Volume 95 Issue 3

The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 Volume 95, Issue 3

FordhamRam.com F dh R

February F b 66, 2013

Law Professor Facilities Looks Ahead to Faber, Questions Morals, Torture in Loyola Halls

By KELLY KULTYS

Zero Dark Thirty

NEWS EDITOR

COURTESY OF STASHA O’CALLAGHAN

Fordham student Sohail Qazi shows children in the Sanatorino Hermano Pedro malnutrition clinic how to play Bejewled.

Pre-Health Students Witness Troubled Healthcare in Guatemala

By CANTON WINER MANAGING EDITOR

Few college students who go abroad during their breaks gush about observing laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery. Yet, seven Fordham University students who traveled to Guatemala for one week in January say it was exactly the experience they were hoping for.

These students were among the first group to participate in the Guatemala City Service Abroad Experience for pre-health students at Fordham, which took place from Jan. 6 to 13. The students met with faculty from Francisco Marroquín University to learn about education and the healthcare system in Guatemala, had the opportunity to interact with Guatemalan patients and, on several occasions, observe surgery.

“I cannot imagine having taken part in a better experience,” Danielle Espinoza, FCRH ’14, said in an email. “The group of Fordham students I traveled with all shared my enthusiasm and working with them was a pleasure.”

Though the trip was aimed toward pre-health students, those who traveled were exposed to ideas that reached into other academic fields as well.

“There ended up being two parts of the trip, the medical aspects and the sociocultural aspects,” Stasha O’Callaghan, FCRH ’14, said in an email.

In Centro de Salud Bárbara in San Juan Sacatepéquez, Dr. Mauel Diez Cabrera, chairman for Francisco Marroquín University’s rural public health program, spoke to students about the challenges of healthcare in Guatemala.

“We learned about the harsh realities faced by indigenous groups when it comes to healthcare and the lack of resources available,” Espinoza said. “I came to understand how culture and traditions can have a strong impact on the treatment received (or rejected) by the inhabitants.”

While several of the students had experience in American healthcare, they said that the conditions in Guatemala were often shocking.

“In our visit to Sanatorio Hermano Pedro I was able to interact with undernourished children and the sisters and nurses who care for them,” Espinoza said. “It was heartbreaking to see the conditions children came in and to learn that their parents could only visit them once a week while they recuperated.”

Students also observed the disSEE GUATEMALA, PAGE 2

After opening Hughes Hall at the start of the Fall 2012 semester and the McGinley Fitness Center in October, many are curious what will be updated or renovated next.

Marco Valera, vice president of Facilities, announced the Facilities department has plans currently in the works to continue updating campus.

“From our perspective, it seems like those were two very good projects that improved the facilities at Rose Hill,” Valera said.

He hopes that they can continue that success with their current plans, especially the biggest one — the renovation of Faber and Loyola Halls.

“Loyola and Faber are projects that are going to take us a few years to get [finished] because of really transitioning the building over to a new use takes time with planning, and we have to fund the projects,” Valera said.

Currently, Facilities is working on transitioning academic departments into Faber Hall.

“The project we’re moving on this year is the old dining facility that was used by the Jesuits,” Valera said. “In phase one, we’re renovating the old dining facility. We’re going to keep the kitchen. We’re going to create a nice event space for the University to use that can be catered or just a lecture hall or even a meeting space.”

The space would be able to hold approximately 120 people for dinner events and many more for others, like speaking events. This part of the project in Faber Hall is conSEE FACILITIES, PAGE 2

Gas Explosion Near Off-Campus Housing Sparks Scare

By KELLY KULTYS NEWS EDITOR

“I was in my room and I heard a crazy loud boom like a bomb going off,” Lee Hayden, FCRH ’15, said. “I turned around just in time to see the sewer caps [about] 10 feet in the air.”

This uncommon sight, an underground explosion forcing the manhole covers straight out of the ground, occurred on Monday Feb. 4 in the late afternoon on Hoffman Street, just a few blocks from Rose Hill’s campus. Students along the street and in the nearby area rushed out of their residences to survey the scene.

“One of the covers actually landed on my friend’s car and pretty badly damaged the front,” Hayden said. “Also, the whole street reeked like gasoline. I was actually a little concerned for my life at the time.”

Hayden and others had no idea what caused the explosion at the time, but it was later revealed that

someone poured gasoline into the sewer, causing the explosion.

According to John Carroll, associate vice president of Security Services, an acquaintance of the landlord of the buildings 25002512 on Hoffman was having issues with his car engine.

The man believed that there was water seeping into his gas tank. He decided to clean out the tank and then poured the gas into the sewer. The mixture of gasoline and sewage caused an explosion, three blocks away, around 187th Street and Hoffman Street.

The force of the explosion caused manhole covers to lift off and launch in the air from their usual ground level location.

“The entire neighborhood rushed out onto the street,” Hayden said.

He also said that after some had called 911, people took care to move the manhole covers as well as block off the exposed surface so no one would hit them with their car or truck.

By DEVON SHERIDAN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Nearly four weeks ago, Zero Dark Thirty opened nationwide in theaters to a unique deluge of laudation and criticism.

With a subsequent Best Picture nomination, the movie remains a topic of discussion as entertainment pundits continue annual Oscar debates while everyone looks forward to the Academy Awards ceremony on Feb. 24. Yet, before its widespread release (the movie screened for a short time in select theaters on Dec. 19), Zero Dark Thirty and its director Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) were drawing a firestorm of criticism that had very little to do with actors or terms like “cinematography” and “adapted screenplay.”

Over the past month and a half, a large contingent of critics of Zero Dark Thirty has taken offense to the movie's portrayal of torture. One of these critics is Professor Karen Greenberg, director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law. Greenberg, a leading expert on the Bush administration's antiterrorism policies, is also the author of the book, The Least Worst Place, which provides a narrative account of the first 100 days of operations at the Guantanamo Bay facilities following the 9/11 attack.

In an interview with The Fordham Ram, Greenberg mapped out her qualms with Zero Dark Thirty, its director and the subject of America and torture.

Her main issue with the movie is the “lack of a dissenting voice” from any character within the movie on the subject of torture. Greenberg also questions the historical accuracy of the movie's portrayal of the types of torture used and the frequency with which torture was carried out by the United States government in its hunt for Osama bin Laden.

SEE GREENBERG, PAGE 11

in this issue

Opinion Page 7 Super Bowl Sparks Conversation about More Than Sports

Arts

Page 11

A Preview of Culture in 2013 COURTESY OF LEE HAYDEN

FDNY responded to a large sewer explosion, which blew off manhole covers .

“[It seemed like] FDNY responded immediately, almost within two minutes,” Hayden said.

The FDNY began to flush out the sewers, a process that would

take a few hours, by pouring water down the sewers to clean them out.

“My neighbor came out [then] SEE HOFFMAN, PAGE 3

Sports

Page 22

Women’s Basketball 15-6 After Route to VCU

NEWS

Page 2

SECURITY BRIEFS Jan. 31, Southern Blvd.

Two women attending parentteacher meetings at Fordham Prep parked their cars on the street and upon returning, found that their front passenger-side windows had been smashed.

One of the women had nothing taken but the other reported that a briefcase, Kindle and BlackBerry were missing from her car.

Feb. 1, Campus Bookstore A man was seen stealing books from the on-campus bookstore at 12:00 p.m. via security camera.

He was not a Fordham student.

On Feb. 4, the store manager notified security that the same man had returned to the store. Security responded, apprehended the man and turned him over to the NYPD. Feb. 2, 187th and Belmont Ave. Several female students were approached by six males, who engaged them in conversation.

Afterward, one student discovered that her iPhone had been removed from her pocket. NYPD responded and tried to use the app Find My iPhone to locate the missing phone. It was traced to a large Bronx apartment building but was not found.

Feb. 3, 242 Hoffman St. A student in an off-campus apartment overcooked cheeseburgers on the stove, causing the smoke alarm to go off. The fire department responded while Fordham Security vented the room and reset the alarm.

Feb. 4, Fordham University pool Four male teenagers snuck past guards into the Fordham pool through a side entrance.

None were Fordham students.

Security responded and caught three of the four teenagers; one had left the pool before security arrived. The three were arrested and charged with trespassing.

Feb. 4, Walsh Hall At 10:00 p.m. a dispute between a male and female student was reported to security. There had been ongoing harassment between the two. The incident was referred to Residential Life.

—Compiled by Katie Meyer, Assistant News Editor

February 6, 2013

Facilities Improves Campus While Planning the Future FROM FACILITIES, PAGE 1

tinuing from this year into the next school year.

The next step in the project would be renovations to open up more space in Loyola Hall in the upcoming years.

“There are some thoughts about bringing campus ministry in because there is a beautiful chapel inside, and we want to keep that,” Valera said. “This year we’re putting together a planning team on how to use that space, so we haven’t identified who’s going in there yet.”

Valera also mentioned that these renovations could open up more classroom space, which is needed on campus.

“We’re working with the deans to look at some programs in Keating that might come relocate to Loyola and then turn Keating back to classroom space,” Valera said.

One of the major obstacles in their way for these project renovations is making the buildings fit the ADA (Americans with Disability Act) regulations. The renovated buildings must be accessible to those with disabilities, such as those restricted to wheelchairs. Currently, members of the Fordham community can only enter through stairs in the front.

“That’s one of the first hurdles we have to get through the Building Department,” Valera said. “We have an approved access plan for the two facilities. We now have a preliminary plan to move forward with design and our thought is — the driveway in front where the Ram Vans used to go, would go away and we would raise it by filling it so it comes up in height. [This] would allow us to cre-

COURTESY OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Valera discussed the plans to create a new dining and lecture facility in Faber Hall for students and faculty to use.

ate a plaza-area and once we raise it, we could have wheelchairs come in and through a series of ramps to get to both buildings.”

Valera said that this was a part of a long-term plan to make all buildings on campus accessible to students with disabilities. “[In] the interior of the buildings we’ve laid the accessible paths so all the buildings would be fully accessible,” Valera said.

Besides Faber and Loyola renovations, Valera said there were other plans in play for different areas of Fordham’s campus.

“Downtown [at the Lincoln Center campus] we’re going through a planning process, so once the new law school opens, how are we going to use the old law school?” Valera said.

Facilities is also working on other minor renovations throughout campus. Valera said some of the im-

provements might be mundane but necessary.

“We’re looking to air condition the Lombardi Center,” Valera said.

“One of the reasons we’re looking to do that is because Lombardi is one of our areas of refuge, if we have to move students out of dorms for emergencies or something along those lines. “ This will also allow for Lombardi to be used throughout the summer for more programming opportunities. Lombardi is also part of a “green-project,” as Valera said they are looking to put as many solar panels as possible on the roof to harness solar power.

Valera also said that about $2 million has been set aside to renovate and update residential facilities, such as lounge improvements and common-area additions.

“That’s tough because they’re used a lot even in the summer time,”

Valera said.

Also, Facilities is planning to finish renovations to the labs on the third floor of Freeman Hall over the summer. The turf of Murphy Field will also be replaced to help athletic programming. Finally, the area in front of Duane Library will be renovated due to poor drainage, which recently caused flooding in the building.

While continuing to update the campus, Valera and his staff are continuing to look to the long-term plans.

“And then we’re starting a planning initiative for a longer-term goal of the campus, which is to build a new campus center,” Valera said.

“That’ll take us several years to plan through since that’s a fairly large addition.”

Students Experience Unsanitary Conditions Firsthand FROM GUATEMALA, PAGE 1

parity between the quality of public and private hospitals in Guatemala City.

“The contrast between the care in the public and private hospitals was extreme,” O’Callaghan said.

“Hospital Esperanza, the private one, had barely any patients, a new CAT scan machine and beautiful green grounds surrounding it. The public [hospital] reeked of urine, had patients bleeding profusely in the waiting room patiently waiting for a bed and separate wards for men and women due to a past history of rape occurring in the hospital.”

The students also experienced some of the unsanitary living conditions in Guatemala firsthand.

One afternoon, they went to the city dump, which is the size of about “40 football fields,” and is peppered by hundreds of swarming vultures, O’Callaghan said.

City dwellers desperately scrounge the dumps looking for anything to sell.

“Small children sneak into the dump and are often run over by trucks,” said O’Callaghan. “It couldn’t have been a more awful place.”

Despite many somber moments, students left with cheerier memories as well.

“It was inspiring to see the smiles and ebullience that the children [at Sanatorio Hermano Pedro] carried,” Espinoza said. “I won’t ever forget the expressions of joy on the

faces of the young girls receiving donated dresses.”

On Saturday, Jan. 12, the group hiked the Pacaya volcano, which last erupted in 2010.

“Walking through the hardened lava seeing some greenery coming back, breathing the thin air and ultimately getting to roast marshmallows in an extra hot area of rock was extremely beautiful and memorable,” O’Callaghan said.

Luz Lenis, assistant dean for sophomores of Fordham College at Rose Hill and an organizer of the trip, was enthusiastic about the success of the program. She emphasized that the unique, Fordham-developed program had many structural advantages for Fordham students over pre-existing pro-

grams offered by other universities.

“In developing a Fordhamspecific program, we will be able to control many of its major, critical elements — for instance, the program’s design, length, participation, cost, etc.,” Lenis said in a report, which she completed with International and Study Abroad Programs (ISAP) Director Mendez Clark, on the trip. “This is a major difference from the basic structures of those other programs already in existence.”

Among the participants, the trip appeared a unanimous success.

“This trip definitely reinforced my desire to become a physician and my desire to do something about this unequal distribution of wealth, no matter how small, with

This Week at Fordham Wednesday Feb. 6

Wednesday Feb. 6

National Park Internship Presentation,

Head of the Brazilian Trade Bureau,

Keating 1st, The Outdoors Club, 8:00 p.m.

Hughes Hall 307, Gabelli School of Business, 1:00 p.m.

Ken Homan will be giving a presentation about getting involved with the National Park Service and/or Student Conservation Association.

It is an opportunity for anyone interested in working at a national park.

Thursday Feb. 7 Solidarity Discussion,

Friday Feb. 8 Presentation by Former Adidas Workers,

Saturday Feb. 9 Career Fair,

Rodrigue’s Coffee House, United Students Against Sweatshops, 4:00 p.m.

McGinley Center 2nd Floor, Office of Multicultural Affairs and Career Services, 11:00 a.m.

Gabelli School of Business Two Indonesian workers, Pedro Murilo Ortega Terra, Chefe professor Dr. Kate Combellick Aslam and Heni, are touring with do SECOM and leader of the Brazilis presenting a lecture and open USAS and presenting about the ian government’s trade bureau, will discussion on “The Challenging process by which clothes are prodiscuss the economic state of affairs Complexity of Directing Your duced and the labor conditions in Latin America. This is part of the Life to Achieve A Measure of Soliwith which they worked.

International Business Week series. darity for the Poor.”

For more campus events, visit FordhamRam.com

Numerous prominent employers such as NBC, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Google and Bloomberg Financial will be making workshop presentations. A hoop dancing performance will be featured as well.

Keating Hall 124, Fordham Club, 1:00 p.m.

NEWS

February 6, 2013

Page 3

FORDHAM IN THE BRONX

Smell of HOPE Count Opens the Bronx for Students Gasoline Infiltrates Hoffman FROM HOFFMAN, PAGE 1

and said that his basement even smelled like gasoline,” Hayden said.

It turned out so did Hayden’s as well as many other basements on the block. FDNY began coming into homes to check on the situations inside.

“We had to cut all our gas lines for the time being,” Hayden said.

“We weren’t asked to evacuate but we had to open all of our doors and windows.”

“I was at work literally all day,” Caroline Barrientos, Hoffman resident, FCRH ’13, said via text.

“My roomate called and told me they needed to [get out] so she was letting me know that she grabbed a sweatshirt of mine to put on my dog.”

This was the case for many Fordham students on Hoffman who returned from either their classes or internships to see their street full of fire engines and crowds of people.

Hayden said many neighbors convened outside for a while because the smell of gasoline in their houses was unbearable for a couple of hours. FDNY remained during this time to completely filter the sewers. Students such as Hayden were very glad the FDNY responded so quickly and completed their jobs thoroughly.

After investigation, according to Carroll, security officials met with the landlord and asked him not to allow people to park their cars behind the buildings where students live.

Hoffman St. is a very popular off-campus residential street for Fordham students as it is located only a short walk from campus and is near many popular attractions, such as Arthur Ave. The landlord and the owner of the car received summonses from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

According to envirolaw.com, pouring gasoline into the sewers is considered a “discharge into the natural environment.” This is a violation of Section 2 of the EPA. Also, earlier this year in July, according to an article on NJ.com, a man poured gasoline into the sewers in Northeast Philadelphia, which also caused them to catch fire.

Around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, The Fordham Ram investigated the area as well and saw that the street had been reopened and cleaned. The covers were also already back in place.

Hayden said that the street itself was fixed, but there were some other damages; luckily none were to any residents or passersby.

“The street is fine now but some of our water pipes [in our basement] got knocked down from the impact,” Hayden said.

According to Carroll, the landlord was very cooperative, and he had not known what the car owner was doing at the time.

COURTESY OF THE BRONX NYC WIKIMEDIA

Students who participated in HOPE Count spent the night in different areas of the Bronx to track the homeless population and inform individuals.

By JEFFREY COLTIN BRONX CORRESPONDENT

The Bronx is not that big. Sure, it is big in a metaphorical, New York City, “Big Apple” kind of way.

With over 1.3 million people, it is certainly big in population, but at 42 square miles, the Bronx is manageable in size.

You can walk straight across in about two hours, even with a quick stop at Pronto Pizza. For comparison, Eloy, Arizona has a larger area than the Bronx, and Ellsworth, Maine is also about twice as big. But, last time I checked, Ellsworth was not the birthplace of hip-hop.

There is a lot to explore in the Bronx, and there is more to it than Little Italy and Yankee Stadium.

While some students hop on the D to see the Bronx Museum of the Arts, other students take a more unconventional approach, walking the icy streets at 3 a.m. with a clipboard.

These clipboard-clutching students were taking part in HOPE Count, a yearly event run by the City of New York’s Department of Homeless Services. HOPE is an acronym for Homeless Outreach Population Estimate, and one night a year groups of New Yorkers spread out across the five boroughs to get an estimate of the city’s homeless population.

Becca van Sambeck, FCRH ’15, took part in this year’s HOPE Count.

“We didn’t encounter a lot of people,” she said. “[Still], it was good to feel like you were doing something of the city.” Van Sambeck was one of the volunteers gathered last Monday night in the McGinley Ballroom before heading out to count. There were two things to cover: logistical training for volunteers to find out what they were doing, and social justice activities to find out why they were doing it. Dozens of Fordham students from Rose Hill and Lincoln Center filled the ballroom, many participating for the first

time.

Jillian Abbale, FCRH ’13, helped coordinate the event with Fordham’s Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice. “We’re the largest training site at least in the Bronx, if not the city,” she said.

According to Abbale, Fordham used to be an open training site for the Bronx, but they have recently had to limit it to just students because so many were volunteering.

Around midnight [last Monday], the volunteers were driven to their designated areas in Ram Vans. They all knew what to do: walk the designated area once through, following the arrows on the map, then talk to every single person they see on the street (unless they are obviously working, like a police officer or a construction worker) and ask them a few confidential questions about their housing situation.

Next, if they are homeless, give them shelter information and ask if they would like to be picked up and taken to one. They must keep track of everything so the city can use the data to better serve the homeless population. The volunteers should finish before 4 a.m.

Van Sambeck’s group had an uneventful night: “We ran into a few different people. Most of them did not want to talk, so we didn’t actually end up finding any homeless people.”

Her group was assigned to the Van Nest section of the Northeast Bronx, an area nobody in the group had ever visited.

“It was nice to get to see a different area of it and get a new appreciation of the Bronx,” van Sambeck said. “The only part of the Bronx I’ve ever really been to is the area right around Fordham.”

Abby Wilson, FCRH ’15, was

assigned to Van Nest as well.

“We got to go to areas of the Bronx that I hadn’t ever thought of taking the time to explore,” she said. “Usually we’re right in the Fordham area or en route to Manhattan.”

Even the ride there was interesting.

“We drove past a really nice residential area and then we ended up in what I’d assume was more of a middle-to-lower class residential neighborhood,” Wilson said. “It was really interesting to see the Bronx span those different income bubbles.”

Abbale says the HOPE Count experience is not just a great way to learn about homelessness, but a great way to explore the Bronx and “almost be forced to see a different side.” After all, she continued, “Some students don’t even know where the D Train is.”

ED YOURDON/FLICKR

One of HOPE Count’s goals is to serve the Bronx’s homeless by getting them off the streets and into shelters.

NEWS

Page 4

February 6, 2013

Autism Panel Calls For Awareness, Campus Engagement

By GIRISH SWAMINATH ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Autism Speaks U – Fordham University, a newly-established club on campus, hosted an informational panel in Keating 1st auditorium on Jan. 30. The panel sought to spread awareness throughout the University community about autism and discuss the need for acceptance in society of people affected by the condition.

“The objective for hosting this panel was to educate the University community about what autism is and how we can be more accepting of others on our campus and in society that lives with autism,” Adrian Whiting, FCRH ’14, president of Autism Speaks U – Fordham University, said. “Hopefully, we can begin by changing the public’s perception of people who are affected by the disorder.”

Five speakers presented at the panel from various Fordham departments and non-profit organizations: Moira Cray, a representative of the New York Center for Autism Charter School (NYCACS), Dr. Jeffrey Ng, the director of counseling and psychological services at Fordham, Amie Senland, M.A., a doctoral candidate in the psychology department at Fordham, Dr. James

DREW DIPANE/THE RAM

Members of the Autism Speaks - U Panel spread autism awareness through education and promotion of acceptance.

MacDonall, a Fordham psychology professor and Dr. Lauren Elder, the assistant director of dissemination science at Autism Speaks. “[The speakers] discussed their own perceptions of autism and then presented their personal experiences with the condition,” Whiting said. “They focused on

demystifying the definition of autism and what it’s like being around people who are autistic.”

After organizing the panel with the assistance of fellow executive board members, Whiting was satisfied with its outcome.

“I believe that the panel went very well,” Whiting said. “It was both an educational and informa-

tive experience that I believe a lot of students enjoyed.”

Autism Speaks U – Fordham University aims to further the mission of Autism Speaks by engaging the campus and local community in awareness, advocacy and fundraising efforts to help individuals and families affected by autism.

“[The club] aims to educate the University community about autism because we believe that education is our most powerful tool for changing the public’s perception about autism and making the student body more accepting of those who are ‘different.’” Whiting said. “We always need help planning events on campus and are looking for new ways to get the whole University community involved.”

Students believe that the panel was truly a fundamental step towards raising awareness and increasing acceptance of autism both inside the Fordham community and in society generally.

“I think the panel was an effective way to open up a discussion about the effects of autism on both the people with the condition and those interacting with the affected people,” Victoria Cipollone, FCRH ’14, said. “One in 88 American children has an Autism Spectrum Disorder and we, as a society, need to make strides to understand how we can help them to achieve more than they otherwise would have.”

For students interested in joining the club as a general member, general meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m in Keating Hall 219. Email ebaginski@fordham.edu for more information.

New System Aims to Help Ease Students’ Laundry Load

By KRIS VENEZIA STAFF WRITER

A new initiative from Fordham University will allow students to see which washers and/or dryers are open and which ones are taken. The new system, titled LaundryAlert, also sends text message notifications to students telling them when their laundry is done.

Michael Meehan, executive director of the Residential Halls Association (RHA), worked with members from Residential Life and Facilities Operations to get this program launched. He said LaundryAlert is designed to make a tedious chore a little easier.

“We [RHA] wanted to alleviate student concerns with laundry,” Meehan said. “A lot of times people carry their laundry down the stairs and then realize that there are no machines available, and in a place like Martyrs, which has no elevators, it can be a painful process.”

According to Assistant Vice President for Facilities Operations, John Puglisi, the idea for a system that allows students to check the availability of machines came about five or six years ago.

This was around the same time Fordham University decided to get new equipment in residential laundry rooms.

“We [Fordham University] made a big investment and bought new machines across campus,” Puglisi said. “[Then] we [Facilities Operations] were kicking around some ideas to just make laundry friendlier for the students.”

Meehan said RHA and Facilities Operations wanted to get this

initiative up and running sooner, but there were some obstacles early on in the process.

“The initial problem was a contract and technological issue,” he said. “Then this year we [RHA] put a lot more pressure on it and Facilities [Operations] responded well.”

To use the program, students go to LaundryAlert.com and type in the passcode “Fordhamlaundry.”

After this, a page opens, showing all the campus residential buildings listed and how many washers and dryers are open in each facility. Students can then go into each residential building and monitor how much time is remaining on the machines.

Jeff Manning, residential director in Loschert Hall, does his laundry in the same machines as students. He said he hopes this system will prevent conflicts that can sometimes happen in a crowded laundry room.

“The biggest issue with laundry is that other people take [clothes] out of machines in use, and it can kind of clutter the laundry room,” Manning said. “I don’t know that students were fully aware if their laundry was done, and then students would take out other people’s laundry and leave out wet clothes.”

Manning explained that another problem occurs when students forget to remove some of their clothes from the laundry room.

“The laundry that’s left in the laundry room for a certain period of time can be removed [from campus],” he said. “We [Residential Life] try to donate those items to places like Goodwill.”

DREW DIPANE/THE RAM

The new LaundryAlert system will save trips up and down stairs by notifying students when there are open machines.

LaundryAlert officially launched at Fordham University this semester. Jason Bartlett, assistant director of Residential Life for Housing Operations, is working to let students know that this program exists.

“Right now, we’ve got some flyers up in the common areas and in laundry rooms,” Bartlett said.

“A [representative from Laun-

dryAlert] is getting dispatched to work with resident hall directors, and they will provide information on the system and prizes for students.”

Those prizes include T-shirts, laundry bags and koozies. Students can also pose for pictures in their laundry rooms for a chance to win other gifts.

Residential Life hopes these in-

centives will help entice students to use the new service.

Bartlett said that at the end of the day, this program is all about doing something positive for residents.

“It’s just continuing to provide services for students’ tuition dollars,” he said. “We want to make laundry less of a burden in a busy week.”

NEWS

February 6, 2013

Page 5

Through Speaker, Theology Dept. Asks ‘What is the Value of Human Life?’

By GIRISH SWAMINATH ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

On Wednesday, Jan. 30, Fordham hosted David P. Gushee, a major voice in the theological community about religious, political and ethical issues. Gushee specializes in topics such as the environment, nuclear proliferation, abortion, immigration and torture.

The department of theology at Fordham and the deans of the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses co-sponsored the lecture at Tognino Hall. The speaker was a distinguished university professor of Christian ethics and director of the Center on Theology and Public Life at Mercer University. “By inviting Dr. Gushee to campus, [the theology department] hoped to facilitate a conversation about theological perspectives on the sacredness of human life with someone who is theologically nuanced and has worked to prevent the descecration of life in a wide variety of contexts,� Christiana Peppard, assistant professor of theology, science and ethics at Lincoln Center, said.

Gushee also recently published a book entitled The Sacredness of Human Life and delivered the lecture based on his prior experiences and research while writing the book. “Dr. Gushee’s work is characterized by a strong biblical focus that relates to his evangelical Protestant background and there are many

GIRISH SWAMINATH/THE RAM

Students and faculty who attended Dr. Gushee’s lecture were exposed to Christian ideas on issues such as rights to life.

similarities to what Catholics call the ‘seamless garment’ approach to right-to-life issues,� Peppard said.

The department aimed to provide students with an opportunity to have dialogue with a “thoughtful, accessible, accomplished scholar,� according to Peppard. She went on to say that Gushee’s work on such issues has been of major importance for Christians who reflect upon the “intersection between religion and public policy.� “One of Professor Gushee’s true gifts is communicating complex ideas in a humble and accessible manner,� Peppard said. “I think that the student responses to the lecture indicated how much that kind of approach matters, espe-

cially in a political climate that is polarized and vindictive.�

Gushee advocates that all human life is considered sacred, regardless of race, color, creed and “other� characteristics that may be potentially utilized for discrimination. He feels that this ideal is not considered natural to humans but must be taught and acquired through divine revelation. His argument states that sacredness is egalitarian and promotes mercy and compassion towards the helpless, while preventing violent killings and abuses of the helpless.

Furthermore, Gushee emphasizes that all humankind, especially Christians, are held responsible for fulfilling their duties of protecting

the sacredness of human life.

Gushee rejects the idea that sacredness is dependent on whether an organism possesses rationality and self-awareness. He does not believe that differences in intellectual and physical abilities between Homo sapiens and other species contribute to any differences in sacredness among organisms.

Gushee further critiques contemporary culture which, according to him, routinely desecrates life as a whole primarily due to the prevalence of secularism in society. As a result, Gushee feels that the JudeoChristian definition of sacredness, with which his argument remains consistent, is the most secure approach to preserving sacredness at

every facet of human life.

Several students have provided positive feedback about the lecture. “I really liked the fact that [Dr. Gushee] did not impose his views on anybody, while he made the process of understanding the topics much easier,� Mohammad Khan, FCRH ‘14, said. “I realize how history and scripture can be applied in a way I have never seen before to much of the ethical and moral dilemmas we face in society today.�

At the same time, not all students agree with Dr. Gushee’s perspectives about the value of human life. “I thought [Dr. Gushee’s] argument that Judeo-Christian scripture provides the strongest and original foundation for the idea of human life being sacred was bold and unconventional,� Katherine Valles, FCRH ‘14, said. “While I wasn’t sold on Gushee’s view, I thought it was an extremely interesting [one] basing the value of human life on intelligence and rationality, as most modern philosophers do.�

Tognino Hall was filled almost beyond capacity, as over 200 students attended the lecture. Numerous students stayed for the Q&A session and book signing, during which discussion centered on integrating Christian-centric views on the value of human life in the presence of modern society’s views.

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Page 6

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opinion Super Bowl Goes Beyond Merely Football

Page 7

February 6, 2013

By JOSEPH VITALE ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

There are plenty of things to look forward to every Super Bowl: the game, the food, the viewing parties, the commercials. It is certainly a strong, unmoving American tradition. But, beyond the football, the Super Bowl is also a display of something much more relevant: American culture in its current state. And, with a viewing audience of over 108.4 million people, Super Bowl XLVII played host to a plethora of contemporary issues on an immensely broad scale. These issues include our energy situation, our advertisement fascination, our Beyoncé obsession and our social media addiction. The variety and the intensity of these issues are American alone.

With great reason, the most discussed has been the mid-game blackout the Mercedes-Benz Superdome experienced, which ultimately delayed the game for just over a half hour. The power outage, which followed a kickoff return by the Baltimore Ravens, giving the team a 28-6 lead early in the second half, was caused by an “abnormality in the system” sensed by an electrical-load monitor. In a statement released by the arena’s management and Entergy, the stadium’s energy supplier, the monitor proceeded to shut down and half of the stadium was left without lighting.

While many television viewers became antsy for action to resume, the energy in the crowd remained.

All of the fans kept their spirits high as they began a stadium-wide wave. An onslaught of dramatic

GENE SWEENEY JR. / MCT

Half of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome went dark with 13:22 left in the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans.

images were snapped of the partly darkened stadium, which is how most of us will undoubtedly remember this year’s game.

The mayor of New Orleans remained optimistic though, reminding his Twitter followers of the successful week that proceeded the Super Bowl game.

“In the coming days, I expect a full after-action report from all parties involved,” Mayor Mitch Landrieau said.

While questions remain, there

are some certainties about the energy situation of New Orleans and the remainder of America: There are plenty of improvements to make in the nation’s energy infrastructure.

“I think any of you who watched the Super Bowl last night know that energy is not only good, it’s necessary. And whether it’s keeping the lights on so that we can enjoy the game or whether it’s keeping the lights on so that we can work, this is essential to who we

are as a prosperous nation,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a ranking officer on energy, said at a press conference Monday.

Murkowski, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, used the event to springboard her new plan. The outage may be rooted in the same reasons why, in 2009, the United States received a D+ from The American Society of Civil Engineers. The same goes for why the U.S. is also ranked 33rd

by the World Economic Forum in terms of quality of electricity supply.

The issue is not one that has escaped the minds of proponents of energy reform in the country.

Many argue a new plan for energy reform can spur job growth and improve the country’s private sector. President Obama spoke about the issue in his State of the Union address last year. He argued that much of America’s parts require rethinking, redesigning and rebuilding. Supporters of this plan eagerly await his next step in making his plans to come to fruition.

There was, of course, some jovial humor on social media websites like Twitter that brought light to the outage.

“We have traced a call from a phone on the 49er sideline to Buffalo Wild Wings,” tweeted retired NFL star Deion Sanders.

“Investigation confirms not even Bane’s power outage attempt can save the 49ers,” tweeted one user with the handle “@TheBatman.

“Whatever. Who hasn’t blacked out in New Orleans,” tweeted @ haileejustine.

The broadcast, which drew the third most viewers of any Super Bowl, was a platform for more than just tweeting about the blackout. Among reactions to advertisements (which ran for close to four million dollars per 30 seconds), Beyonce’s memorable half time performance, the power outage and, of course, the game, the event invaded the social media outlet at an astounding rate. According to Twitter, there were SEE SUPER BOWL, PAGE 9

Women’s Roles Growing, Despite Obama’s Male-Dominated Cabinet

By PATRICK MAROUN STAFF WRITER

Women were a large part of President Obama’s voter base during his re-election bid this past November, according to CNN’s exit polls. Why then is there so much fuss about President Obama’s relationship with American women as of late?

The answer is fairly simple: President Obama’s Cabinet is shaping up to be predominantly white men. Is this cause for concern or is this just a bump in the road on the way to gender equality in American politics?

Perhaps I am not the best person to be writing this article, seeing as I am an educated white man endowed with all of the privileges my background entails. But my own privilege is something that I must acknowledge and endeavor to use to the advantage of others.

As a Fordham man, I must strive to be a “man for others.”

Women, more than half of the American population, are chronically underrepresented. It is unquestionable that we need more women in politics, but what do we define as progress? Is simple metrics the answer, or is a more qualitative analysis necessary when assessing progress for

women in politics? Consider our recent economic crisis: Does a bottom-line business model benefit this country? It certainly does not.

“As a woman, obviously I want more women in the Cabinet and in political positions,” Anna Lynott, FCRH ’15, said. “But I also feel like it’s bordering on sexism if you give women jobs that they maybe aren’t as qualified for just because they’re women. I think President Obama should focus on who has the right qualifications to support him. If more of them are men than women, then so be it.”

It is paramount that exceptional women find their ways into politics and public service. I am not saying that we do not have exceptional women as it is, but it is possible to dilute the important impacts that those women are making by trivializing their presence by blindly electing or appointing women who are not qualified.

We take away from the tremendous accomplishments of women who are making substantive differences by equating their political successes to their sex.

I urge all of you not to become overly concerned by President Obama’s appointments. Histori-

cally, women’s involvement in the American political system has come in waves. Progress is neither an easy nor a steady process. It is a series of stomach-churning undulations that intensify over time.

The shape of progress for women in American politics is no different than any other. This is simply the latest trough, which will inevitably lead to the next crest.

Just because the trend suggests that women should have an evergrowing role in American politics does not mean that every generation will produce more women politicians and bureaucrats than the last.

Women will continue to play an important role in politics, both as members of the electorate and as candidates. The frequency of

women legislators, bureaucrats, federal judges and executives will continue to grow. Women will be increasingly represented by a government that has only recently acknowledged their importance to the political system. Worry not, for progress will prevail.

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

MARTIN H. SIMONCORBIS / MCT

Although Obama has been criticized for his mostly-male Cabinet, women still play an important role in government.

OPINION

Page 8

The Fordham Ram

R

Serving campus and community since 1918 The Fordham Ram is the University journal of record. The mission of The Fordham 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 Fordham 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 4,500. The Fordham Ram office is located in the basement of the McGinley Center, Rm. B-52.

FordhamRam.com Advertising: (718) 817-4379 Executive: (718) 817-4380 Fax: (718) 817-4319 theram@fordham.edu Fordham University - Station 37 Box B Bronx, NY 10458 Editor-in-Chief Connor Ryan Managing Editor Canton Winer Editorial Director Rory Masterson Copy Chief Katie Nolan News Editor Kelly Kultys Assistant News Editors Kate Meyer Girish Swaminath Opinion Editor Richard Bordelon Assistant Opinion Editor Joseph Vitale Arts & Entertainment Editor Devon Sheridan Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor Danielle Garrand Executive Sports Editor Dan Gartland Sports Editor Matt Rosenfeld Assistant Sports Editor Max Prinz Layout Editor Kate Doheny Photo Editor Elizabeth Zanghi Web Editor Anne Couture Assistant Web Editor Courtney Ho Business Directors Nikos Buse Drew Rapp Assistant Business Director Craig Domeier Circulation Director Gary Guarnaccia Distribution Managers Stephanie Kawalski Shannon Marcoux Faculty Advisor Dr. Beth Knobel Copy Team Alyssa Ammazzalorso John Bonazzo Alessandra Bruno Rosemary Derocher Elisa Frangaj Stephanie Kawalski Clare Larson Shannon Marcoux Tom Merante Vincent Pellizzi Anthony Pucik Stephanie Sarno Kirsten Simons Austin Thomas Opinion Policy The Fordham Ram appreciates submissions to fordhamramletters@gmail. com. Commentaries are printed on a space available basis. The Fordham Ram reserves the right to reject any submission for any reason, without notice. Submissions become the exclusive property of The Fordham Ram. The Fordham Ram reserves the right to edit any submissions. The opinions in The Fordham 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 Fordham Ram may be reproduced without written consent.

February 6, 2013

From the Desk of Matt Rosenfeld, Sports Editor Last Sunday was one of my favorite days of the year. After Thanksgiving and Christmas, Super Bowl Sunday is the next holiday (yes, it is a holiday) on my list. Super Bowl Sunday is very fun for a person like me. You see, I love football. A lot. It is by far my favorite sport. I follow the NFL religiously, so the day of the Super Bowl is the conclusion of it all.

Super Bowl Sunday does it for me for a few reasons, but one thing in particular stands out. It is the only day of the year where pretty much everybody turns into a football fan. Even friends that don’t necessarily like football will “come into my world,” so to speak, and enjoy the day’s festivities, culminating in a football game that the entire country is watching.

For its entire history, which is now 47 years, the Super Bowl has been played in either a warmweather city (think New Orleans and Miami, the two most frequent Super Bowl hosts), or in the few cases the big game was held in a cold-weather city (Minneapolis, Detroit and Indianapolis), the game has been indoors.

Why am I bringing this up? Because, that will change next year when the Super Bowl takes place at MetLife Stadium in East Ruth-

erford, NJ. And even though I am a proud New Jersey native, I think it is an awful idea.

Look outside, and you will still probably see remnants of the last bit of snow that hit us here in the New York metropolitan area. Think back to last week and the frigid temperatures we walked through to get to class. Now, picture the Super Bowl coverage you’ve seen.

Everything is outdoors! This is a forced attempt to get the NFL’s biggest event onto the world’s biggest stage in New York, and I think it is headed for failure.

The Super Bowl is more than just a game. It is an event. It is a week of fans and tourists coming in from their team’s city to enjoy a place they have never been to and cheer on their team. New York is a great place to do that, but it is just too bad the Super Bowl happens to be played in the dead of winter. I do not think I speak for only myself when I say people will be far less inclined to spend all day outside during the week leading up to the Super Bowl when the temperature is in the mid 30s.

Then, there is the matter of game conditions. This past Sunday, the day of the Super Bowl, it was about 25 degrees at kickoff in East Rutherford. This means the game would

absolutely be affected by weather conditions.

Most people argue that football games are played in adverse conditions all the time and that weather is part of what makes football great. I do concede that weather is a factor in many games, often games that mean a lot (like the 2007 NFC Championship game in which the Giants beat the Packers in Green Bay in which the game time temperature was at zero degrees). However, that does not change my stance that the league’s biggest game, its grand spectacle, should not be played in bad conditions.

The coldest Super Bowl in history was Super Bowl VI, which took place in the same place as this year’s game did, New Orleans.

The game time temperature then was 39 degrees. The difference between then and now is that the Louisiana Superdome, where they played Sunday, was not built yet.

Instead, the game was played outdoors at Tulane Stadium.

That was an anomaly though, as New Orleans is rarely that cold in late January-early February.

The average temperature in East Rutherford in early February: 32 degrees. The Super Bowl is a game that should be played in the best,

most even conditions possible. I know that Mother Nature will do as she pleases (such as Super Bowl XLI in Miami when it rained), but the NFL should be actively trying to avoid the chances of weather playing a role in the Super Bowl.

Fans going to the game don’t want to be spending the week before their team’s biggest game in the freezing cold. Fans everywhere do not want to be thinking what might have changed if the weather was not a fact.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said it best last week when he told Sporting News his thoughts about a cold-weather Super Bowl.

“A lot more goes into this game than just playing the game,” Flacco said. “It’s for the fans and the players that played for the right to get there. There’s a lot of things that go into it. It’s kind of a crazy decision.”

It is indeed, Joe. It is indeed.

EDITORIAL: Transparency Key in Student Government In the age of Julian Assange and Wikileaks, when honesty can often be the best policy, transparency continues to lie at the forefront of news. With the increased amount of information accessible to the average citizen through a plethora of news sources, information in the public realm has become plentiful. The result is an increasingly blurred line between public and confidential knowledge as organizations balance their wealth of information with their duties to the people they serve.

This issue is relevant in governments, corporations and universities alike. Recently, on Fordham’s

Dear Editors, If you can’t dig a bit deeper than Girish Swaminath did for the article “Sodexo Welcomes Jamba Juice and Energy Kitchen,” (V.95 i.2) perhaps you should just let Sodexo write your dining news for you. The article has a photo captioned “Jamba Juice will bring another healthy option to Rose Hill” and the opening graph touts the Dear Editors, Thank you from everyone involved in our Women’s Basketball Program. We greatly appreciate your kind words concerning our season to date. I would like to take this opportunity to comment on a few areas that you addressed in last week’s paper.

First our all, I want to stress that this is our program. By this I mean the entire Fordham Community. We proudly take the court each game wearing our uniforms with Fordham on the front.

This includes our administration, faculty, staff, alumni and especially our fellow members of the stu-

campus, there has been a push for more transparency by many students, including the efforts to make the Student Activities budget public. Students, evidently, want to know where their money is going, especially the money paid in the Student Activities Fee — which all undergraduate students are required to pay .

At the forefront of the push stands United Student Government (USG) Vice President of Finance, Muhammad Sarwar. Sarwar, who took office in September, has made numerous strides to increase transparency within USG. For example, students can not

only access the Student Activities budget on USG’s website, but also they can view weekly decisions online. Sarwar has placed this information online as a effort to aid students who have an interest in how their money is being allotted.

These actions point to an upward trend within USG to increase the visibility and transparency of their proceedings.

Many times, organizations attempt to withold information from those seeking it because the data may be unpopular. Fordham students, as of right now, have elected USG members who understand the importance of

transparency, and we are fully confident that the representatives will continue this trend of making more information available to the entire student body.

We are in full support of full disclosure of information from organizations, including USG. Transparency is a most sensitive topic but, when dealt with professionalism, can improve organizations in multiple ways.

“attempt to improve ... quality and nutrition levels of food options on campus.” It goes on to quote puffery directly from Jamba’s website.

I suggest you take a look at that site and Energy Kitchens’. If you decide to be “fit and fruitful” with the “Power Classic Banana Berry Smoothie”(www.jambajuice. com/menu-and-nutrition/menu/ smoothies/classic-smoothies), you’ll consume 122 grams of sugar

— more than in three 12 oz. Cokes and as much as in a litre of Mountain Dew or two 16 oz. Rockstars — and that sugar will contribute over 80 percent of the 590 calories (just under a third of the FDA’s recommended daily intake for a “moderatly active woman”) in the drink.

If you “go healthy” with an Energy Kitchen “Steak Frite Wrap,” you’ll consume 1864 mg of salt which is 80 percent of recommended daily

intake and more than in 11 small or 5 large orders of fries at McDonalds and you’ll get another 493 calories or 25 percent of RDA. I have no problem with students wanting, or Sodexo offering, this junk, but I do object to having to watch The Fordham Ram swallow it without chewing.

dent body. We play to represent you and all things Fordham.

Additionally, I want you to know that you are all a very important part of our program. We would not have an outstanding facility like Rose Hill without the support of all the staff members involved in cleaning, staffing and operating it. We spend a considerable amount of time in Rose Hill training and competing. Food service does an outstanding job providing our team meals. Without the cooperation of the faculty it would be problematic for us to combine our travel schedules and class time. Our alumni provide the financial support to keep us

very competitive in all we need to do. The Fordham administration has proven since my first day on campus that we are committed to excellence both on and off the court!

Now for our “winning difference” … our student body! We need you to help us as we head to the stretch run of our season. We have four remaining home games and we hope you can plan to attend and help support your fellow students. We thank our loyal student athletes that regularly attend our games! I challenge you to join us in Rose Hill and help us in our quest to be the best we can be. Our motto for the program

is “Tradition begins….Now!!!”

Please join us and become part of something special! We currently are 15-6 and 5-1 in conference.

This is the best record since the Rams have joined the Atlantic 10 in 1995. Our team plays hard and I think we are fun to watch! Hope to see you on Sunday!

Letters to the Editor

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

Ian Morrison Professor of Mathematics

Thanks and go Rams!

Coach Gaitley P.S — If you have any thoughts, ideas, or comments on how to help build Rose Hill into a place our opponents hate to visit please email me at sgaitley@fordham. edu.

OPINION

February 6, 2013

Page 9

Catholic Hospital in Denver Abandons Principles

By JOE CLINES STAFF WRITER

The hot button issue of whether or not human life begins at conception or at birth has consumed American politics and society.

The issue is made larger and more polarized by the inevitable ties one’s understanding of this issue has to religious doctrines, as religious groups have long championed and lobbied for so-called “rights for the unborn.”

The law of the land, a product of the landmark Roe v. Wade (1973) ruling, is that abortion is a woman’s fundamental right, which stands at an impasse with the Catholic Church’s strong assertion that human life begins at the moment of conception.

Civil law and Church dogma came to a head recently in a complicated case involving a medical malpractice lawsuit against Catholic Health Initiatives, a Catholic organization that oversees the operation of approximately 170 health facilities nationwide, including the hospital in question in Cañon City.

At the crux of the “wrongful death” suit was the claim by the plaintiff that not enough was done to preserve the lives of the unborn twins who died alongside their mother due to a complication in the pregnancy at St. Thomas More Hospital in Cañon City, Colo. Specifically, a caesarean section procedure, which could have saved the lives of the unborn twins, was not performed by staff at the Catholic Health Initiativesrun hospital. Standing precedent involving “wrongful death” suits is that the law is applicable only to “individuals born alive,” a fact that Catholic Health Initiatives shamefully highlighted in their defense of the litigation. By acting like a corporation seeking to cover its tail (and most importantly, its assets) in the face of a lawsuit, Catholic Health Initiatives rejected the Church’s emphatic stance on the sanctity of human life at

Treat Life as an Adventure

ED ANDRIESKI / AP

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver criticized Catholic Health Initiatives for their argument in the lawsuit.

conception and did a great disservice to the word “Catholic” in their organization’s name.

As per the mission statement of the Catholic Health Initiative’s website, the organization’s stated goal is to “emphasize human dignity” and stress “fidelity to the gospel” in its undertakings. The mission statement is followed by the assertion of core values that include “profound respect and awe for all of creation.” Perhaps the Initiative’s core values and mission statement should be interpreted as loose guidelines to be disregarded in the event of financial ramifications and scrutiny against the organization.

If the organization were secular, there would be little fault to find in its rebuttal of the “wrongful death” lawsuit. The truly upsetting matter in this case is that the organization claims ties to Ca-

tholicism but essentially allowed Catholic dogma to take a backseat for the convenience of beating a lawsuit and maintaining its allimportant assets. The Catholic Health Initiative’s mission, albeit well-intentioned, has permanently been stained by the decision to place the financial stability of the organization over the beliefs that define it.

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver, along with Bishop Sheridan of Colorado Springs and Bishop Isern of Pueblo, issued a statement earlier this week, which said, “No Catholic institution may legitimately work to undermine fundamental human dignity.”

Futhermore, the bishops “will undertake a full review of this litigation, and of the policies and practices of Catholic Health Initiatives to ensure fidelity and faithful witness to the teachings

of the Catholic Church,” the statement said.

While one can find many faults with the Catholic Health Initiative’s handling of the situation, the lost opportunity to take a prominent pro-life stance in a case that will surely garner national attention is the most resounding. If the Catholic Health Initiative had stood firm on the Catholic understanding that a fetus is a human life, the organization surely would have lost the case. Doing so, however, would have highlighted the commitment and fervor the Catholic Church has shown in championing the rights of the unborn, and the polarizing case may even have reopened the discussion on abortion.

Richard Bordelon contributed reporting.

Joe Clines, FCRH ’14, is an economics major from Malverne, NY.

Big Game Highlights American Culture Do you disagree with SUPER BOWL, FROM PAGE 7

over 24.1 million tweets throughout the game. The rate peaked at the end of Beyonce’s performance, with 268,000 tweets-per-minute. (The excessive tweeting surpassed the rate during the Presidential Inauguration last month.)

Moreover, in terms of tweeting, Fordham students provided their fair share of commentary, with many students using both the dramatic and comedic approaches.

“CRYING CRYIGN OHMY GOD CRYING DESTIYINY’S CHILD OMYT GYMY GOD,” Jack Murray, FCRH ’16, tweeted.

“If you didn’t watch the Puppy Bowl during that outage you need to rethink your priorities,” Chester Baker, FCRH ’13, tweeted.

Even beyond the exciting game between the San Francisco 49ers

Amanda Pell

and the Baltimore Ravens, what sports fans and culture enthusiasts are left talking about is ultimately more relevant than the strategy, the play calling and other intricacies of the game. Those things are happily left to football analysts.

What the rest of us are discussing speaks to what fascinates us in today’s fast-paced world of news.

Our topics of discussion are not only appropriate but necessary in understanding what makes our society progress, for better or for worse.

What Super Bowl XLVII goes to show is that nobody knows what we will be tweeting about tomorrow, whether it is a blackout or a lights-out performance.

As long as we are still tweeting, we will all be OK. Joe Vitale, FCRH ’16, is a political science major from Staten Island, NY.

one of our articles?

Or are we spot-on?

Write us a letter!

Please Email Letters to the Editor to fordhamramletters@gmail.com

“Please watch the gap as the train approaches the station.”

I’ve heard it a million times before and I’m sure I would have heard it again that day if I hadn’t been running late. The train had long approached and was about to depart by the time I got down the stairs, so naturally I threw myself at the closing door in a last ditch effort to catch my ride.

I didn’t make it. I don’t remember how it happened, but next thing I knew I found myself on the floor of the train, half of my body in the gap with the door attempting to close on my face. Sigh.

I consider myself a reasonably intelligent person. I have a decent measure of common sense.

But, things like this happen to me all the time. I can’t remember making even one trip from point A to point B using train, plane or bus without some obstacle.

I once got on the Bx12 thinking I was headed for Manhattan only to find myself, 45 minutes later, at a JCPenney in the middle of Westchester. Then, I got on in the right direction but was unceremoniously kicked off without explanation somewhere on West Fordham Road (I know, right?) to wait for the next bus.

Then there was the time I managed to strand myself somewhere in Kingsbridge, or the day a cop picked me up on the side of the Hudson River Parkway (I was really lost that day) or the time a guy screamed at me on the train for “thinking I’m so sophisticated.”

That experience was very terrifying and, as I had done nothing but stare at my own shoes for the entire ride, unwarranted, I think.

In short, I am helpless.

So what’s the point of these stories?

I’ve learned two things in the three semesters that I’ve now been trying to figure this whole transportation system out.

One is to carry pepper spray everywhere I go, because you never know whom you’ll end up with where and at what time of night, so it’s always best to be prepared.

The other is to see what the world throws at you as an adventure, rather than a hassle. I don’t like being late, but if I’m going to be, I’d sure rather it be because I was pulled into the center of a breakdance…event on the subway platform than stuck in boring suburban traffic. Life should also be about the journey, not just the destination.

And I’ll tell you something else — I may have gotten lost in some pretty shady and maybe even dangerous places, but I’ve also seen a whole lot more of the city than most of my friends, and some of the places that I’ve been lost in have been pretty beautiful too.

Here’s what I’m getting at in short: When life throws you lemons, don’t be so hung up on turning them into lemonade. Sometimes, just dodging flying lemons is an entertaining enough way to spend your day.

OPINION

Page 10

John P. Castonguay Madate Inhibits Liberty The Obama administration issued a statement Friday that is sure to reignite the debate surrounding the looming enforcement of the Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate. The “religious exemption” regarding paying for employees’ insurance coverage and includes contraception and abortifacients was clarified; non-profit religiously affiliated organizations, such as Catholic hospitals and universities, will have the opportunity to opt out of covering the contraception portion of insurance for their employees. Insurance companies will be responsible for covering contraception at no cost to the employee or employer. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, writes, “Today, the administration is taking the next step in providing women across the nation with coverage of recommended preventive care at no cost, while respecting religious concerns.”

Several major objections have already surfaced in response to the revised mandate. Anna Higgins, the director of the Center for Human Dignity at the Family Resource Center, called the updated plan an “accounting gimmick,” elaborating, “Regardless of whether insurance companies or third party administrators use their dollars for an employee’s free abortifacients and contraceptives, the provision of these drugs and devices still necessarily depends on the religious employer’s health insurance plan.” She asserts that the revised edict violates the Religious Freedom Act and the First Amendment.

The religious exemption does not extend to companies owned and operated by people with religious or moral objections to providing contraception and abortifacients to their employees. Multiple lawsuits had been filed challenging the mandate prior to Friday’s announcement, and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, representing Hobby Lobby in their law suit, asserts that companies like Hobby Lobby will still be forced to comply or face millions of dollars in fines. The Becket Fund released a statement saying “Today’s proposed rule does nothing to protect the religious liberty of millions of Americans. The rights of family businesses like Hobby Lobby are still being violated.” The government has claimed the right to decide who is allowed to have moral and religious objections and who is not. The Becket Fund believes that religion and morality are left to the church.

The purpose of the expansion of health insurance was to supply coverage for essential medical procedures.

Contrary to the way it is often treated, sex is not essential for life, and neither is contraception. Providing such coverage raises insurance costs, interfering with the public’s ability to pay for procedures and products that are actually necessary. Contraception is relatively inexpensive and easy to acquire for those without moral objections, but everyone should be concerned with the government deciding who can and cannot conscientiously object. For both those who object to contraception and those who do not, refusing to grant the government the ability to trample private morality is worth more than free birth control.

February 6, 2013

Catholic School Closings Affect Families, Children

By ANDREW SANTIS STAFF WRITER

When my mom walked home from the bus stop in downtown Flushing or after the 1:30 PM Spanish mass on Sunday at St. Michael’s Church ended, she would pass by the small school building down the block from the church.

“If I have kids one day,” she would say, “I am going to send them to a Catholic school.” It was a promise she would keep years later.

In September 1999, I started kindergarten at St. Michael’s School, which opened in 1851.

It was the first time I wore a uniform to school: gray dress pants, a light blue buttoned down shirt, a tie and black shoes.

On the first day, the principal, Sister Miriam, was at the door checking if every student was properly dressed, had cut their nails and had a reasonable hair length before they could enter the building. Every morning started off with a prayer, usually the Lord’s Father—and then the Pledge of Allegiance. We were taught the core subjects as well as religion, which covered Church teachings and Catholic doctrine.

It was mostly the same thing every year but with a different perspective. As we got older, each class started attending morning mass once a week.

By the time my brother was enrolled at St. Michael’s in 2004, I was in the fourth grade. As teachers started leaving, each grade merged from two sections into one. Every year after that, class sizes began to shrink.

Eventually, an entire floor of classrooms was left empty. Many families began to leave too, having lost hope in bringing St. Michael’s School back to its glory days. By the time I graduated, only about 200 students were left in the school. That same year, my parents made the tough decision to withdraw my brother.

Two years later, St. Michael’s was slated to close by the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens.

This is the same fate 24 schools in the Diocese of New York will face by the end of the school year.

Declining enrollment and the diocese’s financial woes have left no choice but to shut the doors of these struggling schools. According to the National Catholic Education Association, the New York Diocese school closings will join a national trend that has seen Catholic-school enrollment in the U.S. decline by 23.4 percent since 2000.

The structure of a Catholic school education is unmatched.

It provides a basic foundation of moral principles and virtues, molds students’ character and gives students a top-tier education while focusing on the importance of social justice and serving others in the community. The goal is to prepare students for the world beyond the classroom.

For Catholic students, a Catholic education also means continuing to learn about their faith and having God in their lives. For many families, sending a child to a Catholic school would mean a better opportunity for him or her in the long run. Paying tuition is not a burden because they know that their child is receiving an education they would not get anywhere else.

So why are these schools continuing to close? Is it because the Church has no more money? Are schools not being “publicized” enough? Is tuition too high?

These schools close for the above reasons and, at St. Michael’s, my family was one of the few who attended the parent meetings.

Rarely would more than 10 parents show up. No one seemed to care how the school was doing, how it could improve or how to raise money. A school needs support from the entire community to function.

People think that a school’s expenses are covered only by tuition money. This is not true. Money from the Church and money from donations and fundraising are the only other sources of income.

Catholic schools cannot continue to depend on this. They need to

JIM HENDERSON / WIKIMEDIA

St. James Cathedral is one of many which has closed schools recently.

find other sources of funding but it can only happen if everyone in the community does its part. It is a shame that people start to react

“I know for a fact I am a better person, a better Catholic and a better student because I went to Catholic school.” only when it is too late to do anything.

I strongly believe that a Catholic school provides the best edu-

Ram on the Street

cation. For 14 years and counting I have been in Catholic schools because my family and I continue to see how valuable a Catholic education is. I know for a fact that I am a better person, a better Catholic and a better student because I went to Catholic schools. Their teachings are my code of living.

In the end, St. Michael’s was saved. We cannot, however, let these schools reach rock bottom before we choose to lend a helping hand. We also cannot deprive students who want a Catholic education. More than ever, Catholic schools need our support.

Andrew Santis, GSB ’16, is a business administration major.

Compiled by Joe Vitale, Asst. Opinion Editor

Does the new Blackberry stand a chance against the iPhone?

“Everyone used to be on BBM. Now it’s all about iMessage.”

— Jake Penders, FCRH ’15

“The iPhone is so mainstream and successful. The BB 10 needs to be really awesome to be a hit and to be successful.”

— Anthony Yu, GSB ’15

“I’ve had an iPhone, a BB, and now I have a Samsung Galaxy. I don’t like the way Apple operates, but I don’t think BB has a chance.”

— Abigail Ahern, GSB ’16

“I’ve had an iPhone before, and I just got the new iPhone 5. I think it’s pretty great, but I still miss a real keyboard.”

— Sebastien Blanc, GSB ’13

Arts & Entertainment

February 6,2013

Fordham Professor Weighs in on Thirty Controversy

ELIZABETH ZANGHI/THE RAM

Karen Greenberg, an expert in America’s torture history, finds fault in Zero Dark Thirty.

FROM GREENBERG, PAGE 1

“[The movie is] insufficiently respectful of the documented history of America’s use of torture, especially following the Sept. 11 attacks and the hunt for bin Laden,” she said.

This is the very issue that landed Bigelow and Zero Dark Thirty screenwriter Mark Boal in hot water following limited screenings of the movie back in late December. On the opening date of the advanced screenings, a concurrent letter citing affiliation with the Senate Committee on Intelligence was sent to Sony Entertainment asking the movie to change the impression that torture was an effective tool in the manhunt for bin Laden in 2011. Currently, the

committee is threatening the filmmakers with an investigation and has asked for documents provided by the CIA for use in writing the Zero Dark Thirty storyline.

In an interview with ABC’s “This Week,” Boal responded to the politically fueled accusations: “I think the controversy in a lot of ways predates the film. And I believe that we capture the essence of what happened and so do many other people who have lived through it,” Boal said. “I approached the research the way I would’ve approached the research of any article or if I was writing a book. But then there’s a second stage, which is you take that research and you compile it and transform it

into a screenplay. It’s dramatized.”

Indeed, the story is a dramatization of the real life hunt for bin Laden, but this is not news to Greenberg and those like her who have found fault with the movie. Nor, Greenberg believes, is it an excuse to twist the facts. One of her biggest issues with the movie, the “lack of dissenting voice” to torture is, she asserts, most prevalent in the movie’s portrayal of the authoritative institutions who headed the hunt for bin Laden.

“The lack of any voice questioning the use of torture, whether it be a person in the CIA or FBI, is highly inappropriate,” Greenberg said. She also takes offense to the movie’s “portrayal of the CIA as bumbling, except for a lone, determined operative, and lost in terms of the next step.”

In this way, she asserts, the movie emphasizes the use of torture by the American government as the only productive means of catching the bad guys and, in effect, the movie leads the American people to believe that torture is a strong and viable option for American safety.

“This is a movie that attempts to tell us about what keeps us safe and what will continue to keep us safe,” she said.

Politicians, pundits and other members of the media particularly disturbed by the movie’s message have gone so far as to label the movie as propaganda. When asked if she considered Zero Dark Thirty propagandist in nature, Greenberg responded: “No, but I think the American public has been woefully misled to believe that the content of [the movie] represents the moral fabric of this country.”

When Trashy TV is Good TV

By DAN OBERMAN STAFF WRITER

The show “Workaholics” originally interested me because I heard that Adam DeVine (Adam Dwanye DeMamp on the show) had gone to Fordham University. However, after trying to contact him through the alumni directory, I eventually found that “[He] just cut and pasted Denzel Washington’s bio…and somehow that’s made it ALL over the internet,” according to an interview that Devine gave to lostremote.com. After watching the show for several seasons, his lack of education doesn’t surprise me at all.

“Workaholics” is perhaps one of the trashiest shows on television; it honestly makes “Dance Moms” look like a show about charity. “Workaholics” dedication to degradation of the viewer’s intelligence can be shown through a quote by character Blake Anderson, “No, I’m not 16. I can’t drink like that anymore.” “Workaholics” is, by definition, trashy television.

Their boss on the show describes the three main characters as, “barely functioning alcoholics.”

In one episode, the main characters attempt to catch a child predator and instead end up becoming friends with the predator. The main charac-

ters of the show soon learn that the person that is the child predator is, excluding his inner criminal, a normal guy.

The Workaholics, who are complete miscreant slackers, attempt to rehabilitate the child predator by taking him to a gymnasium to “meet the closest thing to 10-12 boys that are legal.” At the gymnasium, the Workaholics introduce the child predator to a group of 18-year-old female gymnasts. Unfortunately, the child predator sneaks off into the boys

bathroom. It soon becomes obvious that the severity of the pedophilia’s problem is not something a bunch of “bros” can solve by introducing him to cute gymnasts.

Trash television, aside from its hilarious moments, has an important place in entertainment and society because of its ability to bring up otherwise excluded topics from the normal social repertoire. This is exactly why you should watch the new season of “Workaholics’” on Comedy Central, Wednesdays at 10 p.m.

COURTESY OF AP IMAGES

Contrary to popular belief, Adam Devine is not a graduate of Fordham College.

Page11

Arts and Entertainment Looks Forward to 2013

By PATRICK DOHERTY STAFF WRITER

Let’s start with movies. Hollywood and the independent market are looking forward to a promising year with many well-regarded directors returning with bright expectation of future prospects.

After trying their hands at creating a Western, the Coen brothers now turn their eyes to Greenwich Village with Inside Llewyn Davis.

Loosely based on the memoir of musician Dave Van Rock, the movie follows Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake as they navigate the hectic NYC music scene of the 1960s. The U.S. release date is unknown.

Lars von Trier returns after 2011’s haunting sci-fi piece Melancholia to direct Nymphomaniac, a risque drama about a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac (Charlotte Gainsbourg) who is beaten in an alley and left for dead. She is found by a charming bachelor (Stellan Skarsgard) who nurses her back to health. All the while, she recounts the story of her life from birth to the age of 50. The film also stars Jamie Bell, Christian Slater and Connie Nielsen. The release date is unknown.

The Counselor is the first original screenplay from acclaimed author Cormac McCarthy. The film stars Michael Fassbender as a lawyer who gets into an ever escalating amount of trouble after trying his hand at drug trafficking. The film is directed by Ridley Scott and also stars Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem. The slated release date is Nov. 15.

Lowlife marks James Grey’s first period piece, following the critically divisive We Own the Night.

The story focuses on an immigrant from Poland (Marion Cotillard) as she is drawn into the filthy underground of turning tricks by city sleaze-bags ( Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Renner). The U.S. release date is unknown.

Reconnecting the two Drive cohorts, director Nicolas Winding Refn takes us on a journey down to Bangkok, Thailand in Only God Forgives. Ryan Gosling leads as the manager of a Thai boxing club.

The club is actually a front for his family’s drug smuggling organization, and Gosling is forced to take action when his brother is killed.

The U.S. release date is unknown.

To the Wonder is a surprisingly early return for elusive director Terrance Malick. To the Wonder is a romantic drama that centers around a man who reconnects with a woman from his hometown after his previous marriage fell apart. The film stars Ben Affleck, Olga Kurylenko, Rachel McAdams and Javier Bardem. While the movie did premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival, there is no U.S. release date at this time.

The Place Beyond the Pines

marks another turn for Gosling and another reconnection with a past colleague, this time director Derek Cianfrance. The movie is a multi-generational story that follows Gosling as a motorcycle stunt driver who thinks about committing a crime to support his young family. The movie also stars Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes and Ray Liotta. The U.S. release date is March 29.

After his fascinating look into the sexual psyche with Shame, Steve McQueen goes into the past for a completely different narrative in Twelve Years a Slave. The story focuses on a New Yorker who is kidnapped and sold into inhumane slavery. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch and Paul Giamatti.

After years of delay, it looks like Gravity, Alfonso Cuaron’s followup to Children of Men, is finally being released. Starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, the screenplay follows the lives of two astronauts stranded in a damaged space station. It will be released on Oct. 4, 2013.

Neill Blomkamp, the standout director behind the surprise hit District 9, returns to the field of sci-fi with Elysium, a tale of inequality, reckless con-men and space espionage. The movie stars Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Wagner Moura, Carly Pope and Alice Braga. The release date is on Aug. 9.

Next up: music. The musical offerings this year are diverse, with albums including hip-hop, garage rock, experimental noise and plunder-phonics. Hopefully they are as accomplished as they are different.

The Thom Yorke-led collective Atoms for Peace has finally announced an album release date, titled AMOK. Atoms for Peace, comprised of Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Joey Waronker of R.E.M and multipercussionist Mauro Refosco have released two singles, eclectic electronic mixes reminiscent of Yorke’s solo work. AMOK is due out Feb 25.

Now recognized primarily for his acting career, Justin Timberlake is trying to get back into the music game. He recently released the R&B throwback “Suit & Tie” to mixed reviews. While not as immediately catchy as the singles of FutureSex/LoveSounds, the irresistible hook is hard to ignore.

The 20/20 Experience is due out March 19.

Dodging simple genre convictions, Autre Ve Naut, the bedroom producer out of Brooklyn, has shed his anonymous shielding to emerge as a fresh, promising voice on the scene. His first single off the album, “Counting,” is a lush, desperate plea, with the artist begging, “I’m counting on the idea SEE PREVIEW, PAGE 13

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Page 12

February 6, 2013

TSeersucker Curtain Rises on Theatrical Outreach Program he

KEVIN ZEBROSKI Modern jackets are cut to a much shorter length than their traditional counterparts. They cut off at a high hip level at the bottom and tend to fit more snugly on the shoulders than a suit jacket from any other era of history might. This sweeping trend of shorter jackets is largely attributed to the efforts of Thom Browne’s revisionist interpretation of traditional American clothing, but it would be unfair to ignore the European influence on downsizing menswear.

The conspicuous French label Dior Homme introduced the paradigm of thin male models and appropriately thin jackets, a departure from the more traditionally masculine silhouettes of the 1990s. These very thin suits brought about the skinny tie’s resurgence and the popularization of narrow lapels. These downsized components that are now so firmly ingrained into modern fashion were originally avant-garde statements about the striking visuals of androgyny.

The short and slim suits of today are a result of proportional adjustments. A jacket in the 1970s had broad lapels and padded shoulders, which communicates the image of traditional masculinity.

Ben Affleck’s Argo was an excellent example of historically accurate 1970s wardrobe work. The suit of 2013 emphasizes traditional masculinity values far less. Essential design philosophy provides a greater influence on modern tailoring.

Design philosophy’s basic rules are that form should meet function in a visually pleasing and intuitive way. The function of a suit is to provide a second layer for the wearer to protect his skin from the elements, and the close fit of a modern suit means that only the necessary amount of fabric is employed to cover the body. Ease of motion in a suit is necessary, and the high armholes of modern suit design allow for a wider range of motion. A suit should — at least in areas with potentially cold weather — be layered underneath warmer garments, and the close fit of a modern suit makes layering a possibility without encountering encumbering bulk.

Finding this sort of fit can be difficult when trying to avoid the designer tag for fear of rapid poverty. It is easy to look at many designers’ lower-end labels for pieces of clothing similar to their main line made with less expensive materials. These lower-end labels often retain the visually striking elements of a given designer’s philosophy but market themselves towards a younger and less luxury oriented market. Marc by Marc Jacobs and the Thom Browne with Brooks Brothers collaboration Black Fleece are good examples.

Wait for them to go on sale, or you’re going to have a bad time.

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

COURTESY OF TOP

Theatrical Outreach Program’s production last semester was Much Ado About Nothing.

By DANIELLE GARRAND ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

The Theatrical Outreach Program (TOP) has been an official Fordham club only since the fall of 2010, but in the past three years they have made an invaluable contribution to the Fordham and Bronx communities.

TOP’s mission statement is “to bring classic works of theatre to students of the Bronx community as well as the Fordham community” according to its OrgSync page, but it is not as easy as it sounds.

Each semester, TOP performs two classic pieces for theatre to children in the Bronx community as well as giving a performance of each show on the Fordham campus. Before the shows are even chosen, however, the club’s counsel narrows a selection of seven classic shows down to three. Then, the shows are presented to the general board and two are chosen. From there the intense job of

abridging difficult works, such as last semester’s shows Pygmalion and A Christmas Carol, begins.

For four to six weeks, members of the club meet twice a week to make the scripts more understandable for young audiences who have never been exposed to complicated works of theatre before.

Current President Jenna Isabella, FCRH ‘13, said that the main goal of the editing sessions is to “retain meaning and preserve the meter.

There are a lot of checks and balances. We never want to get rid of a character. We make sure to make the characters are really clear in the first few scenes so they[the Bronx school children] can follow along.”

After the script is finished, the student director holds open auditions and a cast of 14 to 20 people is chosen.

Throughout the rehearsals, the cast and production team also plan activities to do with the kids during the two-hour visit. Usually, the show takes about an hour, and the

last hour is spent “getting them to see from the other side of the stage,” as Isabella said. In the past, members have done workshops, Q&A sessions with the kids, stage combat training and have let the kids read from the scripts. It was during these sessions with Bronx school children that Isabella had one of her favorite memories: “One kid was amazed that we were students. It dawned on him that he could do something of that scope; that moment of excitement that theatre is something that anybody can give a go.”

Through all of the shows and community outreach, Isabella, who has been a member of the club since she played Juliet in Romeo and Juliet as a sophomore, explained that the club “is a family” worth being a part of. The nation

seems to be catching the TOP fever as well. Founder of the club, Ryan Adams, FCRH ‘11, who now attends Harvard Divinity school, was asked if TOP could be turned into a nationwide club represented at colleges all around the country.

In less than the time it takes to get a diploma, TOP has taught Bronx children that theatre is accessible for all and made it possible for them to understand works that some adults cannot fully comprehend, while catching national attention.

This semester’s shows: -Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House -William Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona Auditions for Two Gentlemen of Verona: week of March 3rd (Days TBD)

COURTESY OF TOP

This semester features productions of A Doll’s House and Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Dining Out: Osteria Il Paiolo

By ANNE MARIE BOGAR CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On North 6th Street, one of the many streets lined with vintage boutiques, trendy restaurants and industrial warehouses in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, sits the Northern Italian restaurant of Osteria Il Paiolo. The deceivingly modest exterior houses an elegant, white table-clothed restaurant.

The staff inside the restaurant was surprisingly friendly. The waiters were very attentive, but not overbearing, refilling our water glasses often and letting us eat in peace.

The best part of the experience, however, was definitely the meal.

To start, we ordered the fromaggi, an assortment of cheeses and jams to accompany the complimentary sun-dried tomato focaccia bread. The portion was fairly small to share between my three friends and me and way too small for the price of the appetizer, but the cheeses and jams were tasty, and the bread was delicious.

For the main course, I ordered the meat lasagna, which was one of the specials for that day. The lasagna was unexpectedly rich because a creamy, cheesy sauce replaced the usual tomato sauce.

The change was rather enjoyable, however, and resulted in a delicious entrée. The portion was a reasonable size, but quite pricey.

The specials are displayed on a chalkboard in the restaurant, but the prices are not written up there, so it is a good idea to ask the waiter

ANNE MARIE BOGAR/ THE RAM

If you happen to be in Williamsburg overlook the hipster spots and opt for delicious Italian cuisine at Osteria Il Paiolo.

before ordering any special of the day.

I shared a chocolate cake topped with vanilla gelato with my friend for dessert. The cake was not very rich, which was a little disappointing at the beginning. I appreciated the subdued flavor, as it was not overwhelming after the first few bites. Overall, I felt that the food was satisfying.

Based on the prices, the décor and the ambiance (calming, yet elegant), Osteria Il Paiolo is not the place for a casual dinner with friends; it is, however, ideal for special occasions and dates. We were able to get a table right away

without a reservation, which is surprising for a Saturday night.

The service was prompt for both the appetizer and main course, and the complimentary bread kept us occupied until our meal came. The dessert, on the other hand, took noticeably longer to arrive, which made me almost regret ordering it; that is, until I tasted it.

I would recommend this restaurant if you are in the mood to splurge a little, but if you are on a tight budget, there are cheaper Italian restaurants all over New York City with food that is just as delicious. I would definitely rec-

ommend checking out Williamsburg, however, the streets are alive with people looking to go out for a fun time and there is an abundance of restaurants of all types.

Overall Location Food Quality Atmosphere Hospitality Price (Out of 4

$$$

’s)

Interested in writing restaurant and food reviews? Email: fordhamramculture@gmail. com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

February 6, 2013

Page 13

Editor’s Pick: Hannah Storm Lunar New Year Where: Chinatown When: Sunday Feb. 7, 11 a.m.

Price: Free

By KELLY KULTYS NEWS EDITOR

As my family and I were watching the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers battle it out during last Sunday’s Super Bowl, my dad sarcastically commented, “apparently to be a female sports reporter, you gotta be tall and blonde.” I chuckled, but then we started naming popular reporters: “Erin Andrews, Kim Jones.” All blonde, but after thinking awhile, I paused and replied, “Dad, you forgot Hannah Storm!’”

It was a tremendous mistake we both made for those few minutes, forgetting one of the pioneers of the sports broadcasting field for women. Hannah, the woman who got her humble start as a rock and roll DJ in Texas, has become legendary because of her work.

She has been the face of ESPN’s SportsCenter since 2008. She has broadcast Olympic games, hosted the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, and in recent years she even created her own Hannah Storm Foundation.

Hannah began her professional career as a pioneer, becoming the first woman sports host of “CNN Sports Tonight.” She moved on to NBC, where she diversified her profile dabbling in everything from the NFL to WNBA, The Olympic Games to the NBA and even figure skating. She was even the first woman play-by-play announcer for the WNBA way back in 1997.

Hannah shifted her world slightly away from sports when she moved to CBS as the host of Early Show. She was able to cover major events, such as Hurricane Katrina, the 2004 election, Super Bowls, as well as interview numerous notable figures including Presidents George Bush and Barack Obama, Peyton Manning and Elton John.

She left her job there in 2007 to

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

COURTESY OF BOB EDMY/AP IMAGES

After suffering major burns on her face in December, Storm broadcast 3 weeks later.

return to the world of sports. In 2008, Hannah started her current and most famous role as an anchor of SportsCenter. This helped her eventually host the U.S. Open, NBA Finals and then the NBA Countdown.

Besides her on-camera career, Hannah also created her own production company — ‘Brainstormin’ Productions’ — as well as authored two successful books, Notre Dame Inspiration and Go Girl!: Raising Healthy, Confident and Successful Daughters through Sports.

As an aspiring sports broadcaster myself, I cannot help but idolize the woman who has had to overcome many challenges to achieve her level of fame. Besides the fact that she is a female playing in what stereotypically has been a man’s world, she has had to overcome many obstacles, including one just two months ago. On Dec. 11, 2012, she suffered second-degree burns on her chest and hands as well as firstdegree burns on her neck and face

from an accident with a propane grill at home. Hannah debuted back with ESPN early in 2013 after recovering from the injuries that cost Hannah her eyelashes, eyebrows and almost half of her hair.

Hannah has also been under scrutiny for her clothing selection, something men in her field rarely have to face, as one of her co-workers called an outfit she wore “a sausage casing.”

To rise above all the complications and challenges she faced to become one of the most notable female sports broadcasters of all time shows just how amazing Hannah Storm is. The fact that at the “old age” (in television years) of 50 she’s still just as talented, beautiful and strong as she was 20 years ago is a testament to her greatness.

So Hannah, although you are not the stereotypical female reporter bouncing along on the sidelines, thank you for paving the path for aspiring, blonde, female sports journalists like me.

Although Jan. 1 has come and gone, the New Year’s celebrations do not have to end just yet. This Sunday marks the Chinese New Year, and Chinatown is welcoming in the year of the snake with a bang, literally. Head on over to Chinatown this weekend to see the 14th annual Firecracker ceremony and Cultural Festival beginning at 11 a.m. First, get a good spot for the parade featuring classic dragons and traditional Chinese dancers. The route stretches from Little Italy to lower Manhattan/Chinatown. Later in the day, witness 500,000 firecrackers explode for the New Year to ward off evil spirits and welcome in the New Year.

Along with the large events, there will be free decorations and even opportunities to learn how to do a lion dance. No party would be complete without plenty of food booths featuring authentic Chinese cuisine (you will never be able to eat the Bronx’s China City take-out again). Be sure to stuff your mouths with all the dumplings you can find, as it is said that those who eat more make more money in the next year. Xin Nian Kuai Le! (Happy New Year!)

MOMA’s Free First Friday Where: 11 West 53rd Street When: Friday Feb. 8, 6-8 p.m.

Price: Free If you have been dying to check out MOMA, but couldn’t pay the $25 entrance fee, head on over this Friday from 6-8 p.m. and see all of the art for free.

The first Friday of every month, MOMA cuts us all a break, and poor college kids should jump at the chance. Finally you can get to see Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” and Andy Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Cans” off of your computer screen without leaving with an empty wallet. Use the money saved on an entrance fee for a delish dinner right in the heart of mid-town. Onya Udon soup noodles are perfect for a chilly night and are located pretty close at 143 E. 47th Street.

— COMPILED BY DANIELLE GARRA ND ASST. ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

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

2013: New Daft Punk Music; End of “Breaking Bad” FROM PREVIEW, PAGE 11

that you’ll stay alive.” Anxiety is due out Feb. 26.

The collaborative The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends nonwithstanding, Wayne Coynes and company has not released a proper studio album since 2009. They intend to change that with this year’s The Terror, which, according to the band, promises to promote a darker, more sinister sound. The Terror is due out April 2.

As an experimental artist, The Haxen Cloak wowed critics with his surprise 2011 debut. The artist guaranteed more minimalist details amid the droning elements that dominated his previous work.

“The Mirror Reflecting (Part 2)” is a perfect example of what Bobby Krlic has promised. Excavation is due out April 30.

A release by The Avalanches is more of a hopeful wish than a guarantee. In the works for at least a decade, the album has recently been given a title, When I Met You, alongside a list of collaborators.

These collaborations include poparist Ariel Pink and rapper Danny Brown. When I Met You has no confirmed release date at this time.

Trent Reznor is back, but not under the moniker of Nine Inch

Nails. Instead, Reznor formed the band How to Destroy Angels with his wife, Mariqueen Maandig, and long time collaborators Atticus Ross and Rob Sheridan. Rather than the industrial-inspired rock NIN is known for, HTDA mixes trip-hop influences with Trent’s recent ambient soundtrack work. welcome oblivion is due out March 5.

Besides the 2010 Tron: Legacy soundtrack, Daft Punk, the robotic French house producers, have kept fans waiting for new material since 2005. Now, after recently signing with Colombia Records, the pair announced that a new album is in the works. While the album does not have a title yet, a release date in the spring, possibly May, has been announced.

Danny Brown, the odd-voiced rapper, has promised a more straightforward approach to this follow-up of his 2011 mixtape.

While the inappropriate oneliners and rude jokes are always appreciated, considering he has already ruined Cool Ranch Doritos forever, it may be interesting to hear him take a more serious approach. Old does not have a release date at time of publication.

After a seven-year hiatus, The

Knife is back. Promising over 100 minutes of music on their new LP, The Knife puts forth their first single, “Full of Fire” 10-minutes of expanded electronic goodness.

Shaking the Habitual is due out April 9.

Now, for television: this looks to be a promising year for the small screen, with many lauded series returning, some for the last time.

The final episodes of “Breaking Bad” mark the end of what some consider the best television show currently airing. Starring Bryan Cranston as a chemistry teacher turned meth maker and Aaron Paul as his younger cohort, the final eight episodes are set to air in July.

AMC’s other hit show, “Mad Men,” is also opening up a new season. Set in New York City during the 1960s, the show explores the personal and professional lives of those who work at an advertising agency. The show also explores the changing times and social expectations of women in the workplace. “Mad Men” is set to air in April.

Completing the AMC trifecta is “The Walking Dead.” Based on the Image comic series by Robert Kirkman, the show focuses on a

group of survivors of the zombie apocalypse as they try and find a safe haven against the “walkers.”

“The Walking Dead” is set to return Feb. 10th.

The first season of “Touch” marked Kiefer Sutherland’s return to the small screen. The story follows Sutherland and his autistic child who can only communicate using technology and strings of numbers. Touch is set to return Feb. 1.

Created by Dan Harmon, “Community” centers around a study-group at a local community college and how they handle class, extracurricular activities and each other. “Community” is set to return Feb. 7.

“Golden Boy” will take a different route than most police procedurals. It will follow the rise of a cop from the role of officer to detective and finally taking his place as police commissioner. “Golden Boy” is set to premiere Feb. 26.

“Black Mirror,” the British miniseries, has been renewed for three more episodes. Each episode will be self-contained and focus on the overpowering of media and technology in our interconnected society. The first episode will focus on a distraught woman who uses an

online service to “communicate” with an avatar of her recently deceased husband by the use of his old social media posts and contributions. The series is set to return Feb. 11.

Stephen Poliakoff returns to the BBC with another ambitious drama project, “Dancing on the Edge.” The series follows a young music journalist in the year 1932 who promotes an African-American jazz band in London. The show is set to delve into the world of high-stakes allegiances and betrayals, all set in a forever changing society. The show is set to premiere Feb. 4.

Rumors abound about the fate of “Sherlock,” but it has been confirmed that it will be back for a third season. The show is a look at the eponymous detective and his companion Watson in a modernday London. The series will be back in late 2013 but with no confirmed release date.

“Game of Thrones,” the HBO fantasy series, returns for its third season. Based on the widely-popular book series by George R.R. Martin, the series follows several different rival families as they battle for the land of Westeros. The series is set to return March 31.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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February 6 , 2013

WHO’S THAT KID? RYAN CONROY A MEMBER OF FCRH ’15 MAJOR: ECONOMICS FROM: PALMER, AK Describe yourself in a couple sentences for the readers.

Restless. My basketball coach once told me that I was either incredible…or garbage. I don’t know about all that, but I would agree that I tend to be a man of extremes.

Karen Hill

Just walking around with friends, maybe getting saucy in some dingy restaurant.

What is something about you that not many people know?

I was a precocious young wrestler.

CAITLIN DEGNAN/THE RAM

What is your favorite aspect of Fordham and why?

What is your favorite class at Fordham?

You know, I’m not a real orthodox religious guy, but I love the Catholic aspect. The bells, the whispers of incense, the Sunday finery — it’s so optimistic.

International Political Economy with Marcus Holmes. He’s a boss, plus it’s hilarious listening to 20 year-old kids say things like, “We saw that ideology crumble in the Reagan era.”

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

People b----ing about our cafeteria. When have you ever associated all-you-can-eat buffets for 3,000 people with gourmandaise and luxury? Get real.

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

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

I’d like to see the Concourse Fund (Google it!) handling a million dollars in assets.

What show, food, artist or movie would you consider your “guilty pleasure”?

Ryan enjoys drinks in dingy resteraunts, especially if Sheryl Crowe is on the juke.

Sheryl Crowe. My mom played Sheryl Crowe cassettes in our VW Vanagon. Ever since then I’ve been a secret fan.

What is the biggest misconception people have about you?

You are what you seem.

Do you have plans, career or otherwise, for post-college life?

I’d like to do some diplomacy in West Africa.

What activities, clubs, projects or organizations are you involved with at school?

I’ve been working with the Concourse Fund, a microfinance institution started by Fordham’s own Andrew Kingsley, as well as the Senegalese association of America’s community center in west Harlem.

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

Easy — George Foreman grill.

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

Skim.

A Trip to the Movies: No Need to Fear, Wallet

Instead of Spending $20 for Weekend Movie, Learn a Few Tips to Save Big at NYC Cinemas

By PATRICK MULLEN STAFF WRITER

Living in New York City can be a pain sometimes. It is so expensive to do just about anything. A Fordham student needs to put him or herself on some kind of budget.

A good deal of knowledge can carry someone a long way.

Take movies, for example: if someone does not know what they are doing, they could end up spending almost $20 on a single movie ticket. This is made even worse considering the cost of transportation to get to the theater.

There are ways to get around this, of course. Based on my experience, the cheapest way to see a movie is to go early on a weekend. As inconvenient as this may sound, it really makes a great deal of sense.

If one chooses to take the Metro-North, a City Ticket on the weekend is significantly cheaper than a peak or an off-peak ticket during the week. If you go to an AMC theater, which there are a good deal of in Manhattan alone, tickets for a showing before noon are only $7 ($11 for a 3D film).

There is an AMC theater in Times Square not too far from Grand Central Station. There is also an AMC theater just a few blocks north of the Lincoln Center campus, which can be quite convenient if the timing of the show complies. To compare, an afternoon showing at an AMC theater is $14 ($18 for a 3D film). If you go to a film before noon, you

COURTESY OF ADREAS PRAEFSKY/ WIKIMEDIA

AMC theater’s, with multiple locations in New York City, is a go-to spot for cheap and convenient movie outings.

will spend about half as much the money as you would in the afternoon or evening.

Of course, there are other theaters in Manhattan. If you are looking to see a less mainstream film or a movie that has not gotten wide release, there are a number of other options. Village East Cin-

ema, for instance, located on 2nd Avenue and 12th Street, offers $6 tickets for anything before noon, while it is $13.50 for anything in the weekend afternoon or evening.

This is a bit cheaper than AMC, but it is also considerably harder to get to, as a long subway ride will be required.

This information gives you plenty of options for seeing movies in the city. I would naturally recommend going to an 11:30 a.m. showing to save money and not have to wake up incredibly early, but do with this information what you will. Be smart and you will save money.

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, along with its “perfectdate” anxieties. With school, finding time for dates is difficult, so take that time that you’re setting aside for a perfect Valentine’s date and do something unexpected.

I have compiled a list of some of the most fun date ideas in NYC. Warning: They are not your cliché lovey-dovey locations. The best part is, you do not have to do any of these with a boyfriend or girlfriend; if you are single, you could definitely do any of these with your best friend. So take the money that you would spend on that all-too-quickly-digested filet mignon and invest it into some of these lifetime memory-makers.

Valentine’s Day is about knocking your date off of his or her feet and getting your heart rate rising. You can do both at Indoor Extreme Sports as you blast each other with paintball guns or play laser tag. Guys, I know you especially would love to do this.

If you have any trouble persuading a girl to go with you, just tell her how many calories she will burn chasing after you. Paintball is $36 per person, but that is for three hours of unlimited balls and all inclusive protection.

A hackneyed dinner and a movie date is at least $50 per person for the same duration of time, but with less excitement and interaction. The laser tag is a little cheaper, ranging from $20 to $28. If this is the date you are looking for, then hop on the 7 train and get off at the 33rd & Rawson stop.

Now, I personally love a horror movie for dates because it is a great reason to get “scared” and cling onto my date for dear life. This idea is one step past horror movies. Time Scare’s Hotel of Horrors is the only yearround haunted house in New York City. Go there with your date and hold hands as you walk through the haunted corridors. Great screams now will make for great laughs later.

Tickets start at $27, and if this fright fest sounds like just the right amount of excitement for your Valentine’s night, then just ride the subway on down to Times Square.

If you are looking for a gift and a date, then Color Me Mine is the place to go. At Color Me Mine, you get to paint all sorts of pottery. Guys, I have no explanation as to why this would be manly, except for the fact that it would make your girlfriend happy. So, do it. On Valentine’s Day there is also a two for one studio fee!

Ladies, you can always make a single girls’ night out of it. Located in Tribeca, you can take the 1,2,3, A or C to Chambers Street.

I don’t think a Valentine’s Day could be complete without sex, and I don’t mean doing it. The Museum of Sex has some really cool and informative exhibits this month like “The Sex Lives of Animals.” It’s fun, educational and has a pretty scandalous gift shop. What more could you ask for?

Admission is $17.50, but you can get a $3 discount online. To get there take the 6 train to 28th St. (Park Avenue) or the 1 train to 28th St. (7th Ave).

Questions about your love life or lack thereof? tweet @hiKarenHere #FordhamDatingProblems.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

February 6, 2013

Page 15

Ram Reviews MUSIC LONG. LIVE. A$AP

By JOSEPH VITALE ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

over a nostalgic hip-hop beat that separates itself from every other track on the album.

What LongLiveA$AP brings to the table is definitely not one of the most accessible sounds in the rap game. However, A$AP’s amalgamation of influences, sonically rich beats and cocky attitude make the album worthwhile.

Whether it will make him New York’s premier rapper, though, time will only tell.

MAGAZINES WIRED

By DANIELLE GARRANDE ASSISTANT A & E EDITOR

In another exciting turn of events for WIRED, the previous Creative Director Scott Dadich was named Editor-in-Chief this past November. If you have ever looked at the magazine and disliked it, try it again. The new management’s style might catch your fancy.

So, next time you walk past magazines and see the zany WIRED poking out from behind all of the typical publications, snag it. You will be glad you did.

Koch Dies on Day of Movie Release

By RORY MASTERSON EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

TELEVISION

TELEVISION

“JOE SCHMO”

KATY WINN/AP IMAGES

A$AP Rocky, a New York rapper coming off the well-received mixtape Live.Love.A$AP., recently dropped his first commercial album, Long. Live. A$AP. 16 tracks deep, the beats A$AP spits over are base-heavy, with melodic dips and drops that highlight his ability to move from an atmospheric rapping style to an energetic boom-bap style.

As the album progresses, A$AP maintains his cocky confidence that blurs the lines between his real personality and his character.

Either way, his cool, rambunctious attitude makes half of me want to spend a weekend with him. The other half is nervous as to whether or not I will come out alive.

Although A$AP comes through with great flow on almost every track, his subject material becomes a bit tiresome by the end of the album. He is constantly mentioning the drugs he and his crew use, the women that chase him and his gold teeth. In short, there are hardly any reflective moments on the album. That, along with some corny lines (“I got some tissues for your issues tell ‘em blow this”) and excessive vulgarities show A$AP is still developing as a skilled lyricist.

The album lacks much of the introspective subject matter that make hip-hop stars of today much more multi-dimensional. On the few tracks that do feature some personal subject matter, notably “Phoenix” and “Suddenly,” he talks about his difficult past and the effect it has on his music and his world perspective. Whether there is any real sincere emotion present, it is hard to tell.

Two of the best tracks on the album, “Goldie” and “LVL,” have some thunderous beats that highlight A$AP’s talent and the production quality on the album.

Both tracks feature some background vocals and sound effects that are sonically rich, making them stand out as beautiful moments on the album. There are also some great features that are well-chosen and well-placed. “1 Train,” the longest song on the album, features Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Danny Brown and a few other MCs who bring real personality and filthy verses, all

+++

“PROJECT RUNWAY” COURTESY OF PEDRO RUBELO/ FLICKR

By ALEXANDRA GLEMBOCKI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Somewhere between ice queen Heidi Klum doing spirit fingers and critic extraordinaire Tim Gunn robustly cheering, “This is my favorite season yet!” in the intro sequence, season 11 of Project Runway made it clear that things are going to be different this time around.

The big twist of all is that designers must work in teams the entire season. For those not well versed in the language of Project Runway, this means that mountains of drama will erupt between clashing alpha-fashionistas. The teams are, quite oppositely, called “Dream Team” and “Team Keep It Real.”

Aside from drama mongering, Project Runway is going to great lengths to make the cutthroat fashion competition seem more “fun.”

This season offers a more diverse range of characters, including a 59-year-old morgue owner and a Native American woman with the birth name Water Lily.

The entire series is very New York, and the first challenge fittingly required the teams to draw inspiration from the aesthetic of New York City for their garments.

Heidi Klum’s return to the show after Angela Lindvall’s stint last season is much welcome — Klum, while at times robotic, has an unprecedented amount of gravitas.

Klum’s chummy chemistry with Tim Gunn is “aww”-inducing, and she has the superpower of striking fear into hearts of hopeful designers with a single stare. Viewers, transfi xed, will undoubtedly be staring back.

By JAKE KRING-SCHREIFELS STAFF WRITER

Most people associate WIRED magazine with old tech guys and wannabe-cool dads, but it is so much more than just a “nerdy” magazine.

Every week, you pass by the magazine rack and wonder about WIRED, with its new gadgets and too-crazy-to-be-true stories displayed on the front cover. This week you should take the plunge and look inside; you may just get hooked forever. Every issue seems more outrageous than the next, featuring stars such as Jimmy Fallon in articles about a robot takeover or interviewing infamous Internet hackers such as Kim Dotcom.

Each issue features a worrisome “What’s Inside” article that explains the zany chemicals used in some of the most common household items (heavy metal in your Pepto Bismol anyone?), as well as a “FOUND” section that shows articles from the future. Although WIRED has an unconventional style, it features information that is different than that of any other magazine, such as the newest inventions or even political information.

In addition to the fun monthly articles, WIRED’s Opinion section, called “play,” never fails to make readers laugh out loud. With minimal censorship of foul language or even scandalous pictures, distinguished writers rant about zombie movies or explain one woman’s journey through an Internet dating site. If you can only read one section, “play” should be it.

If the wide range of stories does not catch your interest, in which case you basically have no interests, take notice of the revolutionary designs. WIRED is closely watched by other magazines for the incredibly creative ways that it display its information. Instead of following the classically boring text and picture format, WIRED uses colorful timelines, pop-off-the-page pictures and entertaining cartoons to truly bring its pages to life. Sometimes, the magazine is incredibly controversial with its design; for example, for a story about a murder suspect, two full pages were filled with a picture of the suspect putting a gun to his own head.

COURTESY OF CHUCK KENNEDY MCT

COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE/ WIKIMEDIA

I do not consider myself to be a part of the male demographic Spike TV attempts to target for their daily programming, but “The Joe Schmo Show,” in the middle of its first season, is hitting me in all the right spots. The show is all fake. But, one person doesn’t know that. Spike TV, copying its predecessors, has formulated a reality show searching for the next best bounty hunter in which ten participants compete. One of those contestants is named Chase, a former greens keeper who attacks every competition with an intensity and seriousness laughably inspiring. Why wouldn’t he? He is trying to win $100,000 and become the next greatest Bounty Hunter. Well, maybe because everyone else in the competition is an actor. Like I said, the show is all fake, but Chase does not know it.

It is cruel when you think about the fact that Chase will eventually find out. But, the show is predicated on the fact that he remains duped for as long as possible. Among the “characters” in this competition are a gay black man, a deaf woman, an ex-convict and a host with a trophy wife he won’t let talk. It is all perfectly hilarious when you watch the games they play with Chase. Even more so when they break character and Chase has inklings that this show isn’t all that it seems.

I can’t say how ethical these circumstances are, or the amount of psychological damage this poor soul, who thinks he’s becoming a bounty hunter, will experience. But he will receive that paycheck if he goes the whole way, and he will become a star, in one way or another.

There are several episodes left until its finale. It’s never too late to latch on. I never thought I would be promoting a Spike TV show, but I bet Chase never thought he would be on one, especially in this manner.

On Feb. 1, New York City’s “Mayor for Life,” Ed Koch, passed away at the age of 88. Koch, who was born in the Bronx and served three terms as the mayor of New York from 1978-1989, was one of the most vibrant and visible political figures of the latter half of the 20th century, constantly appearing in news media, walking the streets of the city and riding its subways in an effort to maintain his high public profile.

Koch is lauded for having led the city during periods of economic recession as well as through the breakout of AIDS in the mid1980s, all of which is depicted in Neil Barsky’s new documentary Koch, which opened on the day of the former mayor’s passing. The film traces Koch’s political career, from the campaign he staged during one of the hottest and most notorious New York summers in history, 1977, through his terms as mayor, during which he reignited a city that was suffering and on the verge of bankruptcy. Barsky manages to capture the best glimpses of Koch’s under-publicized private life.

Koch offers a rare view of a man slowly but surely coming to grips with mortality and trying to reconcile his public image with his legacy. In the years following Koch’s 1989 Democratic primary defeat at the hands of David Dinkins, who would go on to become mayor, Koch maintained a high profile, often stumping other candidates and giving extensive interviews on the political atmosphere of the day. Even into his later years, the former mayor retained the passion that had guided him so successfully during his run as the leader of New York City.

“People would ask me to run again,” Koch says half-jokingly in the documentary, “And I would tell them, ‘No. The people threw me out, and now they must be punished.’”

Interested in sharing your opinion in the weekly Ram Reviews?

Contact the Arts and Entertainment section at fordhamramculture@gmail.com TO READ THESE REVIEWS IN THEIR ENTIRETY, VISIT FORDHAMRA M.COM

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Sports San Francisco Not Going Away After Super Bowl Loss February 6, 2013

Page19

The Super Bowl was only Colin Kaepernick’s 10th career NFL start after replacing Alex Smith in midseason.

hand, is rapidly improving. Ray Rice is one of the game’s best running backs, a dual threat who serves as a great pass-catcher out of the backfield. Bernard Pierce, his backup, had a great rookie season, averaging nearly five yards per carry.

Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones are two of the best deep threats in the league, and Dennis Pitta is an emerging young tight end. If Flacco plays next season the way he did in the playoffs, the Ravens might have one of the league’s best offenses. An offensive renaissance, coupled with a defensive decline, would mark a stark change in Baltimore’s identity.

Of the two teams from this year’s Super Bowl, the 49ers have to be more likely to make a return trip.

Only a handful of defensive players and a few offensive role-players will be free agents; losing two or three would not be catastrophic.

More importantly, with the Niners expected to part ways with Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick will get a chance to prove himself in a full season. The prospect of 16 games of Kaepernick and the read-option surely has defensive coordinators around the league losing sleep already. Of course, the possibility exists that all those sleepless nights will be spent coming up with ways to stop Kaepernick and that he may struggle as opposing defenses smart-

Tough Road Ahead for Men’s Basketball

Women 15-6 After Win Over VCU

FROM SUPER BOWL, PAGE 24

quite possible Reed might be playing elsewhere in 2013.

Even with Lewis and Reed, Baltimore’s defense was thoroughly

pedestrian this season. The Ravens were 17th in the league in yards allowed per game, the first time since 2002 that they ranked outside the top 10. It will be interesting to see

whether Baltimore is able to improve its defense next year via the draft and free agency, or if the decline will continue.

Baltimore’s offense, on the other

NHAT V. MEYER/MCT

FROM MEN, PAGE 24

made both shots and put the Hawks up 66-62. Frazier’s last-second desperation heave went begging, and St. Joe’s came away with the win.

As it turned out, the game really pivoted on Frazier’s turnover on that inbounds play. Frazier said he was hoping to “attack the rim” and draw a foul but never got to put the plan into action.

St. Joe’s head coach Phil Martelli said he knew the ball would be in Frazier’s hands for that crucial possession.

“We thought that it would be a handoff to get Frazier involved in the game, and we wanted to jump him,” Martelli said. “I thought [St. Joe’s junior center] C.J. Aiken made a great read … I thought that we reacted well to knowing that they

were going to their bread and butter.”

Though Frazier’s mistake wound up costing Fordham the game, Pecora did not seem angry.

“I’m going to sit next to Frazier because I still love him,” Pecora said after the game as he addressed the media. “I told him [in the locker room] he’s won us a lot of games, he’s going to win us a lot more.

There’s nobody I’d rather have the ball in [his] hands than him. There’s nobody I’d rather have at the foul line than him.”

Despite the loss, Pecora was able to find something positive to take away from the game.

“This was a team that was picked No.1 in the conference in the preseason poll, and we competed with them to the wire, so we’re moving

ALLY WHITE/THE RAM

Branden Frazier had 24 points against St. Joe’s but made one critical mistake.

in the right direction,” he said.

Fordham was unable to take another step forward when it traveled to Richmond, Va. for a matchup against VCU on Saturday. At 185, VCU is one of the A-10’s best teams. Head coach Shaka Smart’s high-pressure style of play known as “havoc” proved too much for the young Fordham team to handle.

The Rams committed 22 turnovers and lost by a final score of 81-65.

“Coming in here with no seniors, one junior and a bunch of freshmen and sophomores, I kind of knew what we were in for,” Pecora said after the game.

“They average 20 turnovers a game, and we obliged,” he added.

Frazier struggled against VCU, scoring only six points on 2 of 12 shooting, while recording six turnovers. Mandell Thomas, though, played fairly well. He had 16 points and nine rebounds, though he, too, had six turnovers. Thomas had 17 points and six rebounds against St. Joe’s and was named A-10 Rookie of the Week for his efforts.

Fordham’s difficult stretch of games continues Wednesday night at home against Saint Louis (165). The Rams then play consecutive road games at La Salle and at Xavier. The La Salle Explorers are one of the A-10’s most surprising teams this season, with an impressive 15-6 record. The Xavier Musketeers, traditionally one of the conference’s strongest programs, are having a down year, they are still quite formidable. Fordham’s next home game is the highly-anticipated matchup with Butler on Feb. 16.

The Yale Bulldogs are ranked 14th in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 and in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Fordham Athletics says all

FROM WOMEN, PAGE 24

tory’ games,” Clark said. “I feel like as a team we played great. Our shots are falling and it was just a great game overall for all of us.”

The win puts the Rams at 15-6, which guarantees them a winning record in the regular season for the first time since the 1994-95 season.

In the Atlantic 10, Fordham sits at 5-1 and fifth in the conference.

More history was made on the team last week, as Clark was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for the third time, tying the school re-

en up and learn how to stop him.

San Francisco’s offense has the potential to be one of the league’s best next season. Frank Gore is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, though he will turn 30 (that magical age at which running backs start to decline) in May. Should the Niners want to limit his carries, Kendall Hunter and LaMichael James provide great alternatives. During his days at Oregon, James showed that he is a truly explosive player, capable of breaking a big play at any moment.

While the Niners offense still has much to prove, the defense has already cemented itself as a real force.

San Francisco allowed the thirdfewest yards against in the NFL this season. Patrick Willis is probably the best linebacker in football, Aldon Smith is as fearsome a pass rusher as you will see and Dashon Goldson is one of the league’s most underrated safeties.

Sometimes it’s better to lose a Super Bowl than to win it. Winning can bring complacency; losing brings the hunger to get another shot.

“It’s tough getting shoved off the field, watching another team celebrate, walking away with your goal,” 49ers safety Donte Whitner told the San Fransisco Chronicle. “We’ll get better from this, and we will be back.”

cord for most A-10 Rookie of the Week awards in a year. She ranks third on the team in scoring and second in rebounding.

“I think my team is great, they are my biggest support system,” Clark said. “Them, my family and my coaches have made me feel so comfortable here. I’m not afraid to make mistakes anymore. It’s great.”

The Rams face 7-14 La Salle in Philadelphia on Feb. 6 and then face their toughest matchup of the year on Feb. 9 when No.17 Dayton comes to Rose Hill Gym.

ALLY WHITE/THE RAM

Samantha Clark earned A-10 Rookie of the Week honors for the third time.

Page 20

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February 6, 2013

A Look Back at Michigan-Indiana

By DOMINIC KEARNS STAFF WRITER

On Saturday, Feb. 2, in front of a raucous home crowd, the thirdranked Indiana Hoosiers (19-2) welcomed top-ranked conference rival Michigan (20-1) into Assembly Hall. After 40 invigorating minutes that nearly matched the Super Bowl for intrigue and drama, the Hoosiers came out on top by an 8173 tally.

Thanks to a superhuman effort from phenom Cody Zeller, the Hoosiers always kept their cool in the game’s biggest moments. Indiana made its first six shots and raced out to a 26-11 lead. However, the Wolverines were able to respond thanks to an inspiring effort from future NBA lottery pick Trey Burke, pulling to 36-32 at the break when Burke made a buzzer-beating step-back three. The game got even more intriguing when the Wolverines pulled even at 40 early in the second half. The rowdy crowd of 17,472 could hardly muster a whisper during the ensuing timeout, but Indiana responded with a huge 11-0 run. To Michigan’s credit, the visitors again fought back and cut the lead to 61-58 with less than five minutes left. But Zeller made several monstrous put-back dunks to prevent Michigan from getting any closer, and clutch free throw shooting sealed the game for the Hoosiers.

When you look at the stats and the intangibles, it is remarkable that Michigan even kept it close.

Indiana enjoyed a substantial 3622 advantage on the boards thanks to double-doubles from Zeller and Christian Watford, who also made a sterling 22 of 25 free throws. For the game, Indiana shot 52 percent and made seven of 18 three point attempts. Incredibly, all five Indiana starters scored in double figures.

Lastly, the Hoosier fans on Saturday were as deafening as any crowd I have seen this year and made it nearly impossible for the opposing team to communicate on the court.

That speaks volumes about the Michigan’s resolve, who could have easily folded when trailing 26-11.

Thanks to the efforts of Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr., who combined

for 43 points, Michigan willed its way back into the mix. The Wolverines shot 43 percent for the game, a solid figure against such an imposing defense. With the exception of an abysmal game from Glenn Robinson III, the Wolverines played with poise and determination befitting of a title contender. If they had reached the foul line as often as Indiana (the Hoosiers had a 25-8 FT edge), we might be talking about a different outcome.

Unfortunately for Michigan, Indiana played its best all-around game of the season on the biggest stage. With millions watching in a primetime ESPN showcase, Indiana played like the best team in America. With solid perimeter defense, strong interior offense and a tremendous home advantage, the Hoosiers probably would have defeated anyone. The teams will meet again in Ann Arbor, Mich. on March 10. If that game is half as exciting as Saturday’s clash, we should be in for a treat.

In the bigger picture, each squad affirmed itself as a strong Final Four contender, and my opinion of each team was strengthened. I was not expecting Michigan to respond well on the big stage, but they gave a strong enough effort to beat all but a few teams in the nation.

Meanwhile, the Hoosiers proved their mettle down the stretch and dispelled fears about their lack of late-game execution in previous losses to Butler and Wisconsin. I expect at least one of these Big 10 powers to reach the Final Four, and there is a possibility that they will both make it (Indiana is currently No. 1, Michigan is No. 3). As for Saturday’s epic clash, a quote from Indiana coach Tom Crean sums it up.

“Sometimes in these situations with all the hoopla and the hype, the game doesn’t live up to it. This one did,” Crean said. “We felt the defense we played last year was what Michigan remembered and we wanted to give them something different because we wanted to prove that we could defend that well against a team that really is that good and they are. Let’s hope we’re all playing again at the end of the season for something really big.”

SPORTS

Page 21

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/theram_sports

Varsity Scores & Stats

Men’s Basketball St. Joseph’s 28 38 66 Fordham 30 32 62 (SJU) C. Jones 19pts 3rebs (FOR) B. Frazier 24pts 5asts

Fordham 33 32 65 VCU 38 43 81 (FOR) M. Thomas 16pts 9rebs (VCU) T. Daniels 29pts 7rebs Women’s Basketball VCU 19 22 41 Fordham 41 30 71 (VCU) R. Parks 19pts 4rebs (FOR) E. Rooney 18pts 5asts Men’s Tennis Fordham 1 Columbia 6

Women’s Tennis Fordham 1 NJIT 6 Squash Fordham Lafayette

7 2

Fordham Bucknell

0 9

Fordham 1 Northeastern 8 Fordham Ithaca

7 2

Vassar Fordham

8 1

Men’s Indoor Track Charles Torpey Invitational Men’s 500m M. Rossi

1st- 1:06.80

800m R.Polo

2nd-1:55.23

4x400 Relay

1st-3:21.09

Women’s Indoor Track Charles Torpey Invitational Mile Run M. Lieberman 2nd-5:05.96 3000m D. Drummond 2nd-10:36.17

Athletes of the Week Each week The Fordham Ram’s Sports editors honors one male and one female for their on-field performance as its “Athletes of the Week.”

Mandell Thomas

Samantha Clark

Freshman

Freshman

Basketball

Basketball

Thomas was named A-10 Rookie of the Week, the first time a member of the Fordham men’s team has been honored this season.

Clark was named was named A-10 Rookie of the Week for the third time this year. She put up 11 points and seven rebounds in the Rams’ win over VCU.

News & Notes

KIRTHMAN DOZIER/MCT

Indiana defeated Michigan in a battle of two of college basketball’s best teams.

• Junior Titi Fagade broke the Fordham record in the 400-m dash on Feb. 1. She ran a time of 56.79 seconds, breaking a 2005 mark.

• The Fordham men’s basketball game on Feb. 16 against Butler is sold out. Tickets for Fordham students will be made available on a limited basis, and information on obtaining those tickets will be coming soon.

• For the third straight week, junior Shintaro Noguchi was named Atlantic 10 Co-Performer of the Week in men’s swimming. Noguchi finished first in both the 200-yard butterfly and the 100-yard freestyle in the Rams’ match against Massachusetts.

• Fordham senior Chris Gaston was selected ninth overall by the Leones de Ponce (Ponce Lions) of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional, Puerto Rico’s highest professional basketball league. Should Gaston choose to play in Puerto Rico, the Lions would hold his rights.

• Dimitar “Mickey” Brzov was named the new coach of men’s tennis on Feb. 1. Brzov replaces Cory Hubbard who resigned last month. He recently served as the director of tennis at the Pound Ridge Tennis Club.

SPORTS

Page 22

February 6, 2013

Smith Senior Profile: Courtnay Newman Matt’s

By RYAN SCANLON Says Minute STAFF WRITER

The NFL season has come and gone. On Sunday evening, we saw a terrific game with a horrible ending, but at the end of the day, the Baltimore Ravens are your 2012-2013 NFL champions. In the weeks leading up to the big game, it seemed like we only heard one name talked about on all the sports networks: Ray Lewis. Well, now Lewis has gone out with a bang (so he says), and I say good riddance. Ray Lewis embodies the worst of professional sports.

In early January, Lewis announced that he would retire at the end of this season. The linebacker has now won two Super Bowls, is a 13-time Pro-Bowler, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and the only player in NFL history to have 40 sacks and 30 interceptions. He is arguably one of the greatest defensive players to ever step foot on a football field. Those numbers would normally deserve to be celebrated, but Lewis’ offthe-field antics are what make him intolerable.

It all goes back to the night after the 2000 Super Bowl when Lewis and two friends were part of a fight that resulted in the death of two people. They were stabbed to death outside an Atlanta nightclub, and their blood was later found in Lewis’s limo. Also, the white suit Lewis was wearing that night was never found. Lewis was originally charged with murder, but he instead took a plea agreement to be charged only with obstruction of justice as long as he testified against his two friends, which he did. Now, 13 years later, he is being praised for his amazing career and holding up the Lombardi trophy while his two friends sit in jail.

Professional sports are a great thing. They bring people together and let people forget about their lives for a while as they enjoy watching their favorite teams and players. There have been too many cases, however, of athletes in serious legal trouble who come away with less severe sentences because of their celebrity status. Pro sports leagues will suspend players for entire seasons for taking steroids, they will ban great players (like Pete Rose) for gambling on the games, but they will let players who have killed people continue to play. Ray Lewis is just one example. Another example is Donte Stallworth, a wide receiver still playing in the NFL who killed a man while driving his car drunk in 2009. Stallworth served 24 days in jail and was suspended for a year.

Ray Lewis has worked feverishly over the last 13 years to rebuild his image. He has become very spiritual and has thanked God in every single interview I have seen in the last few weeks. Frankly, I’m tired of his act. Ray Lewis is not a role model; rather, he is everything that is wrong with pro sports. We look up to bad human beings because they can make a tackle or hit a home run. Young sports fans are now looking up to murderers, rapists and wife beaters. A line has to be drawn somewhere. With Ray Lewis retiring, the NFL just became a better league.

— Alex Smith

The Fordham Ram: How did you first get started with track?

Courtnay Newman: I played softball my freshman year of high school, and the track coach saw me throwing, so she recruited me to play javelin. That’s why I started running track, and I got into other events as well.

TFR: What drew you to Fordham?

CN: I had my heart set on Boston. I had looked at a lot of other schools in Boston, and one weekend after visiting a bunch of schools, we were coming home on the Cross Bronx and saw the signs for Fordham University and thought, “Hey, let’s just check this out. We’ve been to a bunch of schools already; let’s just check this out.” I just like fell in love with the campus, and Fordham was actually the only school I applied to.

TFR: You competed in Pentathlon your freshman year, but after that you haven’t really done it. Is there a story behind that?

CN: I started the multi-events in high school, and I did really well against those girls. I got here, and I realized that, after doing it twice, I could get more points just high jumping, so I decided to get rid of all the other events. It wasn’t fun. I hate running.

TFR: What kind of off-season work do you do? How do you prepare for jumping and other events?

CN: Well, I lift; that’s important.

I try to run every day. Summers I get pretty busy, so I try to do a mile or two every day. I also do a lot of plyometric work: boxes, jumping,

ELIZABETH ZANGHI/THE RAM

Courtnay is interning for a minor league baseball team this summer.

bounding, stuff like that.

to focus on the field events.

TFR: You also sprint a little bit, and you hurdle, right?

TFR: The last couple of years in the A-10, you’ve made a habit of gaining points and getting top-5, top-3 finishes. What are your goals for this year?

CN: I don’t sprint, I hurdle.

Hurdle is a lot more speed work and a lot more technique. I don’t do the intermediates. I only do the high hurdles, and that’s all about rhythm and muscle memory. I find that when I’m hurdling I don’t think about the race. I just start and finish, and that’s all I ever know.

TFR: There are a few seniors on the team. How do you see your role on the team?

CN: Right now, I am the only senior girl who does field events, so my role is basically the field events captain. So if coach has a message for the field events or anything pertaining to the field, it’s my job to see that things run smoothly.

TFR: How do you like that role?

CN: I like it. I like it because our team is very running-centric.

We’re getting a stronger field now, but our team is very heavily geared toward the running and the distance events. So it’s nice to be able

CN: I’d really like to win A-10s this year. The other girls that jump in the A-10s all have scores that are really close to each other, so usually what it comes down to is how many times you miss the height.

Usually everyone jumps the same height and it’s whoever misses the least amount of times who wins.

So, I’m really trying to stay clean.

I’m having not as good of a season as I did last year, so I’m just trying to get back to where I was and trying to stay clean, and I think I can definitely win, depending on what the other girls do.

TFR: What are your future goals?

CN: I am a communication and media studies major and a medieval studies minor. At the moment, I have an internship set up with a minor league baseball in Somerset County doing marketing and promotions. So, I’ll be doing that for the summer.

Watch the interview with Courtnay at youtube.com/thefordhamram

Fordham Squash Defeats Rival Vassar

By MAX PRINZ ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

This past weekend, the Fordham Men’s Squash team picked up three wins, including a dominant performance against rival Vassar, to improve to 6-9 on the year. Fordham knocked off Vassar for the second time this year, completing the season sweep of its rival.

“Two wins in a season against them is great. They’re definitely our rivals. The coach there I’ve known for years and years, so there’s a rivalry between her and I,” said head coach Bryan Patterson.

Fordham started the weekend’s matches at the Bucknell Invitational in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

The Rams took on Lafayette and defeated the Leopards 7-2. Freshman Kincade Webster led the team from the No. 1 slot, winning his

match 11-9, 11-7 and 11-8. Freshman Paul Monaghan, sophomore Ross Garlick and senior Marcus Stromsmo picked up straight set victories as well.

On Saturday, the Rams would lose to two tough opponents in Bucknell and Northeastern, 9-0 and 8-1 respectively. Monaghan was the sole bright spot, as he picked up his second win of the weekend against Northeastern, defeating Phil Huntley 6-11, 11-6, 11-9 and 11-2.

The Rams would rebound against Ithaca. Fordham picked up its second win by defeating Ithaca ,7-2. Seniors Jack O’Brien, Quetzalli Torres and Garlick all helped the Rams by winning their matches in straight sets.

Fordham got its biggest win of the weekend defeating Vassar, 8-1.

The team came out strong and ready to play. The Rams received

a lot of support from a good sized crowd of both Fordham students and family members. Vassar is a local rival and that made it even easier for friends and family to come out and show their support.

“I thought it was great, it was a good crowd,” said Patterson. “I think if we do start to get a team going in the right direction. I think we’ll start to get some good crowds. The crowd on Sunday was terrific.”

Fordham made the fans happy, getting a trio of three set victories to start the match. Senior Ethan Brooks won his match 11-6, 1513, 11-5, and he joined Monaghan and Torres in helping the Rams get off to a good start against Vassar.

The next round of play was much the same. O’Brien, Stromsmo and Garlick kept the Rams in charge with the second trio of three set victories.

2013 has the potential to be a great year for New York sports fans but not for the reasons you may think.

If there is one thing New Yorkers love more than watching their local team bring home a championship, it is watching the pain and suffering of our sports neighbors to the north: the dreaded Bostonians. It is no secret that New York and Boston have an intense sports rivalry. Simply put, New York-Boston matchups feature a high level of competition and intensity no matter the teams’ positions in the standings.

The 2000s were a mixed time for New York fans. The Yankees’ dynasty had just ended, and New York only totaled two championships among baseball, basketball and football (the Yankees in 2009 and the Giants in 2007). While New York floundered, Boston flourished. The Red Sox broke the Curse of the Bambino, the Celtics returned to relevance and the Patriots forged a dynasty. 2013, however, is a turning point. For the foreseeable future, Boston fans will have to deal with living under the shadow of their superior New York counterparts.

In baseball (without a doubt the fiercest of New York-Boston rivalries), the Red Sox have completely fallen from grace. With the exception of a handful of players left over from the championship years, this Boston team is a mere shell of its former self. I actually feel bad for the Red Sox, and part of me wishes they were good again so the two teams could return to the epic battles they fought in 2003 and 2004.

But don’t get me wrong; during baseball season, it will be fantastic to glance at the standings and see the Red Sox wallowing in the basement of the AL East.

In basketball, New York fans had to suffer through a painful and embarrassing decade of irrelevance while Boston made yearly appearances in the conference and NBA Finals. The tides, however, have certainly turned now. If Ray Allen’s departure to Miami signified the end of an era, then Rajon Rondo’s torn ACL set it in stone. From now on, the Knicks, with superstar Carmelo Anthony leading the way, will be looking down at the Celtics in the standings instead of the other way around.

The New England Patriots are not nearly as bad as their baseball and basketball brethren. Since their last Super Bowl win in 2004, however, they have had a history of choking in the playoffs. Brady (who is 35) does not have many years left in him; as soon as he retires, the makeup of the Patriots will change just like the Celtics and Red Sox. Even with Brady still playing, their recent playoff performances cannot inspire much confidence in the Boston faithful.

Last year, the Red Sox finished last in their division. The Patriots got knocked out of the playoffs by a supposedly inferior team. The Celtics will have to fight just to get the eight seed. The power struggle in the New York-Boston rivalry is shifting right before our eyes, and I could not be happier.

— Matt McCormack

February 6, 2013

Swimming Splits at UMass

SPORTS

By MAX PRINZ ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

ALLY WHITE/THE RAM

The women fared much better than the men last weekend at UMass.

By NICK CILIBERTO STAFF WRITER

Fordham swimming split a home meet against the University of Massachusetts on Saturday, as the men fell to the Minutemen, 183-113, while the women were victorious with a score of 176-120.

On the women’s side, three Rams won multiple events. Senior Brienne Ryan took first in the 200yard freestyle in her season-best time of 1:53.55. She also won the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.10 seconds. Sophomore Kelly Carroll was victorious in both breaststroke events. She captured the 100-yard event in 1:07.15 and the 200-yard event in 2:26.23.

Freshman Shannon Lulley took first in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.73 in a very close and exciting race, winning by a slim margin of 0.01 seconds. She also took first in the 100-yard butterfly in 58.72 seconds.

All three women continued their productive afternoons as members of the relay teams, joining senior Alana Biagioli to win the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:46.38. Ryan and a squad of Biagioli, senior Kellie Lyver and freshman Chandler Lulley posted first in the 200-yard freestyle relay, clocking in with a time of 1:38.21.

Sophomores Spencer Chappell and Jordan Tomimatsu and freshman Megan Foster joined the winning effort. Chappell took first in the 100-yard backstroke, while Tomimatsu took first in the 200-yard

backstroke. Foster finished first in the 200-yard individual medley.

The men’s competition was not as successful for the Rams, but junior Shintaro Noguchi and freshman Steve Sholdra, who both received Atlantic 10 Conference Awards last week, once again had big afternoons as multiple event winners in an otherwise disappointing outing for the team.

Noguchi took first in the 200yard butterfly in 1:51.74, as well as the 100-yard freestyle, posting his season-best time of 46.22 seconds. Sholdra repeated his familiar dominance in distance freestyle events, as he was victorious in the 1,000-yard event in 9:45.05 and the 500-yard in 4:39.63. Sholdra won the 100-yard butterfly in 51.95 seconds.

Sophomore Pat Militti was the only other event winner for the Rams in the loss.

The men were not successful in relays either, they did not not taking a single event. The relay team of senior Thomas Yi, junior Ben Dwyer, Noguchi and senior Devon Morris won the 200-yard medley with a season-best time of 1:35.91.

Even still, they took second place.

The Rams have their final regular season meet on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at home in the Messmore Aquatics Center against St. Francis (NY).

The men will enter the meet with a record of 4-8, while the women will enter with a record of 9-4. The Rams will compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships on Feb. 20-23 in Geneva, Ohio.

There will always be an argument that sports do not matter. It is true; sports make few important contributions to society. Millions upon millions of dollars get thrown at special athlete after special athlete, while teachers, doctors and police officers struggle to make ends meet.

Hero after hero gets taken down; many are exposed as users of performance enhancing drugs. Numerous athletes become bad role models as they violate their league’s substance abuse policy or get in trouble with the law. It’s easy to say that sports do not matter.

Recent events have given even more credence to this argument.

Before the Super Bowl, Ravens hero Ray Lewis was accused of using deer antler spray to enhance his performance. The latest allegations also brought up the time Lewis was implicated in the stabbing of two men in January 2000. Lewis’s trouble with the law shows a key way that sports can be a problem.

Lance Armstrong is another case.

Armstrong was a hero to millions of people, a cancer survivor who won multiple Tour de France titles. He vehemently denied any allegations of cheating brought against him.

When we found out the truth, that Armstrong had cheated for years, we were angry. Yet another hero from the sports world had let us down.

Clearly, it has become easier and easier to argue that sports produce little of value to society and its “heroes” always fail.

Tell that to Owen Groesser. Owen Groesser is a junior high school student at Van Hoosen Junior High School in Detroit who hit a pair of three-pointers in his school’s season finale. What is so special about that? Owen Groesser has Down syndrome.

Groesser entered late in the last game of Van Hoosen’s season. His first three-pointer sent the crowd into a frenzy. His second did very much the same thing. Groesser played just two minutes, but scored the six biggest points of the entire night.

After the game, Grosser’s teammates and friends started #GetOwenOnSportsCenter (which ended up

Page 23

trending on Twitter). Sportscenter put Grosser’s two threes in its Top 10 plays, and had him and his father on the show for an interview the next day.

At times, it can be difficult to see, but sports do have the power to make important contributions to society. Sports, perhaps better than anything, can teach people the value of cooperation and teamwork. Sports show that we can truly achieve great things when we work together. Grosser’s teammates and coaches refused to give up on him.

Groesser is a true sports hero.

Grosser’s story is reminiscent of Jason McElwain’s. McElwain has autism. Feb. 15 will be the seventh anniversary of the night he scored 20 points. McElwain got his chance in the last game of the season for Greece Athena High School in Rochester, N.Y. He missed his first two shots, something that would cause others to give up. McElwain persevered and went on to make seven shots, six of them from three point range.

These two are stories that pull on the heartstrings. The incredible amount of love and excitement in the both Groesser’s and McElwain’s highlight videos. For one day, a young man struggling with a difficult condition was on top of the world. How did he get there? The answer is simple: Sports.

McElwain’s six three-pointers

have become the stuff of legend.

So have Owen Groesser’s achievements. This is the power of sports.

A young man with autism and another with Down syndrome showed an incredible amount of resiliency and heart. They proved that anyone can achieve anything. Groesser and McElwain are prime examples of all the good sports can do. Their stories bring people together, give people hope and show them that any door can be opened, any wall can be scaled. Like Groesser, McElwain serves as a true sports hero.

Today’s sports world can bring many harsh headlines. It is certainly easier for society to break people than it is to build them up. So many athletic heroes have let us down that we have to remain skeptical. This is wrong. The sports world is full of true heroes; we just have to look a little harder.

The next time a star athlete is accused of using performance enhancing drugs or becomes embroiled in some other scandal, remember Owen Groesser or Jason McElwain.

Take strength from their stories.

Sports are great because they allow us to achieve something both collectively and individually. They allow us to constantly seek to better ourselves, to reach our highest point.

Thank you, Jason McElwain.

Thank you, Owen Groesser. Thank you for showing the real power of sports.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Jason McElwain met former President George Bush after inspiring many.

Upcoming Varsity Schedule Home games in CAPS

Thursday Feb. 7

Friday Feb. 8

Saturday Feb. 9 at La Salle 2 p.m.

Men’s BBall

Indoor Track and Field Men’s Tennis

ALLY WHITE/THE RAM

Fordham holds its final home meet of the year on Wednesday Feb. 6.

Squash

Chattanooga & LIU Brooklyn

S. Illinois & Virginia Tech

Chattanooga 9 a.m.

Valentine’s Day Classic 10 a.m.

Farleigh Dickinson 2 p.m.

at Cornell 1 p.m.

Conn. College & Bryant

Monday Feb. 11

Tuesday Feb. 12

Wednesday Feb. 13 at Xavier 7 p.m.

DAYTON 2 p.m.

Women’s BBall

Softball

Sunday Feb. 10

NYU 3 p.m.

GEO. WASH. 7 p.m.

Sports

Page 24

February 6, 2013

Fordham Men 2-5 in Conference After Losses to St. Joe’s and VCU

ALLY WHITE/THE RAM

Mandell Thomas was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week after scoring a total of 33 points in Fordham’s losses to St. Joe’s and VCU. He also grabbed 15 rebounds, including a season-best nine at VCU.

By DAN GARTLAND EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham head coach Tom Pecora said before the start of this season that he thought the Atlantic 10 was one of the “top five” conferences in the country. After losses to Saint Joseph’s and VCU, Fordham is 2-5 in the A-10 and some of its biggest challenges are still to come.

St. Joe’s entered last week’s matchup against Fordham with an 11-7 record, but the Hawks were certainly better than their record

indicates. After being picked in the pre-season Coaches’ Poll to win the conference, they played a challenging out-of-conference schedule, and took on the A-10’s two best teams (VCU and Butler) early in conference play.

The Hawks and Rams played one of the most exciting games you will ever see. The lead changed a whopping 23 times, with nine ties, as St. Joe’s went on to win 66-62.

With senior forward Chris Gaston out indefinitely after re-aggravating his left knee injury, Fordham

has come to lean on junior guard Branden Frazier. Frazier scored 20 points in the Rams’ Jan. 26 win over Rhode Island, after which Pecora said, “We’ve come to expect 20 [points] a night from Branden.”

Frazier turned in another great performance four days later against St. Joe’s, scoring 24 points while hitting nine of 11 free throws, but made two crucial mistakes that would eventually cost Fordham the game. With 26 seconds on the clock and Fordham trailing 63-62, Frazier stepped to the line for a

1-and-1. Frazier’s free throw shooting has improved remarkably since last season (from 67.5 percent to 83.3 — nearly a 16 point jump), but he was unable to connect on the front end of the 1-and-1 and St. Joe’s secured the rebound.

Fordham got a quick foul to stop the clock, sending Hawks senior guard Carl Jones to the line. Jones hit the first shot, but the second one went begging and Fordham got the rebound. Down 64-62, Fordham would have a chance to tie or take the lead on the ensuing

possession.

After getting the ball across the midcourt line, Pecora called a timeout to set up a play. Frazier inbounded to freshman center Travion Leonard in the corner, who immediately handed the ball back to Frazier, but as Frazier started to run past Leonard, he stepped on the sideline and turned the ball over.

All the energy was immediately sucked out of the gym.

Fordham fouled Jones again to stop the clock, but this time he SEE MEN ON PAGE19

Fordham Women Rout VCU Ravens Will Face Difficult Task to Repeat

By MATT ROSENFELD SPORTS EDITOR

Coming off their first Atlantic 10 loss, a blowout at the hands of Duquesne, the Fordham women’s basketball team responded in a big way. Fordham dominated VCU at home last Saturday, winning 71-41.

It was all Fordham right from the start, as they began the game on a 5-0 run. Things would only get better for the home team, as both the offense and defense were delivering all game.

Early on, the offense was coming from graduate student Marah Strickland. Strickland, who was honored for her 1,000th career point before the game, was on fire early on. She scored 10 of Fordham’s first 12 points and was a perfect 4-4 from the field (2-2 from three) in the first 10 minutes of the game.

Fordham was up 14-5 with just under 12 minutes left in the first half and then broke the game open.

A 10-0 run, in which junior guard Erin Rooney had five points and two rebounds, opened the lead to 24-5 with nine minutes remaining in the half.

Stifling defense from Fordham allowed the lead to grow, as VCU

did not get to double digits until 3:42 in the first half. Fordham put together one of its best defensive halves of the year, allowing only 19 points and taking a 22-point lead into half.

Fordham shot 53 percent from the field in the first half and 50 percent from beyond the arc. Both Strickland and Rooney led the game with 13 points at half. Freshman forward Samantha Clark added eight points and five rebounds.

“It was nice to be able to see us shoot with confidence,” head coach Stephanie Gaitley said. “It was one of our goals [heading into the game] and as evidenced by our performance, I think we did.”

The second half saw more domination from Fordham.

Rooney scored the first five points of the half for Fordham, adding a lay-up and a three pointer to up her total to 18 points, pushing the lead up to 24.

Arielle Collins also added to the offensive effort, scoring 10 points of her 17 points in the second half.

Fordham would stretch the lead out to 30, never letting VCU come closer than 18 at any time in the second half.

“That was one of our ‘making his SEE WOMEN, PAGE 19

By DAN GARTLAND EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR

The Baltimore Ravens are Super Bowl champions, and Joe Flacco is going to Disney World, but it will certainly be difficult for them to be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy

again a year from now at the Meadowlands.

Flacco just completed one of the best postseasons ever for a quarterback. He had 11 touchdowns and no interceptions while averaging 285 yards per game. He beat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady

MARK CORNELISON/MCT

Joe Flacco was named Super Bowl MVP after leading the Ravens to victory.

— back-to-back. But could he do it again?

Flacco will be back in Baltimore next season; that much is certain.

His contract is expiring, but the Ravens have already said they have every intention of bringing him back.

This Super Bowl victory will end up earning Flacco tens of millions of dollars.

The only other certainty for Baltimore is that Ray Lewis’s days in a Ravens uniform are over. Lewis’s announcement before his team’s first playoff game that he would retire after the season served as a rallying point for the Ravens. At 37 years old, Lewis’s days as a defensive force are well behind him, and his time as an effective player was starting to come to an end. Replacing him should not be terribly difficult.

Over the past decade or so, the Ravens have been synonymous with defense, with Lewis and safety Ed Reed as the faces of all those fearsome Baltimore defensive units.

Lewis is gone now, and Reed might follow him. Reed toyed with the idea of retirement after last season, but at 34, it seems a bit early for him to call it quits. His contract is expiring, however, making it SEE SUPER BOWL, PAGE 19