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APRIL 11, 2012
VOLUME 94, ISSUE 9
Erdman and Reynolds Prepare to Take USG Reins Students
COURTESY OF ERDMANREYNOLDS.COM
Erdman and Reynolds are slated to take office on April 19 as the new executive president and vice president of USG.
BY KELLY KULTYS ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
After a long season of campaigning, on March 30, Stephen Erdman, FCRH ’13, and Aileen Reynolds, FCRH ’14, were elected to the executive president and vice president positions of United Student Government (USG). “The Friday voting ended, I was on a field trip with my pro-
gram and had limited Internet access, so I had asked Aileen to text me the results,” Erdman said via email. “When I got her message saying we had won, I was, of course, very excited and relieved.” Erdman and Reynolds ran a seemingly successful campaign and received the backing of numerous clubs and supporters despite having to overcome severak
obstacles, including the fact that Erdman is abroad in the Dominican Republic this semester. “It was difficult not being able to speak with clubs and individuals in person,” Erdman said. “Despite my limited Internet access, I tried my best to stay connected to campus with email, Facebook and Skype. I, of course, relied heavily on Aileen’s hard work to make sure that everything was
running smoothly.” Between the two of them, Erdman and Reynolds currently have four and a half years of USG experience. “During my two and a half years on USG, I think I’ve gained an understanding of how the different divisions of Fordham’s administration respond to student initiatives,” Erdman said. “I’ve learned effective ways to approach initiatives and what ways only hinder progress.” Erdman has served as the vice president of FCRH ’13 and president pro tempore of the Senate since first arriving on campus. He has also served on the budget and operations committees. Outside of USG, Erdman has been involved with the Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice as the coordinator for the Parks Action of the City of New York. He has also been a Rose Hill Society (RHS) tour guide, Urban Plunge Assistant and a tutor for local middle school students. Reynolds has served as the president of FCRH ’14 for the last two years. During her prior terms, she has been a founding SEE USG, PAGE 2
Launch Campus Garden By TARA CUZZI STAFF WRITER
Fordham Urban Sustainability and Ecosystems (FUSE) and the United Student Government (USG) have been working together to create an agricultural garden and living classroom called St. Rose’s Garden. The garden is being constructed off of Cambreleng Avenue on a 60x24 foot plot of unused land near the Rose Hill parking garage. Many individuals from the Fordham community have played a role in the creation of this project. Jason Aloisio, a Fordham Ph.D. student in biology and the founder of FUSE, serves as the graduate garden coordinator and Elizabeth Anderson, USG vice president of student life, serves as the undergraduate coordinator and liaison to Fordham administration. John SEE GARDEN, PAGE 3
Hughes Hall Construction Set to Open by August 2012 Gabelli Students and Faculty Look Forward To Their New Home in the Remodeled Dorm, Which Is Slated to Open for the Beginning of the Fall Semester By SARAH RAMIREZ EXECUTIVE EDITOR
The new home of the Gabelli School of Business is on track to open in the fall of 2012, two years after the Fordham’s Board of Trustees approved the $30 million renovation of Hughes Hall in February 2010. Although construction work began outside of Hughes in October 2010, construction on the actual structure only began last spring, according to John Spaccarelli, director of facilities and special projects. “We had to do a lot of preparation before we actually started the heavy construction,” Spaccarelli said. “But we’ve been working on it full-blown now for just about a year. We’re probably in the area of about 70 percent complete [as of late March].” Construction is currently on schedule, and the building will be ready to welcome students and faculty come August. “We’re expected to [reach] substantial completion, which means basically everything will be done, and we’ll get our temporary certificate of occupancy that will allow us to move into the building towards the end of June,” Spaccarelli said. “That’s what we’re aiming for.” The new Hughes Hall will give the Gabelli School its first permanent home since the college was established in 1920. “We have over 2,000 students in our school,” Donna Rapaccioli,
Ph.D., dean of the Gabelli School of Business, said. “It just seemed really appropriate for us to have one primary space we could call home, a space where we could bring students together, along with faculty and the administrative team, a real academic community.” Rapaccioli said that the opening of Campbell and Salice-Conley Halls was the “perfect opportunity” to move residents and to renovate Hughes from a dormitory to an academic building. The opening of Hughes will alleviate overcrowding in other academic spaces, though GSB will still have administrative offices and a trading room on the fourth floor of Faber Hall. “Our current location in Faber is not sufficient in terms of resources available for faculty, administrators and students,” Tim Lynch, GSB ’13 and USG executive vice president of Gabelli, said. “Our cramped quarters on the third and fourth floors of Faber are not conducive to working on collaborative group projects or supporting an ever-increasing student base.” Along with approval of the project, the Board of Trustees allocated $10 million of funding for the $30-million budget. The remaining $20 million was part of the $25-million donation made by Mario Gabelli, GSB ’65, to what was then the College of Business Administration. “We’re probably going to come in right around our budget,” Spaccarelli said.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM
Inside Hughes Hall, construction workers continue to transform the old dormitory into the new business classrooms.
Construction on Hughes, which was previously a dormitory, has consisted of several phases, starting of the excavation of the building’s basement level. “The reason we had to lower the floor and not raise the roof is because we have to keep the building under a certain height,” Spaccarelli said. “That was one of the biggest challenges, to undermine
the entire building and add to the foundation while the building is still intact.” The next hurdle for construction crews was replacing the original wood infrastructure with steel. “The first thing we did is we [demolished] all the floors and all the bedrooms, and we completely took out everything, only leaving the floors,” Spaccarelli said.
Steel beams were then inserted through the roof and windows to create a grid to hold the building in place before removing the wood flooring in favor of concrete floors. “Once the steel structure was in, we took out the wood structure and that is really what held us in place,” Spaccarelli said.
Culture PAGE 11
Opinions PAGE 7
Sports PAGE 20
Review of the Vagina Monologues performance
Should employers be allowed to access employees’ Facebooks?
Softball’s Jenn Mineau pitches perfect game
SEE HUGHES. PAGE 4
NEWS
PAGE 2 • THE RAM • APRIL 11, 2012
SECURITY
BRIEFS
New USG President and Vice President to Begin Term
March 27, Rose Hill Gym Between 8 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. A football player went to change before working out in the training facility and returned to find that his wallet had been moved. 20 dollars, two debit cards and other personal documents were taken from his wallet. He was advised to contact his credit card company and deactivate his cards. He declined to notify the New York Police Department. Security is investigating the theft.
March 28, 2949 Hoffman, 1 a.m. Security received an alert of a loud party and responded to the call. A party had spilled out onto the sidewalk. NYPD responded and dispersed the party. Within 20 minutes everything had returned to normal.
COURTESY OF AILEEN REYNOLDS
Reynolds did most of the face-to-face campaigning while Erdman was abroad. USG, FROM PAGE 1
March 30, Collins Hall, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Security noticed there was a broken window in the basement of Collins Hall. Security is investigating what caused the incident. Facilities was notified to fix the broken window.
member of Fordham’s Activating Consciousness Together (ACT). This year, Reynolds created major brochures to help freshmen and sophomores learn more
Student reported to security that she had lost a black North Face fleece. In the jacket was $25, her driver’s license and keys. The student left the bar to smoke and left her jacket on the ground laying against the wall. She went inside momentarily and returned to retrieve her items, only to find them missing. The student was advised to get the locks of her dorm door changed since her keys were stolen. The student declined to notify the police of the incident.
April 1, 14th St and 8th Avenue, 1 a.m. A student reported that he was in a club with friends. He put his coat with his phone in his pocket on top of a pile of other coats. The coat was left unattended for several hours. The student returned to find that the phone was removed from his pocket.
April 9, Belmont Avenue, 9:45 p.m. Security observed two males remove a bike from a bike rack. The bike belonged to a delivery person. Security investigated and recovered the bike. The culprits are still being sought after.
— Compiled by Karen Hill, Assistant News Editor
about the options Fordham’s various academic departments have to offer. Outside of USG, Reynolds has also been a member of RHS, Fordham University Emergency Medical Service and aNew
Student Orientation. “Aileen has been one of the most dedicated members of USG during the past two years, and she’s sensitive to issues I feel are important for Fordham,” Erdman said. With the prior USG regime’s term ending on April 12, 2012, the newly elected officers are already starting to prepare for their upcoming tenure. Some of the main goals Erdman and Reynolds have for their term include re-examining allocation of money from the student activities fund and continuing the work that ACT has started. “I, personally, would like to continue an initiative I began last year to formally involve the student body in the selection of the four students who attend board of trustees committee meetings,” Erdman said. Erdman and Reynolds also discussed other initiatives and ideas they had said they would like to work on in their election platform. These included creating an anonymous bias-reporting system, revisiting the “Maroon Square” free speech idea, continuing to work with club sports, strengthening the FordhamBronx relationship through proj-
SAAC Supports “Each One Counts” Student Athletic Advising Council Sponsors Table Tennis Tournament for EOC Foundation. By DALEY QUINN ASSISTANT WEB EDITOR
March 30, Jolly Tinkers Bar, Webster Avenue, 1:10 a.m.
theramonline.com
The Student Athletic Advising Council (SAAC) hosted a fundraiser on March 26 for the Each One Counts (EOC) foundation. With a crowd of approximately 50 people and an array of fantastic prizes, the successful table tennis tournament raised money for terminally ill children. The idea to hold a table tennis tournament as a fundraiser for the EOC foundation was introduced in one of the SAAC meetings, during which SAAC member Krissy Buongiorno, FCRH ’14, chose to get involved. “I jumped on board because it sounded like a lot of fun and it was an easy way to raise a lot of money for the foundation,” Buongiorno said. The founder of the charity, Brian Harrington, came to speak at Fordham last year in hopes that SAAC would help him with his fundraising efforts. “I think that Brian’s passion about the foundation and the importance of the cause really inspired SAAC to get behind him in his efforts and continue to expand our fundraising efforts this year,” Elizabeth Anderson, FCRH ’13, executive event planner of SAAC said. The EOC foundation gives complimentary pain relief therapies, like massages and ice treatments, to children receiving hospice or palliative care. The foundation provides over 1,000 pain relief therapy sessions each year to children at Montefiore Hospital, St. Mary's Children's Hospital, Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Hospital and George Mark House. This was the last in a series of
events that SAAC has sponsored since January to raise funds for EOC, and SAAC was ecstatic with the turnout. “I view these tournaments as something to keep building on so that hopefully one day we have six tables and over 150 participants,” Buongiorno said. “My goal is to raise as much money for this foundation as we can. The most rewarding part is counting up all the donations to see just how much money Fordham students have donated.” When asked what else she enjoyed about the event, Buongiorno added, “Well, I got to emcee the event, so as soon as you give me a little power and put a microphone in my hand, I am happy as a clam. Oh and having Twice Baked Cookies’ is always great, too.” A SAAC member and intern for the EOC foundation, Anderson also helped the table tennis tournament run smoothly. Alisha Klebe, another member of SAAC and a United Student Government (USG) representative, was “very helpful because SAAC was able to collaborate with USG and use some of their resources to make the event even better,” according to Buongiorno. Anderson really enjoyed working at the event and said “there’s something about table tennis that really brings out the competitive edge of Fordham students, and seeing them get so excited about the opportunity to play in the tournament and help out a great cause is really rewarding.” The two prizes won at SAAC’s table tennis tournament were impressive. The first, a $25 gift certificate to a restaurant, was won through a raffle into which each player was automatically entered
after donations. The second prize was a trip to Cancun, Mexico or one of three Caribbean cruises, awarded to the winner of the table tennis bracket. At previous table tennis tournaments held by SAAC, the first-place winner received $250 for books. The winner of the grand prize at the table tennis tournament was Ben Kelly. Also the grand prize winner of the previous tournament, Kelly was “very humble, shook his opponent’s hand and did not gloat. Similarly to Blake Griffin’s actions after he dunked on Kendrick Perkins, Ben Kelly was a class act,” according to Buongiorno. After all his wins, “I think he’s beginning to realize how profitable his table tennis skills are,” Anderson added. About $250 was raised at this table tennis tournament alone; however, more than $1,000 has been donated to the EOC foundation from previous smaller events and the earlier tournament held by SAAC. SAAC has had the privilege of working with many other organizations at Fordham during its fundraising efforts for the EOC foundation. Sodexo has contributed a lot over the past few months by supplying SAAC with locations and materials needed to fundraise. The men’s basketball program and Head Coach Tom Pecora were also very supportive in fundraising for the foundation, allowing SAAC to program around their games as well as making financial contributions to the foundation. “Our efforts would not have been possible without the support of the SAAC, the Athletic Department and the participation of the Fordham student body,” Anderson said.
ects such as “Fordham Friendly” and rebuilding USG’s transparency. “USG has already tried to bring about many of the changes Aileen and I included in our platform,” Erdman said. “It will be important for us to fully understand why these past attempts failed so that we can brainstorm new ways to respond to common concerns.” Erdman and Reynolds look to build off of the many intiatives started by the 2011-2012 USG led by Catilin Meyers and Bryan Matis. These include continuing working to extend the library hours, helping Sodexo put into effect the extended cafeteria hours and collaborating with Residential Life to discuss ideas for a more statisfactory guest pass sign-in policy. “I believe that USG is a great organization that has done a lot of good things for our school,” Erdman said. “I want to help it reach its full potential as a change agent on campus.” Erdman and Reynolds will officially take over USG with the rest of their new executive board and senate on April 19 at the USG Inauguration held in the McGinley Ballroom at 6 p.m.
THIS
week at FORDHAM Thurs., Apr. 12 Queer 101 Keating 1st 1-2:30 p.m. Thurs., Apr. 12 Yesenia Almante and Molly Riterbeck of Seventeen McGinley 236 12- 2 p.m. Thurs., Apr. 12 No Exit, Mimes and Mummers Blackbox Theater Collins Hall 8 p.m. Thurs., Apr. 12 Cinvevents!: Iron Lady Keating 1st 9 p.m. Sat., Apr. 14 University Choir Concert St. Paul’s Church 8 p.m. Sat., Apr. 14 Dance Team Auditions Lombardi Field House 5-9 p.m. Sat., Apr.14 “How I Met Your Lola” Leonard Theater 6 p.m. Mon., Apr. 16 Legendary Sportscaster Mike Breen Keating 1st 1-2 p.m. Tue., Apr. 17, Cookies and Catechism withFather Koterski Dealy 102 7-8 p.m. CORRECTION Last week’s article “Student Petition Protests Commencement Speaker” (V. 94 I. 8) incorrectly listed Chris Brandt as faculty sponsor of the petition. He is a faculty supporter.
NEWS
theramonline.com
APRIL 11, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 3
Club Sports Council Puts Power in Hands of Students By CONNOR RYAN NEWS EDITOR
Club sports teams have, for years, famously lacked prestige and attention when put next to the mere glimpse of a varsity letter. According to talks within Rose Hill’s United Student Government (USG), students are currently in the process of forming Fordham’s first Club Sports Council in the hopes of sparking program interest and fundraising efforts. Alisha Klebe, GSB ’12 and the current executive vice president of athletics, said she initiated the creation of the council after hearing about the success of similar groups at Georgetown University and Boston College, among other schools. “[The Club Sports Council] was approved at our last USG meeting on March 29 with the goal of increasing recognition for club sports,” Klebe said recently in an email. “[The council] will help the program expand by promoting results, initiating fundraising efforts, assisting with the [club sports] website, planning events and helping review and approve new club sports.” Gino Alosco, GSB ’15, a club soccer player, said that while the council could attract more students to the already-popular club teams, the effort of the group should be
PHOTO BY KATE DOHENY/THE RAM
Students have been selling pinnies in the lobby of the McGinley Center to support the club sports program on campus.
geared toward generating a greater budget. According to an administrator who is familiar with the matter, Fordham’s club sports program is currently allotted approximately $30,000 per semester for team equipment and other logistical necessities. But many students, in-
cluding Alosco, argue that a greater budget would allow for more participation in tournaments and higher-quality equipment and apparel. “The biggest way this council can help us is with funds,” Alosco said. “Right now, the club teams are pretty much left on their own when
it comes to fundraising.” The current sale of “F” pinnies in the lobby of the McGinley Center is a prime example of the type of fundraising the Club Sports Council would be responsible for organizing. The cost is $15 per pinnie, and sales are set to “promote club sports.”
Aileen Reynolds, FCRH’14, set to take over the role of executive vice president of USG, hopes the Club Sports Council will act as a liaison to athletic department administrators and be a voice for the needs of various club teams. “Acting as a student advisory council for the administrators in the athletics department, we hope the Club Sports Council will be able to assist in important decision making as well as voice the pertinent concerns of club athletes,” Reynolds said recently. “I have full faith this council will improve the quality of club sports at Rose Hill through the leadership of our vice president of Athletics.” According to Klebe, the council plans to — aside from generating fundraising efforts — create a new website for the club sports program and organize events held by the council to promote club sports. An ultimate Frisbee tournament is currently in the works for next fall. While the mission of the Club Sports Council has been determined and agreed upon by various members of USG and administrators, the students who will act as representatives have yet to be named. According to Klebe, applications for seats on the Council are available online and will be due this Friday at 5 p.m.
Unused Plot of Land Transformed into Saint Rose’s Garden GARDEN, FROM PAGE 1
van Buren, director of Environmental Policy Program, serves as the faculty advisor for the project. The operation of the garden will be overseen by a committee consisting of students from the environmental science, environmental policy and biology departments. Marco Valera, vice president of facilities management, and John Carroll, associate vice president of safety and security, have been very supportive of the garden. The purpose of the garden is to create awareness of healthy eating habits and to aid individuals in understanding how their foods are grown. “This project is a significant step toward being a more sustainable and green campus,” Anderson said. “Being a university established in one of the world’s largest urban cities, it is important for Fordham to be a leader in the progression of urban agriculture and environmental studies.” The project also corresponds with the history of the Rose Hill campus. “The St. Rose’s Garden is a significant new area of the Rose Hill campus that links Fordham’s agricultural history to the new urban environmental issues that it faces today,” Anderson said. Fordham’s Rose Hill campus was founded on the site of the 17th century Rose Hill Farm on the bank of the Bronx River. Because of the close proximity of the Rose Hill Farm to the Bronx River, students, faculty and workers on the farm were very involved in many of the services the Bronx River brought to them, including quarrying, hiking and farming. In the 1970s, Fordham Urban
Solar Eco-System (EUSE) was developed, which arranged the construction of a greenhouse structure containing aqua and agriculture on the Rose Hill campus. St. Rose’s Garden will help stimulate interest in the urban agriculture movement again. “The garden provides a tremendous opportunity for students to get hands on experience in campus ecology and revive Fordham’s agricultural history,” Van Buren said. “After all, the Rose Hill Campus was originally a farm from the 17th century and produced much of its own food until the early 20th century.” Aside from simply creating the garden, FUSE and USG have initiated a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, which is an alliance with Norwich Meadow Farm. Norwich Meadow Farm is a certified organic farm in upstate New York that uses natural fertilizers to grow its food. The farm attempts to produce food that is friendly to the human body and surrounding environment. For a weekly fee, Fordham students will have the opportunity to receive locally grown, organic produce each week from the farm from June through November. There will also be a share offered in September for which Fordham students can sign up when they return to school in the fall. A CSA program on St. Rose’s Garden is also being organized. However, this CSA plan is still being finalized and will begin once the garden has been completely set up. FUSE and USG hope that these programs will help students gain a better understanding of the ecological community.
COURTESY OF NORWICH.COM
With the new garden, Fordham hopes to become more eco-friendly and to eco-educate the greater Fordham community.
“Aside from providing fresh, organic vegetables, and an opportunity for playing in the dirt, the underlying mission of St. Rose’s Garden and CSA is to be an educational catalyst, both in the classroom and in social settings, for discussion about the broken food system and coupled humanecosystem interactions,” Jason Aloisio, Fordham Ph.D. student in biology and founder of FUSE, said. Sodexo has been supportive of the plans for St. Rose’s Garden and the two CSA programs. Sodexo offered Dagger Johns as a drop-off or pick-up area for students’ shares
from the CSA program with Norwich Meadow Farm. They have also agreed to include any organic produce grown in St. Rose’s Garden in the Marketplace. The final details with this partnership are still being worked out. CSA programs are not completely new to the Fordham community. Fordham Law has a CSA program called Farm to Fordham. The program supports environmentally-friendly agriculture, with the goal of promoting local, organic food consumption. Mike Zimmerman, Fordham LAW ’12, came up with the idea of creating the Farm to Fordham garden
on the rooftop of St. Paul the Apostle’s parish center, located on Manhattan’s West Side. The organic vegetables and herbs grown on the rooftop garden are given to St. Paul the Apostle’s “Loaves and Fishes” soup kitchen. Just as Farm to Fordham offers homegrown, healthy foods to a local church’s soup kitchen, St. Rose’s Garden hopes to provide Fordham students with the opportunity of obtaining fresh, organic foods from their own campus garden. Both programs possess the same goal: healthy eating and increased environmental knowledge.
NEWS
PAGE 4 • THE RAM • APRIL 11, 2012
theramonline.com
PHOTO BY SARAH RAMIREZ/THE RAM
The north entrance of the new Hughes Hall, which faces the McGinley Center, is one of the two new entrances that were added to the building during its construction over the past year.
Hughes Set to Open as Gabelli School in August HUGHES, FROM PAGE 1
With these changes, the only original part of Hughes that remains is the stone structure itself. The most visible change on the outside of Hughes thus far is the removal of the copper mansard roof. “We took the entire roof and rebuilt it [with a glass structure] which now houses a mechanical house,” Spaccarelli said. About half of the glass mansard acts as skylights in offices on the fifth floor. The rest covers the machinery outside of the building. Other visible renovations include the new entrances facing the north and south sides of campus.
The old entrances from Hughes’ tenure as a dorm now act as emergency exits. Construction is now in its final stages. “The rest of it is what we call the building outfit, or fit out. And that's really all of your interior walls and bathrooms, classrooms, faculty and administrative offices, that's just the ‘fit out’,” Spaccarelli said. “That’s the stage we're in now since all the heavy work is completed.” The building, which will hold approximately 400 students at a time, will have six classrooms and two meeting rooms, including an honors classroom and a trading
room. “The classrooms have all the high tech equipment as far as video conferencing and projectors,” Spaccarelli said. In addition to classrooms and offices, each floor has open spaces and seating. “A lot of the space [is] so that you can do teamwork and work projects because that's a big part of our pedagogy—learning on teams,” Rapaccioli said, who was involved throughout the planning process. “It's really kind of set up so that on every floor there's an opportunity for every group to engage — faculty, students and administrators.”
PHOTO BY SARAH RAMIREZ/THE RAM
The Ram gained exclusive access to the Hughes Hall site in the midst of its construction process.
“The other thing that we did is that we created some centers or hubs within the building,” Rapaccioli said. This will give students the opportunity to meet with advisors about study abroad opportunities or future career paths. Gabelli students, however, are not the only ones that will benefit from the renovations. “The building is open space and everyone is welcome in the building,” Rapaccioli said. “A lot of Fordham College students do a business minor so they'll certainly be having classes in there.” Campus organizations, such as the Finance Society and Market-
ing Club, which have members from both colleges, will also use meeting spaces in Hughes. The completion of the project may also impact Fordham’s place in future business school rankings. “The completion of Hughes Hall —our new home—is a huge step in establishing our national reputation as a premier undergraduate business school,” Lynch said. “The idea behind the building is really to bring the students in and to have them learn and engage in dialogue with each other about issues,” Rapaccioli said. “The physical space reflects what we’re trying to achieve.”
PHOTO BY SARAH RAMIREZ/THE RAM
The fifth floor will contain the new adminstrative offices for the Gabelli faculty and staff members.
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PAGE 7
Employers Should Not Request Facebook Passwords By HARRY MACCORMACK STAFF WRITER
In recent weeks, the way in which Facebook figures into employment and applying for jobs has stumbled into the limelight. Recently, employers have been demanding that potential or current employees surrender their Facebook login information, so that their activity may be monitored. In response, Facebook has released several statements condemning the practice, stating that not only will Facebook pursue legal action against those who threaten their users’ security, but it also makes an employer legally responsible for any illegal or selfdestructive activity on the part of the employee, if information given on Facebook could prevent said activity. I concur with Facebook’s position wholeheartedly. I personally find it disappointing that employers would take advantage of a difficult job market to wrest personal information from their employees. “It’s a little much,” Conor Fucci, FCRH ’14, said. Facebook has found its way into a very interesting position in people’s lives. For some, especially those in the college years, Facebook can serve as a hub for communication. No one would let his or her employer read his or her mail, or tap his or her phone, but for some reason, to investigate Facebook is OK. In many
ways, Facebook has replaced both email and telephones, cellular or otherwise, as the primary means to communicate in certain situations. I cannot and will not surrender my right to privately communicate in order to receive a job. Secondly, I cannot understand how a person’s Facebook activity pertains to his or her viability as a potential hire. Perhaps the only reason I could see for a company to be interested in a person’s Facebook account is to ensure that they will not reflect poorly on the company. This reasoning is only valid for someone who would be applying for a position involving public interaction, however. For the average desk worker, what a person does outside the office is hardly the business of, or a reflection on, the company. Another argument I have heard since this has become an issue is, “Why not offer the login information? If you have nothing to hide, what is the problem?” The problem is that this is a matter of principle. Just because I have nothing to hide does not mean I should surrender the right to choose which parts of my life are private and which are public. I simply cannot reconcile such an unabashed and indiscriminate attack on personal privacy with such a weak argument. This may come across as sensationalist, but this particular angle of this is-
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA
Some recent job seekers have been surprised by their interviewers’ requests for personal Facebook login information.
sue feels strangely McCarthian. Facebook is doing the right thing in standing by its users. Not only is it the right way to go, simply out of respect for individuals’ privacy, but it is also essential to protect the integrity of Facebook itself. If users can no longer confidently say that the person on the other end of their Facebook chat is the actual account holder, Facebook as we know it could break down. When asked about the issue, as someone who has recently under-
gone the application process with a number of employers, Chris Leahy, GSB ’14, said, “If all they wanted to see was what was in the public domain (your profile), what clients or anyone else would see, it would be fine. But when they want access to your account, your personal content, photos, messages and so on, that’s a different story. That’s wrong.” While it is not unreasonable for an employer to take an interest in the lives of his or her employees or
potential employees, to demand intimate information is another matter entirely. Facebook’s evergrowing importance in the social interactions of its users has made it an irreplaceable part of people’s private lives. A person deserves the right to make Facebook private and only share it with whoever he or she chooses, and no employer should be allowed to take that away. Harry MacCormack, FCRH ‘14, is a communication major from Short Hills, NJ.
Dreams, Not Jobs, Should Decide Major Selection By JULIE NICOLS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
People say that America is the land of dreams and opportunity. As college students, we are blessed to be attending an institution that will enable us to pursue our dreams through an education. But for some college students, dreams, passions and aspirations are no longer important. Instead of living and learning for what they love, people are living and learning for stability. The job market is bleak right now. As a sociology major, people tell me this on a regular basis. When I tell people about my major, I commonly receive the question, “So, you’re okay with being poor and jobless?” I picked my major based on my passion for people and have decided to pursue it, despite the potential lack of employment opportunities. Recently, many people are ready to give up dreams in exchange for a profitable or stable opportunity. People who dreamed of being teachers or artists are now majoring in marketing, communications or whatever major will supposedly lead to a job in the future. However, there are exceptions. C Sarah Strafford, now FCRH ‘15, transferred from GSB in order to follow her passion. She originally was a business major in hopes of taking over her dad’s accounting business.
“I just wouldn’t be happy in business,” Strafford said. “It was sort of the underlying reason I was a business student. Now I realize it wasn’t meant to be, and I am going to be a double English
out their prospective roles to the best of their abilities. At the risk of sounding cliché, people who are happier are better people. If people are not constantly fighting sadness, boredom or
Apathy has a way of bleeding into every aspect of life and can cause a whole society to stagnate. This is not to say that people should not think about the future. They should, but instead of
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA
Many college students will select their major with job opportunities, not their dreams and aspirations, in mind.
and art major.” While the business path gave Strafford a secure future, she instead decided to pursue subjects that she loves. Society functions best when people feel fulfilled by their careers. As a result, they will live
frustration, they are more likely to succeed. On the other hand, if someone makes a great deal of money, but is bored by or hates his or her job, how can he or she be expected to go through life as a good spouse, parent or member of society?
thinking in terms of opportunities, students need to look at how their choice of major will allow them to complete their goals or pursue their passions. Michael Sansevere, GSB ’15, is currently a finance major but has a strong passion for music.
When asked if he would ever switch majors to music or the like, he responded, “Definitely not. I feel that business is the right path for me, but maybe even eventually I will be able to apply my business knowledge in working for a record label.” In the same way, Hannah Valentine, GSB ’15, is majoring in business in order to pursue a passion for service. “I probably will have a glamorous job on Wall Street or somewhere for a few years, but then I hope to use my knowledge about economics and finance to start a non-profit,” Valentine said. “I picked my major because it will allow me to make a difference in the world.” Each person’s passion is unique and the world does need people who are passionate about economics, business, education, psychology, math and science. People should not be pursuing a major for any other reason than their passion for the subject or how it will help them accomplish their dreams and aspirations. Whether or not you have picked your major, you should think about your goals and where you want to be as opposed to the stability or money that a particular major will provide. Everyone will be happier and the world will be a better place. Julie Nicols, FCRH ’15, is a sociology major from Holden, Mass.
OPINIONS
PAGE 8 • THE RAM • APRIL 11, 2012
Editor’s Note
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 Isabella Fante Ava Gagliardi Deirdre Hynes Chris Kennedy Stephanie Kawalski Celeste Kmiotek Brian Kraker Tom Merante Meghan Mulvehill Katie Nolan Erik Pedersen Anna Romagnoli Photo Editor Michael Rezin Design Editor Elizabeth Mallozzi Web Editor Anne Couture Assistant Web Editors 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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We, the editorial board of The Ram, would like to apologize for the article entitled “Jesuits Gone Jewish, Fordham Abandons Catholicism,” which was found in this year’s annual April Fools issue. It was never The Ram’s intention to offend, and we sincerely apologize if anyone, particularly any Jewish members of our community, found this article in any way offensive. The article was simply meant to satirize existing Jewish stereotypes and poke fun at universities with strong identities. However, in light of the recent, bias-related, hurtful incidents on campus, the article did not read as we originally intended. We take full responsibility for our error. Since learning that some mem-
bers of the University community had concerns about the byline of the article, we have been engaged in dialogue with those parties in an attempt to address their concerns. We hope that these parties understand that any offense caused by this article was completely unintentional. In fact, The Ram has repeatedly shown its dedication to fight strongly against racism, bigotry, homophobia and incidences of bias on campus. We pledge to continue to work with the community as Fordham moves forward as an institution that embraces diversity more fully. We must respectfully say, however, that we were disturbed by the fact that an email communication
about this article was sent to all members of the University community, including those in other schools and on other campuses who have no way of reading the article in order to judge the situation for themselves, given that we do not post our April Fools’ issue online. Mistakes do not equal hatred, and we think it was incorrect to describe The Ram as a purposeful purveyor of bias. We understand, however, the current circumstances and the fact that Father McShane, as the University’s leader, has to keep sending strong messages to the community that racism, homophobia and prejudice has no place on campus. Although some Jewish students, faculty and alumni reached out to
The Ram to say that they were not offended by what we printed — and we thank them for their words of support — this incident has taught us that some Jewish members of our community have indeed felt prejudice against them during their years at Fordham. Meetings have happened as a consequenceof our article which have resulted in new knowledge by all sides of Jewish life on campus, and which might even inspire some changes. We would certainly be pleased if something good were to result from this unfortunate incident. Thank you, again, to all of our readers, and, we once again apologize if we inadvertently offended anyone, as this was not our intention in the slightest.
Letters to the Editor Dear Editor: When I opened this year’s socalled April Fool’s issue of The Ram [V. 94, i. 8], I expected to discover in its pages the standard fare found in such issues, namely good-natured jabs and pokes at administrative incompetence and riffs on the foibles of collegiate life. And I was not disappointed, for such pieces were there — in abundance. I was sickened, however, when I arrived at page 3 and came face to face with “Jesuits Gone Jewish,” a particularly crude article that trafficked in the worst anti-Semitic stereotypes and that seemed to have been written for the sole purpose of offending the Jewish members of our community. In the best of times, such an article would rightly be condemned as ill-advised, hateful and offensive. In the highlycharged atmosphere created by the bias incidents of the past
month, however, it must be seen and condemned as both wildly insensitive and willfully inflammatory. (In light of your own strong editorials on those bias incidents, I must say that I found your decision to publish this piece to be completely mystifying.) Therefore, I would like both to condemn the article in the strongest possible terms and to say in equally strong terms that it and the hateful biases on which it is based are simply unacceptable here at Fordham. In addition, I would like to apologize to the entire Fordham community and in particular to the Jewish members of our campus family, for the pain that your decision to publish this offensive, sophomoric attack has caused them.
Dear Editor: I am an Orthodox Jew at the Law School. I did not find this article [“Jesuits Gone Jewish,” V. 94, i. 8] offensive at all. It makes me upset when I hear Gentiles painting us as overly-sensitive people who cannot take a joke. So I responded to the email sent from the president’s office. Below is the email I sent: Dear President McShane, I am an Orthodox Jew 3L student at Fordham’s Law School. While the general consensus among myself and other Orthodox Jews at the law school is that the article is not particularly funny, we did not find it offensive. I don’t know if anyone found it offensive from a Catholic perspective.
A point that the article did raise, which we would be very appreciative of if carried out, is to provide the Jewish student body with a room to conduct daily afternoon prayer services. We currently pray everyday in a basement stairwell, which is not really big enough to accommodate the substantial Orthodox Jewish male population here at Fordham. I am graduating at the end of the year and will not benefit personally from a prayer room, but I know the Orthodox Jewish students not graduating will greatly appreciate such a kind and generous gesture.
Dear Editor: Having read Fr. McShane’s recent email regarding your April Fools’ article “Jesuits Gone Jewish” [V. 94, issue 8] and having then read the article itself, we must articulate that the two do not align. While the article may not have been the funniest and did make some generalizations about the Jewish faith, in no way was it so offensive that it demanded a communication from the president himself. Quite frankly, such a strong reaction is a bit overdramatic. One
would hope that satire and humor could be understood as such, and nothing in your article was “particularly crude,” “ill-advised, hateful and offensive,” or “wildly insensitive and willfully inflammatory,” as McShane expresses. To grow so upset with an article that describes typical (not stereotypical) aspects of the Jewish faith would be analogous to rioting because a Jew wrote that Catholics go to mass on Sundays and celebrate Easter. Were it to come to fruition for some bizarre reason, your hypothetical article
Sincerely, Joseph M. McShane, S.J. President
Sincerely, Chaim Dienstag
Dear Editor: The editors of The Cardozo Jurist (the independent, student-run newspaper of Yeshiva University, Cardozo School of Law) read your president’s reaction to “Jesuits Gone Jewish” [V. 94, i. 8] before we were able to get our hands on a copy of the April Fools’ article itself. Judging by his extremely harsh and accusatory tone, we were expecting the article to be appallingly heinous or, to use the president’s own words, borderline “egregious.” Having finally read the article, we only have one word to describe it: HILARIOUS! For us, the only thing more surprising than your President’s failure to grasp the humorous and obviously satirical nature of the piece was the extreme degree to which he (over)reacted to it. In the first instance, sending an email to the entire campus community after he already sent The Ram a letter to the editors was completely unnecessary. It doesn’t take a university president to know that those kinds of angry, nonpersonal email “bombs” are one of the most ineffective ways to address a problem (see “Rant Emails: Never a Good Idea” in The Jurist’s latest issue [Volume V, i. 7]). Moreover, it was inappropriate for him to assert that the article was “offensive to every member of the University community,” unless he actually did speak with “every member” of the University community. None of those in our community — including some Orthodox Jews — to whom we showed the article found it to be in any way offensive or inappropriate. As law students and fellow journalists, The Jurist editors are most concerned about your president’s demand for a front-page apology. Freedom of the press is an age-old and prolific concept that lies at the heart of journalistic integrity. As a leader
of an institution whose mission it is to broaden students’ minds, the last thing President McShane should be doing is stifling creativity and expression, especially in such a draconian fashion. Demanding that his letter and the apology he believes is required be featured on your front page is, of course, not the same as directly censoring The Ram. But demanding this type of platform for his views of your publication goes beyond the outer limits of lively debate and discussion and borders on official interference with journalism. In this regard, we believe that McShane could learn a thing or two from Cardozo’s dean, Mathew Diller. Last year, when The Jurist published a non-satirical article harshly criticizing Yeshiva University and Dean Diller, the latter responded with a Letter to the Editors that can only be described as “dignified” (see Volume IV, i. 2). In no way did he attempt to commandeer The Jurist’s front page, nor did he attack The Jurist itself. In sum, the editors of The Jurist commend The Ram and its staff on a funny and well-written April Fools’ article. We think President McShane completely overreacted and that it was unnecessary to accuse The Ram of being “sophomoric,” “hateful” and “willfully inflammatory.” Furthermore, we think it was wrong of him to send a mass e-mail about it to the entire campus community in addition to writing a letter to the editors. Finally, we are extremely concerned with his attempt to commandeer your paper’s front page. In our humble opinion, we think President McShane should just relax the next time he reads a satirical article that makes him “schvitz.”
is exactly what a Jewish Fordham would look like. Furthermore, the fact that McShane writes that the article “trafficked in the worst anti-Semitic stereotypes and that seemed to have been written for the sole purpose of offending the Jewish members of our community” is utterly outrageous. While the name Goldberg is a stereotypical name and Jews are oft stereotyped as bankers and lawyers, neither of these “offenses” is a slur of any kind and is by no means the worst. It would be equivalent to
saying lots of New York City police officers are Irish or that Italians have mob connections. In addition, comedians typically generalize and do traffic in basic stereotypes. Take for instance the “Saturday Night Live” sketches “Church Lady” or “Bronx Beat.” While not necessarily true, these generalizations are not overly offensive and likely would not merit an email from McShane. Additionally, since the staff of The Ram arrives on campus early each year to produce the annual
Sincerely, The Editors of The Cardozo Jurist
CONTINUED NEXT PAGE
OPINIONS
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APRIL 11, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 9
Letters to the Editor, cont. FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
Orientation Issue, many staffers work New Student Orientation repeatedly. It is interesting to note that, while addressing the crowd of new students and their families each year, Fr. McShane typically mentions something about adjusting to college life and leaving home for the first time. Usually, McShane offers a joke along the lines of “The cafeteria food is cafeteria food, but for the Irish among us, that is a step up!” Clearly this statement is a joke, but we now wonder why McShane has taken such a harsh line with you and made an example
Left of the Allen Dial Ying
The Politics of Obamacare It has been two years since Obamacare was passed. And in those two years, the discussion surrounding the law hasn’t changed much. Last week, the Supreme Court debated over the constitutionality of the controversial Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the individual mandate. Our current public health care system revolves around the singlepayer model. The government increases every individual’s income tax to guarantee health insurance for everyone over the age of 65. When we hit the age of 65, we get to enjoy our vastly-superior, Ponzi-schemed health insurance and enroll in an elitist social club called the AARP.
of your staff while engaging in an almost equivalent stereotype — also for the sake of laughs. A public reaction of this sort seems patently ridiculous and uncalled for, similar to a mean school teacher reprimanding a single student over the building’s P.A. system or the Office of Residential Life publishing the lists of names and offenses of those recently documented. Such bullying is not Catholic, and we cannot believe that the University’s Jesuit president has used the bully-pulpit of his office in such an outrageous manner. A university should never hold
a gun to the head of its student newspaper, which must be independent and objective – a tough spot to begin with since students must report on their colleagues and superiors. Having sent the overly-harsh memo to the entire University community, the only reason for McShane to demand the letter be published on the front page is for the sake of embarrassing students under his care. McShane should have paused to think of the implications of his decision, as we are confident that the current staff of The Ram had good intentions and was likely
devastated by such a callous public flogging. This clear attempt at a joke is not equivalent to the recent act of actual on-campus bias, and we are shocked that, of all matters, this is what evokes comment from the President’s Office. Good luck with your current volume and continue with the immensely unappreciated task of serving as the University’s official journal of record, churning out issues from the hot basement of McGinley week after week.
Don’t get me wrong, I definitely believe that there should be a safety net for the health of Americans, especially the elderly. I believe that in 21st century America, access to doctors should be a right, not a privilege. But the single-payer method is broken. That is where the individual mandate comes in. Designed to combat the risks involved in holding a singlepayer model, it financially penalizes individuals who do not have health insurance. Essentially, it is the reverse of a tax incentive. Instead of incentivizing you to do something, it punishes you if you don’t. But is it constitutional? The Obama administration and the members of Congress that passed this law have done a horrid job of defending the mandate. Afraid of the political backlash, the administration has shied away from calling the mandate a tax, which it essentially is. Justice Roberts has empha-
sized this issue, pressing Solicitor General Verrilli about why Congress avoided describing the mandate as a tax, which would have automatically made it constitutional. Instead, this bill was written using language that contributed to the political song and dance that has continued for the past two years. The conservative wing of the Supreme Court does make a good point, however. If it were legal for the government to punish individuals financially for their inaction and force them to buy a specific product, we would be on a slippery slope. If the Supreme Court affirms the individual mandate, it would be the first of its kind and would have far-reaching consequences, good or bad, that cannot be imagined. Honestly, I believe this to be a non-issue too. If the individual mandate clause is affirmed, conservatives will find another aspect of the law to critique. If it is rejected, Congress
will figure out another repair to the act. What appeals to me about this debate is the presentation of this mandate. It is portrayed as part of a liberal agenda to extend government influence on individuals. Yet, the mandate was conceived by a conservative economist in the most capitalistic of ways. Instead of forcing individuals employed by Uncle Sam to be their underwriters, citizens can choose their own insurance policy. Conservatives liked it so much they pushed the mandate in 1994, the last great debate over health care reform. Mitt Romney, a Republican contending to take President Obama’s job, has enacted the mandate in Massachusetts and has gone on record promoting it. My point is that the mandate may be unconstitutional, but we should not get swept up in the political rhetoric on both sides of the aisle. I feel like I’m saying that a lot these days.
Sincerely, Former Ram Editors
From the Desk of Karen Hill, Asst. News Editor I am a time machine of sorts; we all are. As I sit here writing, I am ostensibly staring at a blank page, but this blank page is like a crystal ball. The words are merely waiting to be typed to fill the blank page. With every word I type, I am fulfilling a small part of my destiny and taking a step into the future. With every press of the backspace, it feels like I am going back in time. I do not exactly know where I am going with this, but as I continue to type, the blank space is continually filled, my future is continually met, as it will be until some form of an article is complete. It is not just in writing that one can see into the future. Every time people look at their watches, they can see every hour, minute and second of the day to come. What the future holds is not exactly known, but it is there, right on their wrists or hanging from the wall. I find it humorous how scientists research things such as time travel. There is not much to research as we are all essentially already capable. Who is to
say that simple memories are not substantial for traveling back in time? Dreams are like living in two dimensions at once. Inception thoroughly convinced me that there is an alternate universe in which we live while we dream. Memories are vivid and emotionally stirring. They are a part of real life, and every time I sit back to reminisce about my sandbox days, I travel 15 years back in time without any type of machine or even having to move at all for that matter. People are capable of seeing the future. No mediums or psychics are required. Each person in the world is capable of predicting the consequences of his or her actions. Whether it be fantasies about life after winning the lottery or simply celebrating the weekend after exams, everyone is capable of foreseeing the future. Yes, life intervenes with our plans sometimes, but people are capable of constructing and living out their own lives with only assistance from one’s wild imagination. Who is to say that mere thoughts from looking into the future cannot be as gratifying as
truly living them out? If one can be equally as satisfied with the idea of a plan as with actually experiencing it, then one receives double the pleasure and double the fun. Every human has the capability of being a psychic time machine, and it is as simple as just taking control of one’s own life. Then again, do I really want to take away the surprise element of life? Something tells me I will never be able to do that. I keep a diary as a documented record of past events in my life, whether they be lilliputian or monumental. I honestly cannot say that when I walked into Barnes & Noble and picked out that journal that I knew what would fill every page. What blows my mind is that as I picked out the one that I felt was perfect for me, despite the 100 other blank diaries that remained. 100 life stories waiting to be written and saved in time, forever. One of those diaries could belong to the next Anne Frank, and I could have seen her untold story even before she did. I am completely and utterly dumbfounded by the fact that life
is sitting around waiting to happen. There are so many clues to the future and ways to access the past. Life and the moments that compose it blow my mind. While we can travel back and forth in time, sometimes it is best to live in the moment. Living mindlessly prevents you from being baffled. It is okay to live in the here and now, as opposed to before and after. I guess what I am trying to say is that you only live once. Every moment is special and unique in its own way, and I have learned not to take them for granted. Time goes by so quickly; I spend it harping on the past, pondering the future, but nothing compares to living in the moment. How did I get to this point, again?
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Righter’s Block
David Birkdale Obamacare Tramples on Rights While health care for all may seem like an honorable goal, forcing individual citizens to purchase insurance is a gross violation of constitutional rights. The law cites the Commerce Clause; since health care is linked to interstate commerce, writers of the law claimed, the federal government is permitted to force citizens to either purchase insurance or face a tax. Twenty-eight states have filed suits against this mandate, citing it as unconstitutional. Supporters of this mandate often point to “free riders.” These are people who take advantage of care provided by hospitals that either cannot or will not withhold care from people who cannot afford it. Certainly, such individuals exist, but how big is the problem? The Cato Institute points to an Urban Institute study showing that uninsured people only received $35 billion in care in which they did not pay. In 2008, this rose to $43 billion, likely in proportion to the rest of the market. For perspective, this was a mere 2.8 percent of health care costs in 2001. Is this tiny portion of the market really enough to justify a violation of economic freedom? Other supporters of the bill point out that mandating health insurance is reasonable because auto insurance is also mandated. However, auto insurance is mandated on a state-bystate basis. Each state has the right to mandate auto insurance with respect to their own constitutions. Many people are rightly concerned about their personal liberties being trampled. However, states’ rights are also being infringed upon under the auspices of the Commerce Clause. The 10th amendment protects the unnamed rights of states and individuals: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” That the majority of states are filing suit against this law should be a powerful warning against a concentration of power in an overreaching federal government. As Mike DeWine, attorney general of Ohio, said when joining the coalition of states opposing the mandate, "Our Constitution provides for a federal government of significant, but defined and limited powers. By ignoring the constitutional limits on federal power, the [health care] law tramples on the rights of Ohio's citizens.” If the federal government can force citizens to purchase a certain service, where can it stop? Elected officials may feel that it is in each citizen’s best interest to possess health care. However, this is an intrusive measure, seeking to make decisions that should, constitutionally, be left up to individual citizens and states. In The Road to Serfdom, Hayek prophetically points out that with increased economic control in the name of helping society, “[…] The individual would more than ever become a mere means, to be used by the authority in the service of such abstractions as the ‘social welfare’ or the ‘good of the community.’ Although an individual mandate may sound nice, it ultimately robs the individual of his or her economic freedoms.
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PAGE 11
The Vagina Monologues Puts On A Captivating Show By SASHA FISHER STAFF WRITER
Eve Ensler’s play The Vagina Monologues was more than just an entertaining and thought-provoking production. The play also donated money from ticket sales to V-Day, an activist movement attempting to end violence against women and girls around the world. The play is comprised of a series of monologues centering around the topic of women and vaginas. The monologues were from women ranging in ages from six to 70. The cast includes women experiencing war, women suffering from abuse, sex workers, divorcées and women struggling with their sexuality. Each monologue approaches the women’s stories and experiences from a different angle. Each time the show is performed, the director decides which monologues he or she wants to include in the production. Each year, a new monologue is added to the collection that concentrates on a current issue for women. Fordham’s production of The Va-
PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM
The women’s studies department held The Vagina Monolgues in Fordham Prep Auditorium on March 30 and 31.
gina Monologues was outstanding. The performers were all excellent. The format of the play, in which the participants have a choice of mono-
logues and content, allows for each performance to be personal. This year’s selection of monologues was well-rounded. The audience was
laughing one minute, crying the next and thinking profound thoughts a moment later. The use of movement during the
performances was especially impressive. The women used physicality to help support the story they were telling. The set consisted of a simple couch, which blended into the background and morphed to fit with every performance. All of the actors wore red and black clothing, which visually connected the stories, showing how women of all ages, from all walks of life and in multiple countries share experiences. The women’s studies department should continue to put on productions of The Vagina Monologues because of the excellent cause and the unique quality of the play. Allowing the director to choose which monologues are performed is a wonderful way of personalizing the play. In addition, a variety of monologues makes the play more appealing to the University community because monologues that could offend the administration can be left out, while still allowing for an interesting and controversial performance on campus. The Vagina Monologues is an insightful experience, and Fordham’s production was excellent.
FUSE Brings Organic Produce to Rose Hill
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA
Norwich Meadows Farm is located in upstate New York. It produces a variety of organic produce and promotes human and environmental health with every crop.
By SCHARON HARDING CULTURE EDITOR
The produce selection in the Bronx can certainly be described as lacking. Students often complain about the lack of quality fruits and vegetables offered by Sodexo. Others, living off campus, have also felt dissatisfied after purchasing fruits and vegetables that they have described as “smushy,” “rotten,” “tainted” and “on their last breath,” from places like Modern Food Center and C-Town. Fortunately, the Fordham Urban Sustainability and Ecosystems (FUSE) has brought a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA), which sells organic produce, to Rose Hill. Starting this summer, Rose Hill students can sign up for shares of fresh organic fruits and vegetables for a cheaper price than those available at markets like Whole Foods. For $16 a week, students will receive enough vegetables for about two to three people. Each week the produce will vary, but will include items like cabbage, acorn squash,
carrots, garlic, bell peppers, potatoes, turnips and bok choy. The produce comes from Norwich Meadows Farm, located upstate. The 50-acre, family-owned organic farm is headed by Zaid Kurdieh. Kurdieh started working in organic farms after tasting foods that did not have the delicious flavor they were meant to have. “I remember biting into a tomato and saying, ‘Whats going on? This looks like a tomato but it doesn’t taste like a tomato,’” Kurdieh said. As an organic farm, Norwich Meadows stays away from artificial pesticides, neurotoxins and insecticides. “If [a chemical] is a neurotoxin for insects, do you think it’s not going to be for human beings?” Kurdieh said. “They’re worse for us, too, because insects are starting to build tolerance.” Instead, the farm uses organic insect management methods such as chrysanthemum and copper, which is the most toxic item used but is only implemented when necessary and in small doses.
Workers at Kurdieh’s farm also use a theology-based philosophy to guide their work. They believe that, “God commands us to be good stewards of the Earth, and that healthy, naturallygrown food will combat U.S. obesity and other health crises.” In addition, Norwich Meadows mostly employs workers and students looking for education or permanent employment in the United States. This includes men and women from Tibet and many from Egypt. “They’re the best farmers that I’ve been able to find,” Kurdieh said. “You need skill. We do a lot — we grow 400 different varieties of things. Just to keep track of that alone is intense.” Jason Alosio, a Fordham graduate student studying biology and working as the coordinator of the City Zoo and Fordham University Urban Ecology Partnership, coordinated the cooperative vegetable buying club for Rose Hill. He met with Kurdieh through connections from the Lincoln Center Campus CSA. Those interested in purchasing organic produce can contact Alosio
at sustainablefordham@gmail.com to learn more and submit their payment. “For anybody who’s not going to be here over the summer and is still interested in having fresh, organicanically farmed produce, we’re also going to be doing a fall share which will start the first week of September to mid-late November,” Alosio said. “And that will be $16.” Although Norwich Meadows Farm offers meat, FUSE has opted not to purchase meat for Rose Hill’s participants. “Were sticking to fruits and vegetables to keep it simple and kind of gauge what kind of response there’s going to be,” Aloisio said. “If there’s increased interest we can branch out and do a greater diversity of food, and we also have the option of doing a winter share, which is in the first couple months of the year. The winter share would have dairy products and meats for sure if we end up doing that.” For those interested in organic farming, there are upcoming oppor-
tunities to get involved. Starting April 24, Rose Hill will have its own small organic farm called St. Rose’s. The farm will be used for experiments and as a working classroom for environmental policy and environmental science students. The farm recently acquired $1,500 in funding. “The money is all going to go toward constructing the garden,” Aloisio said. “We need to get soil, raise beds, buy seeds, get some tools – basically everything needed to set up the garden. On April 24, we’re having a workday to create the farm. We’re building something out of nothing.” Volunteers can sign up next week to help build St. Rose’s farm at various Earth Week tables set around campus, and can also email sustainablefordham@gmail.com. “We’ll probably donate some [of St. Rose’s] produce to volunteers that work at the farm and donate the rest to POTS,” Aloisio said. “Also, if there was extra food ever at the end of one of the drop-offs from the CSA, that goes to POTS.” With these exciting, fresh developments around Rose Hill, it will become much easier for students to eat healthier and in an ethically-conscious manner. More information, including signing up for the CSA and volunteering to work at St. Rose’s garden, can all be acquired by emailing sustainablefordham@gmail.com. The FUSE blog, fordhamsustainability.wordpress.com, also has great information and updates on all things about sustainable food. “If anybody is interested in getting more involved in any way, the work day [on April 24] is a great way to come and meet us, and we can be reached via email,” Aloisio said. “If anybody wants to volunteer for long periods of time at the garden over the summer, definitely get in touch with me.”
CULTURE
PAGE 12 • THE RAM • APRIL 11, 2012
Going Global
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Dining Out: Coppelia
This week’s column is written by Rose Puntel, FCRH ’13. Things always sound different than they actually feel. That sounds kind of silly, but it is true. In fact, that statement encapsulates my study abroad experience. I am currently studying in Morocco. When I used to think about Morocco, I could not envision it. Some ideas would spring into my mind such as deserts, Islam, Arab Spring, the oppression of women, etc. My overall mental picture, fed by stories, the media and the warnings of many of the adults in my life, was of an exotic and dangerous place, on the edge of European, African and Middle Eastern cultures. Now that I have lived in Morocco for over two months, I no longer rely on that mental picture. I am studying in Rabat, Morocco’s capital, in the Council on International Educational Exchange’s (CIEE) Language and Culture program. The language experience alone has been both incredible and intellectually humiliating. I attempt to communicate at various times in French, Moroccan colloquial Arabic (Darija) and Modern Standard Arabic. I struggle to manage these three languages, but the average taxi driver in Rabat can juggle all three fluently, while often simultaneously speaking a little bit of English as well; this is quite a humbling experience. My time in Morocco, from interactions with taxi drivers to conversations in class, has stirred up a lot of questions about the inconsistency and power of ideas. Melissa Smyth, FCRH ’13, is also studying here in Rabat, but in a different program. Last week, we had coffee together, and discussed the Western ideas of Morocco and how they help perpetuate a neocolonialist relationship between the West and Morocco. Melissa and I have both noticed that many spaces and people in Morocco try to conform to the storybook picture of exotic Morocco for the benefit of tourists. As a photographer, Melissa is working to portray the side of Morocco that does not conform to that same narrative. Although I am not a photographer, I have often wondered how to reconcile adequately the reality of my experience with basic stigmas and stereotypes. My experience here has certainly been different than what I had imagined. I have spent the night in the Sahara Desert and been in medieval castles. I have noticed various post-colonial struggles, like the problem of which languages are taught in school, or the difficulty Morocco is having in claiming and instituting its own workable form of democracy. I have witnessed protests. I have prayed alongside my Muslim host family. I have noticed the huge gaps between the rich and the poor and have been particularly amazed by the sharp contrast between rural and city life. I might have expected all of these from my pre-arrival mental picture of Morocco, but the experience as a whole has gone beyond that image. I wish I could explain the experience more clearly, but it is not something I can tell you in a newspaper column. In fact, I don’t even believe some of the things I’ve done and seen. Things always sound so different than they actually feel. That sounds kind of silly, but it is true.
PHOTO BY MARY PORPORA/THE RAM
Coppelia is located at 207 W 14th St. Customers can pick three desserts for $15.
By MARY PORPORA STAFF WRITER
Coppelia offers the staples of a traditional diner with a Cuban twist. The upscale Cuban diner, named after an ice cream bar in Havana, is located on West 14th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenue, right down the street from the A, C and E trains. Coppelia is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and serves breakfast at all times. Longer than it is wide, Coppelia seats about 80. There is a spacious bar lining the right wall of the restaurant where customers can enjoy their meals and tasty cocktails. The rest of the seating is divided between wellcushioned booths and small tables with padded benches and chairs. I have been to Coppelia twice in the past four months. Thankfully, both times I was seated in one of their spacious booths. The wait staff was extremely pleasant and patient with me during both visits as I butchered the Spanish pronunciation of my order. The busboys were also on top of refilling my glasses of water, which is always something I appreciate.
PHOTO BY MARY PORPORA/THE RAM
The Pernil dish combines yucca, mojo and chicharron in a delicious fashion.
The first night I was there happened When the waiter served our dish, to be the night the restaurant (which my mouth was watering, even at first opened in April 2011) obtained its sight. A generous helping of tender liquor license. I chose a bourbon pork was piled beneath layers of cocktail, a variation of which is on brightly-colored toppings. I soon disthe current menu, and my friend orcovered that chicharrons are similar to dered a tequila concoction called the pork rinds, and while at first I thought Gran Paloma. Both drinks were delithat pork on top of pork would be cious. The Gran Paloma was rimmed overkill, the chicharrons only made in Tajin, which, after a quick Google the dish taste more complete. Tossearch, I learned is a seasoning made tones are fried plantains, and while I out of chiles, lime enjoyed them, I wish and salt. Although I they had been a bit Overall have a low tolerance warmer and thinner. Location for heat, I was able I also discovered that Food Quality Atmosphere to enjoy this brilmojo is a garlic and citHospitality liant combination. rus sauce that gave the Price $$$ The drinks ranged dish its vibrant and tasty from $9 to $11, pop of green. Being Ital(Out of 4 ’s) which I have come ian, I have a soft spot in to realize is an avermy heart for garlic and, age restaurant price. apparently, so do the Cubans. TopFor dinner, my friend and I decided ping off the dish were pickled onions. to split the Pernil ($16.95), a roasted Odds are if you pickle something, pork dish topped with mojo, chicharI will eat it. These onions were soft, ron and yucca. My friend is a picky eatsweet and a refreshing component of er so we opted to substitute the yucca the dish. The forks were a good size, with tostones. I had never tried yucca, thankfully, so I was able to get each mojo, chicharron or tostones before, element of the dish in one bite. but I trusted that if my finicky friend The second time I dined at Coppeenjoyed these foods, so would I. lia, my friend ordered the Enchiladas
Suizas ($16.95), which were also delicious. Again, the combination of ingredients complimented one another in such a way that it would be an insult to food to leave the plate any way but empty. For dessert, my friends and I chose the La Dulce Vida, which allows you to chose any three desserts for $15. The masterful combination of ingredients continued with the chipotle brownie sundae, apple galette and chocolate cake. The chipotle brownie sundae was my favorite, and I would definitely recommend it. It had ice cream that was clearly homemade and absolutely delicious. It was light and refreshing, a delightful compliment to the spice of the brownie. On the other hand, the chocolate cake was good, but nothing special. The apple galette was similar to an apple turnover and helped to break up the chocolate taste from the other two desserts. Yes, the diner is on the pricier side for college students, but it is definitely worth a visit at any time of day. Coppelia offers a cozy diner environment with a thoughtfully-selected and delicious menu.
Editor’s Pick: Mario Balotelli By RORY MASTERSON OPINIONS EDITOR
Soccer has become increasingly popular in the United States in recent years, and a working knowledge of individual players beyond Landon Donovan and David Beckham has arrived along with it. If you have paid any attention to world soccer over the last several seasons, you have no doubt heard the name Mario Balotelli, whether for his success on the pitch, or, perhaps more notably, his seemingly random acts of insanity off of it. Either way, the Italian striker continues to leave an indelible mark on the game, at just 21 years of age. Born in Italy to Ghanaian immigrants, Balotelli quickly rose through the ranks of Italian soccer, eventually making a senior club debut at the age of 15 for Lumezzane. (F.C. Internazionale Milano, better known as Inter Milan, bought him in 2006, where he won a UEFA Champions League title in 2009-’10.) He has played in England’s Premiership for Manchester City since 2010. Many United States fans may remember him as having attempted, and failed, a spinning back heel shot against the Los Angeles Galaxy last summer that continues to appear on ESPN. These are the definitive pieces of information on Mariothe-soccer-player. Mario-the-personality is a favorite of British and Italian tabloid newspapers; he often appears in the pages having done something completely out of the ordinary. For instance, he
once donned the jersey of A.C. Milan on Italian television while playing for Inter Milan — think of Nick Swisher wearing a Red Sox jersey on The Today Show just for fun. He crashed his Maserati and is reported to have been carrying anywhere from £5,000-£25,000 in the passenger’s seat. When the police asked why, he simply responded, “Because I’m rich.” In one incident, his house caught on fire as a result of fireworks in his bathroom. He then became a nationallyrecognized spokesperson for firework safety. After Manchester City beat its cross-town rival, Manchester United, Balotelli drove around high-fiving Manchester City’s fans and handing out £20 bills to passers-by. Along with his younger brother Enoch, Mario attempted to get inside a women’s prison just to see what it was like. He apparently broke his team’s curfew on Christmas night to attend midnight mass, where he donated £200 to the collection plate. When he cut his hair into a Mohawk, he shaved in the number 17 rather than his own number, 45, without giving an explanation. He reportedly visited Xaverian College in Manchester, dropping in to ask students where the bathroom was. He walked around campus and talked to a few people before driving off in his Bentley. The list of activities he is alleged to have completed is extensive and questionable at best. Some of them have been proven false, leading the veracity
of others to be routinely called into question. Ultimately, it does not matter whether or not these potentially tall tales are true; the simple fact is that, because they involve Mario Balotelli, they just might be. It would be one thing if the player executing these pseudo-pranks was a reserve, part-time middle school custodian playing for the Carolina RailHawks of the North American Soccer League. In this case, however, it is a striker for the Italian national team and a prominent English soccer club, whose oddities are sometimes forgotten when he performs acts of brilliance. He once compared his own skill to that of the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Argentinean Lionel Messi, saying that Messi is a little stronger and therefore the only player better in the world than he. While such an assertion is certainly debatable at best, Balotelli’s prodigious scoring ability does allow him to contribute frequently to his club and national teams. Like Messi, Mario Balotelli displays a genuine, childlike curiosity for every aspect of life. Having received tremendous racial abuse in Italy, Balotelli is acutely aware that his talents come with the territory. Even so, he retains his enthusiasm and rarely displays anything other than a confident passion for soccer. Balotelli has garnered the respect and adoration of colleagues and fans everywhere, even endearing himself to many Manchester United fans, due to his magnificence on the field and,
COURTESY OF SOCCERWRAPUP.BLOGSPOT.COM
Balotelli is known for his antics.
presumably, his shenanigans off of it. “I’m not crazy,” Balotelli told an Italian newspaper, “although sometimes I do strange things that are considered entertaining.” The latter half of that statement is absolutely true. If you remain unconvinced, however, consider what former Oasis guitarist and lifelong Manchester City fan Noel Gallagher said of Balotelli: “Football needs players like him because most footballers are basically squares…Mario lives life on the edge so people like you don’t have to.”
CULTURE
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Enjoy Fascinating Art in Walsh Library’s Museum
APRIL 11, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 13
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Brooklyn Zine Fest Public Assembly, Williamsburg, Brooklyn April 15, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free
PHOTO BY SASHA FISHER/THE RAM
PHOTO BY SASHA FISHER/THE RAM
PHOTO BY SASHA FISHER/THE RAM
The museum in Walsh library gives students the opportunity to examine and study Roman, Greek and Etruscan art.
By SASHA FISHER STAFF WRITER
Fordham University boasts its very own museum of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Art in Walsh Library. Fordham alumnus William D. Walsh and his wife donated the collection, which provides a wonderful opportunity to view art on campus,while serving as an excellent study tool for students. Curator Jennifer Udell is teaching a museum studies class in the exhibit this semester. While the collection has been at Fordham for some time, this is the first time that students have been able to utilize the collection through a class. “While I enjoy teaching a class in conjunction with the museum, I feel bad that this semester’s students are my guinea pigs,” Udell said. “Fortunately, I enjoy the input of fresh eyes on the art.” For students who are not enrolled in the class, Udell says that there is not one specific way visitors should view the museum. “They should look out for the upcoming visitors’ guide,” Udell said. “The guide will be a collaboration with students and will pro-
vide more detailed information and context about the objects.” Other future plans for the museum include a complete reinstallation within the next three years. Udell hopes to update the look of the space, making it less academic and more modern. “My goal is to take it out of the context of the library,” she said. While the objects are located in Walsh library, and there are tables and chairs for studying, the large windows and fascinating pieces of art pull students out of the library environment. More modern, less intrusive cases contribute greatly to this effect. Udell’s favorite objects are the Attic vases in the collection. “They show an amazing degree of craftsmanship both in the potting and in the painting,” she said. The vases feature a variety of painted scenes depicting different myths and events from ancient Greece. After careful study of the myths and the vases, the stories portrayed are recognizable. For example, certain people will often carry specific attributes that extend through the portrayals of them. There are also certain mo-
tifs, fish, rosettes and lotus blossoms, which are repeated on vases throughout and beyond the Attic period and throughout Greece and Italy as well. The Southern Italian vases, although large and garish, also have a certain charm. While the paintwork is not as delicate and masterful as on the Attic vases, it is still impressive, considering that these vases were painted blind. The artists could not see what they were painting, as the colors were only revealed after firing. The museum in Walsh Library contains an extensive collection of vases, sculptures, coins and other art from Greece, Etruria and Rome. While it is a calm environment for studying, students should take time out of their trip to the library to explore the museum. Students can take advantage of the museum right here on campus in addition to museums around New York City. The collection is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to midnight, Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to midnight.
COURTESY OF BROOKLYNZINEFEST.COM
Get in touch with your inner indie non-conformist at the first annual Brooklyn Zine Fest. “What’s a zine?” you may implore. The answer lies in the ‘About Us’ page on the event’s website: Zines are “self-published magazines made outside of mainstream press and media, by all kinds of people about all kinds of things.” This is perfect if you’re looking for some cheap reads in the form of good ol’ print; zines sell from between $1 - $10. This is also a great chance to check out all the good eats Williamsburg has to offer, such as Caracas Arepa on 291 Grand St. or Pies ‘N’ Thighs on 164 S Fourth St. Take the L train to Bedford and the J, M or Z to Marcy.
New York Yankees Game Bronx, New York April 11,13-17; varying times $15+ In case you didn’t know, one of the most storied franchises in all of sports plays its home games seven blocks away from campus. You don’t have to even be a sports fan, much less a Yankee fan, to appreciate the influence and impact a team like the Yankees has had on the culture of New York. The Bronx Bombers take on Albert Pujols and the Los Angeles Angels this weekend so ticket prices will be higher. I would recommend getting cheaper tickets to their matchup with the Minnesota Twins at the beginning of next week.
— COMPILED BY DEVON SHERIDAN
Ram Reviews MOVIE THE HUNGER GAMES
THEATER EVITA
BOOK TASTES LIKE HUMAN
TELEVISION “NEW GIRL”
MOVIE GOON
By AMANDA RYLAND
By JOHN BONAZZO
By DEVON SHERIDAN
By AMANDA DONOVAN
By JAKE KRING-SCHERIFELS
STAFF WRITER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
STAFF WRITER
The Hunger Games did not fail to impress everyone, from the biggest fans of the novel series to newbies. The film tells the story of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence, XMen: First Class) and her experience in the futuristic Hunger Games. Every year, the Reaping of the Hunger Games takes place, during which one boy and one girl are chosen from each district to compete in a battle to the death. Whoever wins the Hunger Games is certain to receive riches for their family and enjoy enormous glory for the rest of their lives. The Hunger Games successfully combines futuristic themes with action and romance. The story and characters will capture anyone’s interest. It will make everyone realize what all the hype about the book series is really about.
The new revival of Evita, “a powerful showstopper of a production,” should not be missed. The hit show tells the story of Argentine first lady Eva Perón (Christina DiCicco), who arrives in Buenos Aires in search of stardom, circulating through the company of several men in the process. Her life changes when she meets Colonel Perón (Michael Cerveris, Sweeney Todd). The story is narrated by Ché, played by pop star Ricky Martin (“General Hospital”), who acts as stand-in for the people of Argentina by singing on their behalf. The acting is remarkable across the board. Martin is an energetic emcee and a talented singer and dancer. DiCicco has a powerhouse voice. There is flashy choreography performed by an energetic group of dancers. To sum up, Evita is a great production.
Written and compiled by the Shark Guys, a creative writing duo comprised of journalists Chris Lombardo and Noel Boivin, Tastes Like Human is, in essence, a book for those with attention spans too short for books. Having already achieved minor fame for their blog of humorous lists online, the Shark Guys have brought together a slew of new lists, some much more practical than others. In chapter one, they provide readers with the “Top 10 Easiest Majors” (useful!), then in chapter two they proceed to list “The Top 15 Reasons Why Sharks Are Better than Cats” (hilarious, not useful at all!). The titles of the five chapters that divide the book pretty much sum it up as a whole: inconsequential and simply there for the humor. The book is an enjoyable read.
So when are Nick and Jess going to get together? This charmingly awkward “New Girl,” played by Zooey Deschanel ((500) Days of Summer), is taking her time on true, suitemate love. Besides, what would a 30-minute sitcom be without anticipation of its go-to predictable love parallelograms? In the case of Fox’s new fall 2011 series, the audience’s eagerness for a grand romantic gesture carried out by Nick, played by Jake M. Johnson (No Strings Attached) — or even more grandly, Jess — is accompanied by endless cringing at questionable threesomes, weird one-night stands and too many shots of Schmidt without a shirt. If Schmidt (Max Greenfield, Where Do We Eat?) and Cece (Hannah Simone, Sati Shaves Her Head?) could hit it off, pretty much anyone can.
Goon attempts to punch its way past the trivial act of fighting and reestablish the fraternity of brutality. Playing the goon is Doug Glatt (Sean William Scott, American Reunion), a small-town bar bouncer in Massachusetts turned semi-pro hockey player. He gets recruited one night by a local team after a scuffle in the stands.. This is a dream come true for his friend Ryan (Jay Baruchel, Knocked Up), who hosts a vulgar hockey show in his basement, and it quickly becomes a calling for Doug. He is weak on his skates, but comically bashes half of his hazing team before they respect his fist. From its “R” rating to its unusually tender side, if Goon tells us anything, it’s that real fighting can still be achieved in a rink. Hockey fans, rejoice.
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CULTURE
PAGE 14• THE RAM • APRIL 11, 2012
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WHO’S THAT KID? Terrence Walsh A MEMBER OF FCRH ’15, MAJORING IN THEOLOGY FROM GLENRIDGE, NJ Describe yourself in a couple of sentences.
What is something about you that not many people know?
I like physical activities, like soccer and longboarding. I’m always down for an adventure and new things. I love the sun, smiling and laughing. And I like colorful things.
I’m an Eagle Scout, and basketry was one of my favorite merit badges.
What is your favorite aspect of Fordham and why? I love how the majority of people here are outgoing and like doing the same kinds of things that I do. And, there’s always a way to keep your mind occupied. If there was one thing about Fordham you could change, what would it be?
What is your favorite class at Fordham? Faith and Critical Reason (EP1) with Doctor/Professor/Father/Sir Viladesau. He’s opened my mind to thoughts and ideas that I’ve never explored before. What is a personal goal you would like to accomplish over your four years here? I want to graduate without compromising too many of my morals.
I don’t like how they spend their money. Sometimes it seems like money is put towards too many superficial things.
What show, food, artist or movie would you consider your “guilty pleasure?”
What is your favorite thing to do in New York City?
I don’t watch TV, but as for food… hot sauce.
It’s so easy to experience new things because there’s so much stuff going on. Longboarding to an unexplored restaurant is always a good time.
What is the biggest misconception people have about you?
instance: Would you rather marry someone who was named Darth Vader and all your kids have to be named Luke Skywalker and stuff, or would you rather only be able to grow hair on one side of your body? Definitely the Darth Vader / Luke Skywalker one. So, what are your plans (career or otherwise) for after college? I want to be a floral botanist in the medical research field. If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring with you? Wait, so am I just on it for a while or indefinitely? You’re on it forever.
People think I don’t do good “would you rathers?” But I do. For
Ok. A really nice mattress and some sunscreen. And some hot sauce. If you could go back to your first day at Fordham, what advice would you give yourself? Probably spend more time at the Biology building (Larkin) getting good grades and whatnot.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM
Terrence Walsh, a freshman, is skilled at creating “would you rather?” scenarios.
Autism Speaks U Fordham University Lights Up Eddie’s
PHOTO BY CODIE LANDSMAN/THE RAM
Fordham’s chapter of Autism Speaks U adorned Eddie’s with blue glow sticks as part of the Light It Up Blue movement.
By KAREN HILL ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Music, free pizza, smiles and fun all worked to the advantage of Austism Speaks U Fordham University earlier this month as the club worked to spread campus-wide awareness of autism in honor of the national Light It Up Blue movement. Monday, April 2, Fordham
University joined the movement by placing 60 blue glow sticks on Eddie’s in the shape of a large puzzle piece and by handing out glow sticks to students to crack together at dusk. Some other notable participants in the movement were the Empire State Building and Fenway Park in Boston. Fordham’s branch of Autism Speaks U initially had ambitions of lighting Keating blue;
however, they were financially restricted. The puzzle piece was a clever compromise. “It was a lot of work, but in the end it all came out well,” Adrian Whiting, FCRH ’14 and co-president of the chapter, said. Blue puzzle pieces are to autism as pink ribbons are to breast cancer: They are the cause’s internationally-recognized symbol. According to the Autism Speaks
U website, the puzzle piece represents the missing piece the group aims to find in forming a strong community of advocates for autism. This event was the club’s first major event of the semester. Autism Speaks U requires its branches to hold at least one major event per semester to keep the clubs active and spread awareness. “This is our first big event so we are using it to plan our future events,” Mike Chernichaw, FCRH ’14, said. “We’ll take our good things from this event and the bad things from the event to improve.” Prior to lighting Eddie’s, members of Fordham’s Autism Speaks U branch tabled on the McGinley Center lawn from 5 p.m. until sunset. From the table, speakers blasted and club members’ voices echoed through a megaphone, attracting the crowds if the free pizza had not already done the job. “It was a come-and-go type of event. We did have a lot of people at the table at once and we were always manning the table and that was good. We made a good showing out for it,” Chernichaw said. In particular, Michael Hobbin, FCRH ’15, in particular was moved enough to join and be a part of the event. “I kind of just showed up and said ‘Hey, can I help out?’” Hobbin said. “I’d like to start attending events more often and com-
mit myself more to the group.” At the table, the club held a raffle for various prizes, such as Yankee game tickets and iTunes gift cards; the money jar was filled to the brim with donations. Further fundraising continued at Puglesy’s pizza after the lighting, where a club-sponsored eat-up was held. “Sal was really enthusiastic about helping us,” Camille Ralmondi, FCRH ’14, said. “They gave 50 cents of every order, to us.” The event raised $325 in total. While this was an accomplishment, the awareness spread about autism was more valuable to the club than the money made. “We really got the word out about autism,” Whiting said. “Now no one has an excuse for not knowing about our chapter.” While the club is still applying to become an official campus club, its members have many more events planned. They recently visited the New York Center for Autism Charter School to help volunteer and educate themselves about the cause. “This is our first real interaction with autistic children so that is going to be a real plus,” Chernichaw said. In the distant future, they hope to host a walk or run around campus and through the Botanical Gardens, or even Central Park, as a way to involve the Fordham community and beyond. “We’re really looking forward to the future,” Whiting said.
PAGE 15
APRIL 11, 2012
Baseball Sweeps Away Temple Owls in Conference Series Rams Improve Conference Record to 6-3 Following Three Victories; Drop Game Against Rutgers By CHESTER BAKER SPORTS EDITOR
The Fordham baseball team hit the road yesterday, kicking off five straight games away from home with a loss against Rutgers. Fordham was downed by the Scarlett Knights 15-4, despite jumping to a one-run lead in the first inning. Sophomore Jonathan Reich was saddled with the loss, after giving up nine runs on 10 hits through five innings, including a second inning in which Rutgers put up eight runs. Senior utility infielder Ryan Maghini was one of the bright spots for the Rams, collecting three hits and driving home three runs. Freshman center fielder Matt Cianci was the only other Ram to notch multiple hits. Cianci also laid down a sacrifice bunt that led to a run. The brooms were out last weekend in the Bronx, however, as the Rams took all three games at Houlihan Park against the Temple Owls. This was the first sweep of the year for the Rams and the second conference series victory following Fordham’s pair of wins over St. Bonaventure earlier this month. With the victories, Fordham crept above .500 at home, now boasting an 8-7 record at Rose Hill. The wins over Temple also improved the Rams’ conference record to 6-3, including four wins in their last five Atlantic 10 games. Their record is good for fourth in the A-10, with UMass-Amherst leading the way with a 5-1 record. The Rams handed the Minutemen their only conference loss of the season in a series last month. Maghini believes that the Rams
PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM
Sophomore Tim Swatek is playing his first season at first base, following his stellar freshman season as pitcher. He had six hits in the doubleheader.
can compete for the playoffs if they continue to play well. “It is really all about staying consistent,” Maghini said. “We have had some success, but we need to be able to play well for a stretch of games and get some wins.” The series opened with an 8-5 win for the Rams, as senior DaniEl Munday got the victory. He was not very solid, giving up 14 hits over seven innings while striking out four. Munday battled, though, giving up just four earned runs as Temple squandered 11 men on base. Munday is now 2-2 on the year, with a 5.31 ERA .
Head Coach Kevin Leighton turned to juniors Rich Anastassi and Jeremy Adel to get through the last two innings for the Rams. “Anastassi and Adel have been our go-to guys this season,” Leighton said. “They are the guys that we are going to be relying on this season, and they have been getting the job done lately.” On the offensive side for the Rams, senior designated hitter Brian Kownacki, junior outfielder Ryan Lee and sophomore catcher Ryan Phelan all drove home two runs. The second game of the series saw freshman Chris Pike battle through seven innings to give
Fordham starters their second win of the weekend, 6-5. This was the first game of a double-dip held on April 7. Fordham fell behind 5-1, climbing back for a dramatic comeback victory, grabbing its first lead of the game in the seventh when Kownacki drove home a run on a hit-and-run. Anastassi almost blew the lead in the eighth, however, as it took a perfect throw from senior left fielder Stephen McSherry to nab the potential tying run at the plate, with Phelan applying the tag. Pike gave up nine runs in his seven innings of work. The freshman remains undefeated this season, boasting a 3-0 record with a 4.29 ERA . Once again, the offense was there to support him after surrendering some runs. “For some reason Pike, seems to be the guy that gets a lot of run support,” Leighton said. “Whenever he pitches, we seem to put some runs up.” This time, senior second baseman Mike Mauri led the charge for the Rams, collecting three RBI, including two on a triple in the bottom of the third. Mauri is the team’s best hitter on the season, as the only Ram with an average above .300. The senior also leads the team with 20 runs batted in for the season. Sophomore first baseman Tim Swatek also chipped in on the scoreboard, collecting three base knocks as well as scoring a run and stealing a base. In the third game, it would not have mattered who was in the lineup, as junior Joey Charest fired yet another gem in the final victory of the weekend for Fordham. Charest has been simply sublime over his last three starts,
collecting a win in each outing. The junior was the third starter to go deep in the game, tossing eight innings of five hit ball, while giving up just two runs. “He struggled early in the season and racked up some losses,” Leighton said. “But he has been pitching great lately and has been getting the job done for us.” Charest opened the season with five straight losses, without registering a no-decision this season. His record now stands at 3-5, and his ERA has dropped down to under four for the first time this year. The offense gave Charest more than enough run support this time, following a few instances of limited help over his starts this season. The nine runs given to Charest were the most he has had to work with all season. Seven Rams collected an RBI, while McSherry was the only one to double up, driving home two on a home run to deep left field in the third inning. Swatek notched his second straight three-hit game, giving him six on the day. With his offensive outburst, the sophomore pushed his average up to .245. The Rams will continue their five-game road trip. They travel across the city to take on Manhattan, as Leighton returns to face his former program for the first time since taking the Fordham job this offseason. Following the homecoming, the team will head out to Dayton to take on the Flyers in a threegame conference set. Dayton is currently tied with the Rams for fourth in the conference, with an identical 6-3 record.
Men’s and Women’s Track Teams Compete in Pair of Tournaments By RYAN SCANLON STAFF WRITER
The last two weeks of races have been eventful for the Fordham men’s and women’s track teams. During the weekend of March 31, the squad competed in the Raleigh Relays. Head Coach Tom Dewey and the rest of the staff decided to take a small group of athletes down to the meet while the rest of the team took part in the Farleigh Dickinson University Knight Classic in Teaneck, N.J The Raleigh Relays were highlighted by the performance of Fordham men’s middle-distance group, namely the 4x800-m relay, notching an IC4A bid with a finishing time of 7:38.09 placing third. Participants in the third-place effort were freshman Dan Green, junior Michael Rossi, sophomore Ryan Polo and junior Sean Atkinson. Sophomore hurdler Sean Collins also hit the qualifying standard for the IC4A meet. He finished in an impressive time of 53.64 in the 400-m hurdles. On the women’s side, the 4x400m relay has been steadily improving
this season, and it showed. The team of senior Kelly Connolly, sophomore Titi Fagade, senior Elisabeth Warren and freshman Kristen Stewart ran a 3:50.30, good enough to qualify them for the ECAC championships and place 14th. This past weekend, the weekend of April 6, the Rams split up yet again, sending one group to Williamsburg, Va. for the Colonial Relays hosted by the College of William and Mary and another group to the Wagner Invitational in Staten Island, N.Y. hosted by Wagner College. The men’s team finished eighth out of 43 teams at the Colonial Relays, facing a pretty stacked field. Notable Fordham individual performances were predominantly found in the distance races. Kevin Fitzgerald improved his 1,500-m time to 3:46.43 to earn a fourth place finish on Saturday. The senior captain has shown that his strength lies in the 1,500-m run, as well as in his position as the anchor leg on Fordham’s strong 4x800-m relay. Senior Sam Stuart and sophomore Kevin Harvey finished ninth and 10th respectively in the 3,000-m run, plac-
ing within a second of each other in 8:38.70 and 8:39.54. The 4x800-m relay team of Polo, Green, junior John Cosgrove and Fitzgerald was in action again this weekend, improving their season time to 7:34.29 and placing third. The men’s 4x400-m relay looked strong as well, taking fifth and hitting the IC4A standard with a time of 3:15.59. This group consisted of Atkinson, senior Nick Delligatti, sophomore Sam Houston and Collins. The women stole the show on Saturday, setting two school records in the 4x200-m relay and 4x400-m relay. The fifth place finish of the 4x200-m team in 1:42.85 was the fastest in school history, beating the record set in 2003. This historic team was made up of Fagade, sophomore Averie Sheppard, Connolly and freshman Melissa Higgins. The 4x400-m relay team of Fagade, Connolly, freshman Kristin Stuart and Warren broke out as well in Williamsburg. Improving by nearly three seconds, they took fourth overall in 3:47.59. This just edged out the pre-
vious school record of 3:47.81, but this group is looking to widen the gap between the times. In the individual races, the women performed just as strongly. Stuart won the 400m hurdles in 62.80, an impressive feat. Sophomore Anisa Arsenault
took second in the 3,000-m run in 9:59.68, finishing less than two seconds behind the leader. The Fordham track and field team swill next be in action on Friday, April 13 at the Metropolitan Championships.
PHOTO BY AARON MAYS/THE RAM
The women’s relay teams set two new school records in the 4x200-m relay and the 4x400-m relay on Saturday, April 8.
SPORTS
PAGE 16 • THE RAM • APRIL 11, 2012
Breaking Down the NHL Playoffs By NICK CARROLL STAFF WRITER
Finally, the playoffs. After weeks of watching teams jostle for playoff positioning or overcome themselves just to make the playoffs, it’s finally time for the league’s best teams to shine on the sport’s biggest stage. Let’s preview the first round and try to find some kind of method to the much-anticipated madness. Ottawa Senators vs. New York Rangers It’s pretty easy to overlook the Senators. A team that was expected to be among the league’s worst coming into the year, Ottawa started strong and never tapered off, staying in the playoff picture for the entire season. However, it is important to note that the Sens are not the Panthers (more on them later). They did not need any breaks to make the playoffs. Ottawa is an explosive team, led by one of the league’s most underthe-radar playmakers (seriously, did anyone realize Jason Spezza had 50 assists and 84 points?), that features guys like Milan Michalek, who had 35 goals this season and Daniel Alfredsson. Perhaps the most notable player in this incarnation of the Senators is 21-year-old Erik Karlsson, who has emerged as the league’s best offensive defenseman. Basically, what this boils down to is that the Sens can score, and that could give the Rangers some problems (they did win three of four games against the Rangers this season). Throughout the season, New York often found itself relying on Vezina Trophy-favorite Henrik Lundqvist. The worst-case scenario for the Rangers is that Lundqvist, who has been pedestrian since the All-Star Game, is not a significant advantage over Craig Anderson, who epitomizes pedestrian, and Karlsson and the Senators dictate play against the Rangers. That said, the Senators still need the breaks and the Rangers should win this series. Prediction: New York in seven Washington Capitals vs. Boston Bruins Nostalgia can be pretty powerful. When you look at the Capitals, you see a team filled with the same star players as the teams that consistently finished atop the Eastern Conference over the past few seasons. This isn’t the same team, though. While the Caps have become a trendy pick because of a resurgent Alexander Ovechkin, the Caps no longer have the same depth that made them such a dangerous team. There probably isn’t a team more difficult to project than the Caps. While Washington seemed to do all it could to make the playoff race interesting, the Caps made the playoffs despite a carousel of goaltenders and mediocre play. After months of anticipation, however, Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green are all finally healthy. Really, the Capitals are too talented to be opening in Boston and should have won the Southeast Division. Mike Green hasn’t been the same, though. Semin is as frustrating as
ever. Backstrom and Ovechkin are still great players, but are they enough to lead the Caps past Boston? The Bruins, who faced a myriad of questions following a mid-March slide, finished the season by winning nine of 12 and look poised for another playoff run. The B’s might not be as deep as they were last year, but the key ingredients are still in place to be a difficult playoff matchup. Washington needs Ovechkin to be the best player on the ice at all times (and overcome Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron) and Braden Holtby to hold his own in a pressure-packed environment. Washington might finally be healthy and ready to take off, but this is a difficult matchup. The Bruins might be the best two-way team in the NHL, leading the league in goal differential this season. Prediction: Boston in six Florida Panthers vs. New Jersey Devils For what it’s worth, the Devils are better than the Panthers and should win this series fairly easily. Let’s not waste any more time on this series. No matter who wins, they’re getting whacked in the Conference Semifinals. Prediction: New Jersey in five Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Just a week after these two teams brawled to the finish in Pittsburgh, the main event of the first round pits two familiar foes against each other in what could make or break either team’s season. The Penguins are probably the team best-prepared for the playoffs. After overcoming injuries to Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Jordan Staal, the Penguins are completely healthy heading into the playoffs. While everyone knows about the Penguins’ potent attack, which led the league in goals, the Penguins’ defensive core of Letang, the muchmaligned Paul Martin, Zbynek Michalek and Brooks Orpik is as good as it gets. The Penguins are the deepest and strongest team in the league. The biggest concern for Pittsburgh has to be that this is just a bad matchup for the Penguins. While the Penguins have ended the Flyers’ season twice since the lockout, the Flyers have won eight of their last 12 games against their rivals, including five of six in Pittsburgh. For every haymaker the Penguins can throw at their opponents, the Flyers counterpunch with the best of them, finishing third in the league in goals. Even 40-year-old Jaromir Jagr, who has looked a step slow this season, has scored four goals in six games against his former team. With Danny Briere and Nick Grossmann healthy for Philadelphia and the Flyers’ recent success against the Penguins, this looks like it has the potential to be a hard-fought early exit for Pittsburgh, which is unfair. Regardless of who it is, the winner of this series is going to the Cup Finals. Prediction: Philadelphia in seven See theramonline.com for the Western Conference breakdown.
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Baseball Fordham 6-5 Temple Fordham
AB
R
H HR RBI
4 5 5 4 2 3 4 3 4
1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0
3 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0
Totals
34
6
11 0 5
Temple
AB
Swatek Cianci Lee Maghini R. Mauri McSherry Kownacki Phelan Calabrese
1b cf rf ss 2b lf dh c 3b
Queja Lustrino Nikorak Juran Reilly Elko Khan Yarborough Dunigan
lf ss 3b c rf 1b cf dh 2b
Totals Fordham
IP
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 2 1 1 0 3 1 0 1
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 0
34
5 10 0
5
H
R
ER BB SO
Pike 7.0 9 Anastasi 1.0 1 Adel 1.0 0
5 0 0
5 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
Temple
IP
H
R
ER BB SO
Hockenberry 5.1 9 McCarthy 2.2 2
5 1
5 2 2 1 1 1
Fordham 2-5 George Washington
Fordham
AB
R
H HR RBI
LaBovick 1b Lombardo ph/1b Callahan 2b Ortiz dp Turgeon cf Fortier 3b Palumbo ss Daubman rf Krasinsky ph Luety c Smith pr Bright lf
3 1 4 3 3 4 4 3 1 4 0 3
2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1 1 2 3 0 1 3 0 0 1 0 1
Totals
33
5
13 0 5
AB
R
H HR RBI
3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
21
0
0 0 0
Singles
R H HR RBI 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0
Men’s Tennis Fordham 5-0 Temple
0 1 0 0 3 1 1 0 0
5 4 4 4 2 3 4 4 4
Softball
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
1. Dias (GW) def. Kowalski (Fordham) 6-3, 6-1 2. Alla (Fordham) def. Atalay (GW) 7-5, 6-3 3. van Gils (GW) def. Koran (Fordham) 6-3, 6-3 4. Lapentii (GW) def. Gram (Fordham) 0-6, 6-4, 6-0 5. Peara (Fordham) def. Thomsen (GW) 6-1, 6-1 6. Blumenfeld (GW) def. Krouham (Fordham) 7-5, 6-3
Temple
Doubles Robinson Schoell Prezioso Pasquale Knable Marley Pujol Kastner Sykora
cf 3b ss c 1b dh rf 2b lf
Totals
E - Swatek(5). LOB - Owls 7; Rams 9. 2B - Nikorak(9); Maghini(6); McSherry(10); Kownacki(5). 3B - Elko(3); Swatek(1); Mauri(1). HBP - Mauri; Phelan. SH - Nikorak(2); Reilly(2). SB - Khan(9); Swatek(4). CS Lee(4).
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1. Dias/Atalay (GW) def. Koran/ Kowalski (Fordham) 8-5 2. Thomsen/van Gils (GW) def. Alla/Peara (Fordham) 8-5 3. Lapentii/Svensson (GW) def. Gram/Tauil (Fordham) 8-3
Fordham 4-3 Fairfield
Fordham IP H R ER BB SO
Singles
Mineau
1. Kowalski (Fordham) def.Sauter (Fairfield) 6-4, 6-3
Temple Catalano
7.0 0 0 0 IP
0
15
H R ER BB SO
7.0 13 5
4 4
5
2. Tesmond (Fairfield) def. Alla (Fordham) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 3. Koran (Fordham) def. Michalisin (Fairfield) 6-3, 7-5 4. Zlobinsky (Fairfield) def. Gram (Fordham) 6-1, 7-5
E - Robinson; Kastner. LOB - FOR 12. 2B - LaBovick; Ortiz 2. SH Bright
5. Kremheller (Fairfield) def. Peara (Fordham) 6-1, 6-0 6. Krouham (Fordham) def. Tioutine (Fairfield) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 Doubles
Fordham 9-2 Temple Fordham
AB
R
H HR RBI
Swatek 1b Cianci cf Lee rf Maghini R. ss Mauri 2b McSherry lf Kownacki dh Maghini B.ph Small c Calabrese 3b Conway ph DeSilva pr
4 4 5 5 5 3 4 1 4 3 1 0
3 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1
3 2 3 1 2 2 1 0 0 1 1 0
Totals
39
9
16 1 8
Temple
AB
Queja Stiles Lustrino Nikorak Juran Yarborough Elko Khan Knabe Hall Dunigan
lf ph ss 3b dh ph c cf 1b rf 2b
Totals
0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fordham 5-6 Temple
2. Alla/Peara (Fordham) def. Michalisin/Kremheller (Fairfield) 8-6 3. Gram/Koran (Fordham) def. Tesmond/Amyot (Fairfield) unfinished
1 1 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 0
Fordham
AB
R
H HR RBI
LaBovick 1b 3 Willis pr 0 Callahan 2b 1 Ortiz dh 2 Turgeon cf 4 Palumbo ss 3 Fortier 3b 4 Luety c 3 Crowley rf 2 Daubman ph/rf 0 Bright lf 3
0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Totals
5
5 2 5
25
0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
34
2 6 0
1
Fordham
IP
H
R
ER BB SO
Charest Porter
8.0 5 1.0 1
1 1
1 2 5 1 1 0
Temple
IP
Peterson Kuehn
5.2 11 2.1 5
R
ER BB SO
7 2
6 2 5 2 1 5
Women’s Tennis Fordham 0-7 Temple Singles 1. Mavrina (Temple) def. Ali (Fordham) 6-1, 6-0 2. Doms (Temple) def. Dabu (Fordham) 6-1, 6-4
R H HR RBI
4 1 4 4 3 1 4 4 3 4 2
H
1. Kowalski/Tauil (Fordham) def. Sauter/Zlobinski (Fairfield) 8-5, 6-3
Temple Robinson Schoell Prezioso Pasquale Knable Marley Kastner Sykora Cook McKeon
cf 3b ss c 1b dh 2b lf ph rf
Total
E - Peterson(2); Mauri(8); Small(4); Calabrese(2). DP - Rams 1. LOB - Owls 8; Rams 10. 2B - Maghini(7); Mauri(5). HR - McSherry(1). SH - McSherry(2). SB - Dunigan(1); Swatek(5); Calabrese(2).
AB
R
H HR RBI
3. Batey (Temple) def. Genkina (Fordham) 6-4, 6-3
4 2 3 3 3 3 3 2 1 3
1 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
1 0 1 1 1 2 1 0 0 0
4. Calderon (Temple) def. Leong (Fordham) 6-2, 6-1
27
6
7 0 4
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0
5. Rozite (Temple) def. Fritzinger (Fordham) 6-1, 6-1 6. Ama Osei (Temple) def. Tremaine (Fordham) 6-3, 6-1 Doubles 1. Breland/Grimaldi (Temple) def. Ali/Genkina (Fordham) 8-4
Fordham IP H R ER BB SO
2. Doms/Rozite (Temple) def. Dabu/ Tremaine (Fordham) 8-2
Mineau
3. Fritzinger/Leong (Fordham) def. Bohman/Ama Osei (Temple) 8-6
6.0 7 6 2
Temple
IP
White
5.2 5 5
0
9
H R ER BB SO 5 7
5
E - Fortier 3. LOB - FOR 8; Owls 4. 2B - Pasquale; Marley; Kastner. HR Callahan; Ortiz. HBP - Ortiz. SH Schoell. SF - Ortiz.
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Fordham 6-1 Villanova Singles 1. Ali (Fordham) def. Mancini (Nova) 6-3, 6-0 2. Dabu (Fordham) def. Solberg (Nova) 6-3, 6-1 3. Genkina (Fordham) def. West (Nova) 6-4, 6-1 4. Leong (Fordham) def. Pettee (Nova) 6-2, 6-2 5. Fritzinger (Fordham) def. Nelson (Nova) 6-4, 6-3 6. Harding (Nova) def. Boyle (Fordham) 4-6, 7-5, 10-4 Doubles 1. Ali/Genkina (Fordham) def. Mancini/West (Nova) 8-4 2. Dabu/Tremaine (Fordham) def. Solberg/Gobberg (Nova) 8-3 3. Leong/Fritzinger (Fordham) def. Cognetti/Donadio (Nova) 8-4
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SPORTS
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APRIL 11, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 17
Men’s Tennis Drops Three Out of Four Matches as Record Falls to 15-8 By KARA SCAGLIOLA STAFF WRITER
Fordham men’s tennis is facing an uphill battle after dropping three of its last four matches. The first loss was to Farleigh Dickinson University. With only one out of three doubles victories, courtesy of Srikar Alla and Max Peara, the Rams dropped the doubles point to the Knights, a point that would later prove to be important in this match. The Rams began to battle back in singles, with Alla taking his match (6-1, 6-3), Koran taking his (6-2, 7-6(5)) and Kowalski being victorious as well (6-1, 6-3, 6-3). Unfortunately, these three victories were not enough, and the Knights took the match with a close score of 4-3. “This was another battle for our guys,” Head Coach Cory Hubbard said. “Unfortunately we have come up a little short. Once again ,the top three guys played great, and Srikar played one of his best matches of the year. FDU is a very deep team and should make the NCAAs this year. The positive is, our program has come a long way in one year, and the fact that we are getting to 4-3 with these type of teams really shows we are close and can compete with any team.” The Rams faced another tough loss against Charlotte, the team that finished fifth in last year’s championship, on March 30. Charlotte took two out of the three doubles matches, and with that, the doubles point as Alla
and Peara took the only doubles win for Fordham (8-3). Although the Rams did not take any of the singles points, they did take four of the six matches to a third set, demonstrating their resilience. “Today’s match was much closer than the final score indicated,” Hubbard said. “I’m so proud of the way our team continued to fight after being down 1-0 and losing five first sets. We did not play that well in the beginning and really dug a big hole. But after about two hours of getting beat, we were able to hang in and turn the momentum around get the last four matches into third sets with a chance to win.” Fordham continued its run against tough teams, as it faced last year’s champions, George Washington University, on March 31, just one day after its tough loss to Charlotte. While this match resulted in a loss as well, the Rams still held their own and showed that they are on their way to earning their place among the best teams in the A-10. As GW took all doubles matches along with the doubles point, the pressure was on the Rams to shine in singles play, and they certainly made a valiant attempt at doing so. Peara took his match in straight sets (6-1, 6-1) and Alla took his battle (7-5, 6-3), which brought the Rams into just one point of a tie (3-2). Unfortunately, the Rams could not hold on and dropped their last singles play, awarding the match to GW (5-2). “We were alive until the end
and won three first sets and were battling back in the other two matches. We lost the three matches to the top teams in the A-10, but we definitely were capable of winning every match. We have established ourselves as a legitimate team and I know that no team will want to see us in the tournament,” a confident Coach Hubbard said, clearly not disappointed by his team’s play, as the Rams have been anticipating playing such aggressive teams for a while. However, the Rams finished this streak on a high note, defeating Fairfield 4-3 on April 3. Fordham began the match by taking the doubles point, a point
that is becoming increasingly crucial to their close games, with teams of Alla and Peara, and Kowalski and Tauli taking its matches. However, Fairfield pulled ahead taking the first two singles matches, again setting the Rams up for an uphill battle. However, the Rams only saw victory, and Kowalski (6-3, 6-3) and Koran took the finals singles match to give the Rams their 4-3 victory. “Today was basically been a microcosm of every match we’ve played this entire season,” Hubbard said. “Every match seems to come down to 3-2 with two matches left or 3-3 with one match left. We really put ourselves
in position to win every match but came up short against the better teams. Today we were down 3-2 with two matches left, Jan was down a break in the third set and came back and won and Mischa clinched it in the end.” This win brought the Rams to an overall 15-8 on the year and proved that the Rams surely have a fighting attitude in their play. On this high note, the Rams will open play at the 2012 Atlantic 10 Championships on Friday, April 13 in Mason, Oh. After such aggressive games, the Rams should be ready to face tough opponents that the championships will hand them.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL HAYES/THE RAM
Despite dropping three matches this week, the men’s tennis team is still enjoying one of the best years in recent history.
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PAGE 18 •THE RAM •APRIL11,2012
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
CHRISTIAN BEAULIEU
CHRISTIAN BEAULIEU Major League Baseball has begun, the NHL playoffs are beginning and the NBA is approaching its playoffs. I spent Easter Sunday watching the Mets, Yankees and the biggest sporting event of the day: the Masters at famous Augusta National. It was an exciting tournament, which concluded with a great playoff between Bubba Watson and South African native, Louis Oosthuizen. Watson outlasted Oosthuizen in large part due to an amazing shot on the second hole of a one-on-one playoff. Watson walked away with the green jacket, while Oosthuizen finished second. Watson’s playoff shot would usually be dubbed the shot of the match; however, it was the second place finisher to an earlier remarkable shot by Oosthuizen. Earlier in the day, on the Par 5 second hole, Oosthuizen lined up his second shot from 253 yards out. With a four iron and a long and fortuitous roll, he holed the shot. Oosthuizen scored a double-eagle, only the fourth in the history of the Masters and the first ever on the second hole. With a big gap-toothed smile and a high five with his caddy, Oosethuizen went to retrieve the ball. When he retrieved it, he nonchalantly tossed it into the crowd. The ball went straight into the the welcoming hands of 59-year-old Wayne Mitchell, who wasted no time in wisely depositing it into his zipped shorts pocket. That’s where one of the most famous balls in Masters history lay until Mitchell was escorted away by two club employees wearing green jackets. As Mitchell was taken away by Augusta National employees, there were several golf collectable companies who were offering large sums of money for the historic ball via Twitter. One of the highest offers was reportedly in the vicinity of $20,000. However, the bidding frenzy was never able to take off because, within hours, Augusta was in possession of the ball. Mitchell had freely donated the ball to the club and the compensation he received was not disclosed by the club. It appears, however, that Wayne Mitchell turned down a large sum for money in exchange of giving the ball to its “rightful” place. This brings back memories of Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit ball. Jeter was the first Yankee to get his 3,000th hit in a Yankee uniform and, like Wade Boggs, he achieved the feat with a home run. The downside of achieving the milestone on a home run for Jeter,
SPORTS however, was that a fan was in possession of the historic ball. The fan who caught the ball was Christian Lopez, and even though it was widely believed that he could auction the ball off for anywhere from $200,000 to $250,000, Lopez decided to give the ball back without demand of compensation. Jeter ended up giving him a plethora of autographed memorabilia, and the Yankees gave him box seats for the 31 remaining home games in the season. With the growing memorabilia market, fans are having both history and small fortunes fall into their laps, and it’s become increasingly difficult not to capitalize on such opportunities. Mitchell would rather see the ball with people who truly cherish that kind of history, while Lopez was quoted as saying that he gave the ball back because “Jeter deserved it.” While both men were doing their best Good Samaritan impressions, I asked myself what I would do if I were put in the same situation. Lopez’s act happened in the huge market of New York, involving the historic Yankees and their beloved captain. As a fan of the Yankees and everything it means to put on the pinstripes, being able to give back to your team may not have a price (although $200,000 sounds pretty close). Lopez had the luxury of being praised incessantly by the Yankees and New York media during the mania that followed Jeter’s 3,000th hit. Less than a season later, his fifteen minutes of fame are up, however, and I hope that he has a really strong sense of pride every time he looks at Jeter’s signed memorabilia and those 31 ticket stubs. To a lot of people $200,000 is a life-changing amount of money, and it’s got to be really tough to turn that down to win over a bunch of players who make that much money in a month. I would have a really tough time not taking the money, especially for as little as Lopez received. If I turned down the money, I would at least like to have one lifetime season ticket and my own parking spot at Yankee Stadium. In the case of Mitchell, it becomes a little different. $20,000 is enough to drastically change your year, but it isn’t enough to truly change the life of a 59-year-old man who had front-row seats at the Masters. I don’t know how much Augusta ended up giving him as compensation but it would be great if he got to play a round at the famed course or got lifetime passes to future Masters events. Augusta has a lot to offer Mitchell as compensation that would come a lot closer to the $20,000 for which he could have reportedly sold it. I think Mitchell made the right choice, but I would have held out for a chance to play at Augusta. If it had been Tiger or Mickelson that had the famed shot, or even the shot from someone who ended up winning, I think he could have held out for more. Is membership to the most exclusive golf club in America too high? I think its safe to assume that Wayne Mitchell wishes that question was more than hypothetical.
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Senior Profile: Ryan Maghini
PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM
Maghini is a four-year starter in the infield for the Rams. He has seen significant time at both third base and shortstop.
By CHESTER BAKER SPORTS EDITOR
Ryan Maghini is a senior leader for the Fordham baseball team, playing wherever the team has needed him this season. While switching around the infield, Ryan is also tied for the team lead in home runs, following his lead from last year when he led the team with four homers. Maghini hails from Madison, Conn., where he was a star player for Daniel Hand High School. The Ram: You have seen consistent playing time in every season at Fordham. What has it been like to play every day? Ryan Maghini: It’s been a lot of fun to be able to play so much. It’s been tough on the body, but we do a lot of speed in conditioning to make sure our bodies are ready for everyday play. Just having the chance to go out there is what counts, and it’s what we work for. TR: Other than the conditioning, how else do you stay in shape throughout the year, being one of just two players to start every game last season? RM: It’s all about getting enough sleep, having a balanced diet and the work we do in the weight room. Stretching is really important too, because it keeps my body relaxed and ready to play. You just need to find a balanced lifestyle. TR: Your brother Brendan transferred here from LeMoyne this season. What has it been like to play with him?
around the infield a lot this season. What do you think is your natural position?
game. And then with the addition of Coach Jackson too, it’s great to have these guys around.
RM: I played a lot of third base in high school and worked out with my coaches there most of the time. Moving to shortstop is tough, but it’s basically the same position: just got to field it and make the throw.
TR: Going back to your time before Fordham, was baseball always your favorite sport as a kid, or did you mix up what you played?
TR: This season a new, all-turf infield was installed at Houlihan Park. What is it like to play on that surface? RM: It makes a huge difference, especially compared to what we had last year. With the dirt cutouts we had, the edges were always getting caked with dirt, and it made some balls hard to read. But on the turf you always get a true hop. TR: Houlihan has some huge dimensions in the outfield, but you have two home runs at home this season. What does it take to get one out of there? RM: Really you just got to get your pitch and hit it hard. Just being at the plate is overwhelming with how far away the fences are, but the main key is trying to hit the ball hard into the gaps. Our coaches just give us the approach to go up there and swing hard at good pitches. TR: This season marks the first for new Head Coach Kevin Leighton. What is it like to play for him? RM: He’s great. He is very smart. He has a very high baseball IQ, and we are very fortunate to have him. He played at a high level in college, so he knows a lot about the
RM: Baseball has always been my favorite. I played other sports, but I always liked baseball the best. I played in the winter, summer and fall so it was really an all-year thing for me. TR: What is your favorite team? RM: The Yankees have always been my team. TR: If you had to pick one favorite player who would it be? RM: Probably would have to go with the captain, Derek Jeter. I just think he plays the game the right way. TR: What are your plans going forward? RM: Hopefully a team sees me and picks me up in the draft. If not, then I want to find something in the financial world. TR: Last season, two Fordham players were taken in the draft. Did that give you any confidence that Major League clubs would take a closer look at Fordham? RM: Yeah, that was definitely a boost. It’s always a nice sign to see scouts at the game and to see that there is enough talent at the school that Major League teams are taking notice of the players.
RM: It’s been great to play with him. We’ve been playing together since high school, so this is pretty much a dream come true. I’ve made a lot of friends here, but it is always nice to have a brother so close to you. TR: Since he’s your little brother, do you ever nag on him if he makes a bad play? RM: He’s only a year younger than me, but I have more baseball experience than him, so I have definitely given him a lot of advice. He does not make that many mistakes, and he has a very good baseball IQ. We do most things the same way, so I just let him work. PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM
TR: You have been switched
Maghini led the team last season with four home runs; he has two this year.
SPORTS
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Fordham’s Brienne Ryan Competes at NCAA National Meet By TIM DEROCHER STAFF WRITER
On March 16 and 17, Fordham junior Rams swimmer Brienne Ryan competed at the 2012 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships. This meet was filled with the top collegiate performers, even some Olympic-level swimmers. Ryan is just the third Fordham swimmer to have earned this honor, competing in both the 100 and 200yard backstroke events. The meet took place at Auburn University in Alabama, where Ryan placed in the top 20 for both of her events. The meet as a whole was a new level of experience for Ryan. “The fastest girls in the country were there, there were cameras everywhere,” Ryan said. “I’ve never been to anything like it before.” So intense is the competition at the NCAA Championships that Ryan’s coach Steve Potsklan sees it as a tough race to place in. “Only 30 percent of the swimmers go faster than their previous best times,” Potsklan said. Despite all of this, Ryan produced a quality 100-yard backstroke and a record-setting performance in the 200-yard backstroke. Ryan finished the 100 in a time of 53.10, giving her 20th place, just missing the finals and All-American status by a quarter of a second. Ryan then took the momentum from the 100yard swim into the following day’s 200-yard backstroke to produce a school-record time. “At Atlantic 10 Championships, I was a little disappointed after that [200-meter] event,” Ryan said. “I wanted another chance at NCAAs before the end of the season.” Her other chance came and Ryan threw down a spectacular time of 1:54.67, breaking the school record and earning 17th place. This place was, as Coach Potsklan said, “both sweet and sour,” because in earning 17th place Ryan missed the crucial 16th place that would have sent her to the finals and All-American status by the slimmest of margins at three one-hundredths of a second. Despite this, Ryan, Potsklan and the meet community were wholly impressed by Ryan’s swim. “She was the talk of the meet,” Potsklan said. “It was a fantastic swim and a great drop in time. I think it is probably one of the best individual performances by any
individual athlete in Fordham history.” Ryan’s response was equally optimistic. “Honestly, that doesn’t even matter,” she said. “At the end of the season, all I’m looking for is a best time. Just being able to qualify for NCAAs is amazing. It’s so difficult to get into this meet, so I’m just glad that I got the chance to be there and hopefully I can do a little better next year.” Adding to the impressiveness of Ryan’s swim is the fact that Fordham is not a large school with the resources to regularly produce athletes of this caliber as often as some schools like Ohio State and Michigan can. “We’re a mid-major college, not a Texas or Stanford,” Potsklan said. “Very few get in from mid-majors and then perform that high.” Not only has Ryan had a season culminating in a finish like this, but she is a junior and Fordham gets the pleasure of having her complete another season for the Rams. It can be said with some certainty that good things are to come from an athlete whose coach describes her as, “a very receptive and competitive athlete who wants to be out there with the best.” “Everything I’ve asked her to do, she’s taken that challenge and made the most of it,” Potsklan said. In true competitive form, Ryan is looking to step it up another level from the NCAA Championships. “I will be training here at Fordham over the summer for Olympic trials, which are at the end of June,” Ryan said. It goes without saying that attending any Olympic trial as a college junior is a highly-noteworthy accomplishment. That is not to say she has not set sights on next year either. “As for next season, I’m just hoping we can do even better at A-10s and maybe even get a relay to go to NCAAs,” Ryan said. When it comes to competition, Ryan has shown both her individual talents and her will to bring a championship trophy to the Fordham Rams. But, Ryan is not just an athlete. In late March, she was named to the Atlantic 10 Swimming & Diving Academic All-Conference Team. This prestigious honor exemplifies the accomplishment of what Fordham student-athletes strive to do: win on and off the playing fields.
APRIL 11, 2012 • THE RAM • PAGE 19
By DAN GARTLAND SPORTS EDITOR
On Easter Sunday, long before my mother stuck a fork in the ham and proclaimed it “done,” the same had already been done of Tiger Woods. Woods failed to break par in any of his four rounds at the Masters and never had a shot at the green jacket. He may have won 14 majors, but his last was the 2007 PGA Championship. It’s time to forget about Tiger and embrace the new era of golf. The Masters was enticing, even though Tiger was never a factor. At about 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, I was told it was time to eat and was forcibly removed from my spot in front of the television right as Bubba Watson prepared to extricate himself from the pine straw on the second playoff hole. After grace, I was able to sneak away to see Watson sink the clinching putt. Only later did I see Watson’s masterful recovery from deep in the Georgia pines, drawing the ball around the corner of the trees and planting it 12 feet from the hole for one of the more unconventional greens-in-regulation in the history of the Masters. As amazing as it was, Watson’s shot wasn’t even the day’s most impressive. That distinction belonged to Louis Oosthuizen — Watson’s opponent in the playoff — who holed out on his second shot on the par-5 second for the elusive albatross, catapulting himself into the lead at 10 under par. Oosthuizen spent the rest of the day protecting that lead. He balanced out bogeys on the fourth and the 10th with birdies on the 13th and the 15th. Meanwhile, Watson (his playing partner) made a charge, with four consecutive birdies on 13, 14, 15 and 16, and tied Oosthuizen at 10 under. Peter Hanson, the leader heading into the day, faltered on Sunday, shooting a one-over 73 and finishing the tournament at 8 under — two strokes shy of joining Watson and Oosthuizen in the
playoff. Matt Kuchar carded an eagle on the 15th, but gave a stroke back on the par-3 16th and finished at eight-under as well. Lee Westwood, a former world No. 1, played the front at even par but strung together three straight birdies on 13, 14 and 15 on his way to a round of 68. Westwood, too, finished the tournament at 8 under in a four-way tie for third place. The fourth man at 8 under was Phil Mickelson, who was unable to recover from a disastrous triple-bogey on the par-three sixth, though he did manage to shoot even par in the final round. The point is, there were six guys who had a legitimate shot at the green jacket on Sunday. Tiger Woods didn’t have to be one of them to make this an exciting tournament. Fred Couples, at 52 years old, had a share of the lead after Friday’s round. Rory McIlroy, who famously squandered the 54-hole lead at last year’s Masters, was in striking position heading into the weekend. Sergio Garcia, whose woeful performance in majors has been well-documented, began play Saturday at 4 under par and gave people reason to believe he could finally win his first major. Patrick Cantlay, a UCLA sophomore who set the course record at TPC River Highlands at last year’s Traveler’s Championship, finished as the low amateur. Dustin Johnson, one of the game’s bright young stars, was forced to pull out of the Masters with a back injury. As one of the Tour’s longest hitters, Johnson is a lot of fun to watch. Oosthuizen, the runner-up, isn’t some one-hit wonder; he won the 2010 British Open by seven strokes. Then he sort of fell off the map, but after his strong performance at Augusta last weekend, don’t expect him to go away any time soon. There were plenty of players, young and old, who showed that there is life after Tiger for the
Upcoming Varsity Schedule CAPS=HOME Thursday lowercase=away April 12 Baseball
Softball Men’s Tennis
Friday April 13
Saturday April 14
Sunday April 15
at Dayton 3 p.m.
at Dayton 1 p.m.
at Dayton 12 p.m.
SAINT SAINT LOUIS LOUIS 1 p.m. 3 p.m. Atlantic 10 Championships Mason, Ohio
Women’s Tennis Track & Field
Women’s Rowing Men’s Golf PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM
Ryan became only the third Fordham swimmer to qualify for NCAA Nationals.
game of golf. At 22, McIlroy probably has the best chance of anybody in the game to become what Tiger was at the height of his career: a seemingly unstoppable force. In 2010, he tied the course record at St. Andrew’s Old Course with a 63 in the opening round of the Open Championship (the lowest firstround score in the history of the Open). Last year, he held the lead at the Masters by four strokes after three rounds, but simply imploded on Sunday with a round of 80. A few months later, he cruised to an eight-stroke victory at the US Open. Tiger only won one major before his 25th birthday; McIlroy will play 12 more majors before he turns 25, and it isn’t much of a stretch to think he could win more than one. McIlroy may be the future, but Watson is the present. At 33, he is entering the prime of his career. In eight tournaments this year he has four top-10 finishes. He’s leading the Tour in average driving distance and is second in greensin-regulation. Not to mention, he has a certain amount of flair that makes him appealing to the average fan. There’s something a little edgy about Bubba leading the PGA in distance off the tee while using a pink driver. There is no lack of exciting young players in golf today. Why should we keep hoping for an aging former superstar with a lousy attitude and shady personal life to take the game by storm again? After his victory at Bay Hill two weeks ago, people thought we might see the Tiger of old. Instead, we saw the new Tiger: high scores and temper tantrums. After an errant tee shot on the par-3 16th, Woods dropped his club and kicked it in disgust. I was reminded of the 2009 British Open, when Tiger missed the cut and routinely made juvenile displays like that. That was when I started to dislike Tiger Woods — five months before his infamous Thanksgiving car crash. Now, I’m done with him. It’s time to move on.
Monday April 16
Tuesday April 17
Wednesday April 18
IONA 7 p.m. at Hofstra 6 p.m. RIDER and MARIST 11 a.m., 3 p.m.
ST. JOHN’S 1 p.m. Metropolitan Championships Princeton, N.J. Knecht Cup Camden, NJ Rhody Invitational Green Valley Country Club Portsmouth, RI
APRIL 11, 2012
PAGE 20
Jen Mineau Strikes Out Fifteen In Fifth Career Perfect Game
Rams Suffer First Atlantic-10 Loss; Pick Up Three Wins Over Week Improving, A-10 Record to 9-1 By MATT ROSENFELD ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The Fordham softball team completed a successful slate of conference games over Easter break, sweeping two games against their rival, the St. Joseph’s Hawks, and splitting its two games against the Temple Owls. The Rams’ trip down to Philadelphia began last Thursday, April 5, when they faced off in the first of two games against St. Joseph’s. Fordham went into the game with an undefeated conference record of 6-0 and looked to continue its dominance against a tough Atlantic 10 opponent. Neither the Rams nor the Hawks could get much going in the early innings. Both teams, knowing the importance of the game, had their aces on the mound, and it showed. It took the teams five innings to get on the scorebord, when junior shortstop Chelsea Palumbo hit a solo home run for the Rams. The 1-0 lead was all senior ace Jen Mineau would need. Allowing only one hit and two base runners total, Mineau would complete the shutout, giving Fordham an important 1-0 win. “We felt we were pretty much in control of that game, even though we only had that one run,” Head Coach Bridget Orchard said. “It felt like it was only a matter of time before we got a run, whereas they were just trying to get a hit.” Fordham continued its conference success in the second game with St. Joe’s, this time winning in extra innings by a score of 4-1. The Hawks did not go down meekly this time, however, threatening in the first with a runner in scoring position and no outs, but Mineau got out of trouble and avoided giving up a run. St. Joe’s scored first in the sec-
PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM
Jen Mineau’s stellar pitching has been a major reason for the Ram’s firstplace tie in the Atlantic-10 standings.
ond game, jumping out to an early lead. In the fourth inning, freshman catcher Lauren Rendon hit a Mineau pitch over the fence to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead in the middle of the game. Fordham rallied right back. The Rams loaded the bases in the fifth for senior second baseman Nicole Callahan, who promptly delivered a hard hit ball to third that resulted in an error, enabling the tying run to score.
Fordham wasted no time once the game went to extra innings. The Rams put two runners on during their half of the eighth inning. The previous day’s hero Chelsea Palumbo delivered again, this time with a sacrifice fly that gave Fordham a 2-1 lead. Freshman center fielder Brianna Turgeon then gave Fordham some breathing room with a two-run home run that upped the lead to three.
St. Joe’s managed to load the bases in its half of the eighth, but to no avail. Mineau escaped unscathed as the Rams took home another conference victory. “Being able to take two from a conference rival was huge,” Orchard said. “Being down, coming back late and scoring, and then winning in extra innings was a big victory for us.” After sweeping St. Joe’s, Fordham spent their Saturday before Easter playing in a doubleheader against another conference opponent, the Temple Owls. Mineau proved her worth once again in the first of the two games, pitching the fifth perfect game of her career en route to a 5-0 Fordham victory. In a game that was never in doubt, Fordham scored two in the third on an RBI groundout from Turgeon followed by an RBI single from sophomore infielder Elise Fortier. The game belonged to Mineau though, who struck out 15 in a perfect performance that gave the Rams their ninth conference win. “They weren’t touching [Mineau] at all,” Orchard said. “I think our offense knew all they had to do was score a couple runs to get the win.” The final game of the weekend was not sweet, however, as Fordham’s perfect conference record finally took a hit in a 6-5 loss to the Owls in Saturday’s second game. Temple got its offensive revenge on Mineau early on in the game, scoring two runs in the second that put Fordham in a hole. The Rams fought right back, scoring three of their own in the third off of a Callahan two-run home run that tied the score at two. An Ortiz solo home run on the next at bat gave Fordham a 3-2 lead. Temple got the lead back with a
score of 4-3 in the fourth, getting two runs off of an errant throw by Elise Fortier. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Rams in the fifth, again giving them the chance to gain a lead. An Ortiz sacrifice fly is all they would get to even up the score at four. Temple regained the lead for a third time in the bottom of the inning, when a single and a fielding error put two on with two outs and Temple senior infielder Rachel Knable hit an RBI single to give the Owls a 5-4 lead. Senior second baseman Meaghan Marley tacked on another run when she singled, giving Temple a 6-4 advantage. The Rams managed to get one back in the sixth, when Ortiz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and got her third RBI of the game. After Ortiz, the Rams were unable to capitalize offensively, dropping their first conference game of the year. “It was a long weekend for us,” Orchard said. “We came into [the last game] a little lackadaisical. We thought we were going to walk in and beat them, so being tired as well as thinking we were too good led us to losing that game. We let that game slip away from us; we definitely should have had more runs.” Nevertheless, Fordham’s weekend was still a success, as the Rams upped their overall record to 2317 and their conference record to 9-1, good enough for second in the A-10 behind 6-0 UMass-Amherst. The Rams will take on Siena in a doubleheader on Wednesday April 11, and then return home for two games against conference opponent St. Louis on Friday Mar. 13. Saint Lewis is currently fourth in the conference.
Women’s Tennis Beats Quinnipiac and Villanova; Falls to Temple By KENNY DeJOHN STAFF WRITER
After its match at Stony Brook was cancelled on March 31, the Fordham women’s tennis team travelled to the Quinnipiac University Outdoor Tennis Courts to take on the Quinnipiac Bobcats the following day. The Rams decisively defeated Quinnipiac, despite the weather conditions, by a score of 7-0. The doubles point was taken by the Rams after winning two of the three doubles matches. Freshman Julie Leong and sophomore Hanna Fritzinger started off the match by defeating Quinnipiac’s third doubles team, while junior Amy Simidian and sophomore Angelika Dabu beat Quinnipiac’s first doubles team. By winning all six singles matches, five of which were in straight sets, the Rams were able to pull away with a shutout. Simidian, Dabu, Leong, Fritzinger and freshman Sarah Ali were all victorious in straight sets, while
freshman Bella Genkina needed a tiebreaker set to decide her match. She ultimately came out on top, 6-2, 5-7, 12-10, to preserve the shutout. The Rams’ next match took place on April 3 against the Temple Owls. Unfortunately for Fordham, the team was without its top player, Simidian. The loss was too big overcome, as the Owls came
out on top, 7-0. The Owls took two of the three doubles matches to secure the point for Temple. Fritzinger and Leong won the lone match for the Rams on the day, as they took third doubles by a score of 8-6. To complete the shutout, Temple took all six singles matches in straight sets. “Temple was tough,” Coach
Bette-Ann Liguori said. “We were missing our No. 1 girl, Amy Simidian, and it showed.” With Villanova on the horizon, the Rams hoped that the beatdown they took against Temple would not be a sign of things to come. The following day, April 4, the Rams were set to take on Villanova, again without Simidian. The
PHOTO BY MICHAEL REZIN/THE RAM
Freshman Bella Genkina had a victory in all three matches this week, helping the team pick up two wins.
team’s results were much different from those in its match against Temple, as the Rams were able to handle Villanova quite easily. By defeating the Wildcats 6-1, the Rams were back to their winning ways. Fordham won all three doubles matches to secure the point. Leong and Fritzinger, Ali and Genkina and Dabu and senior Sarah Tremaine all emerged victorious. Even though the Rams dropped one of the singles sets, they won the other five in straight sets. Genkina and Leong took care of the third and fourth singles, respectively, to give the Rams a 3-0 lead in the match. “It was huge that we beat Villanova,” Liguori said. “They’re always a good team, and we played well without Amy [Simidian].” The win put the Rams’ record for the season at 15-5. On Wednesday, April 11, the Rams will travel to Poughkeepsie, NY to take on Marist College. On Sunday, April 15, they will take on St. John’s.