is the only source of health care for women, and the organization serves nearly 3 million women, men and youths every year. Fanatical Republican crusades against Planned Parenthood translate to attacks on poor women, not on abortion.

The objections of socially conservative, religious Republicans to abortion rights are somewhat understandable. However, their rational objections have spiraled into a fanatical and belligerent goal of dismantling all organizations with even loose affiliations with pro-choice groups or

abortion coverage. Instead of thoughtlessly screeching rhetoric against vital organizations like Planned Parenthood, Republicans should take a more levelheaded approach to tackling their moral reservations toward abortion. Religious right-wingers should not allow their opposition to abortion rights to blind them from the fact that their attacks on Planned Parenthood hurt poor women and families more than they work against the so-called “evils” of abortion.

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

Revised Birth Control Mandate Still Unconstitutional

By RICKY BORDELON ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR

Recently, under pressure from the Roman Catholic bishops, Kathleen Sebelius and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revised, in part, the mandate stating that women have the “right to preventive care” as part of their healthcare plan from their employer. Religious organizations and the Catholic Church itself were made explicitly exempt from this requirement.

However, this exemption is still not consistent with the provisions of the Constitution.

The First Amendment states that Congress “shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” HHS acknowledges that Catholics are guaranteed the establishment of their religion; however, the free exercise of all Catholics is not respected by this simple exemption.

The exemption does not include companies and organizations owned by practicing Catholics. They will still be forced to provide birth control, which is against their religion. Catholicism includes moral and ethical components that teach against contraceptives and birth control.

ZBIGNIEW BZDAK/ MCT CAMPUS

President Obama and Secretary Sebelius announced an exemption for religious institutions from providing birth control.

These are not recommendations or requests, but critical tenets of the Church’s teaching that “every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act or in its accomplishment,… proposes to render procreation

impossible…is intrinsically evil” (Catechism of the Catholic Church). Under the HHS mandate, Catholic business owners cannot practice their religion freely, as they are mandated by the government to break a teach-

ing of their religion.

Women’s health, of course, should not be disregarded in this analysis. People can choose to practice different aspects of their religion; however, the government should not infringe upon

this right to choose. Perhaps the government could provide another outlet for women to receive birth control or other contraceptives. A government provision like this would allow for a choice

by Catholic business owners as whether or not to offer birth control or contraceptives.

The absolutist nature of the mandate also prevents religious business owners from providing birth control to employees when it is used for a legitimate medical concern. Perhaps, if the mandate only required birth control coverage when such a medical condition was involved, more businesses would choose to provide it.

Nevertheless, the free exercise of religion cannot be steamrolled and disregarded by the government. People, including business owners, must be guaranteed the choice of how to exercise their religion. This choice might favor birth control if the government allowed businesses to choose to only provide birth control for medical reasons. Ultimately, however, the government must respect the provisions of First Amendment.

Ricky Bordelon, FCRH ‘15, is a political science major from New Orleans, La.

PAGE 8 • THE RAM • FEBRUARY 15, 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.

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Editor-in-Chief Connie Kim Managing Editor Olivia Monaco Executive Editors Sarah Ramirez Emily Arata 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 Anisa Arsenault Danny Casarella Molly Dunbar Celeste Kmiotek Brian Kraker Cathy Landry Tom Merante Meghan Mulvehill Katie Nolan Erik Pederson Photo Editor Michael Rezin Design Editor Elizabeth Mallozzi Web Editor Anne Couture Assistant Web Editor Francesca Arturi 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 Matt Rosenfeld, Assistant Sports Editor We should eliminate time zones.

While listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Kevin Wildes, a television producer at ESPN, threw this idea out. I am fully on board with it, and want to shed some light on the subject. It is a bold idea, and maybe not thought all the way through, but I think it is great.

Think about time zones. They are silly, ridiculous and totally unnecessary. Why would we make up what time it is all around the world?

Contrary to popular belief, there is no actual justification behind time zones. The reason we created time zones was so that everybody could have noon when the sun is up and midnight when the sun is down. So, before you try to argue that there are real benefits to time zones, know that there are none. It comes down to what people preferred.

We messed with time over a century ago, and now it is just calamitous. You have hourly zones, yet there are countries like Aus-

tralia that have zones that are a half hour or 45 minutes off in certain areas of the country. Venezuela recently moved its time back half an hour permanently to give its residents more daylight. It makes no sense.

We should all follow Greenwich Mean Time. If it is 5 p.m. in New York, it should also be 5 p.m. in London, Tokyo, Los Angeles and the entire world.

I can hear the flipping out already: “But it’s going to be dark here and light over there! When do I eat dinner? Go to sleep?”

It is really not that difficult, and not that many changes would have to be made. You would just go about your day regularly, except at 6 a.m. here you might be going to bed, while over in England people are starting their day.

You might eat dinner at 11 p.m. because that is when it starts to get dark and you just got home from work. The only thing you would have to get over is the naming mechanisms we rely on today, and honestly, that problem only lasts one generation.

You would not have to do daytime things in the dark. You would have breakfast when you wake up; it would just be at a different hour now. Our daytime in New York would be 2 a.m. to 2 p.m. rather than the 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. that we all know.

As our world gets more and more interconnected, a global time just makes more sense. We should have one common sense of time.

So what if some people are sleeping at midnight, and others are working? There is no rule that says one should be doing a certain thing at a certain numerical hour.

One time is the way to go.

Think about how much easier things would be. Talking to your family who lives in California?

No more confusion as to what time you are calling. No more “10 p.m. my time or your time” arguments. What time does “60 Minutes” start on Sunday? It starts at 8 p.m., world time. It would be nighttime in New York, dusk in Los Angeles and sunny in Hawaii, but it would be 8 p.m. nonethe-

less.

The more I bring up this idea, the only rebuttal is that time zones “are the way it’s always been.”

Well, that is the problem. We are trying to make a change for the betterment of the world. Get over the minor inconvenience.

One generation of people will be confused for a little while, yes. But we will figure it out, and once everybody from the old system is gone, and the children are brought up using World Time, we will be one step closer to having a synchronized world.

If every other measurement in the world has essentially a universal system, why shouldn’t time as well?

EDITORIAL: Unpaid Internships Unfair to Students Earlier this month, in the hopes of starting a class-action lawsuit, a former intern at Harper’s Bazaar sued its publisher, the Hearst Corporation, accusing the publisher of violating federal and state wage and hour laws during her unpaid internship at the magazine.

The lawsuit against Hearst states: “Employers’ failure to compensate interns for their work and the prevalence of the practice nationwide curtails opportunities for employment, fosters class divisions between those who can afford to work for no wage and those who cannot and indirectly contributes to rising unemployment.”

With 80 percent of Fordham students completing at least one internship before graduation, the implications of this lawsuit (and similar cases) could have a major impact on of this campus and on the future of the internship industry in general.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, “for-profit” companies have to follow certain guidelines for an unpaid internship to be legal. These stipulations by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor, listed on the Department’s website, are as follows: 1. The internship, even though

it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment; 2. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern; 3. The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff; 4. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded; 5. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and 6. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.

Despite the good intentions these guidelines set forth, they are not only vague, but also inherently contradictory. For instance, in order for an intern to benefit from the experience, he or she should be involved with a worthwhile project or assignment; however, this would also be advantageous for the company. This discrepancy only highlights the flaws within the

system of unpaid internships.

Institutions such as Fordham require students to receive school credit as compensation for their unpaid internships. Fordham students have two options: They can enroll in a one-credit internship tutorial, touching base throughout the semester with a Career Services counselor or a professor, or they can take the four-credit seminar.

The seminar meets once a week, and students discuss their experiences in the working world. Requiring students to receive credit, however, means students are effectively paying to work, since they have to pay for their credits.

Many companies, including Hearst, also require students to show proof of receiving school credit prior to starting an internship. There are exceptions, and some students find these uncredited, unpaid internships just as valuable, if not preferable. Unpaid internships already put students in a difficult position financially, without the added burden of having to pay for school credit. This situation creates a distinction between those students who can afford to work without pay, and those who cannot. This division is exacerbated during the summer

months, when many students have to pay for expensive summer housing in order to intern in the City.

To be clear, we do understand and appreciate the value of getting work experience while still in college. When an internship consists of more than fetching coffee and making copies, a student learns valuable skills that the classroom simply cannot offer. We also understand that, for students to get their foot in the door at a prospective industry, they must pay their dues.

The cost, however, should not be their exploitation. We worry about the impact unpaid internships will continue to have on the job market; as students graduate with more and more unpaid internships under their belts, they arguably take the spots of entry-level employees and essentially hurt their own chances of being hired. The internship system is broken, and while this latest lawsuit may not be the solution, it calls attention to a growing dilemma for today’s students.

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.

Note from the Editor Regarding “Fordham Should Prescribe Birth Control” (v.94 i.3): To clarify, the University says that due to its Catholic, Jesuit mission, the Student Health Center does not distribute or prescribe contraceptives or birth control as a standard practice. The University says limited exceptions can be made for the treatment of medical conditions, accompanied by supporting documentation by a health professional. Fordham does, however, offer health insurance to both students and employees, which covers women’s health provisions, including contraception coverage.

Under the Prescription Drug Ben-

efit Plan, there is a $100 deductible if students see a doctor off-campus (for instance, to receive a birth control prescription), and there is also a co-pay of $10 or $20 required at the pharmacies for covered birth control prescriptions. The New York Women’s Health and Wellness Act requires insurance companies to cover women’s preventive health care, including mandating that insurance plans that cover prescription drugs do not exclude contraceptives from that coverage. For more information, see the Women’s Health Care section under Medical Services on the Student Health Center website.

Do you want to comment on something printed in

The Ram? Write a letter: fordhamramletters@gmail.com

OPINIONS

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FEBRUARY 15, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 9

Left of Honors Stigma: Reserve Your Judgement the Allen Dial did not feel as if they could interMany incredible students with

By JULIE NICOLS Ying

Children are Left Behind Ten years ago, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) became effective in America and brought on a wave of bipartisan optimism on Capitol Hill. Aimed at increasing student proficiency in reading and mathematics, the bill sparked a series of debates over states’ rights and its constitutionality. While the bill has a rich back story that emphasizes American politics at the turn of the century, its main legacy is that it failed horribly, and regretfully so.

That is why I hope Obama’s initiative last week to waive the obligations of the bill for ten states catches on. The waived states submitted educational reform plans that go above and beyond the broken standards of No Child Left Behind. Seriously, it’s time to abolish this Act. The problem doesn’t lie in the intentions of the law: Trying to encourage America’s youth is a noble goal. The system created to achieve this goal, however, is pathetic. The law relies on state testing and mandates for schools that receive federal funding for low-income families.

If your school’s students succeed in matching proficiency milestones on state tests, you operate as usual. If your school does not, well, Uncle Sam is not paying for a free show and will restructure your whole school.

This has led to a number of ways for schools and states to “game” the system. Because the tests used to measure student proficiency are created by the state, many students may score high on the state level but low on the national level.

In 2005, Mississippi boasted an 89 percent reading proficiency for fourth graders on their NCLB test, the highest in the nation. Yet when tested using the National Assesment of Education Progress, the closest thing America has to a national test, the fourth graders achieved only 19 percent reading proficiency.

Other states have students prepare for the test months in advance, utilizing class time to learn how to take the test rather than develop critical thinking and other fundamental skills. This has resulted in students who, while able to ace an extremely low-bar state exam, do not actually learn much.

Mississippi and many other states are purposefully sabotaging their youth’s education to ensure that state teachers, schools and funding are not compromised.

That is not to say that we do not need education reform. The federal government needs to step in and make fundamental changes in how America’s youth are educated, especially in low-income communities.

NCLB just underscores that good intentions by the federal government are not enough; our representatives should approach educational reform as it is: a stymieing, complex, unforgiving mess that no one piece of legislation can solve.

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In the 1960s, Jane Elliott conducted an experiment in her third grade classroom in which the blue-eyed students were separated from the brown-eyed students. The blue-eyed group was told it was special and given preferential treatment by the teacher.

Eventually, the blue-eyed group started ignoring or tormenting the brown-eyed group.

Similarly, in an effort to improve education, schools across the nation have enacted gifted programs, which are supposed to take the most academically gifted and give them a more rigorous and well-rounded education. A large portion of the students at Fordham were in gifted programs in elementary or middle school before going on to the honors track in high school.

Rachel Aguilar, GSB ’15, however, who is now in the Global Business Honors Program, was not in gifted programs during elementary school because she had moved into a new school.

When asked if she felt held back, Aquilar responded, “Academically, no. But socially, yes.

They had more access to extracurricular activities that were academic.”

Aquilar also commented on how the situation progressed.

“By high school, it was very divided between the gifted and the ungifted,” she said.

James Florakis, FCRH ’15, was in the middle level of gifted programs in his elementary school.

He said that the students in the highest level were so exclusive that students in the lower level

act with the higher-level students.

On the other hand, everyone else in the lower levels made fun of those same upper-level students.

Even as early as elementary school, children were starting to fall into these groups based on their artificial identities — nerdy, cool, smart, dumb, etc. Because these aforementioned children are being separated and stratified based on intelligence, some start to learn certain behaviors. Children in gifted programs receive perks and special attention, and are therefore implied to be superior to the “lower level” children.

Children learn to be exclusive and make value judgments about others from an early age.

But people grow up and grow out of these ideas, right? Well, if they do, this is not the reality at Fordham. There is an idea of “honors elite,” where people outside of the honors program judge those in honors, while members of the honors programs make judgments of people simply based on the fact that they are not in honors.

As a member of the Fordham College at Rose Hill Honors Program, a program that I greatly appreciate, I am acutely aware of the divide between honors students and non-honors students. When asked what classes I am taking, I feel uncomfortable. I am reluctant to say that I am in honors for fear of being stereotyped.

Unfortunately, a vocal minority of honors students who presume that their status in the honors program makes them superior has turned many non-honors students off of honors students in general.

qualifying numbers and extracurricular activities were not invited into the program. Those who were invited simply happened to have a quality that appealed to the selection committee, for whatever reason. Being in honors does not distinguish one as the brightest of the Fordham student body.

Why are arbitrary measures of intelligence so valued in our society? Academic achievement is indeed a wonderful thing, but it does not warrant all the attention that it receives. Academics should not be a social divisor. Psychologist Howard Gardner’s “Theory of Multiple Intelligences” explains that someone who can determine the answer to a complicated math problem is no smarter than someone who cannot but is instead gifted musically, socially, etc. It may seem trite, but everyone really is special in his or her own way.

Gifted programs have their place, and I feel blessed to be in one. The stigma that accompanies them, however, both from outsiders to insiders and vice versa, does not work in anyone’s favor.

People should not be judged for their SAT scores, GPA or manufactured academic identity any more than they should be judged for their eye color. Intelligence is only a part of an individual’s identity, not his or her identity as a whole.

Let us forget the stigmas and appreciate people more completely for who they are. Blue eyes and brown eyes unite!

Julie Nicols, FCRH ’15, is a sociology major from Holden, Mass.

RAM ARCHIVES

Alpha House is the home of the alternative core curriculum of the Fordham College at Rose Hill Honors Program.

Are your friends really tired of hearing you complain?

Write for The Ram’s opinions section. Email us at: fordhamramopinions@gmail.com

Righter’s Block John P. Castonguay

Education Exceptions Illegal Last week, President Obama granted 10 waivers to states that had not met the standards of the No Child Left Behind Act. Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee will no longer be forced to abide by the toughest elements of the law, including the mandate that students be up to grade level in reading and mathematics by 2014. These states will now be free to create their own laws and methods of improving schools.

“We’ve offered every state the same deal,” Obama said. “If you’re willing to set higher, more honest standards than the ones that were set by No Child Left Behind, then we’re going to give you the flexibility to meet those standards.” 28 other states are also attempting to be freed from the constraints of No Child Left Behind.

No Child Left Behind was an attempt to create standards and improve student performance, particularly for racial minorities. According to the Associated Press, “The law requires annual testing, and districts were forced to keep a closer eye on how students of all races were performing — not just relying on collective averages. Schools that didn’t meet requirements for two years or longer faced increasingly harsher consequences, including busing children to higher-performing schools, offering tutoring and replacing staff.” Some in the education community argued that these guidelines forced them to teach for the test, and many applauded Obama’s actions to end the program.

On the surface, I have several reactions to this recent executive action. I have never been a fan of increased federal involvement in the education system, as I believe states are better equipped to deal with this issue. No Child Left Behind was a seriously flawed piece of legislation. The removal of consequences for failure, however, serves as another example of our “bailout culture.” The main reason I have an issue with this maneuver is the power-grab it represents. President Obama does not have the right to grant exceptions to laws unilaterally. It is the responsibility of the legislature to revise and form legislation, not the executive branch.

The president lacks the constitutional grounds to make this decision. At the most basic level, the job of the executive branch is to enforce laws, not to decide which parts of laws should be enforced when, except arguably in emergency situations. The state of the education system in America may be dire, but that does not grant the president the authority to provide special exemptions from legislation forged by the Congress. If the president wanted education reform, it is his responsibility to work with our representatives, not around them.

PAGE 10 • THE RAM • FEBRUARY15, 2012

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PAGE 11

Grammys Are Skewed Reflection of Music Industry

By DEVON SHERIDAN

ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

ROBERT GAUTHIER/MCT CAMPUS

Jennifer Hudson’s performance was one of the highlights of this year’s show.

Awards season is in full swing.

With the Sundance Festival, the Golden Globes and the Emmys already under our belts, the music industry got its turn to showcase its best (and worst) this past Sunday at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.

With SOPA’s attempt to end music pirating once and for all and the advent of Spotify changing the way we listen to music, the past year in the music industry was an interesting one, leading to much interest and anticipation for this year’s event.

Interest peaked on Saturday night with the news of Whitney Houston’s death, as everyone wondered how the Grammys would honor the iconic diva. But in the midst of the pre-show commotion, a question arose: just how relevant are the Grammys anymore?

In this day and age, the amount of places where people can get their fill of music is mind-numbing. With websites like Pitchfork.com and online periodicals such as Paste Magazine which release “Best Of ” lists on a regular basis (The New York Times also releases best album lists now), the prestige of the Grammys has recently seemed to wear off.

Many times, the Grammys have proved to be a little behind the times as well.

“I think the Grammys, even though they’re still important from

a revenue standpoint, are an impractical judgment of music in our society,” Catherine Amato, GSB ’15, said.

This year, Bon Iver won best new artist, which would lead many to believe that this was his first album; however, his actual debut album For Emma, Forever Ago received extreme critical praise when it was released – three years ago.

There is no denying that the Grammys do well in recognizing truly outstanding musical talent.

This year it was Adele. She brought home a record-tying six Grammys for her album 21, and it is hard to imagine anyone would argue that she is not deserving of the awards.

Coming off recent throat surgery, she sang “Rolling in the Deep,” her first single from 21, convincing everyone in the crowd of her justified praise.

Another fantastic performance during the night, and the moment everyone had been waiting for, was Jennifer Hudson’s tribute to Whitney Houston. While no one could ever top Houston herself, Hudson gave a worthy rendition of “I Will Always Love You,” and it was easily one of the most memorable moments of the show.

Unfortunately, there were not many more memorable moments.

“I thought the Chris Brown performance was too flashy and autotuned,” Kyle Dinan, GSB ’15, said.

Recently, the Grammys has

succumbed to bombastic medley performances, which are always awkward and rarely sound good.

This year, Maroon 5 and Foster the People attempted to recreate the harmonious sound of the Beach Boys. Even when the Boys themselves came on stage, there was a lack of chemistry (it was almost as if the three groups had been picked out of a hat) and a proper cover of “Good Vibrations” proved too hard a task for all of them.

Nowadays, it seems the Grammys are more a chance to roll out the red carpet than recognize the best of music in the last year.

“I feel as though the ceremony itself is becoming irrelevant, but the press surrounding it is still important,” Amato said.

Yet people continue to watch.

This year, the Grammys boasted its best ratings since 1986. Unlike the Oscars, which prides itself in maintaining the dignity of the Academy, the Grammys has taken a turn for the commercial.

Maybe the Grammys are a proper reflection of the state of the music industry. It only makes sense to invite the Lady Gagas and Bruno Mars of the world to the show because, after all, they are the ones making the most money for the industry. Hopefully in the future, the show and the industry itself will begin to care less about money and more about the talent and effort put into the music.

Belmont Community Rivals Manhattan’s Little Italy

By RACHAEL PRENSNER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“The media gave us the name the Real Little Italy, but we accepted it,” Jerome Raguso of Gino’s Pastry Shop said.

The Little Italy moniker traditionally refers to the Italian neighborhood in Lower Manhattan. With the huge expansion of Chinatown in recent years, however, the Belmont neighborhood has received attention as New York City’s center of Italian culture.

A New York Times article published in February of last year reported that, according to the 2010 census, in the two-dozenblock area in Manhattan traditionally considered to be Little Italy, only five percent of residents are Italian. Astonishingly, not one resident reported to be Italian-born.

Raguso, who lives above the bakery, says that Gino’s (on 187th between Arthur and Hoffman) is one of the “two original” pastry shops still open in the Belmont community, along with Artuso’s (on 187th between Cambreleng and Beaumont).

“We’re the two bookends of Arthur Ave.,” Raguso said.

Other original businesses are Mario’s restaurant and the Teitel Brothers grocery company.

Over the the last 10 years, Raguso has seen an influx of attention to the Belmont area.

“There’s been a lot more businesses opening,” he said.

Umberto’s Clam House, originally located on Mulberry St. in Manhattan’s Little Italy, opened a second restaurant on Arthur Ave. Three years ago, the original location closed.

The area has certainly felt the hardships of the economic crisis as well. In a development that Raguso called “heartbreaking,” a vendor next door to him just closed down a clothing store that had been in business since 1918.

In Raguso’s opinion, New York City’s current mayor has worsened the situation.

“Bloomberg is a real character,” he said, adding that it is “unreal what he’s doing to the small businesses.”

Raguso is the vice president of the Belmont Designated Market Area (DMA), which he referred to in conversation as BID (or Business Improvement District).

“I’m seeing the improvements of what we’re doing,” Raguso said.

Specifically, he has noticed improvements to streets in recent years, as well as an increase in the number of security cameras and municipal parking.

Raguso has also taken his own measures to improve the Belmont community. This summer, City Council was threatening to cut funding to the Wildlife Conservation Society, which includes the Bronx Zoo, by 53 percent.

RAM ARCHIVES

The Belmont community’s reputation for showcasing Italian culture has recently grown, making local residents proud.

“I sent a cannoli to each council member, but inside put, instead of cream, a note,” he said.

The cannoli story received media attention in both the Daily News and on Channel 7.

Raguso also got a call from Chazz Palmenterri, star of the movie, A Bronx Tale, who told him “stop stealing my thunder.”

Palmenterri also mentioned Raguso’s efforts when he appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

The Belmont community has

seen a recent increase in tourism, specifically at the Ferragosto festival, which celebrates Italian culture and takes place in September.

Raguso has organized the festival with the BID president for the past five years, and during that time attendance has increased from 5,000 to 22,000.

This past year, Babe Ruth’s granddaughter spoke, an exciting surprise for the many Yankee fans present.

Raguso said she told the audi-

ence that if Babe Ruth were alive, he would be at the festival eating a sausage and drinking a beer; she was a highlight of the speakers.

Demographics in the Belmont community are changing, with many Mexicans and Albanians moving to the area. Yet, Raguso still calls the neighborhood “one big family reunion.”

Of course, there is always room for improvement. His hope for the next mayor?

“Get a Fordham student to run.”

CULTURE

PAGE 12 • THE RAM • FEBRUARY15, 2012

Going Global This week’s column was written by Julie Burd, FCRH ’13.

I never thought that I would kiss this many strangers.

I never thought I would see this many men kiss other men on the street. I never thought I would be given a lesson in a classroom just on how to kiss. Or, as the French say, “bisous,” the kiss on both cheeks as a way to say, “How are you, my friend?”

Daily life just looks different here in Marseille. People tell you to meet them at 18 o’clock.

There streets have circles every 20 feet (or should I say meters?), and of course they are all poorly signed.

Walking home at 6 o’clock, at least 50 percent of the population has two fresh baguettes in their hands (the second baguette is for the other half of the population).

Stores close at seven, the metro stops running at 10:30 p.m. and God forbid you want to buy anything on a Sunday because stores are not open (except the bakery, because we need fresh bread).

We were told not to smile on the streets, a dead giveaway that you do not live here.

Yet, I have never seen people laugh more over lunch, which lasts for four hours and involves 20 different dishes and at least four different drinks.

Marseille, however, is not a terrible French stereotype. It was founded as a port city by the Greeks in 600 B.C. (their first steps in France) and has never stopped being a port city.

Boats line up along every inch of coast, and the landscape is stunning; modern homes are knit into the holes of ancient rocks.

You can buy fish right off of the boat, no matter the weather.

Today, this port offers hope to immigrants arriving from North Africa and the Middle East, which means that about a fourth of the population of Marseille is Muslim.

The strangest evidence I have seen of this so far is on the street next to where I live, which is lined with a series of cafés.

After peeking into them day after day, I realized that I had never seen a single woman inside.

When I asked one of my professors about this, he told me that in Arab culture, it is the man’s place to be outside of the home and the woman’s to be inside. So, Marseille has a bit of an identity crisis.

How does Marseille preserve its ancient French culture with this influx of immigrants, who have a different religion, different traditions and different ways of living?

Does it change or do they?

And most importantly, is French bread still served with Moroccan couscous?

(The correct answer is yes because it is so good with that chili sauce!)

theramonline.com

Dining Out: Les Halles Overall Location Food Quality Atmosphere Hospitality Price $$ (Out of 4

’s)

By QUETZALLI TORRES STAFF WRITER

For years, I have sought to emulate Chef-at-Large Anthony Bourdain, whose Travel Channel show “No Reservations” has often been my inspiration to explore foreign lands. His wry take on the places he visited was just as good as the foods he sampled.

Ironically, or perhaps fittingly, the first item on my Bourdaininspired itinerary was not in a faraway country, but instead sat right under my nose in Manhattan’s Financial District.

After navigating senseless streets, I happened upon the small tribute to Parisian sensibilities nestled between construction sites and bars that serve as respite from Wall Street. Les Halles Brasserie, where Bourdain worked as executive chef for many years, would be my slice of Paris for the night.

Traveling anywhere south of the Village is foreign to Fordham students like myself. I must thank southern Manhattan’s lack of numbered streets for adding a sense of exploring an unfamiliar land.

I could not help but grin as I gathered first impressions. We were greeted amiably and seated immediately in a restaurant that

stretched deep but was narrow enough to preserve an air of intimacy. The staff was friendly and attentive throughout the visit, and they all seemed to be genuinely happy. My particular waiter did not treat me as “a tissue to be used and discarded,” which is the stereotype of waiters at nice French restaurants.

It may have been due to either the warm lighting coming from the low-standing ceilings or the ambiance, which consisted of an odd but exciting mix of the formality of a brasserie and the comfort of a wooden barbecue house, but I could not help but feel completely at home.

The name Les Halles harks back to the old central market known affectionately as the Belly of Paris, and it prides itself on serving American beef prepared in the French style. I was particularly looking forward to tasting beef.

The menu boasted its fair share of beef dishes, of which I chose the beef bourguignon ($23.50), a dish of beef braised in red wine with potatoes, carrots and pearl onions. The chef, clearly anticipating my selection, had already begun cooking my dish, as I found my nose exploring the dish’s rich aromas in under 10 minutes. (My friend’s bavette de beouf, however, would have enjoyed a little more time in the kitchen as it arrived nearly alive and kicking.)

“Oh my God,” were the words that left my mouth as I chewed on the first of many cubes of beef.

Those words were soon followed by a sigh of joy. I had known that Les Halles allows its beef to tenderize for two weeks by means of

wet aging, but I was completely unprepared for how easily it would fall apart in my mouth. The sauce was a wonder in itself and, after the disappearance of my meat, I enjoyed it with the extra basket of bread that the waiter gave us.

Simply put, and in an attempt to avoid any terrible clichés, the dish could be likened to Bastille Day in my mouth.

I knew the beef bourguignon would be a tough act to follow, so I was sure to choose my dessert carefully. The profiteroles ($8.50) seemed to be a fitting finale, since it is too early in the year for fruity sorbets. The lightness of the puff pastry, ice cream and whipped cream topped with chocolate proved to be the best end to an already-satisfying meal. Crème brûlèe is far too often the go-to

dessert at French restaurants.

I find that profiteroles are just as French, but sit lighter on the stomach and offer a nice change of pace.

As I enjoyed my meal, Manhattan raced around just outside the restaurant’s double doors. Gruff workers yelled directions as they operated machinery and financial workers hustled to their favorite after-hours pubs. I, however, sat peacefully, blissfully unaware of the flurry of activity outside, and enjoyed extremely delicious cubes of beef. Little did they know that behind the double doors was a young man’s body whose mind was elsewhere, say, a small brasserie in France.

Hopefully you can visit someday soon with your newfound Valentine’s Day crush. Bon voyage.

PHOTO BY QUETZALLI TORRES/THE RAM

The French Restaurant has locations on both 15 John St. and 411 Park Ave.

Editor’s Pick: David Carr

COURTESY OF ZIMBIO.COM

New York Times Media Columnist David Carr loves saying what is on his mind.

By CONNOR RYAN NEWS EDITOR

Twenty minutes into Page One: Inside the New York Times, a documentary that was released last year about the newspaper, one thing becomes strikingly clear: David Carr is not your typical Timesman.

The first time the audience sees Carr on assignment in the movie, he is interviewing the founders of Vice magazine. The “unlikely” partnership of CNN and the youthcentered, quirky magazine was the subject of Mr. Carr’s weekly column for the Times.

“I don’t do corporate portraitures,” Carr said as he quickly simplified the spiraling conversation.

“What the f--- is going on that you’re doing business with CNN?” Soon the discussion turned towards “The Vice Guide to Liberia” as Shane Smith, the CEO and cofounder of Vice, compared the Times’ surfing coverage to the reports on cannibalism Vice produced. In turn, he opened himself up to an ugly episode of open fire.

“Before you ever went there, we’ve had reporters there reporting on genocide after genocide and just ’cause you put on a f---ing safari hel-

met and looked at some poop [referring to the beaches in West Africa that have become breeding grounds for human excrement], doesn’t give you the right to insult what we do,” Carr said straight-faced to an apologetic Smith.

Carr is consistently present throughout the 92-minute documentary, directed by Andrew Rossi, as the film dedicates itself to assessing the rocky ground of journalism through the sharp senses of the Times’ Media Desk. Reporters Brian Stelter and Tim Arango, along with Bruce Headlam, the editor of the Media Desk, are featured in the film, but it is Carr’s quick wit and protective nature over the Times that steal the spotlight.

On the surface, Carr is simply another ink-producer, a journalist with an agenda. But a few columns, YouTube videos and Tweets later, any passive reader could easily gather that Carr is, himself, a story worthy of front-page coverage, a story of redemption.

In July 2008, Mr. Carr published “Me and My Girls,” a revealing article that chronicled the history of a drug-addicted, single parent of twins on welfare – his own past.

“Having suffered through drug addiction in my 20s and 30s, landing in jail for cocaine possession, raising two children as a single par-

ent and eventually ending up at The New York Times, I know what it’s like to come out the other side when the odds are stacked against you,” Carr said in the documentary.

And while his “textured” background of drugs seems to be far behind him, the good of what has, most likely, always been inside of David Carr consistently seeps onto the page through his honest language and the relentlessness of his reporting. He fights for the interviews that matter, defends the Times against attacks from slick 20-somethings who bash mainstream media, and seeks to serve his reader the simple truth.

Carr does not write to rack up Google hits or collect digital “followers,” but instead remains grounded to the fundamental pillars upon which journalism was founded: to inform the reader in a spirit of genuine benefit through fair reporting — whatever that may entail. He is a part of a dying breed among today’s fast-paced, tumultuous media industry.

“I arrived at the New York Times late in my professional life and I have an immigrant’s love of the place,” Carr said in the documentary. “The chip that was implanted in me when I arrived, let’s just call it New York Times exceptionalism, leads me to conclude that of course, we will survive.”

CULTURE

theramonline.com

Mindless Reality Shows: What’s The Appeal?

FEBRUARY 15, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 13

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

This

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

!

Out

Tayyib Ali Webster Hall 125 East 11th Street Sunday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.

General Admission - $12 Nineteen-year-old Philadelphia rapper Tayyib Ali takes the stage at The Studio stage in Webster Hall on Sunday. With a 60s, laid-back feel, his single “Keystone State of Mind” has fostered much buzz on the internet and his new mixtape of the same name continues to generate online praise. If you’re in the market for a fresh sound and smooth flow, check this kid out. Looking for a place to eat before or after? Try Café Viva Natural Pizza, a vegan pizzeria notorious for its delicious by-the-slice cheese pizza.

COURTESY OF FLICKR.COM

“Jersey Shore” cast members have managed to become some of the most recognizable faces in entertainment. But why?

By CODIE LANDSMAN STAFF WRITER

Some despise “Jersey Shore,” and others absolutely idolize the characters, but most of us fall somewhere in between. We realize the drama, lies and reckless partying do provide for solid entertainment, but at the same time we feel somewhat guilty for thinking this way.

Shouldn’t we be watching commendable shows such as “Breaking Bad” or “Mad Men,” or hilariously well-thought-out comedies such as “30 Rock” and “The Office?”

Perhaps we do, but something still draws us to mindlessly entertaining shows like “Jersey Shore”.

Does anyone actually know why the Kardashian sisters are famous?

Perhaps by now we have some inkling, but it has taken a few years, and it does not seem to bother anyone who still does not know why.

They continue to love the show, however mindless (and almost pitiful) it may be at times. When asked, many responded that they watch the goings on of Kim, Khloe and Kourtney because they enjoy seeing entertainment news unfold in real life.

“When Kim and Kris broke up, you hear about the general story in the news, but on the show, you get to see all the juicy details,” Amanda Ryland, FCRH ’12, said. “It’s pretty good insight.”

What about the endless locations of “Real Housewives?” The title is enough to make some cringe: Should we really care about women who have acquired massive amounts of wealth from their husbands? Nonetheless, it is one of the most popular series on television and appeals to many demographics. I have to admit, the few times I have watched the show, I felt drawn in by the drama and catty remarks.

This is not enough for me to regularly watch it, but I understand the appeal. “‘The Real Housewives of Orange County’ is ridiculously good,” Sasha Fisher, FCRH ’13, said.

“While I know it doesn’t have any value, sometimes I want to watch TV that I don’t really have to think about.”

Even a fan of one location can have extremely negative feelings toward another. Sometimes the housewives get a little too real.

“The one in Beverly Hills is sick,”

Fisher said. “There are accusations of domestic abuse, and one of the husbands committed suicide. I don’t like that one at all.”

Then, there is my personal favorite, “Jersey Shore.” I do not follow the show regularly but the episodes I have seen I have absolutely loved.

I am not quite sure why, but something about the cast members’ love for house music and their necessity to constantly be drunk and tan is just amazing. It is not the lifestyle I would choose, but many people give them a sort of twisted respect for rising to stardom and millionaire status by partying, hooking up and yelling at Angelina.

The show does not really have an effect on me: I do not see myself running to the tanning salon and fist pumping the night away. Still, I would not pass up the chance to meet Pauly D, and I do follow JWoww on Twitter. There is just something about the cast that is appealing, no matter how guilty this makes me feel.

Ultimately, mindlessly entertaining reality shows are a part of our culture, and while we may not always know why we enjoy them, their strong appeal remains.

COURTESY OF WEBSTERHALL.COM

Global Weekends: The African-American Musical Mosaic American Museum of Natural History 79th St. and Central Park West Enjoy the many different sounds of African-American music. The museum will host various performances in jazz, rhythm and blues, hip-hop and gospel music. There will also be some special guests, including singersongwriter Charles Mac and Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels, of the industrychanging group, Run-D.M.C. After spending a few hours indoors, take a stroll in Central Park, located right across the street from the museum.

— COMPILED BY DEVON SHERIDAN

Ram Reviews TELEVISION

MOVIE

“THE RIVER”

HAYWIRE

MUSIC HUMAN AGAIN

THEATER IONESCOPADE

TELEVISION “THE WALKING DEAD”

By MOLLY FERNS

By PJ BROGAN

By LAUREN HATHAWAY

By JONATHAN O’NEILL

By CHRISTOFER NICOLETTI

STAFF WRITER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

STAFF WRITER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“The River” seems to be ABC’s newest attempt at drawing in the former viewers of “Lost.” Set in a jungle and on a mysterious river, “The River” follows the same conventions of a group stranded in a remote area being plagued by supernatural beings.

The show follows Tess Cole (Leslie Hope, “24”), Lincoln Cole ( Joe Anderson, Across the Universe) and a reality film crew along with several others, who embark on a mission to save the missing Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood, I, Robot), Tess’s estranged husband and Lincoln’s father. Many scenes have the typical conventions of a horror movie.

This doesn’t translate so well to television audiences. In fact, very little of the so-called horror in “The River” translates well.

Mallory Kane may look fantastic in a cocktail dress, but if you cross her, she will break your arm in three places and choke you into unconsciousness. That is the premise of Haywire, an action flick about a woman who must seek revenge after she is betrayed and left for dead by her money-grubbing employer. No, this movie is not a high-class drama.

Soderbergh came up with the idea for the movie while he was flipping through the channels on his television set and stumbled upon one of Carano’s fights. Carano does not do a bad job for her first time out, and one would think she might improve in the future. Nonetheless, most of her acting just serves as a relatively benign bridge that gets the movie to its next bone-breaking, face-punching fight.

In her fifth studio album, Human Again, singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson swaps her signature ukulele and piano for darker lyrics and a bold, grown-up sound.

Whether or not you have heard her name, you have doubtlessly heard Michaelson’s music playing in the dressing room at a store, in commercials for everything from Carmax to Old Navy or in the background of TV shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scrubs.”

With Human Again, Michaelson makes a daring leap into new musical territory and proves that change can be good. The album is a promising start to this new era of Ingrid Michaelson’s music, and as she continues to grow and master her changing sound, this album sets the bar high for future albums.

Although many of Ionesco’s works have been lost through the cracks of time, the Theatre of the Absurd is very much alive at the York Theatre Company’s production of Ionescopade. Mildred Kayden’s vaudevilleinfused score perfectly accents the unstable tone of many of Ionesco’s comedies, and even a few of his tragedies. The whimsical, flashy costumes displayed against the theater’s somber backdrop add a visual aspect to the discord of Ionesco’s plays.

The cast is superb, and each member is a triple threat. They are all outstanding actors, dancers and singers playing a multitude of different roles.

Ionescopade provides a sharp insight into Ionesco’s style and lets its audience sample the Ionesco repertoire. The show’s run ends Feb. 26 and should not be missed.

AMC’s “The Walking Dead” returns after its mid-season hiatus with more drama, more surprises and even more zombie gore.

The mid-season finale left off with Rick (Andrew Lincoln, Love Actually), a sheriff ’s deputy, and his band of survivors making a shocking discovery in the Hershel’s barn (Scott Wilson, In Cold Blood).

What makes this show one of the best on TV is that it effortlessly mixes drama with zombies, making for a suspenseful and action packed story of survival. It is not just about zombies, but also can be seen as an analysis of human morality and the lengths people will go to survive.

That, coupled with great storylines and complex characters, makes “The Walking Dead” a must-see show that will keep you coming back for more.

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

PAGE 14 • THE RAM • FEBRUARY 15, 2012

WHO’S THAT KID??

Catherine Amato

CULTURE

theramonline.com

A MEMBER OF GSB ’15, MAJORING IN MARKETING FROM MILFORD, CT Describe yourself in a couple of sentences.

What is something about you that not many people know?

I might be hard to handle sometimes, but I have good intentions. I make jokes sometimes that might be inappropriate but that’s because people need to be less serious.

I spend way too many hours pretending to get work done.

My nights in the library consist of people watching and Facebook.

What is your favorite aspect of Fordham and why?

What is your favorite class at Fordham?

What I love about it is also what I hate about it. It’s small enough that everyone is intertwined which can be good or bad; however, it’s large enough that you can still have independence.

Cultural Anthropology with Karen Velasquez. It’s like formalized people watching.

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

That I can’t get into any residential building past 3:00 in the morning. I should be allowed to have a student from Fordham sleep in my dorm.

I just don’t like the sign-in rules.

What is one thing you would like to accomplish over your four years here?

Learn how to stop my Facebook addiction. I’d also like to become more learned in politics.

What would you consider your “guilty pleasure”?

Watching “Teen Mom.” What is the biggest miscon-

PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM

Catherine Amato, a GSB freshman, dreams of moving to the West Coast and growing a head full of long dreadlocks.

ception people have about you?

or otherwise) for after college?

People think that I’m a brat because I like to dress nice.

Moving to L.A., getting dreadlocks and calling it a day.

What are your plans (career

If you were stranded on a

desert island, what would you bring?

A hatchet! Like the book! That’s a genius answer. I’d probably bring a journal too.

“Saturday Night Live” Begins Taking Sides

COURTESY OF HULU.COM

“SNL” defended Fordham alumna Lana Del Rey’s Jan. performance. This is an action the show rarely takes.

By EMILY ARATA EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Only two months into its latest season, “Saturday Night Live” experienced a sketchy start with the controversial performance of the recently reborn Lana Del Rey, a blond chanteuse with lyrics about her big heart and even bigger (and more contentious) collagenenhanced lips. As she moaned her way through the hit song “Video

Games,” viewers could imagine the show’s producers dropping their heads into their hands in shame.

In the days that followed, the Internet had endless commentary on the starlet’s mediocre performance.

Her album came out a few days later, only to be skewered by critics who proclaimed her a mediocre beauty with an even more middling singing ability. Interviews with Del Rey that week revealed lukewarm, impersonal responses to the criti-

cisms of her voice and career.

“I thought I looked beautiful and sang fine,” Del Rey told Rolling Stone in response to the media hailstorm that followed her performance.

Opting to make a statement on the controversy through a sketch rather than through a public relations representative, “SNL” brought out veteran comedienne Kristin Wiig in a blond wig and tight lace dress in character as Del

Rey. Standing stick-straight and staring at the camera like a deer in the headlights, Wiig perfectly encapsulated the distanced, cold persona of Del Rey. When Seth Meyers, host of the sketch “Weekend Update”, noted that she had performed on thie show, Wiig-as-Del Rey responded, “That’s what I thought I did, Seth, but based on the public’s response I must have clubbed a baby seal while singing the Taliban national anthem.”

Addressing the plethora of comments on Del Rey’s strange manner, Wiig-as-Del Rey stated, “In this age of dangerous school bullying, you have sent an important message; if you think someone is weird you should criticize them as much as possible.”

The controversy is not Del Rey’s actual performance on the show.

“SNL” has played host to acts of far worse caliber (here’s looking at you, Ashlee Simpson). This is, however, the first time that the show has seemingly stood up for a controversial musical act. By virtue of the fact that the defense was part of a comedic sketch, audiences are led to believe that the cast themselves may have requested a defense for Del Rey’s voice.

The issue at stake here is that a comedy sketch that was once purportedly neutral is now taking sides with the subjects it taunts.

Del Rey is far from the first celebrity to perform badly on the show. In fact, she joins the ranks of Sinead O’Connor, Kanye West and the Red Hot Chili Peppers — all respected artists who had a rough night on “SNL’s” stage.

“SNL,” however, has recently been guilty of taking sides in controversy more than it has in the past. In the fall, Alec Baldwin was removed from a flight for refusing

to turn off his iPhone. Soon after, “Weekend Update” featured a segment in which the actor played the pilot of his flight, publicly apologizing to himself. The fact that Baldwin, who was not even the host for the week, was invited to perform the sketch in defense of his own gaffe seems to extend beyond “SNL’s” comedic boundaries.

The show is supposed to highlight the good, the bad and the ugly of the realm of American culture and poke fun at the events that the public takes too seriously.

If the cast begins defending every single celebrity who does an inane or blatantly idiotic thing, however, the show is quickly headed for a drop in viewership. Viewers do not want to see Alec Baldwin in a pilot’s hat apologize to himself or Wiig-as-Del Rey defending a poor performance; they want to see original, forward-thinking comedy that does not dwell on the tired events of the weeks before.

Regardless of who is right or wrong in disputes, “SNL” has lasted an incredibly long time because it does not criticize the way Americans think, but rather chooses to poke fun at it. If the Internet wants to throw a fit that Lana Del Rey has a collagen-enhanced upper lip, let it. Tolerate the public; do not criticize it.

“SNL” has a deep place in the hearts of television viewers because it accepts that Americans are cranky, superficial and quick to judge. In some ways, that is what makes them so charming. The television show must simply remember that it is no one’s protective older brother. The backbone of celebrity culture comes from letting the public pick apart the stars and vice versa. It is not “SNL’s” place to step into the cycle.

PAGE 15

FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Men’s Basketball Falling Behind in Atlantic 10 Race Rams Lose Slew of Games Against A-10 Opponents, Dropping Them Further in Standings

By ERIK PEDERSEN STAFF WRITER

It was not a good weekend for Fordham’s chances of making it to the Atlantic 10 tournament.

The Rams’ loss to Dayton, coupled with George Washington’s last-second win over Richmond, leaves Fordham a game and a half out of the 12th and final spot for the Atlantic 10 tournament with only six games left in the regular season.

The Rams are 2-8 in the conference, while both GW and Richmond are 4-7. Charlotte is also within reach at 4-6, but the 49ers hold the tiebreaker over Fordham after their victory last Saturday.

Richmond also has the tiebreaker over Fordham, while the Rams

do have the tiebreaker over GW. Fordham has not qualified for the tournament since 2008.

After close losses in two straight home games, Fordham has two road matchups this week, against Duquesne and Saint Louis.

The team’s only road win this season came against Siena in December.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us obviously,” Head Coach Tom Pecora said. “Realistically, I think we’ve got to win one of these two on the road, and then we come home, and we play three of four at home. You’ve got to finish strong and see what we can do.”

Junior forward Chris Gaston and senior center Kervin Bristol have both stepped up their play recently.

PHOTO BY BRIAN KRAKER/THE RAM

Junior Marvin Dominique played just four minutes against the Flyers, despite receivng more time on the court over the past couple of weeks.

PHOTO BY BRIAN KRAKER/THE RAM

Freshman Brian Smith had 14 points on 4 -or-12 shooting in the loss against Dayton, connecting on four of his 10 threepoint attempts. Smith has been asked for more consistency from Coach Pecora and junior Chris Gaston.

Gaston has led the team in scoring the last two games, while Bristol followed up a career-high eight block performance last week with 11 points and 15 rebounds against Dayton. Pecora, though, thinks the team will need more out of the less-experienced players on the team to make a run at the A-10.

“I need the young guys to step up,” he said. “I need [freshman guard] Bryan Smith to be more consistent. I need [freshman guard Devon] Fatty McMillan to be a little more consistent.”

Gaston said that the team missed out on a big opportunity to make up ground in the A-10 with Saturday’s loss to Dayton.

The Rams had a four point lead with 1:20 left in regulation, but they were unable to hold on late, falling to 8-4 at the home this season.

“We had a big lead, and we just didn’t execute down the stretch,” Gaston said. “We need to do a better job of that, especially at home.

All season long we’ve been playing pretty well here and we should

have won both of [the last two] games we played at home.”

Despite the setbacks, Gaston still believes that Fordham can make it to the tournament if the team splits its last six games.

“We’ve just got to win three games,” he said. “That’s all we’re worried about. We aren’t worried about anyone else.”

In order to win half of their remaining games, the Rams will likely have to win at least one of their three remaining road contests. Fordham has lost its last 26 conference road games. Gaston agreed with his coach that the underclassmen need to get better in games away from the Rose Hill Gym. “We do everything to prepare [for road games],” he said. “We prepare like we do for a home game. We’ve just got to focus. And you’ve got the young guys, it’s already February now and guys have to step up. They’re like veteran players; they’re about to be sophomores.”

While making the conference tournament continues to be the

team’s goal, Pecora believes that the season has been positive regardless.

“We’ve won more games than last year,” he said. “Our RPI jumped. We had a winning nonconference record. We’re going to have a winning home record. And our guys are getting older. We continue to get older and wiser, and with that said we’re moving in the right direction. I have no doubt about that.”

There is still plenty of time for Fordham to make a run at the A-10 tournament, but the team’s momentum from non-conference wins over Georgia Tech and nationally-ranked Harvard failed to carry over to conference play.

Gaston, who has yet to play in a postseason game in his time at Fordham, believes qualifying for the tournament is the only way the season could be considered successful.

“One of my goals at the beginning of the year was to make it to the A-10s,” he said. So if we don’t make it I think would be a failure.”

Women’s Basketball Drops Heartbreaker in Overtime to Xavier, 68-57

By MATT ROSENFELD ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

It was another tough day for the Fordham women’s basketball team this past Saturday, as the Rams fell to conference opponent and fellow Jesuit school Xavier, 68-57 in overtime.

The Rams came in to the game hoping to pick up their third conference win, and their second at home, against a tough Musketeers team that was tied with Fordham in the Atlantic 10 conference standings before the matchup.

It was a very evenly matched game that Fordham controlled for a good part of the second half, but a stout Xavier team buckled down on defense to get itself a late lead. The game went back and forth over the last minute when Xavier grabbed a two point lead with just seconds remaining.

That gave junior guard Arielle Collins enough time to hit a layup with just five seconds remaining, sending the game into overtime.

The extra period proved disastrous for the Rams, as they were

outscored 22-11 and lost yet another tough conference game.

“We hung tough, but as has been part of the course for the year; it’s about learning how to finish, and I think that’s part of changing the culture and learning how to win,” Head Coach Stephanie Gaitley said. “We played a team that has been very good in the past, and their record is not indicative of how much talent they have, but they know how to win. That’s a hump that we have to get over.”

This loss to Xavier is the sixth game Fordham has dropped of its previous seven.

Fordham did not play any mid week games last week. With a full week between games, the time allowed the team to practice and focus on itself more than they have been able to in previous weeks.

“A lot of times, you have to really look in the mirror first to see what you have to get better at, and concentrate on yourself before you concentrate on anybody else,” Gaitley said. “We used our week to improve ourselves. We worked on a lot of things that needed to be

improved.”

Fordham is now 11-14 overall, 2-8 in A-10 play, which is good enough for 11th out of the 14 teams. The top 12 teams make the conference tournament to compete for a bid to the NCAA tournament.

With some of the top teams in the conference still left on the

schedule, Fordham is looking at a tough road to the postseason.

“It’s hard to say [how we will fare], our approach is one day at a time. We have two very tough games on the road, and a solid Duquesne team coming here, and then what could be a playoff game against St. Louis,” Gaitley said. “Our goal is still every day to get better. When

you’re trying to change culture your goal is to just go to the court every day and get better.”

The Rams’ next game is Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. against Duquesne here in the Rose Hill Gym. They will follow that up with a road game on Sunday, Feb. 19 at Richmond.

PHOTO BY BRIAN KRAKER/THE RAM

The Rams will need to win some of their remaining conference games to maintain their spot in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. They currently rank eleventh in the conference, just one spot away from falling out of the tournament.

PAGE 16 • THE RAM • FEBRUARY 15, 2012

SPORTS

theramonline.com

Men’s and Women’s Swimming Sweep St. Francis (NY) at Home

By TIM DEROCHER STAFF WRITER

In their final tune-up before the Atlantic 10 Championships, the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams both defeated St. Francis College on home turf last Wednesday. The men closed out their dual-meet season with a 136-71 win, bringing their record to 3-8 this season. The women capped an excellent 9-3 season with a win of their own by a score of 127-69.

Of the 25 events in the swimming and diving meet, the Rams had the fastest time or highest score in each and every one of the events against the Terriers.

For the women, seniors Courtney Collyer and Andrea Krok each won two individual events. Collyer won the 50-yard freestyle in 24.50 and the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:08.06.

Krok swept the diving events winning the three-meter dive with a score of 280.13 and the one meter with 277.50. Sophomore Kara Field won one individual event as well as being a member of both winning relay teams. She took first in the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 1:53.71.

The first of those winning relays was the 200 yard medley relay, which Field, along with senior Alexandra Wessel, junior Brienne Ryan and freshman Aurelia O’Keefe won in a time of 1:50.94.

Wessel also took home first in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 53.72, while Ryan won the 100yard butterfly in 56.37. Field and O’Keefe teamed up with sophomore Shannon Jones and junior Alana Biagioli to win the second

PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM

The seniors pose with one another on Senior Night. The athletes were treated to a win in their last match at Rose Hill before heading to the A-10 Tourney.

relay, the 200-yard freestyle, in a time of 1:40.77.

Jones also had an individual best with a time of a 2:11.48 200-yard individual medley. Also

winning individual events for the women were junior Kellie Lyver in the 100-yard backstroke and freshman Victoria McGovern in the 500-freestyle.

They clocked in at 1:00.56 and 5:18.98 respectively.

For the men, it was a similar story as sophomores Michael Grimmett-Norris and Shintaro Noguchi and junior Kevin Wong all won two individual events.

Grimmett-Norris won the 200yard freestyle in a time of 1:47.87 and the 500-yard freestyle in 4:52.56.

Noguchi took the two shorter freestyle events winning the 50yard in 21.12 and the 100 yard in 46.41.

Wong took first place in both of the diving events, scoring a 244.43 in the three meter and a 249.90 in the one meter.

Grimmett-Norris was also a member of the winning 200-yard medley relay. He, alongside senior Joseph Hines, junior Devon Morris and freshman Patrick Militti, won in a time of 1:36.91.

Those three then went on to win individual events of their own.

Hines won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:01.21, Morris the 100 yard backstroke in 53.47 and Militti the 200-individual medley in 1:58.33.

Freshmen Andrew Hendrickson and Brandon Strong made names for themselves, as well, as they rounded up the individual event wins with Hendrickson winning the 1,000-yard freestyle in 9:54.73 and Strong the 100yard butterfly in 53.91.

Hendrickson along with fellow freshman Nick Burbidge, Morris and sophomore Ben Dwyer won the second relay for the men by finishing the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:29.62.

This was the final meet for the Rams before the Atlantic 10

Championships in Buffalo from Feb. 22 to 25.

Head Coach Steve Potsklan was grounded but confident in his feelings on the teams chances at the championships.

“We’ve progressed exceptionally well throughout the year, and our progress is far more advanced than where we were last year. That sets us up well for the upcoming championships.”

The women finished second place at the A-10’s last year, taking first place was the University of Richmond Spiders, which is once again favored to win this year. Coach Potsklan recognized this fact but was also positive about this year’s chances, as the women have finished in the top two at the championships for the last three straight years, including an A-10 win themselves two seasons ago.

“We are the underdog, Richmond is the team to beat, but we want to put ourselves in a position to challenge them.”

On the men’s side, it is also an opportunistic picture as the team looks to improve on last season’s sixth place finish. The plethora of talent in the underclassmen and leadership of the upperclassmen, as already stated here before, looks like a good way for them to get things started.

“We’re a lot faster, and deeper, than we were last year so that should yield some better results,” Potskin said.

The 2012 Atlantic 10 Championships in Swimming and Diving will take place from Wednesday, Feb. 22 until Saturday the 25.

The event will be held at the Flickinger Center in Buffalo, New York.

Men’s Tennis Defeats NJIT 4-3; Falls to No. 48 Cornell Despite Upset from Kowalski

By KARA SCAGLIOLA STAFF WRITER

Fordham’s matchup with the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Feb. 10 was a nail-biter.

The two teams battled until what seemed like the last second. After dropping the doubles match to NJIT, Fordham was behind (1-0) and relied on its singles teams to bring in the winning points.

The Rams pulled ahead when freshmen Srikar Alla (6-3, 6-3) and J.J. Tauil (7-6 (3), 6-3) took their matches respectively in straight sets, bringing the overall score to 2-1, Rams.

With fifth and sixth singles matches going to NJIT, pressure was on sophomore Kubo Kowalski to put the Rams back on the board.

He did so with a 6-4, 6-1 comeback after dropping the first set 6-3, bringing the match to a 3-3 tie.

The match came down to the third singles competition between the Rams’ sophomore Mischa Koran and opponent Victor Martinez, and the pressure was on Koran to win for the team.

Koran played through a painful sprained ankle, taking the first set at 7-5 but then dropping the second to the same score.

He pulled through his injury with notable strength and pulled

out a 6-3 final set. It was a win for him and a victory for the Ram team as a whole.

Head Coach Corey Hubbard commented on his players’ preparation for close matches such as these.

“It’s funny, because I have been stressing to the guys all week, we are going to start to have these 4-3 matches that will be a test of will,” he said.

“Our previous seven matches have not been close, and since we are such a young team I was worried about what would happen the first time we got into one of the tight matches coming down to the last guys on court,” Hubbard said.

“In practice, we did some pressure points with everyone watching, to get the new guys a feeling for what it would be like if the deciding match came down to them and it paid off.”

On Sunday, the Rams fell short of a possible double victory week when they lost to 48th-ranked Cornell.

This upset would have been the Rams’ first win over a ranked opponent, but their play proved this is still a real possibility on the Rams’ horizon.

Fordham faced three tough losses in the opening doubles matches, with final scores of 8-5, 8-6 and 8-3.

PHOTO BY AARON MAYS/THE RAM

Fordham finished the fall season with a perfect record of 7-0. The Rams were able to pull off a come-from-behind victory over NJIT, but were not able to finish off the upset bid against Cornell.

Even after this, according to Coach Hubbard, team morale remained high.

“After losing the doubles point and losing five first sets, my guys never quit and continued to battle back,” Hubbard said. “We had the momentum there for a while in the later stages of second sets and gave ourselves a chance to pull the upset.”

This feeling was reflected as Fordham battled back, with Alla

picking up a win in second singles (7-6, 6-4).

Continuing the rally, Kowalski, who was named A-10 tennis performer of the week, upset Cornell’s nationally-ranked Iver in three sets (6-2, 7-5, 6-3).

Iver had been ranked 98th in the country.

With the overall score tied at 3-3, it came down to the fourth singles match between Fordham’s Tauil and Cornell’s Alex Sidney.

The match went three sets, with Sidney coming out on top in the first set, (6-2), Tauil rallying back for the second (6-4), but Sidney ultimately pulling ahead with a final set shutout (6-0).

Look for the Fordham men again this Friday when they meet the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at 4 P.M. The Bonnies lost their last match against Atlantic 10 conference opponent Duquesne.

Duke and UNC Add Classic Game to Storied Rivalry

By ADRIAN BURKE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Wednesday, Feb. 8, those who watched the classic college hoops battle between Duke and North Carolina might have witnessed the greatest installment of this storied rivalry. After a momentous comeback, the Blue Devils frantically brought the ball down the baby-blue hardwood for one final shot to beat their archrival, the Tar Heels. Freshman Austin Rivers, son of Boston Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers, took the ball across half court, dribbled to his right while being guarded by the seven-foot Tyler Zeller and heaved up a shot from downtown that got nothing but net.

Duke had won, and a freshman had hit one of the biggest shots in school history against its most hated opponent, from which they are separated by only eight miles of highway.

A buzzer beater to end a college basketball game is arguably the most exciting finish in all of sports.

With the clock running down, and every fan on the edge of their seat, waiting to see if an 18-year-old can make the biggest shot of his life in front of 22,000 people, he drains it. Does it get any better than that?

Such a moment alone is enough to get a fan’s blood pumping, but add it to the biggest rivalry in college basketball, and you have a game for the ages. Every time Duke and UNC play, it is always on national TV. Whether it is broadcast on CBS or ESPN, the game always has huge hype and usually lives up to it.

This year’s first matchup turned out to be a top-10 showdown, as Carolina held down the five spot in the polls, with Duke not far behind at number nine. What made this game special was that we were able to see just about everything, from NBA-ready players to huge comebacks and a buzzer beater. Carolina held a double-digit lead for most of the second half, until Duke made one final push with two minutes left, when Tyler Thornton and Seth Curry hit back-to-back threes to cut the deficit to four. After an acci-

FEBRUARY 15, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 17

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dental tip-in by Zeller into his own basket, the score was 83-82 in favor of the Tar Heels.

Zeller was then fouled, but made only one free throw, giving the Blue Devils a chance to win the game outright, and Austin Rivers did just that.

Now, is it fair to say this was the greatest game ever played between these two perennial powerhouses?

The last time we saw last-second heroics was on Senior Day in Chapel Hill in 2005. With just three minutes to play, Duke led Carolina 73-64, but with a put-back and a Blue Devil turnover resulting in another, the Tar Heels were able to cut the deficit to five with two minutes to go.

Carolina’s big man Sean May was fouled and converted a threepoint play to cut the Duke lead to 73-71 with a little under two minutes left.

Missed shots by both teams caused the game to go back and forth for about a minute, when finally, Raymond Felton, now with the Denver Nuggets, drew a foul and hit the first but missed the second. In missing the second free throw, Felton was able to tip the rebound to Marvin Williams, who slammed it home and drew the foul, erupting the record crowd of over 22,000 at the Dean Smith Center. Williams’ free throw made it 75-73 UNC. Duke was able to set up one final play, in which the ball went to the NCAA all-time three-point leader J.J. Redick, but his attempt rimmed out, and the Tar Heels had just won the instant classic in an unimaginable three-minute comeback.

The game on Feb. 8 eclipsed Senior Day in 2005 for various reasons. What made it better was that there was a buzzer beater, and that the winning shot came from a freshman. This freshman was not an ordinary highly-touted Duke recruit, but the son of a championship NBA coach who was seen celebrating with his family as soon as the shot went in. It is worth watching these teams every time they hit the floor, as you never know what you will end up seeing. And hey, they play again on March 3.

Men’s Basketball

Swimming and Diving

Men’s Tennis

Fordham 70-72 Dayton

MEN FORDHAM 136-71 ST. FRANCIS

FORDHAM 3-4 CORNELL

WOMEN FORDHAM 127-69 ST. FRANCIS

Singles 1. Kowalski (Fordham) def. Iver (Cornell) 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 2. Alla (Fordham) def. Riggs (Cornell) 7-6, 6-4 3. Nguyen (Cornell) def. Koran (Fordham) 6-1, 6-1 4. Sidney (Cornell) def. Tauill (Fordham) 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 5. Luu (Cornell) def. Gram (Fordham) 6-3, 6-2 6. Peara (Fordham) def. McElwain (Cornell) 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 (10-8)

Fordham FG 3FG FT REB Gaston 11-21 0-1 1-2 8 Bristol 5-7 0-0 1-2 15 Frazier 1-6 0-3 1-2 5 McMillan 5-18 1-3 5-8 3 Smith 4-12 4-10 2-2 4 Samuell 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 Estwick 1-3 1-3 0-0 0 Dominique 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 Canty 0-0 0-0 0-2 0 Team 4 Totals 27-67 6-20 10-18 42

A 1 0 7 3 4 0 0 0 0

PTS 23 11 3 16 14 0 3 0 0

15 70

Blocks - McMillan (2), Bristol (3) Steals - McMillan, Bristol

FT 4-4 2-2 5-6 2-4 2-4 1-1 6-6 0-0 0-0

REB 13 1 8 2 1 4 5 2 3 5 22-27 44

A PTS 0 22 1 4 1 7 5 9 1 8 0 3 2 14 0 0 2 5 12 72

Blocks - Dillard, Parker Steals - Johnson, Parker (2), Hill (2) Turnovers - Johnson, Parker, Kavanaugh (2), Oliver (2), Williams (3) 1 31 32

Fordham Dayton

2 OT 32 7 31 9

F 70 72

FT REB 0-0 7 3-7 2 2-2 5 7-8 3 7-10 7 0-0 0 1-2 1 0-0 2 5 17-58 4-16 20-29 28

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

A 1 2 5 2 0 0 0 0

PTS 10 5 9 13 15 0 1 4

10 57

Blocks - Gaskin, Collins Steals - Gaskin, Tapio, Collins (2), Peters (4)

FG 3FG FT

Pachko Crouch Moss Hawkes Wanninger Gray Johnson Team Totals

3-7 3-6 4-12 3-10 1-4 6-8 0-0

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

REB A PTS

2-2 7-11 3-4 5-6 4-6 5-6 0-0

4 12 5 5 2 7 0 6

1 0 1 6 1 1 0

8 13 12 11 7 17 0

20-47 2-12 26-35 41 10 68

Blocks - Gray, Moss (3) Steals - Crouch, Hawkes, Wanninger Turnovers - Wanninger, Johnson, Gray (2), Pachko (3), Hawkes (4), Moss (4), Crouch (4)

Fordham Xavier

1st 21 23

2nd OT 25 11 23 22

Women 50 Yard Freestyle - 1. Collyer (Fordham), 24.50 2. Biagioli (Fordham), 25.07 3. McKenna (Fordham), 25.58 Men 50 Yard Freestyle - 1. Noguchi (Fordham), 21.12 2. Mulligan (Fordham), 21.94 3. Yi (Fordham), 22.20 Women 200 Yard IM - 1. Jones (Fordham), 2:11.48 2. Chappell (Fordham), 2:11.76 3. O’Keefe (Fordham), 2:17.07

Men 1 Meter Diving - 1. Wong (Fordham), 249.90 2. Landau-Smith (Fordham), 205.95

Doubles 1. Iver/Sidney (Cornell) def. Koran/Kowalski (Fordham) 8-5 2. Fleck/Luu (Cornell) def. Gram/Peara (Fordham) 8-3 3. Riggs/Nguyen (Cornell) def. Tauill/ Alla (Fordham) 8-6

Women’s Tennis FORDHAM 2-5 ARMY Singles 1. Simidian (Fordham) def. Colton (Army) 6-3, 6-3 2. Paul (Army) def. Ali (Fordham) 6-1, 6-1 3. Dabu (Fordham) def. Iliev (Army) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 4. Taylor (Army) def. Genkina (Fordham) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 5. Allen (Army) def. Leong (Fordham) 6-4, 6-7 (8-6), 6-1 6. Gleason (Army) def. Boyle (Fordham) 6-1, 6-1 Doubles 1. Simidian/Dabu (Fordham) def.

Taylor/Taylor (Army) 8-2 2. Iliev/Riney (Army) def. Ali/Genkina (Fordham) 8-3 3. Saavedra/Parker (Army) def. Leong/ Holt (Fordham) 8-5

Women 100 Yard Butterfly - 1. Ryan (Fordham), 56.37 2. Bunster (Fordham), 57.59 3. Warren (Fordham), 1:00.56

Track

Men 100 Yard Butterfly - 1. Strong (Fordham), 53.91 2. Kosciuk (Fordham), 54.07 4. Castaldo (Fordham), 54.74

MENS

Women 100 Yard Freestyle - 1. Wessel (Fordham), 53.72 2. Moseley (Fordham), 55.06 3. McKenna (Fordham), 55.76

Turnovers - Stoddart, Peters, Durant, Tapio (2), Corning (3), Collins (4)

Xavier

Men 200 Yard Freestyle - 1.

Grimmett-Norris (Fordham), 1:47.87 2. Kosciuk (Fordham), 1:48.19 3.

Jacobsen (Fordham), 1:48.29

Women 1 Meter Diving - 1. Krok (Fordham), 277.50 2. Dorger (Fordham), 266.63 3. Salas (Fordham), 251.93

Fordham 57-68 Xavier FG 4-10 1-6 3-12 3-13 4-10 0-0 0-0 2-7

Women 200 Yard Freestyle - 1.

Field (Fordham), 1:53.71 2.

Lyver (Fordham), 1:56.92 3.

Carter (Fordham), 1:59.29

Men 200 Yard IM - 1. Militti (Fordham), 1:58.33 2. Thomann (Fordham), 2:01.59 3. Dwyer (Fordham), 2:04.25

Women’s Basketball

Fordham Stoddart Gaskin Collins Peters Corning Sims Durant Tapio Team Totals

Men 200 Yard Medley Relay- 1.

Fordham B (Grimmett-Norris, Hines, Morris, Militti), 1:36.91 2. Fordham C (Thomann, Dwyer, Simpkins, Noguchi), 1:38.48 Men 1000 Yard Freestyle - 1.

Hendrickson (Fordham), 9:54.73 2. Nowak (Fordham), 10:34.16

Turnovers - Gaston, Frazier, Smith, Estwick, Canty, McMillan (2) Dayton FG 3FG Johnson 8-16 2-9 Fabrizius 1-7 0-4 Kavanaugh 1-6 0-0 Dillard 3-9 1-4 Williams 2-8` 2-6 Oliver 1-2 0-1 Parker 3-7 2-6 Gavrilovic 0-1 0-0 Hill 2-4 1-1 Team Totals 21-60 8-31

Women 200-yard Medley Relay- 1.

Fordham C (Wessel, Field, Ryan, O’Keefe), 1:50.94 2. Fordham B (McKenna, Coe, Jones, Bunster), 1:52.66

Men 100 Yard Freestyle - 1. Noguchi (Fordham), 46.41 2. Yi (Fordham), 48.32 3. Begley (Fordham), 49.50 Women 100 Yard Backstroke - 1. Lyver (Fordham), 1:00.56 2. Karpinski (Fordham), 1:00.90 3. Santoro (Fordham), 1:03.91 Men 100 Yard Backstroke - 1. Morris (Fordham), 53.47 2. Jacobsen (Fordham), 55.80 3. Simpkins (Fordham), 57.27 Women 100 Yard Breaststroke - No Fordham Placers Men 100 Yard Breaststroke - No Fordham Placers Women 200 Yard Freestyle Relay - No Fordham Placers Men 200 Yard Freestyle Relay - No Fordham Placers

Tot 57 68

MANHATTAN/SO. CONN. TRI-MEET

60 Meter Dash - 1. Smith (Fordham), 6.9 3. Massaro (Fordham), 7.2 1 Mile Run - 2. Delikat (Fordham), 4:33 3. Clonan (Fordham), 4:35 Pole Vault - 2. Talty (Fordham), 4.65 meters 6. Derocher (Fordham), 3.90 meters Weight Throw - 7. Ruiz (Fordham), 12.56 meters 200 Meter Dash - 1. Massaro (Fordham), 23.9 2. Clemens (Fordham), 24.2 3. Byrne (Fordham), 24.4 3000 Meter Run - 2. Kelly (Fordham), 9:04 3. Kazanjian (Fordham), 9:07 4.

Collins (Fordham), 9:18 Long Jump - 1. Smith (Fordham), 6.85 meters 5. Darnell (Fordham), 5.63 meters 400 Meter Dash - 1. Byrne (Fordham), 52.6 2. Clemens (Fordham), 53.6 60 Meter Hurdles - 1. Murphy (Fordham), 8.7 Triple Jump - 1. Darnell (Fordham), 11.99 meters 800 Meter Run - 1. Bongiorno (Fordham), 1:59 2. Grandelli (Fordham), 1:59 4. Doran (Fordham), 2:02

Visit theramonline.com for blogs covering NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, college sports and EPL. CHUCK LIDDY/MCT CAMPUS

Freshman Austin Rivers hit the game-winning three pointer as his father Doc, the head coach of the Boston Celtics, watched from the stands.

High Jump - 1. Fajoyomi (Fordham), 1.94 meters Shot Put - 5. Ruiz (Fordham), 14.29 meters

PAGE 18• THE RAM •FEBRUARY 15, 2012

TWO-MINUTE DRILL

CHRISTIAN BEAULIEU

CHRISTIAN BEAULIEU Great coaches tell their players to “let their play do the talking.” This means that if you perform at a high level, your skills will speak for themselves. A little more than a half century ago, however, racism drowned out the impressive talents of many black athletes. Baseball, America’s pastime, can look back with adoration and reverence to a few monumentally important individuals who oversaw the integration of blacks into Major League Baseball. These individuals embodied bravery, courage and character by doing what was right, rather than what was easy.

For much of the first half of the 20th century, black baseball players were not signed by major or minor league teams. Because of this, many minority players founded their own teams of predominantly minority athletes. As more teams started popping up in the early 20th century, a league was formed. The Negro National League was founded in 1920, and from 1920 to 1951, seven successful, predominantly-black leagues existed.

Branch Rickey had been a ball player, manager and executive before being hired as the General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1942. He was also one of baseball’s greatest innovators. He invented the modern-day farm system, a team made up of players who haven’t yet matured into Major League ball players. He tracked players’ abilities through new forms of statistics and is credited with helping invent and refine the use of batting cages, pitching machines and helmets. Branch Rickey, in short, was a man ahead of his time.

In 1945, the media reported that Rickey wanted to start an all-black team in Brooklyn, known as the Brown Dodgers, to compete in the Negro League. He scouted the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico for players for his new team. However, Rickey was actually looking to break baseball’s color barrier. The color barrier was not a rule by Major League Baseball, but rather an unwritten agreement between the clubs to refuse to sign black ballplayers.

Breaking the color barrier was not just another one of Rickey’s innovations; instead, it transcended both baseball and business. Rickey was driven by his moral belief for equality. He needed to find a great player, but character was even more important to Rickey. He knew his actions would subject his players and himself to constant racial tension and injustice. He needed a person with steadfast courage and unyielding character who would stand tall in the face of the adversity that was to come. On Aug. 28, 1945, after an extensive search, Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson.

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on Jan. 31, 1919 in Cairo,

Georgia. From an early age, it was apparent that Robinson was an outstanding athlete. He became the first UCLA student-athlete to varsity letter in four different sports: baseball, basketball, football and track and field. Ironically, at UCLA, baseball was Robinson’s worst sport.

Robinson’s plans were put on hold in 1942, when he was drafted by the U.S. Army. In the Army, Robinson encountered and stood up against racism. He was courtmartialed for refusing to move to the back of an Army bus. He was later acquitted and spent the rest of his time as a coach of Army athletics. A friend suggested that he try out for a professional black baseball team, the Kansas City Monarchs. In 1945, he was scouted and signed by Branch Rickey.

Robinson was set to spend the 1946 season playing for the Montreal Royals, a Dodgers minor league affiliate. Robinson had to deal with racism almost everywhere the team traveled. Robinson couldn’t even be with his own team because of segregation in certain places. Despite the burden of being the first black player in the International League, he managed to amass a .349 batting average and won the League’s Most Valuable Player in 1946.

Robinson’s performance in the International League earned him a spot in the big leagues. On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier when he made his Major League debut. With all the excitement, however, came hateful racism. Racism began in the Dodgers clubhouse, since players were split about how they felt about integration. There were rumors in the media as to whether established players would sit out and refuse to play. Strong leadership prevailed from manager Leo Durocher.

“I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a zebra,” Durocher said. “I’m the manager of this team, and I say he plays.”

He even threatened to trade players who refused to buy into team unity.

Team captain Pee Wee Reese set an example when he became one of Robinson’s best friends and supporters in the clubhouse.

Racism from the fans, opposing players and managers could do little to stifle the determination and resolve Robinson showed on a daily basis. The letters, insults and death threats that Robinson received can only be described as sickening, yet he handled himself with poise. Statistically Robinson had a great season, batting .297 and earning the inaugural Rookie of the Year award.

As a player, Jackie Robinson can be defined by his awards and accomplishments: Rookie of the Year, a sixtime All-Star, the National League’s Most Valuable Player, a World Series champion and a Hall of Fame inductee. None of those awards and accolades however, speak to the man that Jackie Robinson was. Robinson’s bravery and character made Branch Rickey choose him as the face of integration. He opened the door for countless ball players who wouldn’t have been given a chance to be great. Whether it be out of recognition of Black History Month or a growing excitement for the upcoming baseball season, we must recognize the greatness and character of Jackie Robinson, Branch Rickey, Leo Durocher and Pee Wee Reese, who shaped the game we love today.

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Senior Profile: Jen Mineau

By DAN GARTLAND SPORTS EDITOR

Senior pitcher Jen Mineau has been the ace of the Fordham softball staff since her first season with the Rams. She enters her senior season already in possession of the Fordham records for most career no-hitters (7) and perfect games (4). She also holds the school records for career wins and strikeouts. She was featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” as a freshman after she threw two no-hitters in the same week, earning her Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week honors. In her first ever collegiate game, she beat No. 12 Fresno State, throwing a complete game and allowing only four hits. Mineau will graduate in May with a degree in visual arts.

Mineau and the Rams will begin the 2012 season this weekend in Greenville, N.C. with games against Virginia, UNC Greensboro, East Carolina and Louisville.

Last season, Fordham advanced to the regional round of the NCAA tournament before being bounced

by Penn State. This year, Fordham looks to defend its Atlantic 10 crown.

The Ram: Why did you choose Fordham coming out of high school?

Jen Mineau: I actually wasn’t recruited anywhere else. The only other place that I had an official visit lined up at was Savannah College of Art and Design down in Georgia. I visited here, and I loved it. I loved how the campus felt. I really liked the team and where the team was going and what kind of program they were building.

TR: You put up crazy numbers in high school, and you weren’t recruited anywhere else?

JM: Yeah. No one cared. I went to public school, and I graduated with a class of 108. My coaches apparently talked to the colleges that were around me, like UAlbany, Siena and Saint Rose. Apparently, they just assumed that my numbers were because of the schools I was playing, which were also very small. Pretty much, in high school, I don’t even remember how many no-hitters I had. They started writing headlines if teams would get more than four hits. At one point, the headline was, “Schuylerville Manages Four Hits.” That’s just how high school was.

PHOTO BY AARON MAYS/THE RAM

Jen Mineau enters her senior season already in possession of a variety of Fordham pitching records.

TR: So, you guys did really well last year. What are your goals for this season?

JM: Our goal is still to make it past regionals; that was our goal last year. Hopefully this year, we’ll get a decent draw, get a winnable regional and move on to Super Regionals.

TR: How can you improve on last year’s success?

JM: It definitely helps that all of us have been there before, except for the freshmen. Our experience, I think, is definitely a big thing. Losing the seniors last year obviously was a big hit. We lost a lot of power, but we added a lot of contact hitters, which I think is fantastic. We weren’t really a big hit to contact team last year. We’re very scrappy this year, which I think is fantastic.

We’re not usually that sort of team.

TR: Do you have any personal goals for the year?

JM: I just want to focus on getting the team where it needs to be.

Whatever happens for me in the meantime, that’s fine. I try not to think about it. It’s just something I’ve never done. I’ve never made specific personal goals.

TR: Is it tough playing on the road so much early in the year?

JM: No. We like it. It would suck a lot if we were here because it’s so cold. We like it because it gets us on the bus together. It’s a lot of team bonding. It’s nice to go other places.

It can get a little monotonous flying every weekend. The flying process with a group of 25 is a nightmare.

Other than that we really enjoy it.

We’re really glad we get the opportunity to go the places we do.

TR: What will you remember most about your time at Fordham?

JM: Definitely just the process of coming into a team that had never actually won the A-10 Championship. Just being able to be there for that ride from complete obscurity, from where people still called us “Ford-ham,” to bringing us to a place where people recognize us, like they know who we are. We’re a reputable program in the country now.

TR: What are your plans for after graduation?

JM: I’ll be playing ball this summer. Next year I’ll be coaching somewhere and going to grad school for art education.

Correction: In Vol. 94, i. 2 of The Ram, a story about Fordham athletics contained some inaccuracies. The softball team does indeed have a full-time assistant coach. Head Coach Bridget Orchard clarified, saying she meant to say that the team needs an additional full-time assistant. The story also said that the softball team does not have its own locker room. In actuality, the recent renovation to the Rose Hill Gym created new basketball locker rooms, leaving the old women’s basketball locker room for the softball and women’s soccer teams to use. Orchard further explained that the locker room was not designed to accomodate the softball team’s larger numbers and that the team must vacate the locker room when visiting basketball teams use the space.

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Women’s Tennis Dropped by Army and Richmond

By KENNY DEJOHN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Fordham women’s tennis team suffered two tough losses this weekend, its first two losses of the season.

The first loss came at the hands of the defending Atlantic 10 champions, Richmond, on Feb. 10. The Rams lost to the Spiders by a count of 5-2.

Fordham’s doubles dominance, previously seen against both Albany and Fairfield, was nonexistent against the Spiders, as the Rams dropped first, second and third doubles. The closest of the matches came in first singles, where junior Amy Simidian and sophomore Angelika Dabu lost in a tiebreaker 8-7 (7-2) to Richmond senior Helen Cunningham and junior Alexandra Smyth.

Simidian would later exact revenge on Cunningham, defeating her in straight sets in first singles, 6-2, 7-5.

The Rams’ second point came at sixth singles, as freshman Julie Leong took down Richmond freshman Nil Horoz, 6-0, 6-4.

Unfortunately for the Rams, the Spiders earned straight-set victories at second through fifth singles to win the match.

After the game, Coach BetteAnn Ligouri commented on her team’s effort.

“It was a good test for us, to see where we need to improve” Ligouri said. “We’re a good team, but we obviously need to improve our doubles play.”

Fordham’s next match came on Feb. 12 against Army at the Lichtenburg Tennis Center at West Point.

Fordham nearly won at first doubles, as Simidian and Dabu posted a first doubles win over Army’s freshman and sophomore sister team of Elle and Della Tay-

FEBRUARY 15, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 19

SPORTS

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lor. Despite winning first doubles, the Rams were unable to get a second win to secure the doubles point.

Simidian and Dabu both tallied singles victories for the Rams, but the most exciting match of the day may have been at fourth singles.

Fordham freshman Bella Genkina was matched against the older of the Taylor sisters, Della, in fourth singles. Genkina took the win in the first set, 6-4. Taylor came back to win the next set, 6-4, and also the deciding third set, 6-3.

Coach Ligouri spoke about the Rams’ difficulties against a tough Army team.

“We ran out of gas,” Ligouri said.

“We were battling many illnesses that make it difficult to compete at a high level. Army is a very fit team. They played a doubleheader that day and were fresh as a daisy against us.”

Doubles matches were a surprising problem for the Rams against Richmond and Army, especially considering that they swept doubles against both Albany and Fairfield. When Coach Ligouri was asked about how to improve for the future, she answered very simply, “It all comes down to practice.”

Despite the Rams’ struggle over the course of the past two matches, they look to be in good shape for the rest of the season. Tough matches await in March and April, when the Rams will have to take on George Washington and Temple, the latter coming on the road.

Fordham’s next match comes on Sunday, Feb. 19 in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. against Vassar College.

Despite the Vassar women’s national rank of 26, Coach Ligouri expects big things from her team on Sunday.

“We should have a decisive victory against Vassar.”

By CHESTER BAKER SPORTS EDITOR

I did everything I could not to write about Jeremy Lin. I hate when media outlets take control of a story and turn it into a 24/7 documentary of a player, like Tebowmania. But the fact is, there is no shying away from how incredible this run by Lin has been. Now, I am not christening him as the savior of the Knicks and their sorry season, and I am not saying that he is going to remain a star for many seasons, or even the next couple of weeks. All I am saying is that this has been one of the most incredible runs any basketball player has ever had. Wading through all of the puns on his name like “Linsanity,” “Linked Lin” or “All I Do is Lin,” he has revitalized New York at a time when the Knicks sorely needed something to give them a spark.

Coming into this season, Lin had been playing primarily in the NBA D-League in the Warriors system.

After he was waived by Golden State, the Rockets picked him up, before quickly cutting him as well to clear cap space. The Knicks then took a chance on the undrafted free agent out of Harvard, and now he is making history.

Over the course of his five starts, Lin has broken records for the most points scored through a player’s first three, four and five starts consecutively since the NBA/ABA merger. More than Jordan. More than Kobe. More than Lebron.

His story has been told over and over again, including the great line about how he was living on his cousin’s couch in Manhattan over the past few weeks because his contract was not guaranteed until a short while ago. He caught some people’s attention when he put up 28 and 23 points in his first two starts, but the night that the real hysteria began was when he

dropped 38 on the Lakers and outplayed Kobe in Madison Square Garden. Now, he is the king of the city that never sleeps, leading the Knicks to five straight wins without help from Carmelo Anthony or Amar’e Stoudemire.

Who would have thought that this Asian-American player was capable of such big things? His race is without question a reason for the media attention that he has been receiving. As the writer known as “maurice” on Barstool Sports pointed out, if Lin was a black player from a college like USC, no one would care, because we have seen it all before, which is true.

That is not the case. Lin is the nerdy kid next door who would help you study for your SAT at $20 an hour. No Asian-American basketball player has ever captivated the sports world in the way Lin has.

In fact, Lin is only the fourth AsianAmerican to play in the NBA. The only other Asian basketball player to ever attract this much media attention was Yao Ming, whose career was plagued with injuries.

This is not the first time that Lin’s ethnicity has come into play during his career. He was a top-five ranked high school player in California, yet he only received one scholarship offer. Lin has stated that he believes his ethnicity was a reason for lack of recruitment. It has also been documented that, during his college days, he frequently played in gyms with fans jeering racial slurs towards him.

Maybe Lin can finally be a breakthrough for Asian-American athletes and help in the progression of accepting Asians as basketball players. On a smaller scale though, Lin has been making the recruiters and NBA general managers who overlooked him have second thoughts on what they could have had if they had signed him.

Despite being undervalued his entire life, here he is on the the

Upcoming Varsity Schedule CAPS=HOME lowercase=away

Thursday Feb. 16

Friday Feb. 17

Saturday Feb. 18

Atlantic 10 Championships Kingston, R.I. at Vassar 12 p.m.

Women’s Tennis

Men’s Tennis

Baseball

Softball

Squash RAM ARCHIVES

at Bonnies 4 p.m. at Western Carolina 4 p.m.

at Western Carolina 2 p.m.

Monday Feb. 20

Tuesday Feb. 21

Wednesday Feb. 22

at Duquesne 7p.m. at Richmond 2 p.m.

Women’s Basketball Indoor Track & Field

Sunday Feb. 19

at Saint Louis 4 p.m.

Men’s Basketball

Fordham will look to rebound when the Rams take on Vassar this weekend.

most marketable team in the NBA. A reason people have not thought much of Lin is probably because he does not do anything flashy in games. Sure, he had that one crossover on John Wall, but that has really been it over these five games.

What he lacks in flash he makes up for in fundamentals, and an ability to create space and get easy looks for himself. Also, Lin dishes out the rock, with at least seven assists in all of his starts.

Another reason Lin has been so captivating is that he is just so damn likable. You can look up videos of him dominating the Harvard flag football championship game. After being cut by the Warriors, he created a YouTube short mocking the five ways to get into Harvard. According to Lin, it is essential that you have glasses to get into the Ivy, and if you already have glasses, then get bigger ones. Lin has been embracing the nerd part, even having a handshake with Landry Fields (who went to Stanford) mimicking their book worm nature. Their routine has grown into what is now known as Linning, which even has its own website. He also always seems to say the right things, and he has remained humble throughout this entire process.

While some are ready to praise him as the best player of all time, Lin has remained thankful for just having the opportunity to play.

I am not announcing Jeremy Lin as the savior for all Asian and Asian-American born basketball players, and I am not saying that Lin is going to continue this incredible run and have a long prosperous career with the Knicks. I do not know these things. Only time will tell how this story will play out.

The thing I do know is that I will always remember the week when the little kid from Harvard took the NBA by storm and infected the biggest sports market in the world with Linsanity.

at Western Carolina 1 p.m.

Pirate Clash at East Carolina University Greenville, N.C. CSA Team Championships Princeton, N.J.

DUQUESNE 7 p.m.

FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 20

Dayton Drops Fordham in Overtime, 72-70 Rams Prepare for Crucial Upcoming Roadtrip Against Saint Louis and Duquesne

By NICK CARROLL STAFF WRITER

Going up against one of the perennial Atlantic 10 powers, Fordham had its opportunity to knock off the distinguished Dayton Flyers, but in the final few minutes of regulation and overtime, experience won out. Dayton broke its fourgame losing streak and did damage to Fordham’s A-10 Tournament dreams with its 72-70 win.

“Once we got to overtime, I had great concerns just because they’re a veteran team,” Head Coach Tom Pecora said. “Our young guys – [sophomore guard] Brandon [Frazier], [freshman guard] Fatty [McMillan], [freshman guard] Bryan Smith – they struggled at times executing late in the game, coming out of timeouts, but that’s the learning curve, and I know it’s February, but they are still freshmen.”

Fordham held a two-point lead with less than a minute to go in regulation, but failed to corral an offensive rebound with 33 seconds remaining. Dayton’s leading scorer, junior guard Kevin Dillard, who had spent most of the afternoon facilitating for his teammates, blew through the Fordham defense for a game-tying layup with 19 seconds left.

After McMillan’s runner failed to fall, the game went to overtime.

In overtime, Dayton, who came into the game as the A-10’s secondranked free-throw shooting team,

knocked down all six of its opportunities to open up a four-point lead with a minute to go.

After freshman guard Bryan Smith knocked down two of his own, and Fordham forced a miss, the Rams had 21 seconds to tie the game.

Frazier missed a runner from the free-throw line, but senior forward Chris Johnson flipped over the ball, and the traveling call gave Fordham one last opportunity with three seconds remaining. However, senior forward Alberto Estwick threw the pass away, sealing the win for Dayton.

“I had a senior inbounding the ball for a reason,” Pecora said. “So if he gets jammed up, and there’s nothing there, he’ll get it off somebody’s knee, the guy defending him, and we’ll get another play at it. But it doesn’t come down to last plays.”

The loss drops Fordham to 9-14 on the season and 2-8 in the A-10.

Coming into the game, the Rams sat just a half-game behind George Washington for the last spot in the Tournament with only three weeks remaining in the season.

“I’m not happy about losing games, especially these last two at home,” Pecora said, referring to the loss against Dayton and a 69-62 loss against Charlotte the week before.

“They were ours to have, and they would have gotten us into the conference tournament probably. That game and this one would have gotten us to four wins, and we would

PHOTO BY BRIAN KRAKER/THE RAM

Sophomore guard Brendan Frazier had a tough time finding his touch on Saturday. He was 1-6 from the field and scored only three points.

have had a bunch of tie breakers and things of that nature.”

Junior forward Chris Gaston led the way for the Rams, scoring 23 points on 11-21 shooting. Down the stretch, though, Dayton began doubling Gaston and prevented him from carrying Fordham offensively.

“We tried to trap him,” Dayton Head Coach Archie Miller said.

“We went full-out for him, we stopped letting him catch it.”

“They’re doubling Chris,” Pecora said. “So what we wanted to do is try to draw Chris’s defender to the ball, and we talk about getting him the ball off of the penetration, have him sneak behind the defense or pop.”

Senior center Kervin Bristol had a double-double, scoring 11 points

and pulling down 15 rebounds, including nine off the offensive glass.

More importantly, in Bristol’s 33 minutes Fordham controlled the paint, holding Dayton to just 20 points in the painted area for the game.

“He’s gotta be a First-Team AllDefensive player,” Pecora said.

“With the number of blocked shots he’s had and the numbered of shots he’s hampered.”

The team’s second-leading scorer, Frazier, was held to three points and 1-6 from the field. Frazier and McMillan, who had 16 but made only five of 18 shots, were playing with an illness.

“I didn’t think [Frazier] or Fatty would play today,” Pecora said. “[Frazier] gutted it out, but obviously he wasn’t his normal self.”

Free throw shooting was a problem for the Rams. Fordham knocked down only 10 of its 18 free throws, while Dayton made 22 of 27.

“They go to the foul line in our gym 27 times, one of our goals is to make more free throws than our opponent shoots,” Pecora said. “We were 10 of 18 and that bit us in the tail.”

Fordham hits the road for the next two games, where it is 1-10 this season, and will take on Duquesne on Wednesday and Saint Louis on Saturday. Duquesne is 14-10 this season and 5-5 in-conference, and Saint Louis is second in the A-10 with a 8-3 conference record and is 20-5 overall.

Patriot League to Begin Offering Football Scholarships

By DAN GARTLAND SPORTS EDITOR

The Patriot League announced Monday that it would allow member schools to offer athletic scholarships in football, beginning in 2013.

Fordham, which is a football-only member of the Patriot League, began offering football scholarships in the 2010 season, a decision which rendered the Rams ineligible for the conference championship. With the rest of the league’s schools offering scholarships for football, Fordham will once again be eligible for the conference’s automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.

“I think this is a great decision for the Patriot League,” Frank McLaughlin, Fordham’s executive director of athletics, said. “We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with the League and helping to make the Patriot League one of the top football conferences in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. Merit-based aid has allowed Fordham to renew rivalries with Army and Villanova and to enhance our schedule with the addition of schools such as Navy and Connecticut, and I’m sure that the other Patriot League schools will find the same benefits.”

Patriot League officials will

decide in the near future when Fordham will become eligible for the conference title again. It is believed that the league will allow other schools a few years to recruit scholarship athletes before allowing Fordham to regain its championship eligibility.

When the Patriot League was founded, it did not allow athletic scholarships in any sport. Scholarships in men’s basketball were offered beginning in 1991. In 2001, the decision was made to allow scholarships in all sports but football. The decision to allow football scholarships leaves the Ivy League as the only conference in Division I that does not allow athletic scholarships.

The presidents of the conference’s member schools generally expressed support for the decision.

“We are very pleased that other Patriot League teams will be joining the Rams in moving toward a permissive stance regarding financial aid for football student athletes,” Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, said. “We have found at Fordham that this approach has allowed our staff and coaches to recruit academically and athletically talented student athletes in a more efficient and effective manner. In time, we believe this policy will help make our team, and our individual stu-

dent athletes, more competitive on and off the gridiron.”

Georgetown President John J. DeGoia was not so enthused.

“Since 2001, Georgetown has been committed to competing in the sport of football as an associate member of the Patriot League,” he said. “This has allowed the university to compete with institutions that shared the same academic values and need-based financial aid philosophy Georgetown will continue its membership in the Patriot League in the sport of football and explore all of its options, including our ability to compete as a needbased aid program. We remain committed to our goal of providing our student athletes with an unparalleled academic experience and an athletically competitive football program.”

Joe Moorhead, the newly appointed head coach of the Fordham football team, also expressed his excitement about the decision.

“We are very excited by the Patriot League’s decision to offer merit-based aid for football,” Moorhead said. “Even though this is my first year at Fordham, I have seen how awarding merit-based aid has greatly increased the quality of student-athletes that we are able to recruit. I believe that this decision will benefit the entire Patriot League.”

PHOTO BY STEPHEN MOCCIA/THE RAM

The rest of the Patriot League joins Fordham in offering scholarships for football.