Opinions PAGE 9
Culture PAGE 13
Controversy over Campus Ministry’s donations
Mimes and Mummers performs spring muscial
Sports SPECIAL INSERT The spring preview of all of Fordham’s sports this season
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SERVING THE FORDHAM UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY FOR OVER 90 YEARS
1918-2012
MARCH 7, 2012
VOLUME 94, ISSUE 6
National Security Adviser to Speak at Commencement Amidst Hate, By CONNIE KIM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
John O. Brennan, FCRH ’77, Obama administration’s deputy national security adviser for counterterrorism and homeland security, will deliver a speech at Fordham’s 167th annual commencement on May 19, according to office of the president. Brennan received his appointment in 2009, following a career that included 25 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, with a four-year stint as Middle East station chief in Saudi Arabia. In his role, he deals with homeland security issues and works with the federal government’s intelligence agencies and military brass on counterterrorism efforts around the globe. Brennan was raised in North Bergen, NJ and enrolled at Fordham as a commuter student. He soon became enthralled with the Middle East as a result of the lectures of John Entelis, Ph.D., professor of political science and director
of Fordham’s Middle East Studies program. “One of my most fond memories at Fordham was last Spring Weekend when, late that Sunday night, we heard the news that U.S. Special Forces had killed Osama bin Laden,” Bryan Matis, GSB ’12, said. “Hundreds of students gathered at the victory bell and later the 9/11 memorial in celebration, prayer and reflection. Our campus community really came together in solidarity that night.” “To know that a member of the FCRH class of 1977 had played a key role in that important works with the president to keep this country safe, and I’m excited to welcome him back to campus this May as our commencement speaker.” Timothy M. Dolan, cardinal and archbishop of New York, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the Class of 2012’s Baccalaureate Mass, which will be held on May 18 in the Rose Hill Gymnasium, according to the Office of the President.
Compassion Prevails By CONNOR RYAN NEWS EDITOR
“Now, it has been faultily working since then,” McGinnis said. “It does not work as well, it will get stuck sometimes, but not to the point where it must be pried open.” Students have expressed additional concerns about the elevators all across campus. “I do not like the elevators on campus,” Briana Rotello, FCRH ’14, said. “They do not seem like they are up to date, especially the one in Faber Hall that makes me feel like I am on the Tower of Terror in Disney World. It scares me every time because it is rickety and it’s like the chords are going to snap at any moment.” Rotello’s colorful opinion of the elevators on campus is legitimate, and these problems on campus have been addressed. One student’s approach is to simply avoid the elevators. “I think they are unnecessary and promote obesity. I always use the stairs,” Caitlin Carr, FCRH ’14, said. While avoidance is one alternative, buildings like Walsh have 13 floors, and the stairs are not always the most viable option. This being the second entrapment within two months, Facilities is aware of the instability of some elevators on campus and have been working to improve the situation with much time, money and effort. The beliefs that the elevators are not kept up to date with inspections are false. While an elevator may read “last inspected
Two more “bias-related” incidents have occurred on Fordham’s grounds since a racial epithet was written on a resident assistant’s door in Walsh Hall on Feb. 7, accelerating an on-campus response and an off-campus reaction. The latest hate crime was reported at Rose Hill on March 2, when Custodial Services discovered a racial slur in a bathroom in Goupil Hall. And on Feb. 27, a homophobic slur was found written in a stairwell in McMahon Hall, a dormitory on Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus, according to security. Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, decried the attacks on Friday night shortly after the vandalism was discovered in McMahon Hall. “Disgust, in fact, is what I feel in contemplating these attacks,” McShane wrote in an email to the student body. “This behavior is — or it should be — far, far outside the range of acceptable expression at a Jesuit institution.” Since McShane’s email was set, major media outlets including NBC, CBS, National Public Radio and The New York Daily News have reported on the hate crimes recently found on campus. The Daily News identified Melissa Wright, FCRH ’12, as the black resident assistant whose door was vandalized in Walsh Hall on Feb. 7. In a photograph accompanying the story, The Daily News shows Wright holding a picture of the epithet that was scribbled on her door in black marker. The picture was originally published on the newspaper’s website exposing the complete slur, but was later cropped to hide most of the writing. Wright told The Daily News, “It was disbelief ” when she saw the “n-word” on her door. “The longer I saw it, it was really hurtful.” Wright said the slur was sanded over quickly, but her door was not repainted until nine days later. Wright told The Daily News that this was an example of the university’s poor response to bias incidents. “The university thinks this is an isolated incident, when in reality, students of color feel isolated every day,” Wright said. Fordham Security is currently investigating the incidents by “taking a multipronged approach,
SEE ELEVATOR ON PAGE 3
SEE HATE ON PAGE 3
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA
John O. Brennan was announced as the keynote speaker for the commencement excercises for the Class of 2012.
Cardinal Dolan was named to the post in February 2009, succeeding Cardinal Edward M. Egan. He was designated a cardinal in Feb. 2012. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Cardinal Dolan to the College of Cardinals in Jan. 2012.
“It’s an honor that the new cardinal has chosen to celebrate mass here with the graduating class,” Rachel Malinowski, FCRH’12, said. “It will be an exciting time for us and his presence will make it even more special.”
FDNY Freed Students from Elevator Entrapment By KAREN HILL ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
The architects of Walsh Hall might have never received notice that having a 13th floor is bad luck, but the students who were trapped in an elevator on that topmost floor certainly did. On Saturday, Feb. 26 at 12:45 a.m., two students, Colleen McGinnis and Alice Romanelli, both GSB ’13, were entrapped in an elevator for an hour and a half. The two students were on the 13th floor and entered the elevator to go down, but it stalled. The girls called their friends for help, but there was nothing that could immediately be done. The next step was to call security, who responded within 10 minutes. “Security tried to get us down through manual buttons, but they couldn’t,” McGinnis said. “The fire department showed up after 30 minutes. They tried to use ladders and tried to use axes and whatever else to try and open the elevator, but could only get it open a little bit.” After an hour of strenuous efforts, the Fire Department of New York was finally able to free the students by using what McGinnis described as a version of the “jaws of life,” where vacuumed bags and compressors were used to pry open the elevator doors just enough for the students to exit. “After they got it open we had to crawl out through a little bit of space, and that was it.”
PHOTO BY CHESTER BAKER/THE RAM
FDNY opened the elevator doors in Walsh to let the trapped students free.
Security collected the students’ names and email addresses yet, to the dismay of the students, security never sent out an apology for the early morning inconvenience. “The only thing I was annoyed about was they never called us or emailed,” McGinnis said. “They never apologized or asked us the next day if we were okay.” Fortunately, the students were
physically unharmed, but the elevator door in Walsh suffered quite a bit of damage. The elevator was inoperable for the following 24 hours, and the doors still have a large dent from where the fire departments used their tools to pry it open. “The fire department has a bit more of an energetic approach to rescue,” John Puglisi, vice president of Facilities, said.
NEWS
PAGE 2 • THE RAM • MARCH 7, 2012
SECURITY
BRIEFS
Feb. 21 2 p.m.-4 p.m. A student notified security that he noticed missing “Lent” signs from around campus. Security was able to retrieve eight of the ten missing signs and returned them to Campus Ministry. The incident is being investigated by the Dean of Students. Feb. 26, Walsh Hall, 1 a.m. Students were stuck in the elevator on the top floor of Walsh Hall. The elevator company responded, and the students were removed without injury. Feb. 26 , University Church, 5:45 a.m. Security discovered that the rear window of the church was broken. There was no sign of forced entry. Security is investigating the incident. Feb. 27, Martyrs’ Court LaLande Hall, 3 p.m. The fire alarm was activated on the fourth floor of LaLande Hall due to overcooked popcorn in the microwave. NYPD responded, and the building was evacuated. Feb. 29, Fordham Road, 6:30 p.m. A student was returning to her off-campus apartment from her job when she received a text from her friend. She removed her iPhone from her pocket, and a man approached her and took the phone. She was not injured. NYPD responded to the incident. March 2, Mugz’s Bar, 1 a.m.-2 a.m. A student reported his black jacket, valued at $300, his Beatz headphones, valued at $150, and his Fordham dorm keys missing when he returned to grab his jacket from the pile of coats. March 3, Rose Hill Gymnasium, 5 p.m. The cheerleaders’ four white flags that spell “R-A-M-S” were removed from under the bleachers during the basketball game. The flags were not found during the search of the gym. March 3, Alumni Court South, 12 a.m. The smoke detector was activated on the first floor for unknown reasons. FDNY responded, and the building was evacuated without problem. March 4, Martyrs’ Court Goupil Hall, 4:05 a.m. A student opened the emergency door to allow his friends from home to gain entry. Security responded and removed the students from campus. March 5, Martyrs’ Court Goupil Hall, 4:45 a.m. A ResLife staff member reported that a student made a threat towards him. The incident was forwarded to the Dean of Students. March 5, Keating Hall, 2 p.m. A faculty member returned to her office and discovered her computer had been used without authorization. IT is currently investigating.
— Compiled by Kelly Kultys, Assistant News Editor
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Homophobic Slur Found in McMahon Hall
PHOTO BY MICHAEL HAYAS/THE RAM
A student discovered the slur on the 11th floor in the B staircase of McMahon Hall at Fordham University ‘s Lincoln Center Campus on Feb. 27. sure that students feel they are safe “Right now, we are working with Jeffrey Gray, senior vice president By KELLY KULTYS at their college. At the town hall, all student organizations to stand of Student Affairs, said in his email ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR there was a mostly positive reaction up against any and all acts of disto students. to how quickly the Fordham camcrimination,” Ryan O’Toole, FCLC “Behavior of this nature is not On Feb. 27, a student discovered pus responded, although students ’12 and USG-LC president, said. acceptable in our home,” Campbell homophobic slurs written in Mcmentioned a lack of discussion be“We are working to garner a wide said in an email to McMahon Hall Mahon Hall on the Lincoln Center tween the faculty and students. spectrum of feedback and opinions residents. “We encourage all memcampus. The words “gay” and “losStudent members of the Lincoln about how students want the Unibers of the Fordham community to er” were printed on the 11th floor Center campus also showed their versity to respond.” report incidents of prejudice and inside of the B stairwell. support for those affected. The community at Lincoln Cento use the resources available on Jenifer Campbell, the director of “We, as students, must always ter also began working to try and campus.” Residential Life at Lincoln Center, remember to never accept any acts stop the injustice from spreading. The United Student Governtold The Observer that the student of prejudice, bias or hate,” O’Toole On Feb. 28, Residential Life held ment of Lincoln Center also renotified a staff member who then told The Observer. a town hall meeting in McMahon leased a statement about the ingot in touch with security. Security USG-LC is also planning to hold Hall, where students and faculty cident, stating: “Any acts of bias, responded immediately by taking a a Rally for Solidarity this Thursday discussed the incident and ways hate, or prejudice at Fordham will picture of the words. March 8th, at 12:30 p.m. on the to stop intolerance. One of the not be tolerated. We stand strongly “The word ‘gay’ [was] on the Robert Moses Plaza. main topics included a debate over against the homophobic slur that standpipe, and on the signage it All students are reminded that if whether or not Fordham should was discovered in McMahon Hall said ‘loser’ and ‘gay’ in writing akin they feel affected or marginalized implement a mandatory diversity today and call for all students to be to the sign there,” Campbell said. in any way, there are resources on program for freshmen and transfer men and women for and with othSecurity then removed the campus to which they can turn for students. ers by always treating each other words and officially began it’s inhelp. “We had a great attendance, with love and respect. We will convestigation. The Fordham adminis“All of the offices, Counseling, standing room only,” O’Toole said. tinue to work to build community tration immediately responded to Mission and Ministry, Residential The Observer also discussed othat Fordham and will not accept this the incident by sending emails to Life, Dean of Students, OSLCD, er topics, such as the responsibiligross intolerance.” the entire student body. are here to help students havties of students and their leaders USG-LC is also putting their “There is no room at Fordham ing difficulties with these issues,” to encourage and enforce an open words into action by working with University for bigotry of any kind, Campbell told The Observer. environment and the need to enall the students on campus. directed at any individual or group,”
Fordham Prepares for Summer Session By EDDIE MIKUS STAFF WRITER
Many Fordham students will go home at the end of the second semester for the start of a long summer vacation. However, the University will not be completely desolate. This summer, Fordham will offer students a variety of programs, which will allow participants to continue their academic endeavors and become more integrated with New York City. The internship program is a 10 week summer program that will enable students to intern in New York City. According to the online description of this program, Fordham believes that such an experience will allow students to jump-start their careers and build leadership skills to be used in the workplace environment. The program will run from May 29-Aug. 2, and will offer students four internship credits. Another advantage of this program that Fordham is touting concerns the fact that students will be able to live in New York City during its duration. As such, participants have been advised of the museums and entertainment venues in New York City. The Summer Musical Theater Workshop is designed to teach par-
ticipants about the techniques behind musical theater. The teachers of this program have experience in the acting world, and Fordham is emphasizing the fact that participants will be able to witness different forms of theatrical productions throughout New York City. During the day, participants in the Summer Musical Theater Workshop will take classes, with one afternoon a week reserved for guest speakers or field trips. Students will also have the opportunity to attend three theatrical performances, and they will receive four credits for participating. According to Fordham’s website, the summer session will offer classes in “most major disciplines and an array of special programs.” Students are permitted to take up to eight classes during a summer session. The cornerstones of the summer curriculum are the special programs at Fordham including a PreCollege Program, a New York City Internship Program and a Summer Musical Theater Workshop. Additionally, Fordham will be running a Sports Communication Institute, which will offer four credits towards Communications 3350 classes. This will allow students to participate in various
aspects of sports media — specifically listed by Fordham as, “sports writing, broadcasting, sports marketing and effective sports public relations media.” Graduate students will be able to take the following summer courses: Emerging Markets and Country Risk Analysis, Theories and Applications in Contemporary Ethics and Summer Biblical Languages. According to Fordham’s website, the University will also be offering summer courses in the Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education and the Institute of Language and Culture. Each of the programs will have something different to offer participating students. In addition to its programs for current undergraduate and graduate students, Fordham will be offering a program for people who will be high school seniors in the fall. Participants in the Pre-College Program must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0. These students will be able to take select courses in various subjects at any of Fordham’s campuses. Additionally, students will also have the opportunity to go abroad over the summer to Fordham’s campuses in London, Paris, Grenada, Rome and Pretoria.
THIS
week at FORDHAM Thurs., March 8 Blood Drive O’Keefe Commons 9 a.m-5 p.m. Thurs., March 8 Vigil For Healing McGinley Lawn, 1 p.m. Thurs., March 8 Cinevents!: Hugo Campus Activities Board Keating First 9 p.m. -11 p.m. Thurs., March 8 Auditions for All My Sons Blackbox Theater 8 p.m. -9:30 p.m. Thurs., March 8 Auditions for Mimes and Mummers’ No Exit Rose Hill Commons 6 p.m. Fri., March 9 Blood Drive O’Keefe Commons 9 a.m-5 p.m. Thurs., March 22 Richard Hake, FCRH’91, Host of The Takeaway and Julianne Welby, FCRH’93, Editor at NY Public Radio Hold Lunch McGinley Center 236 1 p.m.-2 p.m.
NEWS
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MARCH 7, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 3
Students Rally To Boost Awareness HATE, FROM PAGE 1
which includes interviewing potential witnesses, examining the physical evidence and employing various other resources within the university,” a security alert said. Floor meetings in Walsh Hall were hosted by the Office of Residential Life on Feb. 21 and 22, but no more than five students attended, according to people there. Floor meetings were also held in Goupil Hall shortly after the vandalism was discovered there. Despite the poor representation in floor meetings, official student groups, independent groups and individual students have rallied to boost awareness of the recent hate crimes and inspire others to follow their pursuit of on-campus empowerment. Fordham’s United Student Government wrote a statement to the community on Feb. 15 following The Ram’s report of the first occurrence of vandalism in Walsh Hall. The statement was passed through the Senate with “unanimous consent” on Feb. 16, according to Caitlin Meyer, FCRH ’12 and executive president of USG. The brief statement, entitled “Opposing Discrimination and Supporting Dignity, Respect and Understanding,” outlines USG’s official stance on matters such as discrimination, bullying, hate speech and the acceptance of “multiplicity of identities, backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures.” “I feel very strongly that as elected representatives of the student body, it is imperative that USG takes a firm stand opposing discrimination and hateexpression of any sort,” Meyer said in an email.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM
USG and other organizations on campus have released statements of empowerment and compassion to students.
The statement encourages students to take responsibility for their own actions and the actions of those around them and denounce clear occasions of discrimination and hate. Along with releasing a statement, USG has spearheaded the founding of a new organization called, Fordham Activating Consciousness Together (ACT) commissioned by Meyer and cochaired by Brendan Francolini, GSB ’14, and Muhammad Sarwar, GSB ’14. “The primary goal of Fordham ACT is to provide a forum in which students, administrators and faculty members can collaborate to build a stronger, more empathetic, respectful and unified Fordham community,” Meyer said. “I view this as an examination of sorts, in keeping with Jesuit tradition — an opportunity for us to critically self-
evaluate.” The working coalition, according to USG’s website, hopes to engage the entire Fordham community, including core representatives from established groups and organizations on campus, such as the Residence Hall Association, Commuter Student Association, residential assistants and various club leaders. After gathering a diverse and well-represented group, Fordham ACT’s approach will start by evaluating current programs on campus dedicated to “[promoting] unity and understanding,” according to the group’s outlined approach. Then, the group will look to collect suggestions as to how current procedures and policies can be improved on campus. The final step will be enacting those suggestions. Fordham ACT’s first official meeting took place on Wednes-
day, March 7 at 4:30 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge. According to sources who helped plan the event, McShane was scheduled to attend the meeting. Administrators welcomed the new effort to address racism on campus. “As I told President Meyer and the ACT group chairs at the student life council meeting and in my office just today, I think USG’s response to these terrible incidents is constructive and thoughtful,” Christopher Rodgers, dean of students, said in a statement to The Ram. “I support and will help with ACT because assuring our community welcomes all is at the heart our mission, and the most effective way to pursue this ideal is for students to commit to it.” The Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice (CSJ) also released a statement to the com-
munity on Feb. 16 “affirm[ing] the dignity of all members of our community, particularly those who are the objects of hateful words and actions.” Despite statements submitted to the community by both USG and CSJ, a group of students, known as the Collective of Concerned Students and Antiracist Allies, says that the immediate pain of the hate crimes on campus has not been adequately addressed. “There were these statements [from USG and CSJ] that had come up, but there wasn’t any physical manifestation of what it means to be part of a Jesuit community,” Anthony Gatti, FCRH ’14 and a leader of Concerned Students said in an interview. The group has developed a petition on change.org to address specific concerns students have about the way, in particular, the Office of Residential Life, Student Affairs, Admissions and Human Resources handled the Walsh Hall hate crime. As of Wednesday morning, the petition had received 1,515 digital signatures out of a wanted 2,500. The group has also planned a healing vigil. “We felt that so many people were affected by these incidents, these hate crimes, and the university wasn’t really putting forth any sort of event,” Meghan Donovan, FCRH ’14 and a leader of Concerned Students, said in an interview. The vigil will take place on Thursday on the lawn near the McGinley Center at 1 p.m. It has been advertised to students as an opportunity “to acknowledge the hurt and grow through it together towards a unified Fordham community.” Amidst hate, compassion prevails.
Intoxicated Student Floods O’Hare Students Trapped in Elevator In Walsh Hall By KAREN HILL
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
ELEVATOR, FROM PAGE 1
A student reportedly fell asleep in her shower the morning of Mar. 3 at 3:30 a.m. in O’Hare Hall. Her body blocked the drain, causing a minor flood in O’Hare. The flood was found by a group of students who lived on the first floor. “We heard and noticed water trickling and hitting the floor,” Ryan Creamer, FCRH ’14 said. “We started freaking out immediately. We got a trash can down, but the water kept trickling down in other places.” The suspicious dripping water led them to the second floor to investigate the source. Creamer and several of his friends found a pool of water puddling outside of one of the rooms. One student went to inform a resident assistant, while the other students contacted Facilities regarding the flooding. “We went back down and played the waiting game,” Creamer said. He and his friends were left, not knowing the outcome of the events of the flood or about
RAM ARCHIVES
A student was found after falling asleep inside her shower in O’Hare Hall.
the student above on the second floor. The student was woken up by the RA and was unharmed. Unfortunately, due to the flooding, none of the students were allowed to sleep in their rooms and
stayed with friends. “Our Facilities staff responded and wet-vaced the water,” John Carroll, associate vice president of security, said. No permanent damage was caused as a result of the flooding.
in 2004,” the most current documentation is located in Faculty Memorial Hall. “As we have increased our elevator inventory within the campus, we don’t post the inspections in the individual elevators,” Puglisi said. “The City of New York is pretty stringent on their elevator requirements and we have to have annual inspections, as well as a five-year comprehensive inspection.” Fordham has implemented a couple of new programs to help ensure elevator safety. Three times a week, a third-party professional comes onto campus to test the elevators, and checks the quality of the equipment and the mechanics. This process has been going on for about eight months now. Over the summers, Facilities does about $500,000 in elevator modernization and renovation. This program has been going on for about two years. Elevator maintenance is an intensive process that is made dif-
ficult because of the varying elevators in the older versus newer buildings across campus. “Elevators we have across campus are like people, each one is a little bit different, each building is a little bit different,” Puglisi said. Facilities has been arduously working towards providing those on Fordham’s campus with the safest elevator experiences. For some members of the Fordham community — such as people with handicaps, the elderly or even tired students — it is their only way to travel throughout various buildings on campus. “We gun for 100 percent stability and take any equipment down before it fails in service,” Puglisi said. “In many cases we are able to do that.” Correction Due to a typing error, Caitlin Meyer, FCRH ’12 and executive president of USG, was misquoted in “Off-Campus Shooting Grabs Students’ Attention” [V. 94, i. 5]
NEWS
PAGE 4 • THE RAM • MARCH 7, 2012
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Guest Passes Are Soon to Be Available Online By KAREN HILL ASSISTANT NEW EDITOR
The days when students must travel to the Residential Hall Office and wait in line to acquire guest passes are soon to be extinct, thanks to the triumvirate of Resident Housing Association, Residential Life and the Information Technology Department. Guest passes have not been abolished. Rather, students can expect the opportunity to apply for guest passes from any internetcapable computer. The web program used to obtain guest passes online is designed, but it not will not be live to all students until the end of this semester or possibly next semester. The committee working on this program says it still has some glitches to fi x before it becomes official. In the interim, a beta test will be run in Queens Court and Tierney Hall to determine the program’s accuracy, according to Elisa DiMauro, FCRH ’12 and RHA president. “We figured it would be best to implement a more complete process rather than start it hastily and have it not function,” DiMauro said. The question of changing the guest pass policy arises yearly. Change has yet to occur, but this could be the potential year for
PHOTO BY JULIAN WONG/THE RAM
Queens Court, pictured above, is one of the residential buildings that would be affected by the new guest pass policy.
such desired change. RHA approached ResLife with the idea of making guest passes accessibility available online. “Elizabeth Amico has been our contact in ResLife about this issue,” DiMauro said. “She loves making things easier, she loves anything we can put online. She did that with the housing last year, which was easier because it was online. We had a really good
response from ResLife, which helped speed up the process.” The rules of obtaining a guest pass will remain the same. The guest must be of the same-sex, and students must apply at least 24 hours in advance. Fortunately, that alotted time will not be limited to the three hours that each Resident Housing Office is opened on weeknights. The goal was to make the process of guest
pass policies easier, and nothing else. “We were looking more towards a more immediate solution and something that can feasibly be done and be done quickly,” DiMauro said. While the passes must be requested in advance, exactly how far in advance a student is permitted to obatain a pass is still in debate.
RHA hopes that the new way to request guest passes will prove to be convenient for students. Students have expressed similar hopes. “I think that is going to be a much easier process,” Briana Rotello, FCRH ’14, said. “It will be easier because now students will have the opportunity to get a guest pass whenever [...] It will save time for everyone.” DiMauro does not fear that students will take advantage of the system. “I think we are expecting most students to be excited about the convenience of it, that manipulation won’t play in, at least at the beginning,” DiMauro said. Only one problem arose in the mind of students, and that would be the internet itself. “It could cause problems because of Fordham internet complications,” Rotello said regarding Fordham’s infamously slow Wi-Fi connection. The RHA also hopes that, in addition to convenience for students, the Resident Assistants and Resident Directors will find the process smoother and less stressful as well. “To be honest I do not know too much about [the program] but I think it would be a much more efficient system,” Christine Kirby, FCRH ’14 and an RA in Loschert Hall, said.
Admitted Students Week Attracts Thousands
RAM ARCHIVES
Admitted Students Week is the first step of orienting students into Fordham. The next step, pictured above, is participating in New Student Orientation which occurs during the summer months.
By SARAH SULLIVAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
For college students, the last week of February means one thing: the beginning of the horrible period known as midterms. For many high school students, however, this time period is their February break, and many seniors are off visiting colleges to which they were recently accepted. Vincent Perito, assistant director of admissions, estimated that “over 2,200 people visit campus during this week.” Before the week of tours even began, he emailed the members of Rose Hill Society, warning the tour guides. “As you all know, next week a lot of high schools have off, so it will be a crazy week for our office,” Perito said. This Admitted Students Week
proved to be different from previous ones due to the introduction of the new traditions tour. David Kogler, the recent hire to the Undergraduate Admissions Office, who now serves as the Associate Director, brought this idea to the Fordham office from his previous place of work. “The idea of offering this new tour is to provide a new perspective — quite literally a different view of the place, which is why the route of the tour is intentionally different,” Kogler said. “As for the content of the tour, people who had been here admitted already have some idea of what Fordham offered, so with the new tour we are hoping students will be able to leave campus with an answer to the questions: Can I see myself here? Can I see myself doing these activities and participating in these traditions and fitting in with that?”
he said. The idea behind the tour is to enhance the admittance days for those who have already gone on the regular tour of Fordham. Perito gave examples of how the two tours differ from each other. “The idea of it is instead of walking around campus and saying ‘That’s Eddie’s’ you in fact take the group to the center of Eddie’s,” Perito said. “Stand with them in the center of Eddie’s and discuss traditions that happen on that field. It goes to the sense of feeling like they are a real, actual student there.” Other ideas included showing prospective students McGinley Center and discussing the tradition of Midnight Breakfast or the bench outside of Thebaud Hall where Susan Sarandon and Michael Douglas filmed Solitary Man. The Traditions Tour is supposed to bring the cam-
pus more to life as it shows more aspects of student life beyond pointing at Dealy Hall, stating that students have class there and describing the core curriculum. “I like the idea behind the new tour; it makes the campus more real,” Mairead Lawyer, FCRH ’13, said. “If you already got the facts and figures, it’s a cool way to get to know the school better. I think that RHS will get really good feedback on it once it’s been in motion for a while.” “According to the feedback we have received so far, it basically did show a different view of Fordham, on a simple level,” Kogler said. ‘Students and parents enjoyed doing something a little more unusual. But we will gather all the feedback after the spring and see the parts that people most enjoyed to improve it for next year.” “Giving a Traditions Tour to stu-
dents who had already seen campus once, gave prospective students a taste of what it was like to be a Fordham student,” Vicki Spicer, FCRH ’12, who gave one of the first traditions tours, said. “Prospective students enjoyed seeing what they would do on a normal day at college from sitting in a classroom, to eating in the cafeteria to going to a football game.” “One student whose sister went here said he was still able to learn something new, and he added it was nice to see it in a new way,” Kogler said. This traditions tour is not replacing the normal tour, but will rather be strongly encouraged for parents and students who have already been on a regular tour. It is bringing more options to prospective families shed light on more aspects of Fordham life.
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ADVERTISING
MARCH 7, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 5
ADVERTISING
PAGE 6 • THE RAM • MARCH 7, 2012
We wish everyone a great spring break! Have a blast, and don’t be stupid because you are not!
She is a wonderful woman. A dynamite wife. A true friend. I thank her for giving me everything in my life.
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LOVE is it!
They look like they were born making pizza. They say: “We love Pugsley’s Pizza!”
us on Facebook! In the great Mike’s Deli, it is not just about prosciutto and mozzarella, it is also about champions. Besides being a good-looking guy, he is also a great athlete. He is a one punch knockout. We are very proud of this Sicilian boy, we love him!
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PAGE 9
Campus Ministry Donation Sparks Controversy By CANTON WINER ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR
The world is a dangerous place for sheep. Though they may seem simple, dull animals, sheep continually face increasing danger in an ever more complex and scary world. Startle one of them and the whole herd will mindlessly stampede off a cliff, not realizing their fatal mistake until they crash at the bottom. Unfortunately, Fordham has its own groups of startled sheep here on its rolling lawns, and they are hurtling dangerously close to the edge of the cliff. On Sunday, Feb. 26, Campus Ministry collected donations at mass for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) which, as stated on its website, is “a nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry.” Fordham University Respect for Life, the Fordham University College Republicans and several other individuals immediately sprang into action, complaining to Campus Ministry that the planned donation to the SPLC was inappropriate, for varying reasons that can best be summed up by describing the SPLC as “anti-Republican” and “pro-abortion.” Campus Ministry responded to the complaints by diverting the donated money instead to support immigration outreach in the local area. This incident is unfortunate, not just because Campus Ministry was wrongfully attacked for its planned donation and was essentially bullied into diverting the funds, but also because the complaints made are completely invalid. The Southern
Poverty Law Center is not a “proabortion” group, as Samuel Martin, president of the College Republicans alleges on the Fordham University Respect for Life page on Facebook. Penny Weaver, public affairs deputy director for the SPLC, states simply that the College Republicans are “misinformed” and that “abortion matters are not a part of our mission or agenda. We have no position on abortion and certainly don’t fund [abortions].” Not once is the word abortion mentioned in the SPLC’s 2010 Annual Report, which is easily available to all who wish to see it on their website. Campus Ministry did its own research on the invented controversy, but found no evidence that the SPLC is a “pro-abortion” group. “We’re researching the organization and we’re not finding fault,” Fr. Philip Florio, director of Campus Ministry at Fordham University, said. “We’re not finding these claims—and I don’t want to say they’re baseless claims, they must have some base—but we can’t find the base for it.” Lisandro Pena, coordinator of liturgy and resident minister at Fordham University, points out that even the Catholic Church itself has not published information supporting the complaints against the SPLC. “This is an organization that has not been condemned not by their local bishop in Alabama; it has not been condemned or banned by the Bishops of the United States because this is an organization that is helping people,” Pena said. In fact, according to Campus Ministry Administrative Assistant
Gil Severiano, Campus Ministry “has collected for [SPLC] for many years. They’re one of the groups that we have collected for during black history month because they’re a well-known civil rights organization.” Fr. Florio further explains that “[SPLC] works well and has a reputation for being leaders in civil rights promotion; we thought it was a perfect match.” Campus Ministry also found that, though coincidental, the donation to the SPLC — as a group that fights hate and bigotry — was especially timely given the recent incidents of hate speech and vandalism on Fordham’s campus. Samuel Martin cited the SPLC’s so-called “furtherance of left wing politics,” as cause to divert Campus Ministry’s planned donation. The nature of this far-fetched claim is hardly even worth addressing. More disturbing than Martin’s opinionmasked-as-fact is the fact that he and the College Republicans feel compelled to bring politics into Campus Ministry. The College Republicans’ brazen politicization of Campus Ministry is reprehensible and dangerous. As far as Campus Ministry is concerned, it does not matter if charities such as the SPLC, or those within them, hold political beliefs with which some members of the Fordham community may disagree. Joseph Campagna, GSB ’15, who posted a public letter online addressed to Florio, voiced similar concerns of the SPLC’s supposed “left wing” and “pro-abortion” tendencies. Again, the extreme mischaracterizations of the SPLC are misguided at best and outrageous at
PHOTO BY KATE DOHENY/THE RAM
Campus Ministry received letters of complaint about Feb. 26 mass collections.
worst. What is most shameful about Campagna’s letter is that he presents himself “not only as a student, but [also] as a USG senator on the behalf of many fellow students.” Campagna’s perpetuation of the misrepresentation of the SPLC should be entirely on his own behalf, and his status as USG senator is irrelevant. In fact, the Executive Vice President of USG, Bryan Matis, GSB ’12, had this to say in an email to The Ram. “The United Student Government Senate as a body has not taken a formal stance on the issue of collections at mass…It is the prerogative of any member of the Fordham community to express a personal opinion to the administration.” Unfortunately, the sheep at Ford-
ham have already broken out of the pen, and the damage has been done. For the sake of Campus Ministry, we can only hope that the complaining groups and individuals, and especially those with political concerns such as the College Republicans, will keep their opinions to themselves and do their research before espousing baseless “facts.” The objectors must realize that their thunderous roars (or bleats, rather) cannot serve as a substitute for legitimate and factual concerns. It is not too late to save the herd from running off the cliff. Canton Winer, FCRH ’15, is an undeclared major from West Palm Beach, Fla. Additional reporting by Connor Ryan.
Public Media Causes Densensitization to Warning Signs By CHESTER BAKER SPORTS EDITOR
Last week, T.J. Lane opened fire in the cafeteria of Chardon High School in Chardon, Ohio. In his shooting spree, Lane killed three students and wounded two more before he was chased out of the school by a teacher. It has been reported that one of the students killed, Russell King Jr., was dating Lane’s ex-girlfriend, which may have served as his motive. According to students from the high school, the five victims were not chosen at random, as all students targeted were in the same group of friends. King had reportedly made fun of Lane in the past, potentially prompting Lane to take these actions. There are still some lingering reports that he chose his victims at random, and this should be resolved in the upcoming days. One of the most startling aspects of this tragedy is how easily it could have been prevented. Of course, we have all heard that line before. In hindsight, everything seems like it could have been prevented, even when that is not the case, but in this instance, there was a teenager almost literally screaming for help, warning people about his impending actions, and nothing was done
COURTESY OF FLICKR.COM
Chardon High School student T.J. Lane is escorted by police following his attack, which left three students dead.
to prevent them. By all accounts, Lane came from a broken family and was not always the most stable person. According to The Huffington Post, Lane attacked his uncle in 2009 and was charged with disorderly conduct, although his uncle wanted to press assault charges. Other records show that Lane’s family had been involved in several fights during the seventeen year old’s life. The constant struggle to find peace in his home life may have driven Lane to this act of extreme violence. There are some quotes from his peers at the school detailing Lane as a quiet kid, and students were shocked by his be-
havior. By most accounts though, Lane fit the description of a school shooter. Another thing staring people in his community right in the face was Lane’s Facebook page. Lane took to social media to voice his feelings and express himself in a way that was available to all 154 of his Facebook friends. In the most disturbing section of one of his poems, Lane writes: “I am Death. And you have always been the sod...Now! Feel death, not just mocking you. Not just stalking you but inside of you. Wriggle and writhe. Feel smaller beneath my might. Seizure in the Pestilence that is my scythe. Die, all of you.”
This voice is the voice of someone who is trying like hell to get someone’s attention. Lane was asking for help. He was posting about something more than just an internship, for example. Lane was clearly a deeply disturbed person who was begging for someone to ask him about his morbid thoughts. Why do students not take what they see on Facebook more seriously? Maybe it is because we have been desensitized by people posting things like, “Oh my God this midterm tomorrow is going to be awful. I’m going to kill myself.” If fewer people exaggerated on Facebook and Twitter, maybe someone would have thought
more of what Lane had written and given him the help that he so desperately needed. What we post online is not written in graphite that we can erase with a few flicks of a pink rubber eraser. It is there for everyone to see. Perhaps someone did think that Lane’s violent past, broken home and grim thoughts were enough to warrant bringing the poetry to someone’s attention. Maybe they then saw someone posting about how they were so mad at their brother for stealing a cookie that they were going to kill him, and thought, “It’s just on Facebook, so it does not really count.” Lane’s posts needed to be taken much more seriously than they were, and yet they just fell through the cracks of a news feed, just as life slipped away from three teenagers. Now that Lane has gone through with his actions, the families of the victims will go on without seeing their children graduate or go to prom. Lane will most likely be locked away in a cell for the rest of his life, just as he should be. No school shooter deserves to see the light of day, but what could someone have done to make it so that T.J. Lane could have avoided that label? Chester Baker, FCRH ’13, is a communication and media studies major from Westfield, NJ.
OPINIONS
PAGE 10 • THE RAM • MARCH 7, 2012
The Ram Serving campus and community since 1918. The Ram is the University journal of record. The mission of The Ram is to provide a forum for the free and open exchange of ideas in service to the community and to act as a student advocate. The Ram is published and distributed free of charge every Wednesday during the academic year to the Rose Hill, Lincoln Center and Westchester campuses with a readership of 12,000. The Ram office is located in the basement of the McGinley Center, room B-52.
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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 Nikos Buse Kelly Caggiano Nick Carroll Danny Casarella Isabella Fante Deirdre Hynes Chris Kennedy Celeste Kmiotek Brian Kraker Tom Merante Meghan Mulvehill Katie Nolan Erik Pedersen Photo Editor Michael Rezin Design Editor Elizabeth Mallozzi Web Editor Anne Couture Assistant Web Editors Francesca Arturi Daley Quinn Faculty Advisor Dr. Beth Knobel Opinions Policy The Ram appreciates submissions that are typed and saved on a disk in *.rtf, *.txt or *.doc formats, or sent to the staff via e-mail at fordhamramletters@gmail.com. Commentaries are printed on a space available basis. The Ram reserves the right to reject any submission for any reason, without notice. Submissions become the exclusive property of The Ram and will not be returned. The Ram reserves the right to edit any submissions. The opinions in The Ram’s editorials are those of the editorial board; those expressed in articles, letters, commentaries, cartoons or graphics are those of the individual author. No part of The Ram may be reproduced without written consent.
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From the Desk of Chester Baker, Sports Editor No graduate is the same person that they were as a freshman. Some students may have a completely separate group of friends. Others may have a new girlfriend with whom they can settle down and marry. People totally change their political or religious beliefs, altering how they are going to live for the rest of their lives. I needed to come to a four-year university to realize my great change, which came in the form of a highly-salted cured meat. In other words, I have developed a great love for beef jerky during my time at Fordham. I had always been repulsed by the thought of purchasing jerky, always thinking that it was a delicacy reserved for those of a “white-trash” nature. This belief came from an encounter I had at a gas station when I was a little kid. A child with bleached blonde hair, a southern accent and denim shorts asked his mother if he could buy a Slim Jim. His mother turned to him and said, “Naw, Travis, we got enough jerky at the trailer park.” Needless to say, jerky was never really on my radar when I looked for a snack. It was only after one of my roommates from last year had
some lying around the room that I finally decided to abandon all of my preconceived notions about the food. I bit into the dark brown piece of meat with apprehension and began to chew. I was hooked right away. I turned to the delicious treat whenever I could find it, which has become quite often. Despite the constant barrage of insults from my mother, who still thinks it is a snack meant for campgrounds and pick-up trucks, I quickly gave beef jerky a spot in my shopping cart at the grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores. I usually purchase it from Dunkin’ Donuts/Tiger Mart/Beer City/Beer Cave/Gulf or whatever that store wants to be called just outside Walsh. There, you will find a good variety of types and flavors of jerky. If you want the good stuff, make sure to only buy Jack Link’s. This is by far the Rolls Royce of dried meats and always has the best taste and texture. One of the best things about the snack is that it comes in an incredible range of variations. There are different flavors like teriyaki, peppered and, my favorite, K.C. Masterpiece. There is also a wide range of sizes,
such as the traditional torn up pieces, long rods, nuggets and smaller packages. Also housed in the store is a brand of jerky named Duke’s. I want to tell you to stay away from Duke’s, but for some reason I just cannot. It is an experience that you need to have for yourself. The original Duke’s, the Angus beef version, is actually somewhat decent, but the teriyaki is chewier than the rubber from a tire, drier than the Sahara in the summer and tastes like a giant garbage full of used baby diapers. Still, one feels the need to finish the entire bag. One just cannot put it down, maybe because the people at Duke’s have put some kind of magic into that bag. The great oldschool rancher on some of the bags is also worth checking out. Despite what you might think, jerky is a healthy snack. There is a ton of protein, as it is basically pure meat. Also, if you want to eat a big bag, which I can confirm is enough to keep you satisfied, you will only consume three grams of fat and under 300 calories. There is a price to be paid, however, for such a wonderful jolt of happiness into your day, as a full sized
bag will run you anywhere from $5 to $7, depending on where you get it. Rather than seeing this as an ode to jerky, which it is, you should also see it as an example of a great success story of being bold and trying something new. You may have developed some kind of stereotype or belief about something without even trying it for yourself. Do not let your choices be made because of something you heard during your childhood or something that your friends have told you. Go out there and try something that you have never wanted to try before. Break down some barriers that you have built around yourself, and develop a new point of view. You may just find yourself a new love, or even a new best friend: first name Jack, last name Link.
EDITORIAL: Evaluate Your Language, No R-Word Recently, as a community, we have experienced horrible incidents of racism, acts that have shown the extreme hate people can show. We have seen the enormous power of words being used to hurt others, and this is never acceptable. “No one should be marginalized nor demeaned in such a way, and I hold out the greatest contempt for anyone who would intentionally inflict that pain on another human being,” Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, said in a university-wide statement about these acts. This issue, however, goes beyond simply racism. The homophobic slur written in McMahon Hall represents discrimination and hate directed towards those of different sexual orientations. This example of hate also has no place at Fordham, or anywhere else for that matter. Amidst these horrible events, we feel that this is a good time to evaluate the way we use language and words in general, in our everyday lives. This language can either
be intentional or unintentional; however, regardless of the circumstance, it is our responsibility to educate ourselves on language that may be offensive or derogatory towards others. One word that people use on a daily basis is incredibly hurtful. It is common belief that the “n-word” and many other slurs are awful and should never be spoken in public; people, however, use the “r-word” everyday. The word “retarded” (or “retard”) is incredibly offensive. The words are derogatory slang used to mock or identify people with intellectual disabilities. They do not mean “silly” or “stupid.” Whether or not one knows it, every time a person uses this word, he or she demeans people with disabilities. The use of the word is hurtful and explicitly discriminates against people with intellectual disability. This word is just as much a slur as the others previously mentioned; however, many people still continue to use it in everyday speech, even unknowingly. The continuing use of this word demeans peo-
ple with disabilities, and people should evaluate their own speech and stop using it immediately. Furthermore, in looking at the way people use language in light of recent events, we feel that often many people do not use peoplefirst language to describe others. This means that whenever we describe someone, they are not a disabled person or a Hispanic person or a Jewish person. They are a person first. Using the word “person” before using any other adjective recognizes the humanity and dignity that we all have and share. By simply using this type of language, we are working towards the goal of ending racism and discrimination in our community. This Wednesday, March 7, is the national day to “Spread the Word to End the Word,” and we at The Ram feel that it is a perfect time for all people, especially those in our community, to commit to ending the use of the “r-word” and renew the effort to truly work against any type of discrimination that occurs in our community. What can we do here at Ford-
ham? Do not remain silent on this issue, and make your voice heard. There is a Rally for Solidarity this Thursday at 1 p.m. on the McGinley Lawn, and one can also join Fordham A.C.T., which stands for “Activating Consciousness Together.” USG founded this new coalition of students in order to encourage “practices that promote dignity, respect and understanding.” We as a University need to work especially hard to make sure that any type of act of hate will never have a place on this campus. We must not simply accept that these acts “just happen.” We must actively strive and encourage others to work against discrimination in any form. As a community, we need to work even harder to promote an environment that recognizes the inherent dignity of each and every person that we encounter. 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.
Are your friends really tired of hearing you complain?
Write for The Ram’s opinions section. E-mail us at: fordhamramopinions@gmail.com
CARTOON BY ANNA TIGHE
OPINIONS
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MARCH 7, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 11
Left of the Allen Dial
Righter’s Block
The Legacy of Occupy
John P. Castonguay No Double Standard for Occupy
I visited Zucotti Park last autumn during the height of the Occupy Movement fervor and encountered a strange dichotomy of people. Impassioned college students, working class people and young professionals all banded together for one purpose: to make their voices heard. While there are still protestors occupying Zucotti vying for national attention, most media outlets and protestors have moved on. This week, Occupy Albany won an important fight for its legitimacy when a city court judge dismissed more than 100 charges levied on protestors back in November. Only one news article was written about it. If this decision had been announced last year, every cappuccino-sipping, Foursquare-using blogger in America would decry the virtues of the verdict. Where did they go? Did we already solve the issues of the Occupy Movement in the few months since? More importantly, there is question about the legacy of the Occupy Movement. In the aftermath of the excitement, some may argue that the protest will fade. I disagree. Granted, most protestors didn’t have a fundamental understanding of how Wall Street is tied to the economy: The majority of investment banking operations don’t actually invest for profit, but rather help companies find financiers and solutions to fund their projects. Without Wall Street, for example, Apple wouldn’t be able to make the beloved iPhones that so many protestors used to tweet about corporate greed. In a capitalistic economy where corporations aren’t funded by the government, institutions on Wall Street are absolutely necessary. Thus, the argument to bulldoze Wall Street is essentially to destroy the American capitalistic model. That being said, the Occupy movement championed the very legitimate issue of wage inequality in America. The United States ranks first among developed nations over inequality of income between rich and poor. Between 1979 and 2007, the top one percent gained a 275 percent increase in income while the bottom 80 percent only saw a 40 percent increase. This is a major problem, as economists believe that strong economic growth depends on a large and stable middle class. When income disparity grows too large, multiple problems arise that stymie growth. A crude example of this is, surprisingly, China’s income inequality and greater growth, which is comparatively smaller than in the United States. Before the Occupy Movement, this issue was hardly at the forefront of American minds. Due to the presence in Zucotti Park, however, this issue is set to become a defining concern in the 2012 presidential elections. Although the Occupy Movement was misinformed, ill-guided and quick to fade, the protest pushed a critical issue to the front of the national political debate. Historians will look back to this period and realize that while the movement may have dissipated, its legacy lived on in new reforms and the debates it sparked in America.
In Albany, New York, this past week, Judge Thomas K. Keefe dismissed more than 100 charges ranging from trespassing to resisting arrest to criminal contempt against 88 protestors arrested during the course of the Occupy Albany protests. This move was in response to District Attorney David Soares’ decision not to pursue prosecution, in the present or future, against protestors. “For me, driving by the Capitol and seeing the protests — this is just a Monday — you have protests here all the time,” Soares said. “We have people exercising their first amendment rights peacefully. It has been our position not to prosecute them if they are arrested.” Soares’ decision suggests that the arrest and prosecution of protestors is a waste of the time and resources of Albany’s government. Unfortunately, this decision has two major negative consequences: a loss of respect for the law and the creation of unequal standards of protection under the law. If it is understood that people are not going to be punished for petty crime, there will be groups of people who see this government inaction as an invitation to commit crimes. The First Amendment can be inappropriately used as a free pass if the government feels it is too busy to fine criminals the $200$500 these crimes warrant. Soares’ statements that the protestors were not causing real problems, coupled with his views on the lack of resources available and that protests happen all the time, create a dangerous precedence. They may allow for unequal application of laws based on the size and views of groups. Larger groups require more resources to prosecute, meaning that if resources required to execute laws are taken into account, small groups of protestors will be treated unequally. It is the responsibility of the government to provide equal protection and execute laws. If the resources aren’t available for the effective application of the law, resources should be redirected or laws rewritten. Additionally, the “it happens all the time” policy is not applicable to non-Occupy Wall Street protestors. In mid-February, a small pro-life group that included a priest was arrested while praying outside of the White House. They were arrested because it is illegal to stand still outside of the White House while protesting (Occupy Wall Street protestors have been largely allowed to stay on federal property). They paid a $100 fine and were released. Like the Occupy Albany group, this group was protesting peacefully but in violation of the law. Soares creates a double-standard by refusing to prosecute Occupy Albany protesters. Whether or not these laws should exist is not the issue. The laws do exist, and the uneven application of laws creates a dangerous precedent for favoritism and injustice.
Ying
RAM ARCHIVES
In order to better serve all students, the Walsh Family Library should, ideally, be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Walsh Library Should Extend Hours By JUSTIN LaCOURSIERE STAFF WRITER
Attending Fordham University means obtaining an education deeply rooted in Jesuit principles by committing to learning of the highest quality while fostering intellectual development apparently does not mean having a location open 24/7 for the advancement of learning and knowledge. At Fordham, our intellectual potential and talents are only pushed the extra mile 60 percent of the time because the William D. Walsh Family Library is only open 60 percent of the hours in an average week. As the campus’ largest classroom, the library is where the most learning takes place. “The point of a university is to have facilities that enable students to excel academically,” Christina Kennedy, GSB ’12, said. Limiting library access is not acceptable, especially for students looking to learn. “In my ideal world, students would have access to the Walsh library 24 hours per day,” Caitlin Meyer, FCRH ’12 and executive president of Fordham’s United Student Government, said. “24hour library access at universities is not without precedent (see Georgetown, for example). Despite the fact that our library hours are similar to, and sometimes even more extensive than those of peer and aspirant schools (see Princeton, Columbia and Harvard), I think it is important to understand why our hours are the way they are so that we can best address student needs.” Creating Fordham’s nationally-recognized library was not a cheap undertaking. Building Walsh Library cost around $43 million, according to SchoolDesigns.com. The 2004 edition of Princeton Review’s “The Best 351 Colleges” ranked Fordham’s library fifth in the country, ahead of Yale, Harvard and Columbia. All of that money and such a high ranking was put towards a library that would eventually end up being closed approximately onethird of the time.
Some do not mind the curtailed library hours. “While there are benefits, I don’t think it is a necessity to have the library open 24 hours,” Lyle Leblanc, FCRH ’13, said. “People should be able to schedule their study time.” Not all Fordham residence halls are equipped with proper study locations, however (Walsh Hall and Belmont Community Housing), and students may have roommates with different sleep patterns. “You can’t expect your students to strive for their most when you’re not offering the most,” Genaro Dominguez, associate resident director of Walsh Hall, said. It appears Fordham has also forgotten it offers Saturday classes, as the library closes on Fridays at 7 p.m. Moreover, some students just study better in the library, since it is the building on campus designed for studying. After speaking with James McCabe, Director of Libraries; Linda LoSchiavo, Assistant Director of Libraries and Christopher Rodgers, Dean of Students at Rose Hill, I learned that library hours have been reduced because of budgetary limitations. “Many of us were disappointed to learn that budget cuts spurred by the economic downturn had made reduction in library hours necessary,” Rodgers said. Walsh Library had a Late-Night Zone, which began in 1999. According to the library handbooks in the archives section of Walsh Library, the Late-Night Zone was open 24/7 on weeknights from 2007 to 2009. Protests and petitions from a frustrated student body took place when the Late-Night Zone was closed completely in 2009. According to Michael Latham, Dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill, he along with Nancy Busch, Dean of Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Donna Rapaccioli, Dean of Gabelli School of Business, decided to collectively contribute to the cost of keeping the library open during the extended hours for the 2009-2010 academic year. The administration at Ford-
ham makes it clear that it believes that it is uneconomical to keep the library open 24 hours and closes the library during hours when fewer students use it. Many students feel differently, however. “The one thing that shouldn’t be cut back hour-wise is the library,” Taryn Guerrera, GSB ’12, said. “We’re an academic institution.” This decision is a selfish one, as it is not the administration that uses the library, it is the students. In this decision, Fordham students are thought of in terms of financial resources. According to Jesuit teachings, even if extended library hours benefit only a few students, it is worth it. At Fordham, students come first, or at least they are supposed to. Fordham’s website states, “A Fordham education at all levels is student-centered, and attentive to the development of the whole person.” Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, quoted Public Broadcasting Service’s David Hartman regarding Jesuit education, saying, “We have a great emphasis on care for the individual student; we have a great desire to introduce excellence and rigor into the classroom.” Fordham University failed to live up to its ‘student-centered’ outlook, failed to recognize those individuals who would use the library after hours and therefore failed to allow excellence to fully take place. As a community, we need to find a better way to fit within the current deterministic framework or decide that expanded hours, even if they only benefit a handful of students, are worthwhile. “At the end of the day, I think students would be best-served if they had access to our incredible Walsh library 24 hours per day,” Meyer said. While Fordham talks about wanting to move up in university rankings, its library hours, or lack thereof, convey a different message. Justin LaCoursiere, FCRH ’12, is a communication and media studies major from Shelton, Ct.
OPINIONS
PAGE 12 • THE RAM •MARCH 7, 2012
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Here I Am, Rank Me Like a Hurricane
Letter to the Editor
By BRIAN KRAKER STAFF WRITER
Dear Editor, I am writing regarding the editorial, “Career Services Does Not Cater to FCRH” (v. 94 i. 5). This is a common misconception that Bernie Stratford, director of Experiential Education, and I have spent the last couple of years trying to change. I applaud you for questions on how the student body is served by Career Services and whether it is handled fairly. Bernie and I would love the opportunity to meet with you and the editorial staff to discuss this important topic. We have made drastic changes this year to reinvent how we serve students and have worked closely with the academic departments to better serve students of all majors. To address many of the concerns you raised, which we also heard from students last year, we started a grass-roots student movement called the Fordham Career Ambassadors. Additionally, because of the new swipe system we implemented this year we are able to track student engagement with our office by college. We are especially thrilled with the underclassmen and liberal art attendance at the fair because we have implemented initiatives this year targeted at engaging these two groups. Best Regards, Stefany M. Fattor, M.S. Director, Career Services Fordham University
The Bowl Championship Series is disputed for one simple reason, the rankings. Every week a collection of coaches and media personnel subjectively rank the nation’s best football teams, leading to inevitable debate. While the initial criterion is a team’s record, it becomes the opinion of the voter that breaks the tie. The same can be said for the academic ranking system for colleges. There are some objective standards used to compare universities, such as SAT scores or admission rates, but when schools fall within percentage points of each other, how do you separate the two? Or, the more important question, does it even matter? Claremont McKenna threw another wrench in the works when it admitted that a member of its staff had inflated average SAT scores since 2005, according to The New York Times. Claremont is not the first school cited for misleading ranking officials. Iona College was also found to have skewed numbers relating to test scores, graduation rates and freshmen retention, to name a few. Blatant dishonesty is not the only method schools have found to skew their numbers. Baylor University allowed admitted students to retake the SATs with the promise of additional financial awards. This program ultimately helped raise the average score of Baylor’s incumbent class and improved its standing
among other universities. Now, this is not to say that admissions offices are inherently dishonest, but, when national publications base the value of a school on a few statistics generally outside of the control of the university, it only encourages administrators who do everything they can to present their school in the best light. There was little objectivity in the ranking process to begin with, and when you can no longer trust the hard facts, its raises even more doubt on the whole practice. Rankings are an inherent byproduct of a society obsessed with finding the best in everything. ESPN ranks the greatest athletic feats on a daily basis. Literary critics rank the century’s greatest novels. Historians rank and re-rank the greatest U.S. presidents. Did you know President Eisenhower has been climbing in the polls? The ranking system was inherently subjective and fallible before schools began offering misleading statistics. How do rankings take into account the quality of professors? How do you judge the strength of a school’s community service program? You cannot compare a school with minimal required classes to Fordham’s rigorous core curriculum. And most importantly, how do you weigh all these components? If rankings consider athletics a more desirable attribute than religious affiliation, then state schools would climb the charts, but, if a ranking
Proudly Welcomes
NOVELIST
Alice McDermott 2012 D’Angelo Endowed Chair in the Humanities
T
he two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee and National Book Award winner joins the English faculty of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences this spring semester. Professor McDermott’s visit engages and inspires students through on-campus events including a fiction-writing workshop, individual meetings and public lectures. Established in 2007, the Peter P. and Margaret A. D’Angelo Chair in the Humanities promotes excellence in teaching and scholarly exchange.
Visit:
PHOTO BY PRINCIPIA DUGGAN/THE RAM
U.S. News & World Report ranked Fordham No. 53 in this year’s rankings.
system regards values and school spirituality more, then Catholic schools would experience a meteoric rise. Every high school student has a different set of wants in his or her prospective college and values different aspects more than others. These different interests have lead to a rise in specialized rankings. While the rankings by Forbes and U.S. News and World Report have garnered the most attention, a trend in producing compartmentalized rankings has become apparent in the digital world. In 2011, Washington Monthly ranked Fordham’s community service programs the sixth-best in the nation, while Forbes labeled us the eighth most expensive school. College Magazine ranked Fordham the seventh most prude college; however, it clearly failed to visit Tri-Bar
before making that assessment. Still, these rankings are just as subjective as the all-encompassing list compiled by U.S. News each year. These lists add a little clarity to a college’s strengths and weaknesses, which are often lost in the magnitude of a single ranking number. There is still no true measure for comparing these topics and these lists ultimately fall victim to the same pitfalls that invalidate all previous lists. In a culture where everyone wants to be the best, rankings are a natural response. This does not make them any more reliable, just in high demand. Every year, magazines will inevitably produce their latest rankings and people will argue over the numbers. So, let the debate rage on. Brian Kraker, FCRH ’12, is a double major in computer science and English from Pompton Lakes, NJ.
Free Writing Workshop for International Students at the Rose Hill Campus How to read critically, understand argumentation, and use it in your own writing Wednesday, March 7th: 2:30-4:30, Keating 205 Instructor: Dr. Elaine Ancekewicz In this workshop, we will explore how reading critically can offer a first step in preparing and writing the paper. We will investigate especially “arguments” supporting a writer’s ideas in several documents or “sources” and how your identification of and reaction to them can be used in your own response to a paper topic.
www.stjohns.edu/mcdermott ott
sponsored by The Institute of American Language and Culture and Rose Hill Writing Center M10007453NI
MARCH 7, 2012
PAGE 13
The Gaelic Society Plans Irish Cultural Events for March
PHOTO BY KATE DOHENY/THE RAM
Irish Music Night was held on March 6 at the Ramskellar. It featured the popular Yonkers band, The McLean Ave. Band.
By SCHARON HARDING CULTURE EDITOR
Fordham’s Gaelic Society will be busy this month in honor of St. Patricks Day with a variety of events celebrating Irish culture. The good times began last night, March 6, with Irish Music Night. The Gaelic Society aimed to emulate the success of last year’s show, which featured the band Girsa. This year’s event took place in the Ramskellar and featured The McLean Ave. Band. “They’re a local band that comes from Yonkers,” Colleen Taylor, FCRH ’12 and president of the Gaelic Society, said. “They’ve got a cool, new-age traditional Irish music sound, so they build upon the old songs that we all grew up listening to.”
Though always a fun evening, the event is one of the most timeconsuming Gaelic Society events to organize. “I’m always simultaneously excited and stressed out for Irish music night,” Taylor said. Traditional Irish food, including scones, soda bread, Irish tea and special Irish butter, which Taylor describes as “exceptional,” was also served at the event. On March 7, the society will host a Ceili dance in McGinley’s music room. “Ceili is really social,” Lauren Hathaway, FCRH ‘13 and vicepresident of The Gaelic Society, said. “There’s group dancing, music and tea, and the dancers are going to do a little showcase and teach everyone the dance moves.” The event is one of the Soci-
ety’s most popular and anticipated events. “We’ve done this almost every semester, and a lot of guys come who have never danced before,” Hathaway said. “Even if they’re a little reserved at first, they end up doing it because it’s a lot of fun, and you meet a lot of new people. I’ve been dancing since I was eight, and it’s exciting to see other people excited about it because normally it’s something no one cares about unless they’re involved in it.” Saturday, March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, a big holiday for Irish culture. The Society celebrates by marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Manhattan, which is larger than any other Irish parade. “It’s really incredible to be in a parade,” Mary Callahan, FCRH ’14 and vice-president of the Gael-
ic Society, said. “It’s kind of like bragging rights to be like ‘We’ve done that.’” The parade is open to all; however, students can register to attend on Fordham’s alumni events page. “You get to meet a lot of IrishAmerican alumni,” Taylor said. “It’s neat to talk to the alumni because the history of the school is Irish, and it’s kind of nice to celebrate that.” The parade is a huge event and features many participants, as New York has a large Irish community. “New York has been like a haven and capital for the Irish-American experience,” Taylor said. On March 21, the Society will continue its celebration with a visit to Murray-Weigel Hall. “We just go over there and do a little dance,” Taylor said. “Anyone who wants to can come,” Callahan said. “Especially musicians and dancers.” To conclude the month, the Society will be heading to St. Patrick’s Home for the Aged to visit the elderly. “I’m really looking forward to going back to the nursing home,” Callahan said. “We did it before Christmas, and it was a really great experience to share. There’s a lot of Irish culture, music and singing, and we’re hoping we can get people to come.” The Society will continue host-
ing cultural events after the month’s end. Next month’s planned events include a tour of the Lower East Side Tenement Museum and possibly hosting Mary Higgins Clark, a Fordham alum and published author, as a guest speaker. Since New York contains many great opportunities to enjoy Irish culture, the Society is glad to be able to share and enjoy their heritage. “[Growing up,] I lived closer to Philly than New York, and it has an Irish presence, but it’s known for its Italian presence,” Callahan said. “So I really like being able to get in touch with the Irish side of my heritage because its not something I really got to participate in and learn about before Fordham.” “We’re just a couple minutes from Woodlawn, where everyone is Irish and all the best Irish bands come to New York,” Hathaway said. The Gaelic Society gives students who are interested in exploring Irish traditions the chance to participate in their culture. This is exciting since many have not had many opportunities to do so in their hometowns. “In Phoenix, the Irish events only come around St. Patrick’s Day,” Taylor said. “Here, there’s stuff going on year-round. When I came here, I learned about other aspects of Irish culture that I haven’t known before.”
Mimes and Mummers Next to Normal Show A Success By JONATHAN O’NEIL CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Goodman family has a secret that is tearing its household apart from the inside. Over the course of almost two decades, its house has transformed from a domestic oasis to a claustrophobic snare that can provide neither comfort nor safety for its inhabitants. The vicious monster that has set this trap, oddly enough, is not the kind you will find in the fantasy worlds of Grimm and Anderson. The troubles of this family stem from its matriarch (a former architect named Diana Goodman), who has battled with bipolar disorder and schizophrenic tendencies for 18 years. From this parasite at the center of the family tree, the authors of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Next to Normal show us the evolution of an emotional fallout: a histrionic daughter whose downward spiral leads her from academic success to drug addiction, a father who slowly makes his own descent into insanity and a depraved son who is not as supportive as his family needs him to be. Also present is the daughter’s boyfriend, a pothead musician, and a pair of doctors. While the plot might seem worthy of a Lifetime television special (cringe-worthy lyrics such as “And I was so young, and so dumb/ And now I am old” occasionally haunt the otherwise beautiful score). The cast of the Mimes and Mummers production of Next to Normal put on a show that is at once heartbreakingly
PHOTO BY JOSHUA GOLD/THE RAM
The impressive cast of the Mimes and Mummers’ production performed in Colins Hall from March 1 through March 4.
beautiful and eminently haunting. The set, designed by Tim Rozmus, GSB ’13, and Tom Aglio, FCRH ’12, was built as an abstract skeleton that at times represented various locations such as the Goodman residence, a doctor’s office, a high school music room, a recital hall and an operating room. The lighting, designed by Emily Pandise, FCRH ’14, cast several pale hues indicative of the thick haze of Diana’s illness and dark shadows that enhanced the mounting dramatic tension. The direction and choreography by Joshua Gold is innovative; a scene where the voices representing Diana’s medication pass around giant pill bottles was hilariously inventive. Costumes by Pam Zazzarino’s, FCRH ’14, succeeded in evoking the modern era (the Mimes and Mum-
mers’ past two shows, The Drowsy Chaperone and Lend Me a Tenor, both took place in the early 20th century). The band, led by Benjamin Rauhala, was perhaps the greatest part of the production; as many audience members of the show will tell you, Tom Kitt’s score was undeniably the best aspect of the musical. As the bipolar-schizophrenic Diana Goodman, Emily Weaver, FCRH ’12, gave a powerhouse performance, an award-worthy tour de force that caused the audience members’ hearts to pound in their ears as each of her pills hit the bottom of the wastebasket during her stunning rendition of “I Miss the Mountains.” As she traversed from episode to episode, the realism and imperiousness of Weaver’s performance was often unsettling but enormously fulfilling.
As the father, Dan Goodman, Chris Modrzynski, FCRH ’12, displayed his mellifluous voice and also gave a believable performance. His disgustingly-happy chorale, “It’s Gonna be Good,” its dark reprise and the powerful ballad “A Light in the Dark” were certainly some of the high points of the play. Tara Minogue, GSB ’15, and Will Ganss, FCRH ’14, as Natalie Goodman and her boyfriend Henry, were a charming couple. Minogue has showcased her stunning voice twice this year, once in The Drowsy Chaperone as the soulful aviatrix and again as the ill-fated Ms. Millenium in FET’s production of Urinetown — and did not disappoint as academic superstar turned designer drug-addict daughter of the Goodmans. Together, the parents and daughter had terrific
chemistry. Ganss, as the quintessential devoted companion, displayed sincere compassion for his despairing girlfriend. Kevin Horan, GSB ’13, performed well in the role of the doctor, although his aggressive attitude in the second act did not register well with the professional nature of the character. The ensemble’s darkhorse, however, was Jeff O’Donnell, GSB ’14, in a scene-stealing turn as the mysterious son. As the play’s true villain, O’Donnell both terrorized the family and gripped the audience with his anthem “I’m Alive.” At the end of the song, O’Donnell and his mother posed, in a powerfully twisted take on Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam.” The moments when he, Weaver and Modrzynski were onstage elevated the performance to a level of pure theatrical ecstasy. The ambitious performance, however, was not without its obstacles. An very important prop, a bucket filled with blood-stained water, was brought onstage far before it was needed and certainly put a strain on the audience’s suspension of disbelief when it was used — why in the world do the Goodmans keep a bucket of water around? Early in the first act, the pace of the plot was stopped completely to allow for Ganss to take a few (fake) hits from a bong. The pause allotted for this short episode was disconcerting and almost wholly unnecessary. Ultimately, Mimes and Mummers, however, created a production that was rewarding and very successful.
CULTURE
PAGE 14 • THE RAM • MARCH 7, 2012
Going Global
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Dining Out: Piccolo Café
This week’s column was written by Catherine Paul, FCRH ’13. There are not nearly enough words allowed in this article to adequately articulate my experiences in Rwanda thus far. If I had to choose one word to begin to describe Rwanda, however, it would be “beautiful.” Rwanda is appropriately called “the land of 1,000 hills.” In every direction, there are mountains and hills, an occasional paved road or, more typically, a reddish-brown dirt road. Neighborhoods and colorful villages are clumped together at random sprawling along the mountainsides. I had never been to such a flawlessly beautiful country until I came here. Beautiful refers to the people as well. I have never felt so safe or so welcomed anywhere in my life. I am living with a Rwandan family (mama, papa, grandma, two brothers, two sisters and a baby due any day now) in Kigali, and since day one, I have felt like I belong. I am given the same love and am expected to abide by the same rules as my brothers and sisters. My first week staying with my family, Papa took my hand, looked me in the eye, and said he was so happy I was his daughter. Rwandans are also possibly the most helpful people I have ever met. Whenever I am lost (which is often), I ask someone (in my unfortunate fusion of Kinyarwanda and English) for directions or the right bus and am often walked to my destination or entrusted to someone who can better assist me. The other evening, a man walked over a mile out of his way to help me find my bus stop. Furthermore, I am beginning to realize that Rwandans are not shy people. Random conversations on the street or the bus are the norm, as is nose picking, staring, smiling and shouting “mzungu!” (white person) as I walk by. Even though I am studying the history and precursors of the genocide, I still cannot help but wonder how such a tragedy could have happened in this country in 1994. I cannot imagine the “rivers of blood” in the streets, the hate and the violence because the Rwandans I know are the kindest, most gentle people I have met (except during rush hour on the bus, of course). On our second day of class, we traveled to two genocide memorials and the Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum. The two memorials were Catholic churches where, in total, 15,000 people were killed. They were dark, smelly and there was blood, bullet holes and grenade blasts on the walls. In the first church, the bodies were stacked along the walls, while in the second they were organized in mass graves, which we entered. The victims’ clothes still lay in the churches, dirty and bloodstained but, as our tour guide said, we must know the darkness of the past in order to see the brightness of the future. I have learned more in a month here than I have in any classroom about culture, kindness, compassion and forgiveness. While this has not been an easy journey, I have no doubts that this is where I am meant to be.
PHOTO BY ELISA DIMAURO/THE RAM
Piccolo Café is located on 238 Madison Ave in Midtown. It also has two other locations in Hell’s Kitchen and Gramercy.
PHOTO BY ELISA DIMAURO/THE RAM
The No. 8 salad has green apples, goat cheese and a variety of greens. The café also specializes in panini and pastas.
By ELISA DiMAURO CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As you walk south from Grand Central down Madison, you will pass the typical New York City chains: Pret a Manger, Chipotle and Starbucks. If you keep your eyes peeled, however, you will see Piccolo Café, an awning of a different color (literally, it is a brown awning on a block of red ones).
Piccolo is an Italian café that opened in 1938. It imports much of its food and ingredients from Italy. What looks like a little hole in the wall is literally just that. With enough seating for 10 and a front counter that barely fits two workers, it is best to grab your food and head to Bryant Park. The café specializes in panini, salads and pastas, and no entrée is more than $15. While every panini has delicious potential, the No. 11 and No. 15
cannot be overlooked. No. 11 consists of a creamy homemade pesto with bufala mozzarella, basil, tomatoes and arugula. The mozzarella is the freshest I have tasted north of Mulberry Street and south of Arthur Avenue and is easy on your pocket, costing only $8. The No. 15 is Piccolo’s Signature vegetable panini ($9) with roasted vegetables, (including delicious chunks of eggplant), goat cheese and the slightest touch of olive oil. Both come
with a side of arugula drizzled with balsamic dressing. The salads at Piccolo lack variety but are made well. The No. 8 salad features green apples and goat cheese on top of a bed of mixed greens ($8). There is also the bufala caprese salad, which includes large chunks of mozzarella, tomato and basil served with arugula. The pasta was the only disappointing meal I encountered there. The penne with salmon ($12) consists of a very bland cream sauce accompanied by soggy pasta and dry fish. For an Italian café, I had higher expectations for a flavorful, al dente dish. Piccolo’s sandwiches and salads are good, though they could get rid of the pasta section entirely. It would certainly open up some counter and kitchen space, which they desperately need. What Piccolo lacks in variety (almost every meal includes cheese, arugula, and balsamic glaze) they make up in taste. The bread is perfectly toasted and could be a side order on its own. The goat cheese makes you forget that you are in midtown Manhattan and not in Tuscany. The arugula adds the perfect amount of peppery taste to every bite. Piccolo is the perfect spot for someone looking to switch from the usual Pret or Cosi lunch on interning days. The meals cost about the same, maybe even less, and you get a much tastier, fresher meal. Overall Location Food Quality Atmosphere Hospitality Price $$$ (Out of 4
’s)
Editor’s Pick: Bon Jovi By KELLY KULTYS
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
One of the most popular questions people ask the first time they meet someone new is, “Where are you from?” Being from a small town in central Jersey, I always try to add in a fun fact about my town, so people get an idea of where I live. My answer always includes: “I live in Sayreville. You know, the town Bon Jovi’s from.” No matter in what part of the country a person lives, everyone’s eyes light up as they exclaim “really?” I take pride in the fact that I share a town with one of the most iconic, and one of my personal favorite, music artists of all time. From its start in 1983, the band has been entertaining generations of people with its electric music. Over about the last 20 years, it has held more than 2,600 concerts, released 11 studio albums and sold over 130 million records. The four band members—Jon Bon Jovi, lead vocals and guitar; Richie Sambora, lead guitarist; Tico Torres, drummer; and David Bryan, keyboardist—have created music with which all generations can identify. The best part about Bon Jovi’s success is that, although the band’s sound has changed from its ’80s hair band origins, its fans keep
coming back for more. Most people who are not die-hard Bon Jovi fans do not realize that the band’s hit album, Slippery When Wet (1986), was actually the group’s third album. Slippery When Wet’s success, however, set the band on the path to fame. It contains three of Bon Jovi’s most famous songs: “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Wanted Dead or Alive” and of course, “Livin’ on a Prayer.” The group did not stop there, following Slippery When Wet with an almost equally-successful album, New Jersey, which spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard 200. New Jersey (1988), my favorite Bon Jovi album, took on a bit of different sound than the hair-metal Slippery When Wet. New Jersey includes four more top songs: “Bad Medicine,” “I’ll Be There For You,” “Born to Be My Baby” and “Lay Your Hands on Me.” The love ballad “I’ll Be There For You” and crowd-pumping “Bad Medicine,” my two favorite Bon Jovi songs, could not differ more, but I think that is reason Bon Jovi has lasted this long: The band has at least one song with which anyone can relate. After New Jersey, Bon Jovi’s style completely shifted for its next few albums including double-platinum album, Keep the Faith (1992,) These
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA
Jon Bon Jovi, lead singer of Bon Jovi, is from Sayreville in central New Jersey.
Days (1995) and Crush (2000.) These albums received more criticism with critics, saying that Bon Jovi had lost “their roots.” That changed quickly, however, with the band’s eighth album, Bounce (2002), which was well acclaimed for its songs relating to 9/11, such as “Bounce” and “Undivided.” The group continued its ascent again with the release of Have a Nice Day (2005,) a more mellow album that mixed rock and country. It was a shift from earlier days, but one that was still well-received by a still-growing fan base. The last two albums Lost Highway (2007) and
The Circle (2009) which include hit singles “You Want to Make a Memory” and “We Weren’t Born to Follow” respectively. Both reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Looking back on my childhood, thinking about all the times my parents would play Bon Jovi in the car or in the house, I am proud that I can now call myself a die-hard Bon Jovi fan too. Even after celebrating his 50th birthday on March 2, Jon Bon Jovi and his band are currently working on creating their 12th studio album, and I know for sure that I will be one of the first in line to buy it.
CULTURE
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Jazz Scene Still Thrives in New York City
MARCH 7, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 15
Check Take a look at the latest events and hotspots in NYC!
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Send tips, event listings, or comments to fordhamramculture@gmail.com.
!
Out
Nomsa Mazwai Drom 85 Avenue A (between 5th and 6th) March 9, 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. $10 Advance, $15 Door
COURTESY OF COMMENTARYONTHETIMES.COM
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola is located on 60th St. at Lincoln Center. The jazz club offers discounted ticket prices for students.
By QUETZALLI TORRES CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Not all jazz music is sad. Jazz, which expresses all major emotions, is little understood by younger generations due to a lack of exposure. This is sad, not only because jazz is a truly American art form, but also because New York has been a hotbed for jazz for nearly a century now. Therefore, I believe a little review is in order. At the turn of the century, jazz was only just starting to diverge from ragtime and blues. Upon reaching New York, it benefited from the incorporation of the piano and then really began to take off. The Harlem Renaissance proved to be the perfect nursery for the growth of jazz, which was played in clubs until the break of dawn. These clubs were the talk of the town and white folk from downtown came to see what all the fuss was about. Once they caught wind of jazz, they could not get enough of it, and a jazz hotspot popped up on West 52nd Street. It was in these two areas that some of jazz’s biggest names honed their craft. It was here that Duke Ellington became the great composer that he was. It was here that Miles Davis played along-
side Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and started to form what would become “cool jazz.” And it was here that Charlie “Bird” Parker led the bebop movement. Despite these great musicians, jazz attracted a lot of criticism for its association with speakeasies, but that did not matter — jazz had come to stay. Nowadays, one cannot simply sit on a curb in Harlem and listen to jazz notes fill the air as one could in the Jazz Age. Today, people are not so aware of a genre that is still very much alive and changing. One must make a concerted effort to seek jazz out. Jazz at Lincoln Center attracts some of the biggest names in the genre. LC’s Dizzy’s Club CocaCola is a great venue in itself and often sells reduced-price student tickets for $10-$15, making it well worth a trip. The Blue Note is also among the best-known venues in the city. The venue records live albums and often features notable musicians who collaborate with jazz artists. Notable performers include Lupe Fiasco, Mos Def and Kanye West. The Blue Note is an intimate venue, but its price makes it an expensive treat. If you are looking for a venue that is much more casual without sacrificing talent or for an easy transition into the jazz scene, visiting the Fat Cat ($3 cover) is a
must. The Fat Cat is a basement jazz club that makes up for its dinginess with social atmosphere. There is an array of bar games and plenty of couches for those who would rather be next to the band. Jazz has come far since it first arrived in New York in the 1920s. For those looking to check out the current jazz scene, Stefon Harris offers a fresh take on jazz with his passionate play of the vibraphone (see After the Day is Done, from “Black Action Figure”). For those who prefer a drum and piano heavy melody, take a look at Robert Glasper who came to New York from Houston (see TFB from “In My Element”). Jazz takes many forms here in New York City. It takes place in dingy basements with old men wearing suspenders just as much as it does in posh ballrooms at black-tie events. Despite the many different faces of jazz, I am convinced of a few things about the genre. A nighttime, urban setting is the best way to enjoy jazz. Listening to tracks on iTunes will not do the art justice until you experience it at a nightclub. Furthermore, jazz is alive and well, people just need to learn to find it. And lastly, in the words of Duke Ellingon, “it don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing.”
Afropop musician and current Fordham graduate student Nomsa Mazwai will perform this Friday in Manhattan. A Fulbright Scholarship winner, Mazwai also took home the South African Music Award (the South African equivalent of the Grammys) for Best Adult Alternative African Music Album last May. Tickets are available online or can be bought at Drom, a club which regularly features various international music acts, the night of the show. Delicious Mexican cuisine is abundant in the East Village, like Tacos Morelos on 25 Avenue A, only three blocks away.
COURTESY OF TEAM NOMISUPASTA
Bowlive III Brooklyn Bowl 61 Wythe Avenue March 8 – 12, Doors: 6:00 p.m. Show: 8:30 p.m. $15 (21+) Bowlive is to jazz and funk what Coachella and Lollapalooza are to indie music. Headlined and hosted by soul/groove trio Soulive, it is a ten night celebration of the best in modern funk, jazz, and hip-hop. On Thursday night, The Roots front-man ?uestlove will play a DJ set along with performances by Billy Martin and Citizen Cope. If you’re looking to expand your musical palette, head on down to Brooklyn before heading out for Spring Break.
— COMPILED BY DEVON SHERIDAN
Ram Reviews MOVIE THE LORAX
THEATER THE BOOK OF MORMON
MOVIE WANDERLUST
BOOK THE IMPERFECTIONISTS
MOVIE ACT OF VALOR
By PJ BROGAN
By AMANDA RYLAND
By JAKE KRING-SCHREIFELS
By DEVON SHERIDAN
By CRAIG DOMEIER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
STAFF WRITER
ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The animated movie The Lorax is based on Dr. Seuss’ classic environmentalist parable of thneeds, truffala trees and the pot-bellied, orange guardian of the forest called the Lorax. Illumination Entertainment has now brought the Seussian tale to computer-generated life, with a bright and happy, but not terribly funny, kids’ movie. The movie is full of creativity and childlike innocence, but it cannot live up to the lyrical charm of the book, and it flounders in comparison to some of the classic Pixar and DreamWorks films of the last few years. The Lorax certainly does not shame the Dr. Seuss name, but The Lorax, not for a lack of effort, never filled me with the same delight that the book still gives to me today.
The creators of “South Park” bring you a highly irreverent and sometimes sacrilegious musical that tells the story of two young Mormon men who are assigned to become missionaries in a small village in Uganda. With all of their bad luck, these Ugandans have turned away from religion and God completely as expressed in their song “Hasa Diga Eebowai,” which literally means, “F*** You, God.” It is crazy to think the creators of “South Park” were able to pull off such a hit. Broadway is evolving in its ability to welcome different types of theater, and the fact that The Book of Mormon won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2011 and is sold-out through 2012 shows that theatergoers are receptive to change.
The insecure, but perfectly functional Manhattan couple, George (Paul Rudd, My Idiot Brother) and Linda (Jennifer Aniston, Just Go With It), struggle with the recent recession. After purchasing a “microloft” in the West Village, with enough space to do just about nothing, their careers both take a shot. Linda’s failed HBO documentary pitch comically parallels George’s abrupt white-collar workplace axing. Residing in a Georgia commune is the next logical step. Rudd’s best moments come with Joe Lo Truglio, the nudist in the clan. Their chemistry dates back to Role Models. Truglio’s character, Wayne, appears to be the most ambitious in the film, clearly confident with allowing his full frontal prosthetic to flap about.
Tom Rachman’s debut novel is the story, or rather stories, of the lives of a group of men and women working for an English-language newspaper based in Rome. The novel is not divided into chapters, but rather dedicates its pages to the different lives of each employee. From the editor-in-chief to the copy editor, and even the foreign correspondent in Cairo, each story examines an employee’s life as they struggle with their personal pitfalls at home and co-workers in the office. Rachman paints diverse, intimate and colorful depictions of each character’s life like a seasoned veteran. It captures the dying spirit of newspaper journalism. It is a must read for anyone looking for a book worth reading twice.
Act of Valor is a war action movie filmed with real Navy SEALs. Its battle sequences are engaging and energetic, especially the first mission. Seeing the SEALs at work is truly impressive. Unfortunately, the thin plot and flat characters mean the movie is little more than an episodic series of supposedly related missions, as the SEALs go around the world to defeat a vast international terrorist plot. The film fails to explore the complexities faced by actual soldiers. Everything is reduced down to combat. The film dismisses the psychological and moral issues raised by war, missing an opportunity to gain an insightful portrait of the experiences of soldiers. Instead, the SEALs are simply portrayed as super soldiers engaged in a clear-cut struggle against the forces of evil.
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CULTURE
PAGE 16• THE RAM • MARCH 7, 2012
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WHO’S THAT KID? Nick Russo A MEMBER OF FCRH ’15, MAJORING IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY FROM KINGS PARK, NY Describe yourself in a couple of sentences.
either going to New York Rangers or Yankees games.
I enjoy the finer things in life. I’m very relaxed and not a very confrontational guy. I usually prefer to take the high road.
What is something about you that not many people know?
What is your favorite aspect of Fordham and why? I love Eddie’s Parade. I like how much grass there is, it makes for a great landscape. The overall greenery on campus in a concrete jungle like the Bronx is fantastic. If there was one thing about Fordham you could change, what would it be? The sleepover policy. What is your favorite thing to do in New York City? I would have to say going to sporting events. The two best are
I’m a swimming instructor. We get paid better than lifeguards, and we do a lot less work. It’s a great job. What is your favorite class at Fordham? Faith and Critical Reasoning with Richard Viladesau or Composition I with Lauren Navarro. Navarro was a really amazing instructor, very cool. She gave interactive assignments where we would have to explore and immerse ourselves in the surrounding area so that we could better describe people, places and things in our essays. What is one thing you would like to accomplish over your four years here?
PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM
Nick Russo, a freshman from Long Island, enjoys Eddie’s Parade. He is also a big fan of freestyle rapping and Cheetos.
I want to leave here with a degree, a job and a better understanding of the world around me. What show, food, artist, or movie would you consider your “guilty pleasure”? I love Cheetos with a passion. My two favorite shows are “Adventure Time” and “Gangland.” I also greatly enjoy ESPN. What is the biggest misconception people have about you?
People think I’m really bad at freestyle rapping, but they haven’t seen anything yet. What are your plans (career or otherwise) for after college? I want to get into international relations, possibly be a consultant at the U.N. If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring with you?
A tent, all your necessary sleeping materials, an ax, a Swiss army knife and obviously a piece of flint. And finally, a flare gun. I know what I’m doing (laughs). If you could go back to your first day at Fordham, what advice would you give yourself? Do your homework, for sure, and don’t drink the jungle juice. Any other advice might be too inappropriate.
Fordham Fashionistas Share Their Stories
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA
Elle magazine is one of many NYC fashion businesses that offers internships.
By KATIE TUZZIO CONTRIBUTING WRITER
New York City is home to a number of recognized fashion schools, but Fordham does not possess a program geared towards fashion. With its close proximity to Manhattan, however, Fordham offers its students an amazing advantage: the ability to intern at the “cool” places in the big city. Fordham is not a fashion school, but that has not stopped students aspiring to work in the fashion industry from obtaining
internships, and eventually careers, despite the aggressive sea of Parsons, LIM and Fashion Institute of Technology students all dying to be the next big thing. “When I was in high school applying to colleges, [fashion] wasn’t really my priority then,” Alyssa Montemurro, FCRH ’12, said. “It was more ‘I just want to go to school in the city so that I could get really good internships.’ I didn’t really think of fashion as my major, but now, I’m considering doing postgraduate work that is more fashion-focused.”
Montemurro interned at Jimmy Choo, an opportunity she received through a Fordham alumnus she met at a career fair. This semester, Montemurro interns in the accessories department of Elle, a position she obtained while participating in Fordham’s Summer in the City program. Utilizing Fordham’s accessibility to Manhattan for an internship was essential for Molly Ritterbeck, FCRH ’10, who is now a beauty assistant at Seventeen. During college, she held internships at Cosmopolitan, Allure and Glamour. “I was looking for beauty-specific experience, and I decided to dedicate my time to internships at New York City magazines,” Ritterbeck said. “Many people advised me that experience at NYC magazines would be more valuable to me in the long run, than, say, the school newspaper or being on yearbook committee.” Oftentimes, fashion internships are characterized by countless errands all over Manhattan, less-than-favorable and pretentious superiors, long hours and other experiences similar to The Devil Wear Prada. “The interns weren’t treated with respect and I was doing really menial work,” Molly Ritterbeck said. “I tried to make the most of it. For example, when I was assigned to photo copy things all day, I would read through them all to get a better understanding of the magazine.” The cutthroat industry is not for everybody, so some students have found ways to experience it in a more relaxed, flexible fashion. “A family friend told me about her niece who was attending this
great school in the Bronx and interning in fashion, and it seemed like the coolest thing to me: going to school and being involved in fashion at the same time,” Molly McLoone, FCRH ’11 said. “From that moment on I knew I wanted to go to Fordham.” While at Fordham, McLoone interned at Vogue, VPL by Victoria Bartlett, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Simultaneously, she was involved in Fashion for Philanthropy (FFP). FFP prepares an annual fashion show that features Fordham students modeling the latest trends on a real-life runway in the gym. The event’s main goal is to raise money for The Make-a-Wish Foundation. McLoone, now assistant to the executive of Longchamp USA, says her involvement in FFP helped her get her foot (or stiletto) in the door when applying for internships. “FFP being on my resume definitely helped me stand out from the other applicants, especially because you learn so many skills helping to put on an event for over 500 people,” she said. Fordham is starting to recognize its potential as an educator in the fashion industry. Recently, Fordham Law launched the Fashion Law Institute, the world’s first fashion law center. The school will provide legal services for design students and designers, train prospective fashion lawyers and designers and offer assistance on issues facing the fashion industry. This year, Fordham College Rose Hill also introduced a course called Fashion Marketing, which teaches the marketing mix through the lens of the fashion industry, focusing on merchan-
dising, product development and celebrity brands. The women who have obtained careers in the industry have different recommendations for the classes an aspiring fashion maven should have under his or her belt. “Since I was in FCRH, I never took any classes about [Microsoft Excel], and now I spend probably 85 percent of my time doing work on Excel,” McLoone said. Alison Girschick is a fashion assistant at Elle and recommends a general course in business policy or management. “After all, every company is a business,” she said. For those wishing to enter the editorial side of fashion, Ritterbeck says a journalism course is essential. “[Introduction to Journalism] was the one class that was very valuable to me,” she said. “I learned a ton of journalism basics, and was able to practice the type of writing I wanted to do.” One thing is certain: Fashion is no walk in the park. In fact, it probably can be compared more to a marathon in six-inch Christian Louboutin platform heels. “It’s not an easy industry meant for ditzy people,” McLoone said. “I worked hard to get where I am, just as hard as anyone who works in finance or any other industry.” Fordham students should not be discouraged from entering the fashion industry simply because they did not attend fashion school. In the meantime, students interested in entering the fashion industry should continue raising awareness of their passion throughout campus and entering their internships fearlessly, with the confidence and poise of a true fashionista.
CULTURE
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PAGE 17 • THE RAM • MARCH 7, 2012
FET Debuts Original Musical Cowboys Don’t Sing
PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM
Cowboys Don’t Sing ran from Feb 21 through Feb. 25 in the Black Box theater.
By RACHAEL PRENSNER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Fordham’s student-created musical, Cowboys Don’t Sing, debuted in the Black Box theater with five shows from Wednesday Feb. 21 Saturday Feb. 25. At four of those shows, audiences were turned away. T.J. Alcala, FCRH ’13, who helped to write the play and starred as the show’s mysterious
wandering cowboy hero, estimated that the Black Box “fits 65... not comfortably. I don’t think it fits 50 comfortably.” Dennis Flynn, FCRH ’12, wrote the script over Christmas break, and Johnny Kelley, FCRH ’13, and Alcala wrote the music during the beginning of this semester. Alcala deferred to his cast mates, adding “It certainly wasn’t written by the three of us. Everyone had their ideas.”
Alcala said the team had been inspired by the University of Michigan’s cult hit, A Very Potter Musical, starting with the idea, “Let’s put Fordham on the map.” Flynn had written a one-act play for the FET playwright’s festival last year, based on a bus ride to Virginia. Flynn interns for the online satirical news site The Onion, which Alcala says is “him in a nutshell, pretty much.” Alcala and Kelley, who both play guitar and piano, had written songs before, but never anything in play format. Oftentimes, the music and lyrics were collaborative. “[Flynn] wrote a lot of the lyrics. We would just write ‘words, words, words’ so he would know how many syllables to put,” Alcala said. After they drafted the songs on piano and acoustic guitar, they added other instruments. “The band really amped it up,” Alcala said, emphasizing the band’s role in the show’s final form. Having to compose the songs made getting the show together even more hectic than usual in the critical weeks before opening night. Alcala estimated that the last few songs came together two or three weeks before the performance and that the actors started off-book only the week before. Working with a show still in progress added to the rehearsal process. The actors had leeway to develop their characters from
practice to practice. “Dennis would go with it,” Alacala said. Philip Reilly, FCRH ’15, who played the bookish, gun-shy cityslicker “Doc,” agreed about the dynamic nature of putting the play together. The cast frequently challenged one another by experimenting on stage. “That’s what really makes us break — when somebody does something new,” Reilly said. “I was still backstage laughing at the jokes on the last night,” he added. During performances, they fought to stay in character and keep a straight face. “My thing, if I’m about to break, is bite your lip and look down,” Reilly said. Alcala had a different strategy, which he used especially when he had to deliver asides directly to the audience. “I would look at the names on the back of the Black Box where the graduating seniors had written their names,” Alcala said. During the 10 p.m. Saturday performance, Alcala “broke” once visibly. Matt van Orden, who played both the Sheriff and Indian Chief in the musical, started eating the corn on the cob stage prop and then passed it around to castmates as well. The scene had a huge audience reaction, but Reilly explained that it was even funnier for the cast because they knew the prop food had been sitting unrefrigerated
backstage for a week. Alcala said he pulled himself back together that night when Kelley shushed the cast from the band’s perch on stage. One tricky aspect of writing a western was handling the Native American-settler dynamic, one that often brims with racism. In Cowboys, the townspeople rally to seek revenge on the Indians in a song called “Our Last Stand.” During rehearsals, however, the cast referred to the number as “The Racist Song,” Alcala said. Flynn wrote cutting satirical lyrics, but even with the edge of irony, the cast still had a feeling that the material was too rough. “So we decided to have a character come in and say, ‘This is racist,’” Alcala said. “The character is shot immediately.” Rolling with mishaps seems to be part of the FET spirit, to which both Reilly and Alcala alluded. This may have to do with performing just feet away from the audience and inches away from the front row. Even though space was tight for Cowboys Don’t Sing, Alcala says, “It would take something big to move us to another theater.” FET’s sketch and improv groups, Free Pizza and Stranded in Pittsburgh, will perform next on March 30 and 31. FET will put on its second scripted show later this spring, but the club members still have to decide on the selection it will use.
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PAGE 19
MARCH 7, 2012
2011 Season Gives Fordham Basketball Hope For Future Campaign Highlighted by Harvard Upset Victory and Winning Record at Home By NICK CARROLL STAFF WRITER
“I can’t ask for more here,” Head Coach Tom Pecora said following his team’s season-ending loss against No. 21 Temple. “The attendance numbers are up, our donation numbers are up, the talent level is up, a winning record at home, a winning non-conference record — that’s how I’m going to look at this season.” After a season that provided excitement and hope for the future of Fordham basketball with marquee wins over Georgia Tech and Harvard, the concept that re-building a college basketball program is a process is evident following Fordham’s fourth-straight last place finish in the Atlantic 10. “We’re going to continue to move forward,” Pecora said. “This is a work in progress and it’s a project. We can’t forget where we started. We didn’t start in the middle of the A-10. We didn’t start with a team that had won 10 league games the year before. We started with a team that won two games. We have to be that much more patient.” In many ways, the Temple loss shows the Rams just how far they have come, as well as just how far they need to go. While Fordham shot the ball much better than it had all season, the tournament-bound Owls won by 20. Even though the Rams closed to within four in the final minutes of the first half, Temple went on a 6-0 run going into the break, and Fordham never got closer than eight in the second half. The talent might be there for Fordham, but the experience of playing winning basketball is not. “Look at the pace that [Temple’s guards] play at,” Pecora said. “They’re quick but they never hurry. They’re explosive, they play at their pace. They’re very solid with the
PHOTO BY BRIAN KRAKER/THE RAM
Junior Chris Gaston will come back for his final season in the fall of 2012. The power forward was named Second-Team All -tlantic-10 earlier this week. Next season will be the last chance for Gaston to compete in his first A-10 Tournament.
ball, they don’t turn the ball over.” “In my opinion it’s just a matter of us becoming more experienced, a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger and all of that comes with age,” Pecora said following a loss at Saint Louis two weeks ago. Despite the inexperience, it is hard not to remember how close this team was to making the conference tournament, whixh was Pecora’s one goal coming into the season. “As a coach, you always look back at one or two games, and I think this year’s Dayton game at home, our game at UMass - I thought we were in a good position to win on the road at UMass in the first game of the [Atlantic 10 schedule] and the Charlotte game at home,” he said. “If you win those games, it’s not just that win, it’s the mindset that that win puts you in. If you win at UMass, and it’s your first A-10 win of the year, and it’s on the road, it changes
a young team’s mindset throughout the year.” One of the bigger questions next year’s team will face will be how to fill the leadership void left by graduating seniors Kervin Bristol, Alberto Estwick and Ryan Hage. “We need to become more mature as a team,” Pecora said. “Not only with our young guys becoming sophomores and juniors, but also with our veterans understanding what it takes to be good leaders.” Replacing Bristol, who was fifth in the A-10 in rebounding and third in blocked shots, could be even more difficult on the court and Fordham will need to play differently without him. “[Freshman center] Ryan Canty made great strides at the end of the year,” Pecora said. “One of the young men we’re bringing in is a true center, and he’ll help fill that gap as well. Kervin had a great presence defen-
sively and rebounding-wise. Offensively, he’d score five points a game, but he had a defensive presence, and that’s what we need to get back in the middle of the lane. We may play a little bit different defensively without a great shot blocker.” Coming into this year, Fordham faced the challenge of replacing Brenton Butler. They did so with a variety of guards, including freshmen guards Devon McMillan and Bryan Smith, and expected contributions out of freshman guard Jeffrey Short, who redshirted the season after injuries derailed his rookie campaign. With another recruiting class, Pecora expects to improve the team and help replace Bristol. “With our next recruiting class our talent base is going to increase,” he said. “We can’t talk specifically but we have a big forward, a center actually has committed already and
we have a guard who’s committed.” Improvements should not be limited to a recruiting class. This year’s team regularly played three freshmen and three sophomores, with Short waiting in the wings. The team will take two weeks off before lifting four days per week. Then, after the Final Four, the Rams will return to the hardwood. “I think we have to become a more physical team,” Pecora said. “At the end a lot of the young guys kind of hit the wall, which is common.” While there is certainly plenty of room for improvement, (the team won three games against A-10 opponents and only one game away from Rose Hill), Fordham took significant strides forward this season. The team has established a legitimate home-court advantage, good enough to discourage larger programs from playing at Rose Hill, according to Pecora. “The experience of winning on the road has not been there for [the players],” Pecora said. “Forget about winning on the road, just winning. These are the baby steps we’re taking as we build this thing.” The program is already reaping the rewards with better exposure. Last year, Fordham played St. John’s at Madison Square Garden. According to a report in the New York Post, Fordham will take on Princeton in the Barclays Center next season. This season did feature many highs and many important improvements for Fordham. The Rams did beat a ranked opponent in Harvard, had a winning record at Rose Hill and was much more competitive in A-10 play. That said, there is still a long way to go for the A-10’s lastplace team. “As we move forward here we need to keep an eye on the prize in terms of where we want to be,” Pecora said. “We can’t waver.”
Men’s Tennis Improves to 11-2 on the Year Following Trio of Victories By KARA SCAGLIOLA STAFF WRITER
Fordham men’s tennis had a victorious weekend in New England, defeating both the University of Hartford (7-0) and Boston University (5-2). The team began by showing its growing strength in doubles matches, taking all three 8-1. Sophomores Mischa Koran and Kuba Kowalski, freshmen Srikar Alla and J.J. Tauil and freshmen Peder Gram and Max Peara all came away with victories. To set off these doubles victories, Fordham swept Hartford in singles, with five of these matches notably taken in straight sets. Kowalski took his match against Marco Neves (63, 6-3), followed by Alla taking his match with a similar score (6-4, 6-3). In third singles, Koran won in a landslide 6-2, 6-1. Fourth singles almost did not go to the Rams, but Peara took the game to a third set tiebreaker, which he won 10-8. To
wrap it up, Gram took fifth singles (6-1, 6-3) and Puntillo took sixth singles (6-2, 6-1) completing a Ram sweep. After this shutout, the Rams headed to Boston University, a fierce competitor but clearly in this situation, practice made perfect, and the Rams had the tools necessary to succeed. The Rams began by splitting their doubles matches. Peara and Gram won their third doubles match (8-3), but Alla and Tauil lost at second doubles (8-6). Therefore, pressure was on the first doubles team of Kowalski and Koran, who fought to a tiebreaker and came out on top with a 9-8 win — awarding Fordham the doubles point. The Rams won four out of six singles matches, with easy victories going to Alla (6-1, 6-1), Kowalski (6-2, 6-3), Koran (6-3, 6-1) and Peara (6-3, 6-1). A proud Head Coach Cory Hubbard, who had previously mentioned reservations about playing
BU, commented on the team’s wins. “We had a great trip to New England, and the team is feeling great after winning both road matches relatively easily,” Hubbard said. “It’s great to be sitting at 10-2 and our guys are really starting to gain a lot of confidence. We have spent a lot of time working on our doubles in practice, and it has paid off. Winning the doubles point against BU gave our team the momentum that carried over to singles.” Fordham continued its winning ways from the weekend with a victory on Tuesday over the St. Peter’s Peacocks, stretching its winning streak to four matches. The KoranKowalski team proved strong again, leading the way for Fordham, winning 8-2. With the victory, Fordham improves to 11-2. The Rams will face St. John’s on March 9, playing locally at the UTSA National Tennis Center in Queens.
PHOTO BY AARON MAYS/THE RAM
The men’s tennis team has rattled off four wins in a row.
SPORTS
PAGE 20 • THE RAM •MARCH7, 2012
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Baseball Stands at 4-7 Following Beginning of Homestand By CHESTER BAKER SPORTS EDITOR
It was a busy week for the Fordham baseball team as it played host to a slew of opponents in its first homestand of the season. The team’s first stint at Houlihan Park saw Fordham pick up three wins while dropping two against nonconference opponents. In the home opener, the Rams beat the Fairfield Stags behind a brilliant performance from senior pitcher Daniel Munday. The righty went 8.2 innings, falling just one out away from notching a complete game in the 5-2 win. Munday struck out eight hitters, giving up just one earned run. The senior achieved career highs in strikeouts and innings pitched. The long outing was not something Head Coach Kevin Leighton saw coming. “We did not intend to let him go out there for that long,” Leighton said. “But he was cruising so we just let him keep going for as long as he could.” The five runs that the were more than enough for Munday. The bats got going early for the Rams, scoring two times in the first inning. The fireworks started again in the sixth, when senior shortstop Ryan Maghini went yard for his second home run of the season to give Fordham a three-run advantage. Freshman designated hitter David Judisky joined the party, as he launched one deep as well, giving the Rams their fourth run. The two homers in the Fairfield game topped the one home run
hit at Houlihan Park by the 2011 team. With dimensions of 338 feet down both lines and 375 feet in the gaps, Leighton does not expect the long ball to play much of a role in the rest of Fordham’s home games. “With our park being so big home runs are not really something that we are going to rely on,” Leighton said. Following the offensive surge for the Rams, a power outage swept the team, as Quinnipiac University pitching silenced Fordham’s bats in the series. Fordham mustered just three runs in the 16 innings of the doubleheader. Those three runs proved to be enough for a 3-2 win in game one, as freshman pitcher Chris Pike gave up just two runs in his third start of the season. Pike pitched like an ace for the first time all season, following two sub-par outings. “He had much better control with his fastball and he was getting ahead of hitters,” Leighton said. “He needs to pitch that well every time out there if we’re going to be successful. We’re going to rely on him a lot.” Fordham had been no-hit through six innings, but Ryan Maghini broke an unwritten rule and dropped down a bunt to end the no-hit bid. That jump-started the Fordham offense, as the Rams came back from a two run deficit in the eighth by plating three runs of their own. Sophomore first baseman Tim Swatek drove a ball for two runs, tying the game at two. Following Swatek’s big mo-
ment, junior outfielder Ryan Lee drove in a run to give Fordham its first lead of the game. The bullpen held down Quinnipiac in the ninth, notching a 3-2 win for the Rams. In the second game of the doubleheader, senior pitcher Jordan Grangard was the hard-luck loser, dropping to 0-2 on the season, despite a solid outing. The Rams could not get any runs across, tallying only two hits in the 2-0 loss. Grangard pitched a complete game, compressed to just seven innings in the second game of a doubleheader. The righty gave up three hits, and was only touched up for one earned run. “He threw well, and he looked like he had more velocity,” Leighton said. “Some walks hurt him, but it was a good performance.” A crucial play in the game came in the second inning, when Swatek dropped a line drive that allowed an unearned run to score, giving the Bobcats the lead. This is Swatek’s first season at first base, and the adjustment will take time. “He’s still adjusting to first base,” said Leighton. “He’s an athletic guy, so it should come fairly easy to him throughout the season.” Houlihan Park then welcomed the Hofstra Pride for a doubleheader on Sunday. Once again, the Rams could only muster a split, losing the first game 7-2, but bouncing back with a 6-5 win. In the opener, Fordham tied the game at two off the bats of senior outfielder Stephen McSherry
and sophomore designated hitter Brendan Maghini, who both had RBI singles in the bottom of the fourth. The Pride tacked on five more runs, building an insurmountable lead as Fordham went down 1-2-3 in the ninth. Junior Joey Charest took the loss, pitching 6.2 innings while giving up six runs on eight hits. “He had control trouble locating his fastball so he was working behind a lot,” Leighton said. “He needs to get ahead of counts so that he can use his curveball more.” Fordham got back on track in the nightcap against Hofstra, taking a 5-0 lead with junior shortstop Mike Mauri driving in two and Ryan Maghini bringing in one as well. Hofstra got all five back though, to tie the game up in the top of the sixth, chasing sophomore starter John Porter who set a career high with four strikeouts. “I thought he threw the ball well,” Leighton said. “He gave us a bunch of zeroes early which we needed, especially in a seveninning game.” Fordham regained the lead when Brendan Maghini roped a single up the middle to score McSherry from second. Sophomore reliever Rich Anastasi and junior Jeremy Adel combined to finish off the pride in the ninth, with a little help from freshman Matthew Cianci. With two outs and a man on third, Hofstra stroked a pitch to left center, which looked like the
game-tying hit, but Cianci got a good jump on the ball and made a diving grab to end the game, giving the Rams their fourth win of the season. It was not clear from the stands whether or not Cianci had gotten his glove under the ball, or if he trapped it on the turf. The umpire saw it as a clean catch, however, cementing the win for the Rams, despite the complaints of Hofstra fans. Cianci has been struggling at the plate and has yet to register a hit, making his defensive play even more important. Leighton is not sure how much longer Cianci will be at the top of the order before switching things up. “We’re going to keep him there for a little while longer,” Leighton said. “He is still getting his feet wet and hopefully he comes around.” Cianci did have several long atbats, but the Rams will look for more production out of the freshman speedster. Leighton said he expects Cianci to be batting leadoff, while Munday is the probable starter today, as the Rams take on the Great Danes of Albany to close out their homestand at 3:30 p.m. Fordham will then head to Florida for spring break to battle Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University. While visiting FIU, the Rams will go up against Garrett Wittles, who made all kinds of headlines while chasing Robin Ventura’s collegiate hit streak record over the past two seasons.
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Sizing Up The NBA’s Best Point Guards By DJ SIXSMITH STAFF WRITER
After this weekend’s NBA action, it is extremely difficult to say who is the best point guard in the league. This year, the distance between the top-five floor leaders is smaller than Brian Scalabrine’s vertical. You can make a case for four different guys, and that is what I am going to do right now. Let’s start with the reigning MVP, and fourth-best, in my mind, Derrick Rose. The leader of the Chicago Bulls scored 35 points and dished out eight assists in a hard fought 95-91 road victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday. After being labeled as a poor perimeter shooter last year, Rose proved with four 3-pointers that he can extend the defense with his jump shot. I don’t know what was more impressive, Rose’s 35 points or the fact that he had eight assists with his top two targets being Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. The strongest point in Rose’s case as the best PG in the game is that he is the only player the Bulls have. Opposing defenses focus on shutting down Adidas’ $200 million man, but he still averages 23 points and seven dimes a game. Rose is definitely in my top-five, but I cannot say he is the best floor general in the league this year because of his inability to hit timely shots and free throws in the fourth quarter. While Rose and the Bulls are thinking championship or bust this season, one guy who is already wearing a ring is Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo. How in the world can GM Danny Ainge even consider trading Rondo after Sunday’s historic performance against the Knicks? The guy may not have an outside jump shot, but somehow he still put up 18 points while dishing out 20 assists and grabbing 18 rebounds. These types of numbers have not been seen since the days of Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson. Rose may be the MVP of the league, but Rondo is the most valuable player on his team. Without the former Kentucky Wildcat, the Boston Celtics would be nowhere near playoff contention. I give Rondo the slight advantage over Rose because of his triple-threat prowess, but I have an issue with the man calling himself the best point guard in the league. Even though he scored 18 points, Rondo went 7-20
from the floor and struggled mightily from the outside. When Rondo develops an outside jumper he will be the best PG in the league, but he is not there yet. One guy who has made a name for himself with big-time long distance jump shots this year is Chris Paul. CP3 has individually transformed the Los Angeles Clippers from a cellar dweller to one of the best teams in the NBA. Paul could not be happier to be out of New Orleans and in a big market playing competitive basketball. What I love about Paul is that he makes those around him better and yet, at the same time, has the power to take over a contest. Sunday’s win against the Houston Rockets exemplifies this idea, as the former Wake Forest point guard finished the game with 28 points and 10 handouts. When the game was hanging in the balance, it was Paul who stepped up to hit the game-winning shot with just seconds remaining on the clock. The only knock on Paul is that his supporting cast makes it pretty easy for him to be successful. Paul can throw up a lob to Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan, or set up Caron Butler for a three. I would love nothing more than to start a team with Paul but I still think there is one better point guard in the league. That guy scored 57 points on Sunday against the Charlotte Bobcats. Yes, it was the Bobcats, but Deron Williams displayed just why he is the best in the league. Not only did the former Illinois standout score nearly 60, but also he somehow managed to grab six rebounds and have seven assists. Without DWill, the Nets would probably have four, or maybe five wins. Stacking him up against the other candidates, look at Williams’ supporting cast, it is even worse than Rose’s. I would rather have Kim Kardashian than Kris Humphries on the floor. Like Russell Westbrook, Williams is offensively gifted but the difference is that the Nets floor leader is still a pass-first point guard. Rondo doesn’t hold a candle to Williams because DWill is a much larger threat to defenses. Williams has to be guarded beyond the three-point line as opposed to Rondo’s defender, who stands at the free throw line. Deron Williams has the total package, and with a big body he reminds me of a modern day Magic Johnson.
MARCH 7, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 21
Men’s Basketball
Women’s Basketball
Swimming & Diving
Fordham 58- 78 Rhode Island
Fordham 64-61 St. Louis
Atlantic 10 Championships
Fordham FG Gaston 3-11 Bristol 4-7 Frazier 9-24 Estwick 0-5 Smith 2-8 McMillan 5-12 Hage 0-1 Zivkovic 1-4 Samuell 0-1 Dominique 0-4 Gaitley 0-0 Canty 1-2 Team Totals 25-79
3FG 0-0 0-0 2-11 0-3 2-6 0-1 0-0 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0
FT 3-6 0-0 0-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
REB 6 9 4 1 2 5 0 1 0 3 1 2 6 4-23 4-10 40
A 2 0 4 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
PTS 9 8 20 0 6 10 0 3 0 0 0 2
11 58
Fordham
FG
3FG FT REB A PTS
Stoddart 4-6 Gaskin 0-2 Collins 5-13 Peters 7-17 Corning 2-11 Durant 0-0 Tapio 5-9 Team Totals 23-58
2-3 0-1 5-9 2-5 1-6 0-0 0-0
2-2 0-0 0-0 4-5 2-2 0-0 0-0
5 6 3 6 4 3 2 3 10-24 8-9 32
1 4 1 4 3 1 1
12 0 15 20 7 0 10
15 64
Blocks - Peters (2) Steals - Stoddart, Peters, Durant, Collins (2)
Blocks - Frazier, Gaston (4), Bristol (5) Steals - Gaitley, Samuell, Smith, Gaston, Bristol (2), Frazier (2)
Turnovers - Gaskin, Peters, Durant, Corning (2), Stoddart (3), Collins (3), Tapio (3)
Turnovers - McMillan, Samuell (2), Gaston (3)
St Louis
URI FG 3FG FT REB Outerbridge 5-13 1-3 4-7 13 Holton 2-11 0-1 1-1 12 Powell 3-7 1-5 4-4 3 Baron 2-8 0-4 4-5 5 Malhoit 8-11`3-4 2-2 9 Kemp 0-0 0-0 0-0 3 McKoy 4-6 0-0 0-0 7 Harris 1-1 0-0 2-4 0 Shengelia 1-2 0-0 0-2 3 Buchanan 0-2 0-1 0-0 1 Vedder 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 Malksevic 1-2 0-1 2-2 1 Team 4 Totals 27-63 5-19 19-27 58
A 1 0 3 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
PTS 15 5 11 8 21 0 8 4 2 0 0 4
Jones Eggert Gearlds Webb Ball Castleman Johnson Price Mueller Team Totals
FG 3FG FT REB A PTS 3-7 4-7 9-14 2-6 5-9 0-1 1-7 1-3 1-1
0-0 0-0 1-1 0-2 0-0 0-0 1-7 1-1 0-0
3-4 0-0 0-2 0-0 2-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-2
4 7 2 1 6 0 3 0 9 1
1 9 0 8 5 19 0 4 2 12 0 0 4 3 2 3 0 3
26-54 3-11 6-10 33 14 61
Blocks - Mueller
Women 800 Yard Freestyle Relay - 1. Fordham (Ryan, Field, Wessel, Collyer), 7:21.56 Men 800 Yard Freestyle Relay - 1. UMass (Sbordon, Rennspiess, Nichols, Inglis), 6:35.11 6. Fordham (Noguchi, Militti, Yi, Belfanti), 6:48.83 Women 500 Yard Freestyle - 1. Titley (Richmond), 4:53.82 4. Field (Fordham), 4:55.46 Men 500 Yard Freestyle - 1. Lets (St. Bonaventure), 4:24.74 11. Hendrickson (Fordham), 4:36.02 Women 200 Yard IM - 1. Kobelja (Richmond), 1:59.43 2. Collyer (Fordham), 2:02.59 11. Coe (Fordham), 2:07.16 Men 200 Yard IM - 1. Zennedjian (Xavier), 1:48.20 10. Noguchi (Fordham), 1:52.85 Women 50 Yard Freestyle - 1. Ryan (Fordham), 23.18 10. Lyver (Fordham), 23.72
Steals - Malhoit (2), Powell (3)
Turnovers - Johnson (2), Ball (2), Gearlds (3), Jones (3), Mueller (3), Eggert (4)
Men 50 Yard Freestyle - 1. Morris (Fordham), 20.35 15. Mulligan (Fordham), 21.34
Turnovers - Outerbridge, Holton, McKoy, Malhoit (2), Baron (3), Powell (3)
1st Fordham 31 St. Louis 21
Women 1 Meter Diving - 1. Butler (UMass), 260.85 5. Krok (Fordham), 230.45
Blocks - Vedder, Holton, Outerbridge (3)
Fordham URI
1 21 35
2 37 43
F 58 78
Fordham FG Gaston 9-18 Bristol 4-5 Frazier 4-9 Estwick 4-7 McMillan 2-3 Samuell 1-2 Dominique 0-0 Smith 1-3 Canty 1-1 Totals 26-48
3FG 0-0 0-0 0-2 1-3 0-1 0-0 0-0 1-3 0-0 2-9
FT 0-1 0-0 3-3 0-0 0-0 1-2 0-0 2-2 0-0 6-8
REB 9 4 0 3 3 1 2 1 1 25
2nd OT Tot 22 11 64 32 8 61
Fordham 52-63 St. Joseph’s
Fordham 60-80 Temple A PTS 3 18 0 8 4 11 0 9 1 4 4 3 0 0 1 5 0 2 13 60
Fordham
FG
3FG FT
Gaskin Collins Stoddart Peters Corning Durant Tapio Team
2-11 3-15 3-9 3-8 6-14 0-0 2-8
1-6 0-0 1-3 0-1 4-8 0-0 0-0
Totals
REB A PTS
0-1 0-0 4-4 2-4 1-1 0-0 1-2
7 3 12 6 8 1 3 3
0 4 2 1 1 0 0
5 6 11 8 17 0 5
19-65 6-21 8-12 43 8 52
Blocks - None
Blocks - Gaston, McMillan, Canty
Steals - Peters, Tapio, Stoddart (2), Collins (2)
Steals - Frazier, Smith, Gaston (3)
Turnovers - Gaskin, Stoddart, Collins (2), Peters (3), Corning (3)
Turnovers - Estwick, Samuell, McMillan (2), Frazier (2), Bristol (2), Smith (3), Gaston (5)
St. Joe’s
Temple FG 3FG Jefferson 5-8 0-0 Eric 5-9 0-0 Wyatt 3-8 0-1 Fernandez 6-11 3-5 Moore 7-13 1-3 Cummings 0-1 0-0 Lee 1-3 0-0 Dileo 2-2 0-0 Brown 2-4 2-4 Team Totals 31-59 6-13
FT 0-1 1-2 4-4 4-4 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-1 2-2
REB 3 5 5 4 3 0 1 1 1 6 12-15 29
A 2 1 7 1 6 0 0 0 0
PTS 10 11 10 19 16 0 2 4 8
17 80
FG 3FG FT REB A PTS
Van Grinsven 1-3 Cavallo 1-5 Kuester 4-8 Baker 10-16 Prim 5-11 Gotfrida 0-0 Shields 0-2 Parker 1-1 Vila 1-2 Robinson 3-5 Team Totals
0-0 0-0 2-5 0-0 1-1 0-0 0-2 1-1 1-2 0-0
0-0 0-1 0-0 0-1 2-3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 4-5
6 2 4 2 4 1 1 0 5 5 5
0 1 2 2 3 0 3 0 5 0
2 2 10 20 13 0 0 3 3 10
26-53 5-11 6-10 35 16 63
Blocks - Eric
Blocks - Vila, Robinson, Kuester (2)
Steals - Eric, Fernandez, Dileo, Wyatt (2), Jefferson (3), Moore (4)
Steals - Kuester, Baker, Robinson, Prim (2)
Fordham Temple
1 30 40
2 30 40
F 60 80
Turnovers - Cavallo, Shields, Vila, Prim (2), Robinson (2), Van Grinsven (4)
1st Fordham 22 St. Joe’s 34
2nd 30 29
Tot 52 63
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Men 200 Yard Medley Relay - 1. La Salle (Fitzgerald, Szyszko, Carnes, Thomas), 1:29.67 6. Fordham (Yi, McManus, Militti, Morris), 1:32.17
Steals - Eggert, Mueller, Gearlds (2), Ball (3)
14 78
Turnovers - Jefferson, Eric, Dileo, Wyatt (2), Fernandez (2), Moore (2)
Chris Paul has revitalized the Clippers during his first season in Los Angeles.
Women 200 Yard Medley Relay - 1. Richmond (Hines, Kobelja, Smaniotto, Brackett), 1:39.48 2. Fordham (Ryan, Collyer, Bunster, Lyver), 1:42.72
Women 200 Yard Freestyle Relay 1. Richmond (Kobelja, Smaniotto, Vucic, Brackett), 1:32.65 5. Fordham (Lyver, Biagioli, Peschke, Bunster), 1:35.09 Men 200 Yard Freestyle Relay - 1. Fordham (Morris, Militti, Mulligan, Noguchi), 1:21.68 Women 400 Yard IM - 1. Kobelja (Richmond), 4:16.02 7. Warren (Fordham), 4:32.48 Men 400 Yard IM - 1. Zennedjian (Xavier), 3:51.54 5. Kosciuk (Fordham), 4:02.05 8. GrimmettNorris (Fordham), 4:08.25 Women 100 Yard Butterfly - 1. Collyer (Fordham), 54.32 8. Bunster (Fordham), 56.76 Men 100 Yard Butterfly - 1. Noguchi (Fordham), 48.86 6. Morris (Fordham), 49.78 Women 200 Yard Freestyle - 1. Brackett (Richmond), 1:49.75 8. Field (Fordham), 1:52.43 Men 200 Yard Freestyle - 1. Inglis (UMass), 1:36.93 14. Belfanti (Fordham), 1:42.44 Women 100 Yard Breaststroke - 1. Jordan (La Salle), 1:03.02 11. Coe (Fordham), 1:06.91 Men 100 Yard Breaststroke - 1. Szyszeko (La Salle), 56.30 5. Dwyer (Fordham), 56.98 14. McManus (Fordham), 59.02 Women 100 Yard Backstroke - 1. Hines (Richmond), 52.81 2. Ryan (Fordham), 53.88 10. Peschke (Fordham), 57.09 Men 100 Yard Backstroke - 1. Fitzgerald (La Salle), 48.68 12. Yi (Fordham), 51.60 Women 400 Yard Medley Relay - 1. Richmond (Hines, Kobelja, Bunster, Brackett), 3:40.20 2. Fordham (Ryan, Collyer, Bunster, Wessel), 3:44.27. Women 1650 Yard Freestyle - Larkin (La Salle), 16:48.64 3. Field (Fordham), 17:01.78 Men 1650 Yard Freestyle - 1 Inglis (UMass), 15:43.25 8. Hendrickson (Fordham), 16:01.73 Women 200 Yard Backstroke - 1. Hines (Richmond), 1:56.81 2. Ryan (Fordham), 1:57.72 4. Chappell (Fordham), 2:01.42
SPORTS
PAGE 22 • THE RAM •MARCH7,2012
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
CHRISTIAN BEAULIEU
CHRISTIAN BEAULIEU For the past few years, the New Orleans Saints have been many things. They have been a beacon of hope for a recovering city. They have been an opportunity for redemption for cast-off turned Superbowl MVP, Drew Brees. More importantly, they have been world champions and an all-around classy organization. Or a least that was the general consensus among fans until news broke this past week of “Bountygate”. After an investigation, the NFL determined that during the 2009-2011 seasons, the Saints were in violation of the league’s rules regarding putting bounties on opposing players. The league found an implemented system among defensive players and coaches that rewarded players with money for injuring the opposition. The league is examining the matter more thoroughly and while the scale and, scope of the infractions remain unclear, this could be one of the biggest black eyes to the sport in its history. Commissioner Goodell has made it quite clear that he would like to take as much violence out of football as possible. He has a proven to have quick trigger in doling out fines and disciplinary actions for anything that borders on threatening player safety. While receivers were once scared to go over the middle of the field in fear of big hits, defenders now must wait for a receiver to stop being “defenseless” before delivering a tackle, or suffer the inevitable 15-yard penalty. Quarterbacks cannot even be hit in the head, neck or knees without drawing a flag. Kickoffs were altered this past season to limit the amount of returns, because it was determined that too many players got injured. With this league wide movement towards player safety, the discovery of these bounties is even more shocking. While I may not agree completely with the manner in which the Commissioner is altering the game, I am disgusted by these allegations that players would go outside the rules to try to injure opposing players. I advocate using the strongest determinable punishment for those individuals that partook or promoted such actions. Rumors are circulating that former Saints and current Rams Defensive Coordinator, Gregg Williams will be fired for architecting the bounty system. Allegations are coming to light that he implemented a similar system when he coached at Washington, Buffalo and Houston. If these allegations are confirmed, Williams deserves to be fired and blacklisted from NFL teams for constructing such a heinous sys-
tem and putting the livelihoods of others in jeopardy. There is one major stipulation, however, that must be unconverted before anyone could pass fair judgement on this mess. While it is undeniable that the Saints violated the rules by supplying extracontractual bonuses to players, it is unclear how players tried to force injury. Football, however, like any other sport has rules, and if one plays by the rules then injuries are understood as an inevitable byproduct. The body can only handle so much force, but on the flip side, the body can only deliver a certain amount of force. When the force produced by one player is greater than the amount tolerable for another player, injuries will occur. So, by playing football with 100 percent effort, the hope is that you can deliver more of a blow than your opponent can handle. That just sounds like good old fashioned-football to me, in no way in violation of any rules. Were players being paid to illegally hurt other players or just rewarded for big hits that happen to knock someone out of the game? If on an illegal hit where an opposing player suffered an injury the bounty was paid, then the system and actions are completely wrong and are subject to discipline. If it was merely a group of players rewarding each other for big hits that were the product of giving 100 percent, then I can see no problem with that. Colleges do the same thing every week, but instead of money they give helmet stickers. When this first was brought to my attention, I thought of two specific Saints plays. The first was the 2009 NFC Divisional game they played against the Cardinals. Arizona Quarterback Kurt Warner threw an interception and, while attempting to make a tackle, was leveled by a Saints defender. He lay motionless on the ground as the Cardinals training staff tended to him. Warner has quickly become the posterboy for the negative effects of ‘Bountygate”, but the defender was trying to make a tackle and the play was clean and I see no way in which a bounty system would have contributed to his injury. The second play happened last season when the Saints played the Giants on Monday Night Football. Fordham alum and current Saints defensive back, Isa Abdul-Quddus delivered a hard, yet clean hit against Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks. Abdul-Quddus was a rookie trying to make an impression on the team, he delivered a fantastic hit that saved a big play, it seems to me that this is the type of play veterans and coaches would give bonuses for; however, he was flagged and the play was deemed illegal. To me, Abdul-Quddus was an example of giving 100 percent. If players need to be paid extra by veterans to give full effort, I think that is sad, but I don’t think it is a threat to player safety or competitive integrity. Still, the NFL has no place for any player is willing to illegally injure another player for any amount of money.
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Senior Profile: Brian Kownacki By DAN GARTLAND SPORTS EDITOR
Infielder Brian Kownacki is a four-year starter for the Fordham baseball team. Last year, as a junior, he played in each of the Rams’ 55 games, posting a career-high .286 batting average and was named to the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll. In a game against Iona during his sophomore year, Kownacki famously flipped over the opposing catcher to score the game-winning run. The play was nominated for an ESPY award. Kownacki and the Rams are off to a slow start this year with a 4-7 record overall, though they have been better at home (3-2). The Ram: Why did you choose to come to Fordham? BK: Coming out of high school, it was between this and two other schools, and this one offered the best academics, and athletically I thought it was somewhere I could come in and make an impact right away. TR: You will probably be remembered for that famous flip play, but you are actually a very good player: a four-year starter with a career .284 batting average. Would you rather be remembered for that one play or for your whole body of work? BK: I’d like to think my whole body of work I’d be remembered for, but obviously just the name recognition, I’ll be remembered for that one moment, which isn’t bad. Just to be remembered at all would be nice. TR: What kind of goals do the team have for this upcoming season? BK: The goal for the season is not only to make the [Atlantic 10] tournament, but win it. I know my freshman and sophomore [years]we got there, but it was two games and out right away. It was tough just to make it there, and two games and out, it’s really depressing. So this year, with the new head coach and everything, we’re really optimistic but we’ve got some things to work out first.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM
Brian Kownacki broke out of an 0-10 slump with a hit against Hofstra on Sunday, while also making a diving grab on a line drive to third.
TR: What will you remember most about your time at Fordham? BK: There are a lot of memories I have. I could say the flip and everything that happened after. That’s one of the moments I’ll always remember. TR: What are your plans for after graduation? BK: After graduation I’m trying to pursue a career in strength training, so I’ve worked with Ted and Kelly, the strength and conditioning coaches and stuff like
that. I’ll probably have to go to another school for that, though. TR: You’re from Connecticut, I’m from Connecticut, I know how it works. Some people are Red Sox fans, some people are Yankee fans. Who is your favorite team? BK: I’m a Yankee fan. I’m a little closer to the city. I feel like everyone closer to Hartford are Red Sox fans. I haven’t gotten to see them play very much because we play in the same season, but it’s pretty cool being right by the stadium.
TR: Is there any extra motivation to do well in the tournament since it’s being played here? BK: Oh, definitely. We don’t want to come back and see other guys playing on our field for a championship when it’s our field and we should be defending our turf. TR: Do you have any personal goals for the year? BK: I have some personal goals, to hit whatever, or do this and that, but it’s not really as important this year as it is to win and get the program back to where it could be.
PHOTO BY BRIAN KRAKER/THE RAM
Kownacki boasts a .284 lifetime average in four seasons as Ram.
SPORTS
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MARCH 7, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 23
Softball Stumbling Out of the Gate; Record Now Stands at 4-10 By MATT ROSENFELD ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Fordham softball went 1-4 in the Cathedral City Classic in Palm Springs, Calif. In the cross-country trip, Fordham competed against some of the best teams in the nation. On the first day of competition in the Classic, Fordham lost its first game to UC-Davis by a score of 6-2. The game started poorly for the Rams, as senior pitcher Jen Mineau got into trouble early. After walking the leadoff batter, UC-Davis came up with two hits and a sacrifice bunt for an early 2-0 lead. Fordham immediately followed suit by loading the bases in its half of the inning, but nothing came of it when freshman infielder Briana Turgeon came up empty in her at bat. The Rams managed to fight back in the bottom of the third, when junior first baseman Jamie LaBovick hit a solo homerun and senior infielder Nicole Callahan’s RBI single cut the lead in half to 4-2. UC-Davis put the nail in Fordham’s coffin in the sixth, though, when two RBI doubles plated the last two runs of the game, sealing the 6-2 victory for the Aggies. Fordham’s luck did not get any better in its second game of the day, against the Long Beach State 49ers. After managing to get out to a 3-0 lead, the 49ers broke the game open with a three-run, top of the third inning followed by another three-run inning in the fourth. After making the game 9-3, Fordham fought back a little to make it 9-5, only to give up another three runs and eventually lose the game 12-6. The second day of competition brought one of the nation’s best teams to Fordham’s doorstep in the University of California Berkeley Golden Bears. After putting down Cal in the first, Mineau gave up a two out walk, followed by a pair of singles that plated the first run of the game, giving Cal a 1-0 lead. The Rams stranded the tying run in scoring position in the third, and Cal capitalized, extending its lead in the fourth on a two-run Golden Bear homerun from Danielle Henderson to push the score to 3-0. Fordham’s biggest threat came in the bottom of the fifth, when a single by junior outfielder Jessica Crowley gave the Rams two on with two outs. Threatening to put a dent into the Golden Bears’ lead, Head Coach Bridget Orchard sent Jo Krasnisky to pinch hit. Krasnisky ripped a grounder in the infield, only for Turgeon to be called out on base-runner interference, ending the Rams’ rally. Cal added two late runs to finish the shutout, 5-0. The last day of play gave Fordham two more tough opponents. First up was the 16th ranked Arizona Wildcats, who narrowly defeated the Rams 3-2 in a close contest. Mineau was pitching tremendously, giving up just one run in the third and two in the fifth, escaping what could have been a disastrous inning.
Fordham got onto the scoreboard in the sixth when three singles loaded the bases to start off the inning. The Rams managed to plate two of those base runners with an RBI single from sophomore catcher Gabby Luety and an RBI walk from Turgeon. Fordham trailed Arizona 3-2 after six innings. That is where the scoring would end, however, as Fordham could not manage to do anything in the last inning. “Our best game was definitely against Arizona,” Orchard said. “We lost, but I think we definitely outplayed them. I think we could have came away with a win there, which is promising. If we had played as well as we did against Arizona in the first two games, we could have had a couple wins.” Fordham finally put a game on the left side of the column in its last contest of the competition, defeating the California State University of Fullerton Titans for the second time in two years, 3-1. “We still got a ways to go, but we played better and better in each game [in the tournament],” Orchard said. “We have a lot of players fighting for spots, working hard, and playing the competition we just did help develop our team. We’re not going to see the pitching like we did [in California] when we start conference play.” This past weekend, Fordham again went 1-4, this time in the 2012 Citrus Classic in Orlando, Florida. Its lone win came against Longwood, while the Rams fell to ranked opponents UCLA and North Carolina, and also dropped games to Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. In the first day of competition, Fordham gained a 1-0 lead over Virginia Tech in the top of the fourth with a RBI single from freshman Paige Ortiz. Unfortunately for the Rams, that lead would not last long as the Hokies gained the lead in the bottom of the same inning with two runs, and held on to win 5-1. Later that day, UCLA jumped on senior pitcher Jen Mineau quickly, gaining a 2-0 lead in the first. Fordham managed to put a couple of runs on the board in the sixth, but never came closer than five runs in a 9-3 loss. On the second day of the tournament, Fordham fell behind to the North Carolina Tar Heels 3-0 after four. Fordham fought back in the sixth and put two runs on the board to pull within one run of the Tar Heels. After quickly retiring North Carolina in the seventh, Fordham managed to get the tying run on base, but that is where she stayed as the Rams fell 3-2. Fordham got its one and only win in the second game of the day, against Longwood. In a dominant performance by Mineau, the Rams handily took care of the Lancers 5-1. In its last game of the tournament, Fordham faced the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, losing 3-1. Fordham will play next in the Under Armour Classic in Clearwater, Fla. from March 9-13.
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA
Ryan Braun, the 2011 National League Most Valuable Player, tested positive for unusually high levels of testosterone.
By DAN GARTLAND SPORTS EDITOR
Why isn’t there more outrage over Ryan Braun’s positive drug test? It was announced in December that Braun, the 2011 National League MVP, had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. This made for an awkward situation when Braun was forced to accept his MVP award under the cloud of the scandal. Major League Baseball didn’t announce any disciplinary action because Braun said he would file an appeal. Last week, the shocking news came down that Braun’s appeal had been successful, and he would not be suspended. It is important to note, however, that Braun and his representatives never disputed the positive test result, but rather some element of the sample collection process. To be clear, the results of Braun’s test weren’t deemed inaccurate. Instead, his lawyers found a procedural loophole. So, it’s safe to assume that Braun’s test results are legitimate and he’s guilty of juicing. Braun’s sample was collected on a Saturday, and the FedEx store was closed, so the sample couldn’t be immediately shipped to the testing facility. The collector then took the sample home and refrigerated it (leading to the collector’s assertion that, “My basement office is sufficiently cool to store urine samples”). Testing policy indicates that the sample should be shipped as soon as possible, which two out of three arbitrators determined was
not true in this case. Braun’s positive test should be earth-shattering. He’s the first true superstar to test positive under baseball’s stricter policy, which was implemented for the 2006 season. Manny Ramirez tested positive twice, but that was hardly surprising. Ramirez was a holdover from the dark ages of baseball’s so-called “steroid era” and an aging star looking to gain any sort of competitive edge to stay in the league. Braun, on the other hand, is one of the game’s bright young stars. He was subjected to testing during his time in the minors as well as in all five of his major league seasons. His tall, slender frame doesn’t look like that of the typical muscle-bound, steroid-using slugger. The 2005 testing program was supposed to cleanse the game of this scourge. More stringent testing was implemented in the minors even before that. “Our minor league testing program is in its ninth year,” MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said in 2009. “And that means all the great young players in baseball, from Ryan Howard to Ryan Braun, have all been tested for nine years. There’s a system in place, and it’s working. We know we have the toughest testing program in major league sports.” That same year Braun was quoted as saying, “I would never do it because if I took steroids, I would hit 60 or 70 home runs.” Oops. It looks like Selig was wrong, as was Braun (he only had 33 home runs last season). The good news is that PED use
has certainly declined league-wide as of late. Offensive statistics have been returning to more earthly levels in recent years, which would indicate a decrease in PED abuse across the league. Indeed, the majority of players who were active during the height of the steroid era are now retired and replaced by players who were brought up under the testing program that has been in place in the minors since 2000. The game is cleaner, if not entirely clean. With the Braun scandal, PEDs are once again in the public conscience. It has revealed that the game is not free of the disgrace that threatened the game’s integrity not so long ago, and that PEDs are not just a solution for fringe players looking to stay on the right side of the cut line. All of this has been lost on many people who were quick to declare Braun innocent after his successful appeal. There has been a tendency to exonerate Braun and ignore the serious implications of a positive PED test by the National League’s reigning MVP. Again, the results of the test were not thrown out; the arbitrator did not overturn the suspension because the test was inaccurate. We are left to believe that Braun’s test results were accurate but he escaped on a formality. Opening Day is only a few weeks away. This issue shouldn’t mar the celebration of a new baseball season, nor should it loom like a dark cloud over this season. It should, however, serve to remind us that the game is not entirely clean, not just yet.
Upcoming Varsity Schedule CAPS=HOME lowercase=away Men’s Tennis
Thursday March 8
Friday March 9
Saturday March 10
at St. John’s 12 p.m.
Sunday March 11
Monday March 12
Tuesday March 13
LA SALLE 1 p.m. at Florida Int’l 6 p.m
at Florida Int’l 1 p.m
at Florida Atlantic 6 p.m
Baseball
at Florida Int’l 7 p.m
Softball
Under Armour Showcase Tournament at Clearwater, Fla.
Women’s Tennis
Wednesday March 14
GWU 6 p.m.
vs. Seton Hall 7 p.m. Orlando, Fla.
MARCH 7, 2012
PAGE 24
Men’s Basketball Finishes Season Last in Atlantic 10 Fordham Ends Season with Consecutive 20-Point Losses; Miss Conference Tournamnet By ERIK PEDERSEN STAFF WRITER
The Rams concluded their season last week with a pair of 20-point losses, falling 78-58 on the road against University of Rhode Island and 8060 to No. 23 Temple on Senior Day at the Rose Hill Gym. Fordham finished with a 10-19 record, 3-13 in the Atlantic 10. The team’s loss to Rhode Island ensured that it would finish last in the Conference for a fourth consecutive season. Fordham entered the week needing two wins of its own as well as two losses from George Washington to qualify for the Conference tournament. The Rams defeated Rhode Island on a late 3-pointer from senior guard Alberto Estwick back in January, but they quickly fell behind 16-2 in Wednesday’s rematch and were never able to get the game within a single-digit margin. “You can’t dig yourself out of a hole like that,” Head Coach Tom Pecora said. “Not only are you digging yourself out of a hole pointswise, but it’s been established in the officials’ eyes who’s playing harder, who’s playing more physical. That makes it harder to get back into the game with the whistle as well. [Rhode Island] just came out, and they wanted to win the game more.” Coming off a dominating 35point, 16-rebound performance against LaSalle, junior forward Chris Gaston could not replicate his success on the road. Gaston finished with nine points, going 3 of 11 from the field, with six rebounds. “Gaston, as exceptional as he was in the game before, was as poor on the road,” Pecora said. “He didn’t respond to the physicality of the game. That is what happens in certain
matchups.” As a team, Fordham shot only 31.6 percent from the field and 40 percent from the free-throw line. Rhode Island put the game away by shooting 59.3 percent in the second half, while also generating 17 more free-throw attempts than Fordham. “I was on the officials about it,” Pecora said. “I wasn’t pleased with that, but when teams jump on you early, the officials think that they’re playing harder and in turn they can just continue to be more and more physical.” After seeing a diminished role on offense for much of the last month, sophomore guard Branden Frazier led the Rams with 20 points on 9 of 24 from the field. Senior center Kervin Bristol added eight points, nine rebounds and five blocks. With the loss, Fordham was officially eliminated from contention for the Conference tournament. The Rams also clinched a third consecutive winless season on the road in the Conference. “At home you can win on adrenaline,” Pecora said. “On the road, you’ve got to win with toughness, character and veteran leadership, and it wasn’t there. That’s us on the road. We still have a long way to go, and next year one of our goals will be to turn the corner on the road, start being a team that’s capable of winning on the road.” Against nationally-ranked Temple, Fordham again fell behind early, as the Owls scored the first nine points of the game to take control from the onset. Fordham never led in either game last week. The Rams shot the ball much better than they had previously, shooting 54.2 percent from the field, the first time all season that the team has shot over 50 percent in a game.
PHOTO BY BRIAN KRAKER/THE RAM
Kervin Bristol finished his Fordham career in the 80-60 loss against Temple.
Temple forced 16 turnovers, however, which led to 28 Owl points and prevented the Rams from taking advantage of their rare shooting success. “The turnovers hurt us,” Pecora said. “You look at the turnover line, you’re not going to beat a top-25 team turning the ball over 16 times and only having three offensive rebounds. That’s an effort stat, and they really kind of manhandled us there.” After Temple’s hot start, Fordham recovered to keep the game competitive in the first half. A 3-point play from Frazier with 1:27 left cut the
Owl lead to 34-30. The Rams would never get closer, as Temple ended the half on a 6-0 run and gradually pulled away after the break. Senior guard Juan Fernandez led Temple with 19 points, while senior guard Ramone Moore added 16. “Fernandez is just a great player,” Pecora said. “I’ve loved him for four years. He’s got good size and toughness. He’s as crafty as they come. When you have the ball in the hands of a player like that, you’re not going to have very many empty trips.” The Owls, who are rumored to be considering moving to the Big East next year, clinched their first outright
regular season conference championship since 1999-00. Temple won 13 of its last 14 games to finish 24-6 (13-3 in the A-10). “[The players] have come together and really done a very good job,” Temple Head Coach Fran Dunphy said. “As you look at the big picture, for us to be No. 1 in the Atlantic 10, a very competitive Atlantic 10, it’s a terrific accomplishment for us.” Gaston led the Rams with 18 points and nine rebounds. Frazier was the only other Ram to finish in double-digits, with 11 points and four assists. The game was the last at Fordham for Bristol, Estwick and senior guard Ryan Hage. Bristol, who was limited to 25 minutes due to early foul trouble, managed eight points and four rebounds. He leaves Fordham with 122 career blocks, fourth in Fordham history, despite only playing two seasons at the school. Estwick, a starter for most of his career at Fordham, added nine points in his final game. Gaston will be the only senior next year, and Pecora thinks the team could struggle to replace the departing veteran leadership. “It’s going to be an issue,” Pecora said. “It really is. The seniors, they did a good job and some of these young guys are going to have to make that transformation and step up and become leaders.” While the team will have the next two weeks off before beginning offseason weightlifting, Pecora will be traveling to Florida to continue recruiting for next season. He does not believe the school will have any issues replacing its departing seniors. “We’re going to get good players to come here,” Pecora said. “It’s Fordham.”
Women’s Basketball Bounced in Opening Round of A-10 Tourney By MATT ROSENFELD
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The Fordham women’s basketball team completed another season this past Friday as it fell to St. Joseph’s 63-52 in the first round of the Atlantic 10 tournament. It seemed a deceptively successful 2011-12 season for the Rams, although a final record of 12-18 (3-11 in conference) might suggest otherwise. On Feb. 26, Fordham was facing St. Louis at home in a game it needed to win for the last spot in the A-10 tournament. Not only was a Rams’ victory necessary, but UMass also needed to fall to Xavier on the same day for the Rams to get that coveted postseason spot. What seemed like a rout, with Fordham holding an 18-point lead early in the second half, turned out to be a heated contest. The Bilikens fought back and managed to force overtime with a late layup from senior Janisha Gearlds, making Fordham work for a tournament berth. Senior guard Becky Peters came through on Senior Day with a
layup to give the Rams a one-point lead with 45 seconds remaining. Peters then hit two free throws with 16 seconds left to push the Rams’ lead up to three, where the score would stay. Peters finished with 20 points and Fordham did its job with a 64-61 victory. It turned out to be a lucky day for the Rams, when UMass fell to Xavier 70-61, securing the Rams’ place in the postseason. “It was a great accomplishment [to make the A-10 tournament]” Coach Stephanie Gaitley said. “We had a big lead, we let it get away, but we found a way to figure it out in the end, and we were able to accomplish one of our team goals.” In the A-10 tounament, Fordham came face to face with St. Joseph’s, to which the Rams had lost in overtime in the regular season. Fordham hung close throughout most of the first half, but St. Joseph’s ended the first half on a 17-7 run. Things would only get worse as the Hawks extended the lead to 16 at the start of the second half. Fordham would only get as close as nine points after that, as
St. Joseph’s cruised to an 11-point victory that ended Fordham’s season. “I think experience comes into play.” Coach Gaitley said. “They start four seniors and a junior that have been in that position before. They were also hosting the tournament, so familiarity also helps. We were the 12th seed and they were the fifth, I was proud of our kids. We fought hard until the end, we won the second half, but we just got into too much of a hole early.” Fordham will only lose one player, 1,000-point scorer Becky Peters. It also has an ESPN top100 recruit coming to the team in Samantha Clark. Monmouth transfer Erin Rooney will try to help the Rams, in addition to Maura Strickland, who is waiting to hear back on her appeal to play. “I think the future is very bright,” Coach Gaitley said. “We have three players coming in that can push for starting spots. That helps our depth as well as our experience. We have Arielle Collins coming back as a senior, and she will be an important leader for us.”
PHOTO BY BRIAN KRAKER/THE RAM
Senior Becky Peters had 20 points in the crucial victory over Saint Louis.
SPRING PREVIEW
PAGE 2 • THE RAM • MARCH 7, 2012
theramonline.com
Baseball Begins First Season Under Leighton By CHESTER BAKER SPORTS EDITOR
This season marks the beginning of a new era of Fordham baseball, as Kevin Leighton takes over as head coach. He will replace Nick Restaino, who was relieved of his duties over the summer following 31-23-1 record in the 2011 season. Leighton decided to come to Fordham due to the historic tradition of the program and its overall strength. “Manhattan is good, but here is better,” Leighton said. “The facilities are much nicer here, and we can attract a lot more guys with these kinds of assets.” The facilities that lured Leighton away did not do much to impress the coaches of the Atlantic 10, who tabbed Fordham to finish seventh in the conference this season. Leighton, however, does not seem too worried about what the polls say about his team. “Of course, we would like to have been selected in the top four,” Leighton said. “But it’s not the preseason that matters, it’s the regular season. And hopefully we’ll be able to finish higher than where people think we will.” Leighton does not plan on backing down from the pressures of taking over the winningest program in NCAA history; Fordham is the only school in the country with over 4,000 victories. “There is some pressure but I think pressure is good, and taking over the winningest program is exciting,” Leighton said. “And hopefully we can add to those wins and keep the gap from getting any closer.” Not that Leighton really has to worry about the second place team, Texas, getting very close to the Rams. The Longhorns trail Fordham’s win total by more than 800 victories. Something that the new coach will have to worry
about is the team’s young pitching staff and replacing some of the best players the program has seen after their graduation last May. Sophomore Chris Pike will be the ace of the rotation, coming into this season after a sublime freshman campaign. Pike led the team in wins, complete games, innings pitched and strikeouts last season. For his efforts, Pike was named to the Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American Team by Collegiate Baseball. This would come as a surprise to anyone who sees the righty on campus, as he has the stature of a high school student. “He really does look like he is in high school sometimes,” Leighton said. “But he is a competitor on the mound. He has an above-average curveball, and an above average change-up. So, when he mixes those with his fastball, he can be very good.” Other than Pike, Fordham enters the season without much stability on the mound. The Rams have the tough task of replacing Max Krakowiak, who was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in last years’ Amateur Draft. In total, the Rams lost a total of 180 innings on the mound through graduation. Junior Joseph Charest will be the No. 2 starter in the beginning months. “Charest is someone that I think is really going to step up and be able to get the job done for us,” Leighton said. Junior Ryan Munday pitched well against Fairfield earlier this week, and he is certainly someone on whom the Rams could rely later in the season. Senior Jordan Grangard has been given starts on the rubber, but has not gone late into games. Fordham came into the season without a true No. 3 starter, and that is something that the coaches will have to address in the coming weeks. In the bullpen, the Rams will turn to junior Rich
Anastasi, who appeared in a teamhigh 22 games last season. On the offensive side of the ball, Fordham will need to go on with life without Nick Martinez, who was drafted by the Texas Rangers. The Rams will turn to junior outfielder Ryan Lee and senior third baseman Brian Kownacki. “Those are two guys that we will need to perform well for us,” Leighton said. Lee hit .303, starting 50 games in the outfield. The junior was named Atlantic 10 player of the week in March last season. Kownacki played in all 55 games for the Rams last season, hitting .286. Kownacki was also Fordham’s best base stealer, snagging 23 bags in 28 attempts. Senior shortstop Ryan Maghini
and junior infielder Mike Mauri also look to play prominent roles in the offense this season, and have been off to hot starts for the Rams thus far. A key addition this season is Zach Small, a catcher entering his first season with the Rams. Small came to Rose Hill following three seasons with Johns Hopkins, where he hit .329 and knocked out 14 home runs. “He has a lot of potential offensively,” Leighton said. “He is definitely going to be a nice asset for us throughout the season.” The Rams are already underway in the season, and have gotten off to a decent start. The team is currently 3-6 with wins over Campbell, Fairfield and Quinnipiac. Fordham started off the season
with two road trips down to North Carolina. The club is set to travel to Florida, where it will take on Florida International and Florida Atlantic. Along with their trip to the Sunshine State, the Rams will make the short ride to Seton Hall, Leighton’s alma mater, where he helped lead the Pirates to a Big East Championship in 2001. Fordham will play three games in the Seton Hall Strikeout Cancer Tournament. “It will be nice to go home,” Leighton said. “It will be sweet to coach on the same field that I played on and hopefully we can win some games there.” Conference ball will start on March 23 when the Rams take on the University of Massachusetts in the Bronx.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM
The Fordham baseball team has struggled in the early going this season, but the Rams believe they can turn it around.
Women’s Tennis Looks to Rebound After Rough 2011 By KENNY DEJOHN STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY AARON MAYS/THE RAM
The women’s tennis team’s home opener is March 24 against St. Joseph’s.
Fordham women’s tennis suffered through a very tough 3-14 record last season. Its three wins came from Manhattan College, Vassar College and Saint Joseph’s College. The team has several players returning from last season, all of whom hope to greatly improve upon the team’s poor showing. Senior Bethany Boyle, sophomore Angelika Dabu, sophomore Hanna Fritzinger, junior Taylor Holt and senior Sarah Tremaine will all be back for the upcoming 2012 spring season. The spring season will be the last for Boyle and Tremaine, and there is no doubt that each player will fight her heart out to go out on top. There should be improvement across the board this season, especially considering the talent that the team’s three freshmen have displayed. Sarah Ali, Bella Genkina and Julie Leong should prove to be huge parts of the team’s successes during the season. The most important addition to
the team, however, may be junior Amy Simidian, a transfer from Penn State. Simidian played two seasons with the Nittany Lions primarily as the No. 2 singles player. She was also one of the team’s top doubles players. In her Penn State career, she totaled 26 singles wins and 16 doubles wins. Simidian is a very talented player. She posted victories against ranked opponents Marshall and California (Pa.) as a sophomore, and made it to the round of 16 at the Wilson/ ITA Atlantic Regional as a freshman. Simidian won the New Jersey State Singles Championship in 2008, which made her a five-star recruit, ranked 34th on tennisrecruiting.net. There is no doubt that she will be extremely important to the team’s successes in the spring. Head Coach Bette-Ann Ligouri is confident in her team’s abilities heading into the spring. When asked how her team could improve, she simply stated, “It all comes down to practice.” The spring season looks especially bright for the Rams, as they
went 4-0 during the winter season. Their four wins came against Manhattan College (7-0), NJIT (5-2), the University of Rhode Island (52) and the University of Massachusetts (5-2). There is much optimism around the team, due to the dominance displayed by the Rams in each of their four matches and due to the fact that they have already eclipsed the team’s number of wins from the previous season. The Rams look to be a competitive team by the time the Atlantic 10 Championships roll around. Looking forward, the team has big conference matches versus George Washington at home and at Temple in Philadelphia. The team could really boost its ranking in the A-10 if it beats those teams, but it should make the tournament regardless. The Fordham women’s tennis team is poised to be an exciting team to watch this spring, with a real possibility of making a deep run into the A-10 Championships. The Rams are a team to look out for this season.
SPRING PREVIEW
theramonline.com
MARCH 7, 2012• THE RAM • PAGE 3
Men’s Tennis Has High Expectations for 2012 By KARA SCAGLIOLA STAFF WRITER
After an undefeated fall season, the Fordham men’s tennis team has had somewhat of a comeback to make, after dropping two of its early spring matches to Cornell and Columbia. After the loss to #48 Cornell (the first ranked team the Rams faced) they have rallied back and now sit with a record of 10-2, with a very real chance of prevailing in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships. But what do they have to do to get there? Head Coach Cory Hubbard is optimistic. “Even though we have had a huge turnaround this season, our goals have not been accomplished,” he said. “I think we have established a new respect and reputation for our program, and teams across the country now see Fordham as a legitimate team and a program with potential to be nationally ranked in the next few years. Our season will soon switch to outdoors, which will be nice to allow our guys to play home matches and get ready for the A-10 Conference.” Hubbard has high expectations for the team this season. “Coming into the season, we talked about going worst to first and winning the Conference and making the NCAA tournament,” he said. “At this point, I think my
team realizes this is definitely possible. In the beginning, I think we said these are our goals, but not sure if they were attainable. Each win this season has given us the confidence and the belief that we can win A-10s.” He continues to recognize that this will be a struggle. “However, our season is about to get a lot tougher as we start to play a lot of very good teams,” Hubbard said. “March 9, we will play St. John’s, who I believe is a top-50 team, so it will be a great opportunity for our team to get the biggest win in school history. Also, our matches against Temple and GW will determine our seeding in the conference tournament, so those are the biggest matches in terms of reaching our goals.” While the Rams have dominated the singles matches for most of the year — especially with strong leadership by sophomores Mischa Koran and Kuba Kowalski, who have been essentially unbeatable in singles play — they have struggled in the doubles, though they have improved of late. With 10 wins under their belt for the year, an impressive six of those wins being shutouts, the Rams have momentum for the remaining 11 matches of the regular season, with hopes of an A-10 win. After facing St. Peter’s in their
next match, the Rams will face their second ranked opponent, St. John’s (No. 75), in the Manhattan Cup. A win here would definitely put the Rams on the board as a contender for the championship. Beyond this, the match against Temple on March 21 as well as the match on March 31 (also right before the Conference tournament) at George Washington will be vital, as these matches will determine seeding for the Championships. GW is the defending champ,
and a win against them may give the Rams a leg up, both physically and mentally, in the conference. The team has shown enormous improvement and endurance, and a good seed for the tournament will add to the momentum the Rams have been gaining this year — momentum unprecedented by any other Fordham men’s tennis team in history. As the spring season gets underway and the weather warms up, the team will also be met with another
pleasant advantage — being able to play and practice on Fordham’s outdoor tennis facilities. This will cut out traveling time, extra exhaustion and allot the team more efficient practices to continue working on strategies that have evidently been working well to get the men back on track for strong wins in the spring season. With this home court advantage coming back into play, the Rams will surely be more confident and ready to go after a title this season.
PHOTO BY AARON MAYS/THE RAM
The men’s tennis team is expected to be a contender in the A-10 this year, its second under Head Coach Cory Hubbard.
Golf Team Set to Tee Women’s Rowing Looks to Rebound In 2012 After Lackluster Fall Season Off 2012 Season By MICHAEL BROCCOLO STAFF WRITER
Starting next week, Fordham golf is back in action for the spring season. The team has not been in action since its season-closing victory at the Farleigh Dickinson University Invitational in October. Unofficially, this season will kick off with the team’s training trip to Dublin, Ireland during spring break. They will spend a week there playing different courses in the area in preparation for the tournaments ahead. For senior captain Devon O’Rourke, this is a significant start to the season. “We’re heading to Ireland for spring break and we’re all very excited,” O’Rourke said. “Its going to be tough weather but we can’t wait to experience that style of golf. We want to cherish this opportunity then worry about our games after the trip.” O’Rourke is one of two seniors left on the 2012 roster, the other being Nik Andersen. Both are fouryear players for Fordham golf. O’Rourke has some personal goals for his final season. “Personally, I would really like to play well at the [Atlantic] 10s,” he said. “I haven’t really been able to do that my first three attempts but I think with the tournament course change I could fare better this time around.” O’Rourke finished tied for 33rd in last year’s A-10s, and Fordham, as a team, finished seventh out of 11 teams in total. This fall season,
despite the Rams’ victory at the end, consisted of some sporadic struggles. Prior to the win at FDU at the end of this fall, the Rams finished fifth out of eight teams at the Lehigh Invitational and fifth out of 15 at the Classic at Shelter Harbor. Heading into this season, O’Rourke reflects on this past season with mixed reviews. “When I look back on the fall I think that we didn’t get the best out of our abilities,” he said. “It wasn’t awful by any means. Finishing with a win was awesome, and we plan on carrying that moment into this spring.” Perhaps, the warm winter and trip to Ireland will lead to some exciting results for Fordham golf this spring season. O’Rourke says the team is taking basic strategic steps alongside a little bit of confidence. “We’re hoping to play like we are capable of, it’s pretty much as simple as that,” he said. “We think we can compete in tournaments, and we hope to have a better A-10 Conference Championship performance this year.” In the meantime, the Rams will work the kinks out in Ireland and return to start their season after spring break. The team’s first tournament play will kick off at Talamore Country Club in Ambler, Pa., with the La Salle Spring Invitational. This year’s Atlantic 10 Championships are April 27-29 at Heron Bay Golf Club in Coral Springs, Fla.
By VINCE CAREY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Despite a fairly disappointing fall season, the Fordham women’s crew team looks forward to improvement for a strong spring season. Losing five Varsity-8 rowers from the previous season has challenged the squad. “It felt like we had to start building the team all over again,” graduate student Cece Egraz, the women’s team captain, said. Although the setbacks proved problematic for the women’s varsity-8, the recruited freshmen rowers rowed well consistently throughout the fall season. It placed third and second respectively at the Head of the Housatonic and the Head of the Connecticut just behind UMass Amherst, and it pulled off a strong first place finish at the New Bedford
Popes Island Regatta. The talented freshman recruits, some hailing from as far away as New Zealand and Australia, will prove vital to a successful spring season. Having concluded the fall season and a training trip in Miami over winter break, the team has been training hard throughout the winter months. Although the squad is smaller than in previous years, it is determined to push its limits for the spring. According to Head Coach Ted Bonanno, the strong effort by the squad bodes well for the upcoming spring races, including the Murphy Cup and the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta. “The returning V8 girls have a much stronger boat. Their [training] scores clearly indicate that,” Head Coach Ted Bonanno said. Currently, the squad has four women looking to break 7:10 on
their 2k erg tests and five looking to hit 7:20 (the school record is 7:06). Both the men’s and women’s crews will be heading to Williamsburg, Va. over spring break for a second training trip and scrimmage against the College of William and Mary. Egraz echoed the team’s optimism. “I strongly believe that if we continue to prepare the way that we’re preparing, and that we race with passion, we’ll be able to turn our strong competitive spirit into big success this coming spring,” she said. At the end of the month, the women’s varsity-8 team will fly out to California for the San Diego Crew Classic regatta, where it will race against UCLA, Oregon State and other west coast colleges.
PHOTO BY VINCE CAREY/THE RAM
The Fordham rowing team will begin its season over spring break in Williamsburg, Virginia at William & Mary University.
SPRING PREVIEW
PAGE 4 • THE RAM • MARCH 7, 2012
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Softball Looks to Repeat as A-10 Champs
PHOTO BY AARON MAYS/THE RAM
The Fordham softball team will have to turn it around to repeat as A-10 Champs.
By MATT ROSENFELD ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The Fordham softball team is one of the most successful programs in the athletic department, and it hopes to continue its successes this year as it kicks off its 2012 season. The Rams are coming off one of the most successful years in the program’s history. Fordham had a 42-19 record, 16-4 in the Atlantic 10, and won its conference, earning a spot in the NCAA tournament. In the tournament, Fordham went 1-2 and was eliminated in the regionals, suffering a heartbreaking 16-inning loss to Penn State. The Rams are looking to repeat those feats and make another NCAA appearance this year with a younger team and a tougher schedule. “I think we’re just as good this year,” Head Coach Bridget Orchard said. “I just don’t think we’re as good early on because we have a
lot of new players. Once the freshmen and all the new players get comfortable, I think we’re going to get better, possibly better than last year.” Fordham has gotten off to a slow start in the early tournaments. After starting the year 2-2 in the Pirate Clash in North Carolina, Fordham has played two tournaments, 10 games in total, and has a record of 2-8. “It’s taking a little bit longer to hit our stride,” Orchard said. “I kind of knew in the beginning we were going to take our lumps. Our schedule has been and still is brutal to start the season. I think at the end, though, we’ll be playing great.” Fordham’s young team will look to seniors Nicole Callahan and Jen Mineau for leadership this season. Callahan, an infielder playing outfield so far this season, had a breakout year in 2011. She led the team in batting and gave a terrific effort,
going 4-7 in last year’s NCAA tournament. She is already living up to expectations, hitting the cover off the ball in Fordham’s early-season tournaments. Jen Mineau, a pitcher and team captain, is looking to cap off her already spectacular Fordham career with another solid season. She was named a second team ESPN Preseason All-American this year and is coming off a season filled with honors, including two no-hitters and being named to the All-Atlantic 10 first team. “We are really looking for [Callahan and Mineau] to be leaders for us this year,” Orchard said. “Callahan is playing awesome, she’s hitting great for us right now, and we just hope our other people can follow along. Jen [Mineau] is true to herself, keeping us in ball games and pitching well.” Fordham will need some of its younger players to step up in order to have another banner year. “It’s a matter of one or two juniors stepping up to give us that extra boost we need,” Orchard said. “Jamie Labovick is doing a great job at first base, as well as Chelsea Palumbo at shortstop. They are starting to take over the leadership role which they need to do.” Fordham’s schedule this year is another tough one. Already having played four ranked teams, one of which, California Berkeley, is a top-5 team in the nation, Fordham looks to prepare itself for what it could potentially face in the NCAA tournament and also give itself a better opportunity to make the tournament. Later in the season, Fordham will host the (current) No. 1 team in the nation: the Alabama Crimson Tide. When the two teams met last year, the Crimson Tide took
the victory 3-1. “Those games [against highly ranked teams] are RPI boosters,” Coach Orchard said. “We’re hoping towards the end, if we need to get an at-large bid [into the NCAA tournament], those games will help out. When it comes down to the end of the Atlantic 10 schedule, we think it will be us and UMass, and if we lose that, we’re going to need an at-large, those games will hopefully help us get that bid.” There are other benefits of seeing good opposition early in the year. The pitching from teams like Alabama is far superior to Fordham’s Atlantic 10 competition. The Rams
are hoping that being battle-tested will help them not just in Atlantic 10 play, but possible postseason play as well. “Last year, we hadn’t faced that caliber of play since way earlier in the year,” Orchard said. “I think that hurt us. So, scheduling a tough opponent late in the season will hopefully help us if we were to make the NCAA Regionals again this year.” Fordham currently has a record of 4-10. The Rams’ first home game at the newly-renovated Bahoshy field is on March 20 against St. John’s. The conference schedule will begin on March 23 at La Salle.
PHOTO BY AARON MAYS/THE RAM
Junior pitcher and infielder Jamie LaBovick has played well thus far this year.
Track and Field Looks to Carry Indoor Success Outdoors By DAN GARTLAND SPORTS EDITOR
PHOTO BY AARON MAYS/THE RAM
Junior sprinter Sean Atkinson is the school record holder in the 500-meters.
For runners, there is no offseason. With cross country in the fall, the indoor season in the winter and outdoor competition in the spring, track and field is a yearround sport. Later this month, the Fordham track and field team will compete in the GMU Invitational at George Mason University, marking the beginning of the spring season. It was a fairly successful fall and winter for the Rams this year. Junior Julian Saad has been the top performer for the men’s side, finishing first at the Purple Valley Classic in October as well as the IC4A/ECAC Championships cross country meet in November. Saad carried his success into the indoor season, breaking the school record in the 3,000-meters at the New Balance Invitational on Feb. 3. Saad finished second in the 3,000-meters at the A-10 Championships and earned AllAtlantic 10 honors. The men’s 4x800 relay team won the A-10 title for the fourth consecutive year, helping Fordham to a third-place finish overall. “Our A-10 performance was more than a good showing, it
was a very good showing,” Head Coach Tom Dewey said. “When teams in your conference are state schools, who certainly make an uneven playing field for all of the private schools, being in the top-5 is an accomplishment.” The Rams will count on Saad and a few others to lead them to a successful outdoor season. “Individually, we have a small but solid core of excellent athletes and another core of good athletes who will step up when we need them,” Dewey said. “Of course, Julian Saad, who had a terrific season in both cross country and indoors, should continue his winning ways. Senior Kevin Fitzgerald, a double winner at the A-10s (1,000-meters and the 3,200-meter relay), will be just as important.” On the women’s side, sophomore Anisa Arsenault has been the top distance runner thus far, and fellow sophomore Titi Fagade has been the top sprinter. Arsenault was Fordham’s top finisher at both the Atlantic 10 Championships and the NCAA Northeast Championships during the cross country season. She also placed sixth in the A-10 Indoor Championships with a career-best time. Fagade was named A-10 performer of the week on Feb. 13 af-
ter she broke two school records the previous weekend. She set the school mark in the 500-meters and was also part of the recordbreaking 4x400 relay team that week. “During the indoor season, we saw Titi Fagade emerge as a real sprint threat,” Dewey said. “She broke the school record in the 500-meters and led off our 1600-meter relay that obliterated the previous record.” At the A-10 Championships, the women’s team took ninth place. While the women were not able to equal the success of the men, Dewey was pleased with the result. “While on paper the women looked as if they didn’t perform well, they did,” he said. “Last year, the team had Kerri Gallagher, a six time A-10 champion, who scored 22 of the team’s points. This year, we scored way more than we did last year; our team’s roster has mainly [freshmen] and sophomores — good ones. Yes, we’re trying to play catch up with the rest of the league, and it will take a while, but we are going in the right direction. Hopefully [in a few years], we’ll be talking about the women the same way we are now talking about the men.”