Volume 96 issue 11

The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 Volume 96, Issue 11

FordhamRam.com F dh R

Aprill 30 A 30, 2014

Spring Weekend Brings Spring Showers As Rain Falls, Cold War Kids Hang Students Out to Dry

Students Weigh In On Grad School

By KATIE MEYER NEWS EDITOR

SAMUEL JOSEPH/THE RAM

For Spring Weekend 2014, Martyrs’ Lawn saw performances from mash-up DJ The Melker Project and rock bands Cartel and Cold War Kids. Despite a brief period of rain that dampened a mostly-sunny day, students flocked to the grassy field in front of Martyrs’ Court for the music, food and company.

SEE SPRING WEEKEND, PAGE 11

USG Promises Busy Agenda for Next Year

By AMINA BHATTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Nevin Kulangara, GSB ’15, newlyelected president of Rose Hill’s United Student Government (USG), has fresh ideas and projects to bring to the table, as well as old ones to tackle.

In its first meeting under Kulangara’s presidency, USG discussed and reviewed the activities it is planning, as well as activities that are currently underway. USG has also picked its election commission for next term.

The commission handles both marketing and the elections. “[The commission has to] make sure everything abides by the election code” Kulangara said. At the time of this interview, there was still one senate seat open, which USG hopes to fill soon.

During the first meeting, along with voting to fill leadership positions, USG chose FUEMS (Fordham University Emergency Medical Services) as teh club of the year. In addition, USG members supported the fundraising efforts of Flash Magazine by sending out emails with the goal of allocating $200 for the cause.

The actual fundraising event for Flash Magazine took place on April 21.

One project that Kulangara hopes to make effective as USG President is the Fordham Student Holdings (FSH) Initiative, an organization designed to support on-campus businesses run by Fordham students.

“Apparently, there is no section in the Fordham Student Handbook adSEE USG, PAGE 2

Martinez Added to Graduation Lineup

By CONNOR RYAN & MAX PRINZ STAFF WRITER & SPORTS EDITOR

Tino Martinez, a former major league baseball player and the father of a graduating Fordham student, is slated to deliver the keynote address to the Class of 2014 during Fordham’s 169th Commencement at Rose Hill on May 17, according to a statement released by school officials Monday afternoon.

School officials quickly removed the announcement, which was obtained by “Fordham Daily,” from Fordham’s website soon after it was mistakenly published Monday. After Fordham’s Board of Trustees approves the speaker selection on Thursday, administrators are expected to announce that Martinez will deliver this year’s commencement address.

Martinez, 46, is celebrated for his illustrious 16 year career, in which he played on four teams and was twice recognized as a league All-Star. He is perhaps most remembered for his time spent at first base for the Yankees during four World Series victories in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, touted Martinez’s accomplished career and personal character in a statement.

“Tino Martinez has advanced himself through hard work and perseverance, with humility and gratitude that are not just the hallmarks of good sportsmanship, but are the foundations of a life well lived,” he said in the statement.

While a student at the University of Tampa, Martinez set school baseball

COURTESY OF FLICKR

McShane praised Martinez for his excellence, both on the field and in his life.

records by earning a .398 batting average and hitting 54 home runs over the course of three seasons. He also impressed many playing on the 1988 United States Olympic team.

That year, Martinez left school before graduating to pursue his baseball dream when the Seattle Mariners drafted him in the first round. He looks back at that time fondly.

“Winning the World Series was great,” Martinez told The New York Times in 1997. “But, getting to the major leagues in itself was also a great accomplishment, especially for someone like me.”

He added, “I was always a good hitter. But I didn’t have speed or a great arm. I had to work extra hard to convince people that I could be a major leaguer.”

Martinez would later return to the

University of Tampa to earn his bachelor’s degree, which he was awarded in 2011. The Mariners called him up on Aug. 20, 1990, months after his father – his perervering coach and the man he considered a guiding light in his life – suddenly died of a brain tumor at the age of 48.

“I think he knows I made it,” Martinez told The Times, speaking of his father. “He always believed I would [make it to the major leagues]. I really believed. I don’t think he was just saying that.”

After spending five years playing for the Mariners, carving out a reputation for himself, Martinez began playing for the Yankees, where he would spend five years.

Martinez first came to the Bronx, N.Y., in 1996, as the centerpiece of SEE MARTINEZ, PAGE 3

When Daniel Krug, GSB ‘14, graduates this May, he, like many of his classmates, will not be attending graduate school. Krug, who majored in business administration with a minor in economics, is hoping to join a company that, in his words, “promotes economic welfare by providing loans to small businesses.” Several things factored into his decision not to seek further education, but Krug says that his primary reason for the choice was that it just made more sense for his career.

“My reasons for choosing a degree in business were centered on alleviating poverty through economic development post graduation,” Krug explained. “Once I leave Fordham, I hope to immediately use my degree to achieve this goal.”

Krug’s decision is not uncommon among today’s college students. According to a 2012 New York Times article, graduate enrollment surged in 2008 and 2009 as students sought to better their employment opportunities in the face of recession and a poor job market, but after those years it began to drop off. From fall 2010 to 2011, the number of students enrolling in masters and doctoral graduate programs declined by 1.7 percent, a significant figure.

The article cites “increasing debt burden” as one of the reasons that many have begun to view entering the workforce as a more rational option than graduate school.

Katie O’Brien, FCRH ‘14, is one of those students whose reasons for opting out of graduate school included financial constraints.

“I have two younger brothers who will be attending college soon, and it does not make financial sense for my family to be paying for school for that many people,” O’Brien said. “Beyond that, taking out another set of loans for grad school is out of the question when I still have undergrad loans to worry about.”

SEE GRAD, PAGE 3

in this issue

Opinion Page 7 Should Profanity be Permitted in Journalism?

Culture Page 11 Spring Weekend Takes Fordham by Storm

Sports Page 19 Softball Clinches A-10 title

NEWS

Page 2

SECURITY BRIEFS

April 30, 2014

CAB Breaks Down Spring Weekend

April 22 189th St. and Bathgate Ave. 11:15 p.m.

A Fordham student was working out in the playground when he was approached by three teenage males who demanded $10 from him. When he refused to give them they money one of the males struck him with a two-foot long piece of flexible tubing, causing a small cut to his right cheek.

The assailants fled the scene. Security and police responded and are investigating. The student was released April 25 McGinley Center Commuter Lounge 5 p.m.

A Nintendo with four controllers was reported missing from the commuter lounge. The Nintendo was usually kept in a locker but was believed to have been left out overnight. The Nintendo was valued at $100.

April 26 189th St. and Lorillard Ave. 2 a.m.

Students were walking northbound on Lorillard Avenue when they were approached by five or six males who why enquired why the students threw something at their car and damaged it. The students denied doing anything to the car. A friend of student was struck in head with baseball bat by one of the males as another student was struck in the head and punched in the face. His cell phone was taken from one of the students. NYPD responded and are investigating the incident.

April 26 Arthur Ave. 6 a.m.—12 p.m.

Two computers taken from the apartment of students living off campus. After holding a party in their building, the students woke up and discovered that their laptops were taken and that a backpack belonging to one of the students was missing. The NYPD was notified and are investigating along with security. There were no signs of forced entry to the apartment.

April 26 Lalande Hall 9 p.m.

A student was caught tampering with an electrical junction box on the east stairwell roof landing of the building. The student was not injured. He was later identified from a snapchat and after investigation, was referred to residential life for sanctioning.

April 26 O’Hare Hall 1 p.m. — 2 p.m.

Property was taken from one of the driers in the laundry room of O’Hare Hall. Among the items missing were Nike sweatpants, and Nike long sleeve shirts. Security is currently investigating the incident.

—Compiled by Laura Sanicola, Assistant News Editor

Business, Free Speech In USG Focus FROM USG, PAGE 1

SAMUEL JOSEPH/THE RAM

Despite mixed reactions about Saturday’s concert performances, students packed together to get close to the stage.

By BRIDGET DARCEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Spring Weekend is not all fun and games for a select group of Fordham students. As the most highly anticipated string of events during the school year, Spring Weekend takes a handful of architects to orchestrate. For Campus Activities Board (CAB) President Matt Grandchamp, GSB ’14, Spring Weekend is anything but a time for relaxation and merrymaking.

The weekend of events promised little to no sleep for Grandchamp and other CAB members. “People don’t understand that we are up Friday around 7 a.m. because that’s when the barricades and bathrooms arrive,” Grandchamp said. “We stay up until 2 a.m. that day, and we wake up at 5 a.m. on that Saturday morning, moving barricades, fences, equipment and everything for that weekend.”

Aside from the actual days of the concerts, the months that led up to Spring Weekend were stressful and at times frustrating. “My least favorite part about being on CAB is sometimes just how students don’t fully appreciate all the work and time that all the CAB members put into the organization of the [Spring Weekend] events,” Grandchamp explained. “We get frustrated by the small things that you get frustrated by.”

It is no secret that following the announcement of the Spring Weekend artists, there was a great deal of backlash from disappointed students. Twitter and Facebook overflowed with reactions, both good and bad, to this year’s performers Grandchamp expressed the stress that these mixed reactions on social media causes the CAB Executive Board.

“It’s not like we are picking the band that we want,” Grandchamp explains. “Because if it was me picking, you know I want Miley Cyrus or Kelly Clarkson, so that is really frustrating to see because CAB’s not picking who they want to bring.”

Pat McCarren, CAB’s concert cochair, reiterates Grandchamp’s feelings while clarifying where CAB’s collective frustrations stem from in regards to the artists that are inevitably chosen. “When you are planning an event and put in a lot of effort, the last thing you want to hear is complaints, especially when you have to deal with challenges like administrative approval or pricing issues,” McCarren explains.

Although McCarren revealed that Grandchamp did, at times, become flustered and stressed himself out, it is expected with any leadership position involving a large number of people and events. “At one point or another we all get stressed, whether it is with a vendor or administrator or even a peer, so this weakness definitely comes with the territory,” McCarren said.

Even with these annoyances, Grandchamp remained focused and dedicated in executing Spring Weekend events successfully. “He has this ability to create a vision for an event or another CAB function and motivate others to work with him,” says Alex Chin Fong, GSB ’14, CAB’s comedy co-chair. “He is a very organized person, which makes events easier to run because there is little room for things to be forgotten or for unexpected surprises to occur.”

While Grandchamp is used to planning for the unexpected, he is not always sure what to expect from the talent that comes to Fordham.

“One of the craziest [requests] was

that we had to get 60 towels prewashed and they had to be dark or grey for Third Eye Blind,” Grandchamp recalled.

More surprising for Grandchamp was how easygoing some of the talent has been in the past, such as 3LAU, the DJ for Friday night of Spring Weekend in 2012. “[3LAU] was in college at that time so it was really fun to meet someone that is about your same age, is an amazing DJ and he was building a school for children in need. So, he was really cool to meet and see how down to earth he was and how easy he was to talk to,” Grandchamp said.

Although Grandchamp remained very serious and professional throughout the interview, his fellow CAB members revealed a different side of him when they asked about him and his antics during CAB meetings. “He has to sometimes censor himself with our advisors,” Chin Fong wrote. “Sometimes he'll catch himself before he curses. There have also been times when he's given a count on how many times he cursed during the meeting or said something inappropriate.”

With his quirks in mind, Grandchamp has taken his time as president in stride and recalls it with a great deal of fondness. While there is an overflow of frustration that comes with the position, Grandchamp believes it is all worth it in the end.

“You look out into the crowd and see about 5,000 students or more just dancing and singing and enjoying the fun time,” Grandchamp said. “That’s the most rewarding thing, because you are bringing them entertainment. You planned that whole event so that those 5,000 students or more can enjoy a day of fun.”

dressing student-run businesses, so you could argue that they are illegal,” Kulangara said.

The Student Holdings Initiative would be a way to legitimize such businesses as it would “give them structure to operate and provide them with resources to essentially thrive,” Kulangara said. He expressed the idea that campuses are similar to a trial run for the real world, in which students should be able to test their business skills while abiding by the proper policies.

During the week of April 28, Kulangara plans to collaborate with members of USG in order to improve its official website. According to Kulangara, this “revamping” of the website is “not just from an aesthetic standpoint, but also for [the sake of] practicality.” Aside from the visual appeal, the most important aspect of the site’s improvement involves making it more efficient for students to navigate, while providing useful information, such as how to begin and manage a club. In addition, the website will provide students with the dynamics of budgeting for clubs.

Kulangara also hopes that USG becomes more involved in Fordham’s New Student Orientation (NSO). He and Vice President Sarah Skrobala, FCRH ’15, who both promoted the creation of stronger ties with the student body as part of their platforms, agreed that “leaving an impression on Freshman right when they come in is a huge part of [forming these strong ties].”

Another part of Kulangara’s platform involves promotion and protection of free speech by allowing students to go through a formal appeals process under the USG House Committee if their goals and beliefs are censored or considered questionable.

While these new proposals and activities are underway, previous work, such as that of the former senators of the Class of 2016, is also being continued.

Their proposal involves extending the add/drop time slot for classes when students are newly registered for the semester, so as to give them more time to decide whether they want to remain in a course or add another. These activities, along with many more to come, promise a busy and productive year for Kulangara and the rest of the USG.

This Week at Fordham Thursday May 1 Fuel for Finals: Pasta

Friday May 2 DOLLS: The Visual Album

Friday May 2 Sophomore Summer Slam

Rose Hill 5:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m.

Collins Auditorium 7:30 p.m.

O’Hare Lawn 5:30 p.m.

The Insieme Italian Cultural Society will be delivering pasta dishes to students who place their orders before midnight on Wednesday, April 30.

Each dish is $5, and if you order two dishes you will receive free cookies.

This Friday, the Fordham Satin Dolls will host their final spring concert, Dolls: The Visual Album. Fordham Flava and Expressions Dance Alliance will also be performing.

Join RHA on O’Hare Lawn for a day of fun before finals! Free food, including chicken wings, mozzarella sticks and ice cream sundaes will be provided.

For more campus events, visit FordhamRam.com

Saturday May 3 b-Sides Concert Collins Auditorium 8 p.m.

The b-Sides will be performing their show, “Fellowship of the b-Sides” at 8 p.m. this Saturday in Collins. There will be guest appearances from Expressions Dance Alliance and Senseless Sam and the Orangutans.

NEWS

April 30, 2014

Former Yankee to be Tapped as Speaker

COURTESY OF FLICKR

The former Yankee first baseman will speak at commencement on May 17.

FROM MARTINEZ, PAGE1

a trade the Yankees made to find a successor to legendary first basemen Don Mattingly. Martinez spent six seasons in pinstripes, successfully winning over the Yankee faithful, and was an integral part of the Yankees’ dominant teams in the late ‘90s.

In 1997, Martinez had his best season statistically. He posted career highs in batting average, runs batted in and home runs, made the All-Star team and finished second in American League MVP voting.

A pair of home runs cemented Martinez’s legacy as a Yankee fan favorite. His seventh inning grand slam in Game 1 of the 1998 World Series broke a 5-5 tie and helped the Yankees to a four-game sweep of the San Diego Padres. In the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the Yankees down to their last out, Martinez hit a two-run home run to tie the game. The Yankees

would go on to win in extra innings, although they eventually lost the series.

Following the 2001 season, the Yankees let Martinez go to sign free agent Jason Giambi. Martinez made an emotional return to Yankee Stadium in 2003 as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. He received a standing ovation before each at-bat.

For his last season in 2005, Martinez returned for one final season with the Yankees. He batted just .241 on the year, but a stretch in May when he hit a home run in five straight games provided Yankee fans with one more memorable moment. Martinez retired as a Yankee in 2006, finishing his career with 339 home runs and a .271 batting average in 16 seasons.

In the announcement that the university removed from the web, McShane praised Martinez’s character.

“By virtue of his Yankee career, he is already a son of the Bronx, N.Y.,

and by virtue of his integrity, decency and commitment to learning, it is our honor to have him address the Class of 2014,” he said.

However last July, Martinez was forced to resign as a hitting coach for the Miami Marlins in the wake of allegations that he verbally and physically abused players.

“I want to apologize to the Marlins organization for my behavior,” he said at the time. “I think I was frustrated at times, the way players were behaving and certain ways they were doing things.”

He added, “When I asked them to do something and they wouldn’t do it, whatever it may be, I thought the way to get through was by being firm with them, and I probably used some four-letter words.”

Willie Randolph, former Yankee second baseman and Mets manager from 2005 to 2008, addressed Fordham’s Class of 2007. He, too, had a daughter in the graduating class.

A source in the President’s Office has said Fordham had been close to securing Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to deliver this year’s graduation address. Sotomayor grew up near the Fordham campus.

News that Martinez, not Sotomayor, would be the commencement speaker first came from baseball commentator Michael Kay, FCRH ’82, who revealed that Martinez would be Fordham’s grad speaker during a televised broadcast of last Friday night’s Yankee game.

Olivia Martinez, FCRH ’14, Martinez’s daughter, confirmed that her father would address Fordham’s graduating class. She said she was looking forward to the ceremony.

“I am very excited for him to deliver the speech and I know he is, too,” she said via email. “I hope everyone, whether they are Yankee fans or not,

Page 3

College Republicans Elect New e-Board

By LAURA SANICOLA ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The elections held on Thursday, April 24, in Dealy Hall signaled a change in leadership for the College Republicans. Benjamin Shull, FCRH ’16, and Jennifer Minerva, FCRH ’16, have been appointed as the new president and vice president of the organization, respectively.

Shull previously served as the treasurer for the College Republicans this past academic year and is also the editor-in-chief and congressional correspondent for the Fordham Political Review, an undergraduate political publication that circulates every semester.

Minerva previously served as the secretary for the College Republicans and is a current university ambassador.

“I intend on increasing the level of communication that takes place among Fordham's politically-leaning clubs, whether it be my own Fordham Political Review or the College Democrats, in whom I count many close friends, and desire a close working relationship with,” said Shull in his platform. “I look forward to having more debates between the College Republicans and the College Democrats, hosting speaker on campus and continuing our dialogue events with ASILI.” Kenneth Foulks, GSB ’16, and Sebastian Albrecht, FCRH ’17, were elected to the executive treasurer and secretary positions, respectively.

Foulks served as the College Republicans debate chairman this past academic year, and Albrecht is a current senator in the United Student Government for the Class of 2017.

“I greatly look forward to the opportunity to build upon the remarkable success and growth we experienced this year, as evidenced by the strong freshmen participation in the club and the high turnout at our events,” Foulks remarked. “All in all, I have high expectations for this club this year and couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity.”

The College Democrats recently held elections that did not result in a change in position for the executive board members.

Noticeably absent from the College Republican ballot were former president Luke Zaro, FCRH ’16, and former vice president Noelle Brennan, GSB ’16, who both stepped down from their positions preemptively to study abroad next semester.

“It has been an honor to serve the Fordham University College Republicans as president this past year,” Zaro said, reflecting on his presidency. On the newly elected president and vice president, he had “no doubt that the hard work they demonstrated this year will carry over into next year's continued and growing success.”

Zaro stated that he was particularly proud of the club’s ability to rebuild itself after the Ann Coulter controversy of 2012 since he felt the controversy tested the club’s ability to retain its composure and membership in the face of opposition.

“I think it makes us one of the largest, most ambitious, most prevalent and most successful clubs on campus,” he said. “We have continued to spread the message of conservatism in a thoughtful and articulate way, and I believe we played, and will continue to play, an important role in the political dialogue at Fordham.”

For Grads, Career Path and Financial Resources are Deciding Factors FROM GRAD, PAGE 1

A communication and media studies major and political science minor, O’Brien says that she feels confident in this decision, even though she admits it is not necessarily the norm within her academic track.

“I feel that I am very ready to enter the workforce, and that grad school would feel a bit like delaying the inevitable,” she explained.

“I am quite excited to set off on my own and begin creating a life for myself. Grad school would only put a halt in the current momentum track that I’m on.”

Such financial constraints have become even more prevalent as the number of scholarships available to graduate students hasdeclined.

According to The New York Times article previously referenced, state budget cuts have made it much more difficult for public universities to provide financial aid, where in past years, “graduate students… in some disciplines have traditionally been paid to attend postgraduate programs.”

The decision to enter the workforce directly after earning an undergraduate degree is increasingly commonp; however, there are still many students who make the choice to pursue higher degrees, financial burden and additional years in academia notwithstanding. Often, the decision is dictated by career choice.

Tom Merante, FCRH ‘14, is one of those students. From the time he entered college, Merante knew he wanted to be a lawyer, so applying was a non-decision for him. The real question was where he would go.

“I applied to eight law schools, and began the application process as soon as I received my June LSAT score,” Merante said. His current plan is to attend Cornell Law School, though he is still waiting for a decision from NYU Law, where he was waitlisted.

And, lawyers-to-be are not the only ones who essentially have the graduate school decision made for them. Lisa Hipp, FCRH ’14, GSE ’15, and TJ Alcala, FCRH ’13, GSE ’14, both plan to be teachers, and are currently working on their Masters degrees through Fordham’s Graduate School of Education. They said that it was simply a logical, necessary step in their educations.

Unlike Merante, Alcala did not enter college with any specific track in mind. He was quickly, and rather unexpectedly, drawn to math while taking Euclidian geometry during his freshman year at Fordham, and did well in the class. Eventually, he started leading study groups for the class and tutoring his fellow students. This experience, he recalled, is what gave him his first taste of what teaching might be like.

COURTESY OF FLICKR

With graduation approaching, students are finalizing their post-college plans, whether or not they include grad school.

“The feeling of helping someone arrive at a new understanding gave me a new appreciation for the profession of teaching, and the pure joy of seeing someone succeed aided by my guidance solidified in me a desire to pursue such a career,” Alcala said.

The decision to attend graduate school came later, during his junior year.

“I began considering Fordham's GSE, and the decision to stay was fairly straightforward,” he said.

“The program offered me the ability to take graduate-level courses during my senior year…meaning I would have to stay only one year

more to complete a Masters.”

Hipp had a similar experience in her path to becoming a student of education, though her concentration is science instead of math.

She already knew that she wanted to teach upon entering Fordham as a freshman, so she joined the education graduate school’s fiveyear track as soon as she heard about it.

“Attending the seminars and doing my field experience helped me see what my future could look like,” she said. “The decision to continue the program after graduation was not a difficult one, especially since I get to stay at Ford-

ham and continue playing on the volleyball team.”

Alcala’s decision was not quite as clear-cut. “For me, graduate school was not always the goal…

I knew that if I wanted to become the best teacher I could be, I would need a solid foundation in and understanding of basic educational principles and instructional strategies.”

More than anything, graduate school today is viewed as a strategic move. Far from degree-collecting, students are adapting to the changing economy and havingmarketable skills through higher degrees or work experience.

NEWS

Page 4

April 30, 2014

News Briefs & Bites • On Sat. April 16, 5,Nobel April a free Prize-winand public ning economist Amartya symposium was held at the Sen, Linknown for his worktoon poverty, coln Center campus raise awaregender equality, IndianSudanese history ness on the deadly South and philosophy, civil war which haspresented plagued thea lecture in fiRose Hill’s and Flom Aunation for ve months forced ditorium.

The Harvard profeshundreds of thousands of citizens sor’s talk, “Why Doand Weseek Tolerto leave their homes refate a Rich World?”, uge Poverty elsewhere.inAn announcement centered around the economic made by the department of Afrisituation in India, discussed can and African American studies, the ignorance which organized of the the event,typical listed middleand of upper-class citizen the objective the symposium as in “off regard to the plight of the to er a fresh vision and explore poor. options Calling forthis ignorance policy peace, democ“inhumane,” Sen said” Th that it is racy, and development. e syma mechanism use to help posium, entitledsome “Perspectives on shirk responsibility forinthe unNational Reconciliation South fortunate situation offrom the lower Sudan: Lessons Learnt South

classes.

India, according to Sen, Africa, Rwanda, and Sudan,” feais far asbehind other tured speakers Amirdeveloping Idris, Ph.D., nations of the chairmaninof terms the African andproviAfrision of health care department, and educacan American Studies tion for its citizens.

Additionand Stephen Kuol, a former state ally, Senofplaces the for brunt of minister education South the blame for the situation on Sudan.

India’s national media, which remains silent on the • In a blastrelatively email sent by campus topic securityofondeprivation, Mon. April prevent7, it was ing the that Indian from revealed the populace body of a Fordbecoming Hea restbeham alumnusinformed. was found in lieves as thecenter largest room inthat theIndia, Lowenstein at democracy the world, needs the Lincoln in Center campus.

The comprehensive media coverage victim’s death is not believed to be in order totobring change, attributed foul about play; however, since suicidethey has cannot not beenforce ruledthe outlegby islation in the way evening. that tothe NYPD as ofsame Monday talitarian governments suchwhy as There is still uncertainty over

South Korea aorresident China can. the alumnus, of Manhattan, was at the Lincoln Center • This pastHis Tuesday, the univercampus. name will not be sity’s Center for family Ethicshas Educareleased until his been tion held a symposium titled notified.

“The Value of a Liberal Arts tak• Education.”

On Thursday,The Aprilpanelists 3, the annual ing partforinPositive this symposium Center Marketing discussed recent trend of conference the began with presentaassessing real of a tions on thethe effect thatvalue marketing liberal in contempoefforts education can have on companies. rary TheMaureen issue, panelThe society. presenter, Mcists is marketing that economic Guire,agreed, the chief officer crises have shifted the about focus of Bloomberg L.P., spoke of thisturnaround dialogue from longIBM’s from the 1980s term values of a liberal edand 1990s, a period of timearts during ucation its immediate, dolwhich thetocompany struggled to lars and cost.

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lenials,” the “online generation” later during the conference and that consists today’s stuemphasized howof important the dents, was also a notable topica development of relations within of discussion. thethe public company is forWhile stressing role places significant on promarketing plays invalue a company’s fessional moremuch so than longevity. degrees, She attributes of on the generalized liberal arts IBM’s later success to the changes education, seemed made under the CEOpanel Lou Gerstner, to thatincrease there is greater whoagree would thea compaadvantage be had in ny’s efforts to in the field(namely of marketliteracy, analytic and reasoning ing, which had previously been skills) in the long run by graduswept aside. ating with a liberal arts degree.

• On April 2, in a ceremony within • The College Democrats invited the McNally Amphitheatre, forformer House adviser mer deanWhite John D. Feerick, nickMichael an named “St.Blake John to thespeak Good,”at was event April 14 after Bronx lauded on by an audience that includCouncilman James ed alumni, faculty andVacca, friends.who The

was to beforthe groupreported was gathered theCollege displayDemocrats’ spring speaker, ing of a portrait of Feerick that cancelled suddenly.

Blake is was composed 23 years ago by the currently running as Assemartist Franklin Petersen.

Feerick blyman 79th Districtofina declined for thethe commissioning the South Bronxaft after previous portrait of himself er portraits of assemblyman Eric A. Stevenall the law school professors were son wasWhen convicted bribery created.

Feerickon discovered and extortion charges earlier that a portrait of himself had been this year.

The Bronx native atpainted at the behest of Lous Stein, tended PS 79 and Clinton High LAW ‘26, he famously told his staff School, and later attended and to lock it inside of a closet. The porgraduated from the Medill trait was brought into the public School of Journalism at Northlight for this first time during this western University. He served ceremony, after much convincing as the National Deputy Direcfrom Feerick’s successor, tor of Operation Vote forformer Presidean William 2012 Michael Treanor, dent Obama’s re-election.

Ph.D.

Blog Invites Students Into Discourse About Ethics

By MARIA PAPPAS STAFF WRITER

Last semester, Fordham’s Center for Ethics Education began offering an undergraduate interdisciplinary bioethics minor. Since the implementation of the minor, and the increasing popularity of the M.A. in ethics and society, the center has begun a new section of the “Ethics & Society” blog, titled “Student Voices.”

According to Dr. Celia B. Fisher, director of the Center for Ethics Education, “the purpose of ‘Student Voices’ is to serve as a space for Fordham undergraduate and graduate students to discuss, explore and analyze ethics-related current news events, scholarship and contemporary issues within the Fordham community and beyond.”

The “Student Voices” blog was initiated and developed with the help of undergraduate students Ken Ochs and Michael Menconi, both FCRH ’15. As the first student editors of “Student Voices,” they are responsible for helping authors of articles compose informative pieces on ethics-related topics spanning a wide range of disciplines.

“We are grateful for the lead-

COURTESY OF THE CENTER FOR ETHICS EDUCATION

Fordham’s student ethics blog entitled “Student Voices” is a forum for students to weigh in on controversial ethical issues facing the nation today.

ership of Drs. Fisher, Fried and Yuko in moving this interdisciplinary endeavor off the ground.

Though still in its initial stages, it will connect undergraduate students with each other and with their professors in discussions about relevant issues in ethics,” said Ochs.

The blog provides a unique opportunity for both undergraduate and graduate students to contribute to an online ethical discourse.

Students are able to write articles specifically for the journal, or inspired by something that they learned in class, through in-class assignments, independent research or community service. Stu-

dents majoring in both sciences and the humanities are invited to contribute to the blog in the discussion of contemporary bioethical issues. Other professionals in the community are also welcome to contribute to the journal. Menconi thinks that the journal will be extremely beneficial to the Fordham community. “The multidisciplinary aspect of the new ‘Student Voices’ section will foster academic discourse between students of all academic majors,” he said.

Dr. Elizabeth Yuko, the “Ethics & Society” senior and founding editor, is responsible for the final editing and review process of

updated technologies and applications as requested by professors and students alike. Examples of such extensions include Internet access, classroom lecture recording and Webcasting capabilities. Additionally, Blackboard and other learning management systems allow online learning from home. The graduate school of religion and religious education and the graduate school of social service offer courses completely online and all three campuses have video conferencing capabilities.

Aside from in-classroom technology services, IT has established the Academic Computing Environment (ACE), which is dedicated to experimenting with technology so that faculty members are able to use it for teaching and research. The faculty is constantly encouraged to integrate technology into their lesson plans, and Fordham IT is behind this movement. The three Faculty Technology Centers offer programs, such as assistance in the production of technology materials for teaching, 175 workshops, discussion groups,

Fora and training sessions as well as a Faculty E-Grant, which is designed explicitly to support faculty in integrating technology.

Eshghi stipulates that “these efforts are ongoing and expected to continue to be so, as technology and new opportunities for education continue to emerge.” He adds, “our goal is to keep abreast of the technological advancement, in order to enable the faculty and students in their academic pursuit.”

Technology has provided so many new opportunities and methods of learning, and education has especially benefited from this revolution.

Eshghi says, “the abilities to learn, collaborate and compete globally; to accommodate different learning styles; to augment and speed up learning processes are among few opportunities that the power of the modern technologies can provide the learner.” This supports the importance of instructional technology services.

However, because of all the new opportunities that technology re-

the submitted pieces, along with Dr. Fisher. Dr. Yuko also confers with students personally to discuss and edit their pieces. She emphasizes the importance of the blog as a space for the Fordham community. “It serves as a space for Fordham undergraduate and graduate students to discuss, explore and analyze ethics-related current news events, scholarship and contemporary issues within the Fordham community and beyond,” Yuko said.

“Nothing else like this exists at Fordham, as far as I know. It gives students the opportunity to explore ethical issues that arise in class, but that they may not have

had a chance to fully discuss or explore,” she says.

With a readership spanning 105 countries across six continents, there is a great possibility for allowing these topics to reach a larger audience.

“Our vision for ‘Student Voices’ is one of inclusion and relevant discourse – a project that transforms the way that students across departments interact with one another, Fordham facultyand the national and global ethics communities,” Dr. Fisher said. “It is our goal that ‘Student Voices’ becomes an essential part of life for students while at Fordham and after they graduate.”

Fordham IT Encourages Integration of New Technologies

By ALEXANDRA LAIRD STAFF WRITER

If there is ever a problem with the Wi-Fi connection, the Fordham homepage or the overarching Fordham network, chances are Fordham IT will be the first to be notified.

Fleur Eshghi is the executive director of Instructional Technology Academic Computing (ITAC). She has been working at Fordham for 10 years and leads the division of Fordham IT known as ITAC. She manages most technology services for the University. Eshghi says that the primary mission of ITAC is to provide technology services in support of teaching, learning and research, and the organization is always working to achieve this mission.

In previous years, IT has “upgraded all our classrooms to have access to the most fundamental and commonly used technologies,” Eshghi said. The organization reports that now 100 percent of Fordham classrooms are “smart classrooms,” meaning that they contain regularly

DREW DIPANE/THE RAM

IT has made significant upgrades to classroom technology in recent years.

veals, it is equally important to learn how to utilize new services properly. It has now become a common expectation for higher education institutions to provide guidance for students about integrating new technology into their learning experience.

“More and more learning processes become collaborative work between instructors, students and information technology providers,” Eshghi said.

As a whole, Fordham IT works in conjunction with the university — faculty and students — as well as other higher education institutions nationwide to bring about the best opportunities in learning. Although there are many propositions regarding improving technological services in the classroom, Eshghi made the general statement for IT, saying that “efforts [to improve technology services for Fordham] are ongoing and are expected to remain so.”

April 30, 2014

NEWS

Page 5

Photo of the Week

JOSHUA KIM/THE RAM

Fordham football closed out their Spring season on Saturday, April 26. Some of the players who stood out were sophomore running back Kendall Pearcey, junior wide receivers Marcus Jones and Tebucky Jones Jr., junior defensive back Jordan Chapman and sophomore JQ Bowers. The team also received their 2013 NCAA Championship appearance rings on the field during halftime.

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THE FORDHAM RAM

April 30, 2014

opinion

Page 7

Profanities: Print Them or Cut Them?

By JOE VITALE

MANAGING EDITOR

We have a lot to say about the things we cannot say.

For The Fordham Ram, we find ourselves concerned not only with what we print, but also with that which we cannot print. I am speaking here of those words and phrases which stain our language and tarnish our conversations, but manage to find themselves infiltrating the news cycle. Such obscenities find themselves in a newsworthy quote, or perhaps a keyword in an artistic subject both on our campus and beyond our gates.

When it comes to reporting stories that deal with profanities, formatting guides offer few alternatives for college newspapers. The Associated Press Stylebook, which The Fordham Ram consider its own, reads: “Do not use them in stories unless they are part of direct quotations and there is a compelling reason for them. Try to find a way to give the reader a sense of what was said without using the specific word or phrase.” Additionally, AP asks for a warning to be placed at the top of a story if an expletive is to follow. In the case that there is an obscenity included in a full quote, the obscenity must be replaced with hyphens, except for the first letter of the word.

This guide requires a college newspaper to cut a vital piece of information in a story. For example, if a student were to pronounce a graphic expression while committing a heinous crime on campus, the direct quote could not be printed without amendment. If a member of the community were to vocalize a charged utterance dur-

ing a confrontation on campus, the direct quote could not be printed without amendment. While these are actions which are not common on campus, in the event that something similar does occur, there is a decision to be made by this newspaper.

Should The Fordham Ram reconsider its policy on this matter?

In this situation, it is essential to consider three concerns. The first is the precedence set by those media sources more distinguished and established than our own. The second is the audience for whom it is printed each week. The third is the character of the organization.

When considering the majority of news media today, most national and local newspapers follow AP Style. They are forced to make use of hyphens and asterisks rather than spelling out the whole word.

Other American publications, including The New Yorker, have printed such profanities since the mid-1980s. The Guardian, Reuters and many British and Australian newspapers also lead the pack in printed profanities. The Economist, a British magazine, orders: “If you do use swear words, spell them out in full, without asterisks or other coynesses.”

One of the most reputable if not imitated newspapers in print today is The New York Times, which has been scrutinized for its tameness.

Its style guide prohibits the use of obscenities, but states, “Readers should not be left uninformed or baffled about the nature of a significant controversy.” Yet, it is easy to make the case that readers often are baffled by The New York Times’ laughable tendency to pussyfoot around vital facts. Editors have no

choice but to jump through hoops and evade the use of profanities as gracefully as possible.

The lack of consensus among such prestigious news sources only complicates the question. It points to the resistance of editors, who find the change too risky and, perhaps, the guideline too standard.

The hesitance to change also represents a disagreement among readers, many of whom find obscenities unsuitable reading material on the train ride to work. Many readers also argue for the sake of familyfriendly news, where print journalism remains widely accessible to as many people as possible.

As for our audience, The Fordham Ram not only serves students, but also administrators, professors, families and guests to the campus.

This reality presents a choice for the newspaper moving forward. Some argue that people are exposed to all kinds of profanity online. An obscenity — be it racially charged or not meant for the ears of children — is just a click away once we log onto our computers. While the Internet can be a foul and dirty place, it is important to consider the voice speaking these profanities.

In “An Obscenity Symbol,” a commanding article which dances around the f-word Allen Readers writes: “Just as there is a stratum of words suitable for a baccalaureate address, another for a picnic party, and another for a chat with a kindergartener, so there is a stratum of despicable, obscene words that should be left to those who are graceless enough to use them.”

For the author, “stratum” is everything. Comparing the Internet to a campus newspaper is a stretch, and hardly a proper consideration

SAMUEL JOSEPH / THE RAM

There has been much debate as to what is acceptable in a campus newspaper.

of the definitive purpose and audience of each.

Lastly, it is important to consider The Fordham Ram’s character. Having served the community since 1918, this organization’s awareness of free speech issues on campus remains in the forefront. Yet, there is a considerable distinction between voices on campus, and the campus voice. Community members may incorporate these words fre-

quently but presenting ourselves as an esteemed community requires an emphasis on character, which starts with our campus organizations. Call me old-fashioned, but a few hyphens or a graceful pirouette around a not-so-graceful word will do, for the sake of readers and for the joke of our character.

Joseph Vitale, FCRH ’16, is an English major from Staten Island, N.Y.

SAT Problems Remain Unsolved

By ANDREW SANTIS STAFF WRITER

When I applied to colleges two years ago, I was completely on my own. No one in my family had ever gone to college in the U.S. before me, so it was a first for everyone at home.

Despite this, I felt I did not need to worry too stress excessively about the entire college application process.

After all, I was a stellar high school student and very involved in extracurricular activities. And, what could be so difficult about filling out the Common App and answering a few essay questions?

Of course, this was only half the battle.

What remained was something that mattered more than anything else, more than grades, volunteer work, clubs and essays. In other words, more than the hard work, perseverance, sleepless nights, sacrifice, diligence and dedication I put in throughout my high school career.

I am talking about the SAT. With college admissions tests like the SAT in place, the journey to college is undervalued. It seems the test results overshadow that journey, and are of more importance.

The College Board’s recent announcement that it is changing the test’s format starting in 2016 by elimi-

PHOTO COURTESY OF SALON

The format change to the SAT has not necessarily solved the problem of how standardized testing is used in admissions.

nating “obscure” vocabulary words, making the essay optional and adding critical thinking components throughout the exam will not change the fact that the test is a biased tool in the college admissions process.

The SAT is in trouble, why else would it suddenly change the test?

Last year, more students took the ACT and over 800 four-year colleges and universities are now “test-score optional.” Only 20 percent of classroom teachers see college admission tests as fair and a study titled “Defining Promise: Optional Standardized

Testing Policies in American College and University Admissions,” proved that high school grades are a better predictor of college success than standardized test scores. Why keep the test?

In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, Randolf Arguelles, an admissions officer at the University of California at Berkeley, argues that “the SAT or ACT is the only data point that is an apples-to-apples comparison” because “an A in AP Chemistry at one school can be easier or harder to attain than at another, serving as

president of the Speech and Debate Club might entail different responsibilities from one school to the next and college admissions officers can’t fairly compare essays given the varying levels of parental or other editorial assistance”. If this is the case, and the SAT is the standard measure admissions offices have, then they are most likely choosing the better test takers, those who memorized more words and those who could afford to spend money on tutors and rigorous prep courses.

If the College Board thought it

could discourage hardcore preparation and decrease stress with the new format, then they should think again.

Students will continue to prepare as much as possible for the exam, since they do not know what kinds of questions to expect. Test prep companies like the Princeton Review and Kaplan will be sure to overhaul their courses and programs in time for the new SAT so they can profit off of frantic parents and students.

I commend the College Board’s efforts in trying to improve their ailing exam, but in the end the SAT still inhibits students from gaining entry into their top college choices. Unfortunately, admissions offices rely too heavily on SAT scores, and end up giving a seat to the lucky test taker with higher scores versus the student who has excelled in the classroom.

I am sure that one day standardized admissions exams will be gotten rid of once and for all, and students will finally be admitted to their dream schools based on merit and not on their score on a tedious and stressful three hour exam. Until then, students will just have to keep filling in the bubbles and hope that their answers will lead to a great score — because that is what matters most.

Andrew Santis, GSB ’16, is a business administration major from Flushing, N.Y.

Page 8

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 over 10,000. The Fordham Ram office is located in the basement of the McGinley Center, room 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 Kelly Kultys Managing Editor Joseph Vitale Editorial Director Shannon Marcoux Copy Chief Katie Nolan Assistant Copy Chief Robert Frerich News Editor Katie Meyer Assistant News Editors Michael Cavanaugh Laura Sanicola Opinion Editor Richard Bordelon Assistant Opinion Editor Felicia Czochanski Culture Editor Nicole Horton Assistant Culture Editor Amanda Giglio Sports Editors Matt Rosenfeld Max Prinz Assistant Sports Editor Anthony Pucik Photo Editor Samuel Joseph Assistant Photo Editor Joshua Kim Web Editor Tara Cangialosi Business Director Felicia Zhang Business Staff Jason Chan Juan Gabriel Garcia Circulation Director Matthew Gavin Faculty Advisor Dr. Beth Knobel For a full staff listing, visit FordhamRam.com

Opinions 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.

OPINION

April 30, 2014

From the Desk of Laura Sanicola, Assistant News Editor Last week, I was standing in line at the drugstore with a basket filled entirely of pizza-flavored Pringles, and I couldn’t help but notice a middle aged man adjacent to me, talking to himself and wearing a thick headpiece that looked like a gadget out of a Spy Kids movie. Though I have been warned time and time again by magazines, newspapers and the like that the age of wearable technology is upon us, my first experience seeing a man wear Google Glass stopped me in my tracks.

“Glass, send Debra an email,” he said, and momentarily smiled in delight. I quickly paid for my Pringles and left, disappointed that this glimpse into the future of our technologically advancing society didn’t give me pangs of delight but instead left me feeling empty and light-headed.

This article runs the risk of portraying me as a cynical conspiracy theorist and technology hater, which I can assure you is not entirely the case. I have typed these words on my new MacBook Pro and have my iPhone plugged into the wall next to me.

I am glued to practical applica-

tions such as CNN and Weather. com, as well as useless ones such as TimeHop and Solitaire.

Although I cannot deny that I would probably be the last woman riding in a horse-drawn carriage during the dawn of automobiles or one complaining that television is nothing more than a fad in the 1940s, it is impossible for me not to appreciate my beloved electronic devices, which allow me to post pictures of Fordham’s campus on a spring day on Instagram and watch “Dance Moms” at my leisure.

My issue with the new wearable technology comes from a fear of being eternally “plugged in.” Technology’s purpose is to facilitate and to simplify, to lessen the time and effort required to perform a task and perform it well. However, the less time it takes to perform a task, the more tasks the world expects you to perform. As technology becomes more efficient, you become more productive. You can work for more hours, complete more tasks, attend more meetings, fill out more spreadsheets and do anything, anytime, anywhere.

For those of you who live to work, the latest updates and gadgets will, more often than not, be to your advantage. For the rest of us, it means being “plugged in” at all times will soon be commonplace, and my fear — perhaps unwarranted — is that we will enter a perpetual state of work.

The effects of advancing technology have caused me to lose my patience, to demand immediacy and to deal with added stress in my already hectic life. Gone are the days where I could designate a time to check my emails and voicemail every day.

With the widespread use of smartphones with email apps, we are expected to be constantly available to everyone, and most importantly, to our superiors. I personally know that if my emails were not forwarded to my phone, I would miss out on claiming top stories in our weekly news budget.

This is the most innovative technology the world has seen in decades. This headline frequently appears above a picture of a flashy new phone, computer, watch, laptop, etc. in today’s me-

dia.

As a society, we should know by now that just because a technology is novel, it is not necessarily beneficial to us.

It seems that we are at a crossroads in our civilization where we must take responsibility for the way technology affects our lives and use it in a way that allows us to retain control.

My advice is not to buy a device you do not need just because advertising agencies seem convincing in saying that “this is the future.”

Decide for yourself what lifestyle you want to lead and what tools you will need, or the world will decide for you. The world will always choose the lifestyle in which you produce the most for the longest period of time because productivity puts dollars in everyone’s pockets.

EDITORIAL: No Place for Obscenity in Journalism Recently, the paper pulled its issue due to concerns over an image of a naked woman and man engaging in a sex act on an interior page. The image was a drawing, not an actual photograph, but it was an explicit image. Christopher Rodgers, dean of students at Rose Hill, and Alanna Nolan, assistant dean of Student Leadership and Community Development, brought the issue forward to the House Committee, a thirdparty branch of United Student Government to act in an advisory capacity. Members are appointed after interviewing with the USG Vice President of Student Life and their advisor. The House Committee is discussing the cartoon and issue that the image raises about free speech and recent conversations about sexual assault at Fordham.

We at The Fordham Ram believe

that Rogers and Nolan should be applauded for bringing this issue forward to the House Committee to allow students to take an active hand in deciding what is and is not acceptable for publication here at Fordham.

We do not feel, however, that it is right to bring this image forward as part of a conversation about free speech. Free speech is an extremely important issue here at Fordham, and one that we at The Fordham Ram are strongly committed to as members of an editorially independent publication. The image the paper printed is not an image that qualifies as free speech, so it should not be used to discuss the free speech issue. Obscenity is a type of speech not protected by the First Amendment. The image is clearly obscene and fails the obscenity test established by the Supreme Court

in Miller v. California (1973). As such, this image, as unprotected obscenity, is not an issue of free speech at all. Citing this image as an example of why free speech should be restricted on campus is inappropriate and cheapens a much larger issue. We hope the House Committee will acknowledge that this is not a censorship issue and is not indicative of how free speech issues should be handled in the future.

Additionally, this image is not an appropriate one to bring up in conjunction with the issue of sexual assault. Sexual assault is also a serious and important issue that needs to be discussed appropriately. This image is not an image that depicts sexual assault.

The image is pornographic and does not, in our eyes, have a place on campus.

Censoring pornographic im-

ages, however, is not getting to the heart of sexual assault issues on campus. Sexual assault needs to be addressed and labeling this image as a seuxal assault issue detracts from the serious conversations that need to be had about how to prevent sexual assault on campus and actually protect students.

Finally, we would like to commend the paper for making the difficult decision to hold the issue.

The image was in poor taste, but the paper handled the criticism

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.

The board is comprised of Kelly Kultys, Joseph Vitale, Shannon Marcoux, Katie Nolan, Robert Frerich, Richard Bordelon and Felicia Czochanski.

Disagree with our opinions?

Share your own!

Write for The Fordham Ram’s Opinion Section E-mail fordhamramopinions@gmail.com for more information

OPINION

April 30, 2014

Page 9

Canton Winer Change Your Mind: It’s Human

RAM ARCHIVES

Collins Hall is one of the few non-residential buildings on campus that is not handicapped accessible. It holds two theaters frequently used for performances.

Collins Hall’s Inaccessibility Is Eyesore

By EMILY HORIHAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In 1990, Congress required buildings to be accessible by passing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Fordham’s Rose Hill campus, scattered with buildings, old and new, has seen some changes in terms of accessibility in recent years. The campus is not yet entirely accessible, however.

Marco A. Valera, vice president for facilities management, listed a number of projects aimed at improving accessibility that are currently underway at Rose Hill. Valera cited the Loyola and Faber Hall renovations as current projects aimed at improving

accessibility. “We’re adding additional ramps and a new elevator,” said Valera. Once renovations are completed, Loyola Hall is set to be the newly accessible home of the Manresa Scholars’ Program.

It is not just large-scale building renovations that make campus more accessible. Smaller projects can improve accessibility tremendously as well.

“In the summer, we will be doing sidewalk work,” said Valera. This work will include six new “curb cuts,” which are ramps carved into sidewalks to allow for greater wheelchair access.

Accessibility has improved on campus in recent years. The once winding staircase to the entrance of Walsh Library is now a ramp. The once inaccessible

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residence hall, Hughes Hall, is now the accessible home of the Gabelli School of Business. However, accessibility is lacking in one place where students see a great need: Collins Hall.

United Student Government has been a leader in the push for accessibility in Collins Hall.

“USG’s biggest contribution to accessibility causes over the past few years was our statement that the renovation of Collins Hall should be a priority for the university,” Kulangara said via email. However, as projects come and go on campus, Collins has remained the same.

Collins Hall contains the Collins Auditorium and the Blackbox Theater, which are both used frequently for on-campus theater productions. Many individuals, including students, faculty and Jesuits, are unable either to participate in or attend productions in the space due to lack of accessibility.

“Several Jesuits in Murray-Weigel Hall have shown concern that Collins is not handicap accessible,” Kulangara said. “ Fat h er Leonard, w h o restarted the Mimes and the Mummers after the club was disbanded during World War II, cannot attend the group’s shows because he is wheelchair-bound. We think that testimonies like these would strengthen the case for Collins’ renovations.”

Accessibility issues become more prominent when prospective students visit campus. Emily Rochotte, GSB ’14, USG’s outgoing vice president of Student Life, realized this while at the club fair during this year’s Spring Preview.

“It is very difficult talking to a wheelchair-bound prospective student about how she wants to be actively involved in theater at Fordham when knowing that Collins is not accessible,” said Rochotte.

When asked when will Collins be renovated, Valera said “At this point, it’s in the five-year plan.”

The renovation of Collins Hall should be a priority. The lack of accessibility to Collins keeps students and other members of the Fordham community from participating fully in an important aspect of campus culture.

Kulangara and Executive Vice President Sarah Skrobala, will continue pushing for the renovation of Collins, says Kulangara. They plan to draw their support from several places, as the lack of accessibility affects many individuals.

Fordham has made progress in terms of accessibility on campus and has done well to prioritize furthering accessibility in spaces where it is greatly needed, such as academic buildings and residence halls. The Fordham community, ranging from students to faculty to Jesuits, is looking for greater accessibility. Hopefully, its collaborative efforts will make a case for Collins Hall.

Emily Horihan, FCRH ’14, is an international studies major from Staten Island, N.Y.

As graduation comes around the bend, seniors undoubtedly feel inundated by unsolicited advice.

That being said, the advice of this column may be too late for those graduating in less than one month. Underclassmen, this advice is for you.

Think about how you respond to new ideas. Do you truly consider those ideas? Or do you merely scramble to prove that your preexisting ideas are superior?

When confronted with ideas that challenge their preexisting views, many people react simply by trying to refute those new ideas. This helps no one. Kneejerk negative reactions to ideas that do not fit into your worldview hinder your knowledge.

Merely trying to refute an idea with which you disagree or that does not make sense to you is not true engagement with that idea.

When you hear an argument that does not fit into your ideological framework, do not immediately become hostile. Instead, consider its merits. In the end, you may emerge with the same beliefs you had before running into that argument, or you may have an entirely new or modified belief. Either way, your beliefs will be far more comprehensive and thoughtful.

Beliefs are meant to change over time. The human mind is made not of stone, but of flexible material. Use this flexibility and allow your mind to truly flourish.

If ideas never changed, we would still believe the earth is flat, that all the gods live on Mount Olympus and that humans could never fly.

Changes in belief do not have to be 180-degree shifts. In fact, the change can make the belief even stronger than before. True strength and integrity in your beliefs come from considering others’ ideas.

Instantly rejecting an opposing idea as wrong often means you will never truly understand that idea. More importantly, however, it means you will never truly understand your own beliefs.

We should rethink the way we enter into discussions with those with whom we disagree. Too often we view disagreements as arguments or fights. Instead, we should see them as discussions and opportunities to grow.

Disagreements are valuable moments in which everyone can grow, and we should embrace them as such. Being open to new ideas enhances the richness of life.

This way of thinking about thinking should be adopted in the classroom, in academic reading, in discussions with your friends, in reading the newspaper, etc. Be open-minded to life, and life will be open-minded to you.

If you leave Fordham — or any other university — holding the same views with which you entered, then you’ve cheated yourself out of a real education.

Page 10

OPINION

April 30, 2014

A Discussion of the Nature of a Movement

Contemporary Feminism Removes Negative Connotations

By FELICIA CZOCHANSKI ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

Society has been trained to live in fear of feminists. Simply hearing the term makes one picture an angry mob of bra-burning, armpit-hair-growing women. With this type of connotation, why would anyone want to label himself or herself as a feminist? What type of message is this sending for the movement as a whole?

Labels, in general, frighten people. They box people into specific identities from which they cannot free themselves. Although once known only as an admirable and groundbreaking philosophy for men and women alike, feminism now has harsh and extreme present-day connotations.

Self-declared modern-day feminist Ellen Hinkley, FCRH ’17, believes that although “apparently the word ‘feminist’ carries a bad stigma that represents bra burning, men-hating, butch women, and feminism is about providing awareness for the inequalities faced by women around the world.”

Fighting against inequalities is the true definition of feminism.

With any form of belief, be it social or political, there are going to be people that take it to the extreme.

However, all the feminists should not be painted with the same brush. The term should be interpreted in the same sense as when an individual claims that he or she is “religious.” When one hears someone describe him or herself with this term, his or her mind does not automatically jump to the conclusion that they are so orthodox that their children are not permitted to have an Easter Bunny because it commercializes the Resurrection. One au-

tomatically thinks of “religious” in the simplest terms: the belief in some sort of spirituality. This is what should happen when one hears the term “feminism.”

The images of bra burning should not appear unless one sees the smoke.

Unless there are some dramatic changes in the way society views feminism, fewer and fewer men and women will accept the label.

This is especially true for men, who generally find it strange to call themselves feminists, when the stigma exists that extreme feminists “don’t need a man.” Fortunately, modern-day feminists no longer reflect the stereotypes and are changing the perceptions of feminism.

Some influential celebrities are leading the culture change. While accepting Billboard’s 2012 Woman of the Year award, Katy Perry said that she is “not a feminist” but that she does “believe in the strength of women.”

Similarly, Yahoo Chief Executive Officer Melissa Mayer explained that while she “believes in equal rights” and that “women are just as capable,” she thinks that feminism itself is a “more negative word.”

Men are also starting to raise awareness of the evolution of contemporary feminism. In his Spring Weekend performance at Fordham this past Sunday, Judah Friedlander was asked by someone in the audience if he was a feminist.

His response was, “Of course not. I’m not a feminist, I’m a humanist. I believe that all humans deserve the same rights.”

One of the most prominent believers in the need for women’s empowerment without labels is Beyoncé, who says that she “hesitates to call herself a femi-

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Contemporary Feminism removes the negative stereotypes of the movement.

nist.” However, she also further explains this by stating that the word feminist “can be very extreme. But, I guess I am a modern-day feminist. I do believe in equality. But, why do you have to label yourself anything?”

Beyoncé is on to something. If we take away the label we also take away the negative and harsh stereotypes that have been linked to it. Modern-day feminists should not be held to past standards.

As the definition of a feminist differs from person to person, it is

unfair to stereotype each person’s beliefs toward different issues.

Feminism needs to be simplified once again. “It should mean that I should not be paid less than my step brother for doing the same work,” says Marcelle Meyer, FCRH ’17.

This is what the modern-day feminists are trying to do. We need to retrain society to understand that it is all about equality.

Felicia Czochanski, FCRH ’17, is an undeclared major from Metuchen, N.J.

Ram on the Street Compiled by Felicia Czochanski, Asst. Opinion Editor Photos by Joshua Kim, Asst. Photo Editor

What was your favorite Spring Weekend event?

“Getting woken up at 9 a.m. by the sound checks.”

— Lucas Ang FCRH ’17

“The DJ was exactly what I expected, and the event was really organized. It was rave style so it was nice that Fordham could overlap with outside society raves.

It could be somewhat compared to EDM.” — Kata Rzyna FCRH ’17

“I’m a little biased, my favorite event was the Ramblers concert because it was a lot of my friends’ last concert so it was a really great send off.”

— Anthony Tantillo FCRH ’16

“Under the Tent because it was fun being with all my friends and dancing.”

—Samantha Foulston GSB ’17

David Birkdale Support Local Bronx Businesses If the Fordham student body is to become truly involved in the local community, it must be involved economically.

While student organizations encourage community service and a number of local groups use Fordham facilities, the involvement between Fordham students and local residents is often limited to walks to the D or 4 train.

This leads to an unawareness of the reality of life in the local area that undermines Fordham’s commitment to social justice.

One option for expanding the interaction between Fordham students and the community is for students to connect with the local economy. Particularly, students could patronize local businesses, especially restaurants and supermarkets. Furthermore, there are a number of businesses on Fordham Road that students would be interested in patronizing. How often do students go into the city or just wait until their next trip home to get new clothes? Heck, how often do I order things from Amazon I could probably purchase in the local area?

An expansion of the RamBucks program would also be a step toward this goal. For instance, a list of the locations at which RamBucks are accepted is not easily accessible. Furthermore, how many of the current locations are not on Arthur Avenue?

A more diverse list of local businesses could be distributed to incoming freshmen to let them know, for instance, that there are locations where they can purchase school supplies besides the campus bookstore. The restrictions that give Sodexo a monopoly on catering in certain locations on campus also contributes to making Fordham an economically closed entity, causing more need for students and faculty to patronize outside businesses when possible.

While community service is an important way to interact with Fordham’s neighbors, economic interactions between students and local businesses opens up a new dimension of community involvement. Even though service on its own might eventually take a character of condescension, business transactions are mutually beneficial.

Business owners and employees can find fulfillment and selfsufficiency in their work, while customers gain new access to goods and services. This is true in any well-functioning local economy, rural or urban. This is even more true with local business owners, who will want to reinvest in their community, and so will support growth in the community.

To invest one’s time in the local community is a wonderful thing, and something that ought to be encouraged and lauded. To participate in the local economy, even as a private consumer, fills another dimension of involvement that is often neglected.

April 30, 2014

CULTURE

Page 11

Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: Fordham 2014 Spring Weekend

By NICOLE HORTON, MARGARET ADAMS, & NICOLE PIERI CULTURE EDITOR & STAFF WRITERS

Fordham University’s 2014 Spring Weekend began on Thursday, April 24 with students coming to McGinley to watch speaker Max Joseph, a documentary filmmaker.

Joseph inadvertently found reality television show fame when he agreed to help a friend, Nev Shulman, film a pilot for an MTV show.

When MTV picked up the pilot, he became the on-screen camera man of the reality show “Catfish.”

Joseph said that was his first speaking engagement, so this was a unique experience for Fordham students and general audiences.

Internet research is mostly speculative about his personal life. For instance, there is an article confirming that Joseph was a straight, married man.

Max Joseph offered insider commentary about “Catfish,” the evolution of his career and the themes of art and identity within filmmaking.

Whether you are a fan of the MTV show, a communication major or express an interest in the entertainment industry, you would enjoy and gain insight from this event.

Shulman’s 2010 documentary depicted his journey to meet his online love and the consequent chaos. Meanwhile the success of “Catfish” is its ability to articulate the varying heights and pitfalls of online dating. In addition to its increasing relevance and degree to which people relate, “‘Catfish’ is about getting to the bottom of the people on our show.”

According to Joseph, when it comes to judging the subjects of the show or getting involved in the progression of events, good filmmaking is showing rather than telling.

“When you’re with the subject of any documentary for any period of time, you can’t judge them.” In general, Joseph stresses the importance of “cultivating those

SAMUEL JOSEPH/THE RAM

Cartel takes the stage to play a selection of hits from Collider.

awkward silences” when filming because a subject will fill in the silence themselves.

Although Joseph is sometimes stunned by the turn of events on “Catfish,” he acknowledges some people’s confidence and personal issues that influence their romantic lives.

“Everyone struggles to find their identity and want to be somebody — the ideal version of themselves.”

For Fordham students who are within a close proximity to the city, Joseph, a Brooklyn native and California transplant, emphasizes not letting New York define you and leaving the city for a period of time and figuring out who you are.

“New York doesn’t love you back,” so he encourages students to use the city to their advantage.

On Friday night, the DJ event was moved to the Lombardi Center Field House due to impending rain. DJ Enferno was the headlining act, with Patrick McCarren, GSB ’14, and Dayne Carter, FCRH ’15, as opening acts. Some students did not mind being inside because the field house is spacious, but some upperclassmen complained that they missed being outside. DJ Enferno mixed a variety of synthesized EDM hits but it was not always high energy. With that said,

there was a large student presence with over 2,500 students.

Spring Weekend would not be complete without a packed concert on Martyrs Lawn, and 2014 was no exception. The concert had a full lineup, consisting of student band Second Child, DJ The Melken Project, Cartel and Cold War Kids. Despite the fact that the concert was paused due to rain, nothing could dampen the spirits of the students.

The opening band was Second Child, which won the Battle of the Bands competition. Their style of music was similar to Young the Giant, and was perfect for an outdoor, daytime concert. They played a five-song set and finished up with a mash-up cover of “Dancing Queen” by ABBA, which got everyone up and singing. They were followed by The Melker Project.

The Melker Project brought endless energy, and mixed classic tunes (such as Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” and the crowd pleasing “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi) with modern pop songs, like “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz, “Get Low”

by Lil’ John, and “Locked Out Of Heaven” by Bruno Mars. Everyone was on their feet, and you could tell that both the students and the DJ were enjoying themselves.

Cartel came onstage, and every Fordham student who had ever listened to them during middle school went crazy. Although the band never reached mass popularity and still isn’t very well-known, everyone was able to enjoy the “pop punk” genre music.

“Cartel reminds me why my love for pop punk never died,” said student Rachel Franzluebbers, GSB ‘16, as the band came onstage.

Erica Mendoza, FCRH ‘16, said, “I had never heard any of their songs before the concert, but the set was great and the band fed off the crowd’s energy.”

Cartel played their most popular and well-known songs, such as “Runaway,” “Say Anything (Else)” and “Honestly.” The band also played a few songs off their most recent album Collider, which came out in March 2013.

Cold War Kids were only able to play a few songs before the show was paused for the rain. Due to the half-hour break, the band was forced to play a shortened set, which included one of their newest singles, “Miracle Mile.” They also played a couple of classic songs off their first album Robbers & Cowards, including “We Used to Vacation,” “Hang me Up to Dry” and “Hospital Beds.” Although the concert was cut short, everyone was grateful to the band for finishing up their set after the rain subsided.

Overall, it was another successful Spring Weekend Concert. With delicious food, fantastic music, and lovely weather (for most of the day), it was the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday April 27, students packed the Fordham Prep auditorium to full capacity to see comedian Judah Friedlander, World Champion, perform stand-up. The final Spring Weekend event kicked off with three talented student comedians warming up the crowd for the World Champion to take the stage. Then Friedlander, well

known for his role as Frank Rossitano on NBC’s 30 Rock, walked out in his trademark slogan hat and glasses and began an uproarious routine that everyone loved.

As the World Champion, Friedlander confidently told of his conquests around the world (and even the universe) that included hitting a home run so hard from Citi Field that it landed in the upper deck of Yankee Stadium (the first interborough home run), to beating Chuck Norris so badly that he now refers to him as Charles Norris. He also said that as the next President of the United States, he would have Canada pay our taxes because Celine Dion, Justin Bieber and Nickleback have been too taxing on us, and that American cheese would be exported everywhere to create world peace. Each story and joke was more outrageous and unpredictable than the last, making the audience laugh harder and harder as the set progressed.

From talking to a student from a different country, to calling out those who laughed a little too long at jokes, Friedlander spent the majority of his set interacting with the audience.

His clever and quick off-the-cuff responses proved just how smart and talented he is, and he answered questions that might have easily thrown others off guard.

His unique humor connected very well with the college crowd. Overall, Friedlander showed that he is much more than his character on 30 Rock.

After his set, Friedlander stayed to meet with students, and he seemed nothing short of kind and gracious when chatting and taking selfies with them.

It was clear that everyone loved Friedlander and enjoyed his comedy much more than that of last year’s Spring Weekend comedian.

Students say CAB did a fantastic job organizing the event that ended a great annual Fordham tradition on a high note.

Campus Films Take Screen

By AMANDA GIGLIO ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

On April 23, Fordham University took part in Campus MovieFest (CMF) for the fifth year in a row. Campus MovieFest is the world’s largest student film festival, in which over 500,000 students at colleges and universities globally participate.

It originally began in 2001 when four students from Emory University provided their fellow peers with everything needed to film their own short film.

CMF gives students a chance to showcase their filmmaking talents by offering students free equipment, including camcorders and Apple macbooks, to film a short five minute movie in one week.

The winners from each school receive a chance to go to Califor-

nia for the CMF Hollywood Film Summit.

This year, Fordham had 111 teams join, with 16 of the top films shown to the student body.

The films ranged from comedy to drama, with some suspense and personal anecdotes in between.

Everyone received a raffle ticket upon entering, and the emcees gave away door prizes regularly throughout the event.

Social media played a large part in the event, with a prize going to the person who tweeted and hashtaged about the event the most. As each of the movies played, the students involved cheered for their friends or their favorite movie.

Once all the top movies played awards were given to the best movies in each genre and the best in editing, story and directing.

“No Data Found” won for Cam-

pus Best Picture and Campus Finalist. Nick D’Agostino, FCRH ’16, wrote, directed, filmed and edited the film, as well as starred in the film with his friend Luke McCanna, FCRH ’16. The film is about the everyday routine of a man who loses his memory. It was one of the funniest movies shown, receiving laughs the entire five minutes.

“Switch Pocket,” a comedy about two New York City girls who pickpocket to find the best items, was written, directed, filmed and edited by Stephanie Twyford Baldwin, FCLC ’16, who also starred in the film.

This film is a GTA Nominee for Best Director and a Campus Finalist and is currently number one on the online movie view leaderboard.

The second most viewed online movie is a drama called

COURTESY OF NICK D’AGOSTINO

Nick D’Agostino, FCRH ’16, films “No Data Found” in his dorm room.

“Mine.” This film is about a spoken word artist reflecting on a past romantic relationship. The film, directed by Shannon Morrall, FCRH ’15, stars Vanessa Agovida, FCRH’ 16, who gives an intensely emotional performance that stunned the audience. The film is a GTA Nominee for Best Actress and a Campus Finalist.

Other highly rated films include, “Wait-Listed,” “In the Cards” and

“DeBlasio: Man or Myth.”

While only 16 films were shown, there are many more that can be viewed on the Campus MovieFest website. Each movie has a cast and crew of Fordham students who were not afraid to show off their theatrical side.

Also on the website, you can watch films from previous years at Fordham or other colleges that participated.

SPRING

WEEKEND

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Page 14

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CULTURE

April 30, 2014

Devon Sheridan

Editor’s Pick: Coffee

Criticism and Meta-Criticism in TV

By KELLY KULTYS

I started watching HBO’s wildly popular Game of Thrones series early this semester and caught up to the show just in time for the season four premiere. Prior to viewing, my relationship with the show felt like all my friends had this hip, new friend, whom they refused to talk about whenever I was present. Existing as a man with way too much time on his hands, I convinced myself that it was necessary to take the plunge. I regret nothing.

Now, having spent the last four Sunday nights entrenched, real time, in the revelry, debauchery, barbarity and (increasingly frequent) sadism of Westeros and all its neighboring lands, I find myself fascinated by the show for two reasons.

First, on a level of pure entertainment, Game of Thrones renders its viewers awash in a captivating deluge of content. Most of the story arcs, which are plentiful to say the least, are intriguing, and more importantly, almost all seem to hint at great future. That being said, the uniquely great thing about GoT’s story arcs is that if you’re a viewer who is not terribly concerned with the names and geographic location of every character, not much is lost in terms of entertainment.

Second, if you are a person who looks forward to reading GoT recaps and the comment sections of reddit. com on Monday, the second layer of entertaining speculation and well articulated conversation that Thrones promulgates transcends the Sunday night experience. Now, for me and fellow TV nerds, Thrones is a gratifying every day of the week affair.

Particularly interesting is the culture of criticism and meta-criticism that surrounds Thrones. The GoT world is on a larger scale than True Detective when it comes to microcosm, and this provides television critics with a richer pastiche from which they can paint their own perspective of the show. In 2014, one critic can easily comment on an opposing or supporting point made by a different critic. For instance, in his recap of Episode 4 last week, Grantland’s Andy Greenwald attempted to tackle his conflicting feelings on a controversial rape scene. In doing so, he linked AV Club’s Sonia Saraiya’s recap of the same episode. Whereas Greenwald’s reaction was of confliction, Saraiya’s reaction was of anger towards the show’s show runners.

What happens next is called meta-criticism. Suddenly, writers are starting to review the way people review shows watched by both parties.

Usually, professional critics nod to their peers in order to create a larger critical narrative about the show; comment board messengers, on the other hand, are hidden behind the veil of anonymity and tend to be overtly critical of the critics by poking holes in theories and analysis’.

Can this culture get annoying?

Yes. Does it add valuable perspective? Yes. The key to enjoying criticism and meta-criticism as it pertains to enjoying Game of Thrones hinges on ones ability to wade through negativity for negativity’s sake. Multiple perspectives allow us to see our culture through a variety of lenses.

“America runs on Dunkin” is one of the most popular slogans in the country these days. It is easy to see why, as according to LiveScience.com, over 50 percent of Americans over the age of 18 drink at least one cup of coffee a day.

It is even more prevalent among college students. According to the National Coffee Association, 40 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 24 drink coffee, and I am a proud member of that club.

Coffee has helped me to get through my days, to manage my schedule and to stay on top of, well, most things. As my advisor, Dr. Beth Knobel, associate professor in the communications department, jokes with me often: “you are one of my students who does not sleep.”

I am a proud caffeine addict, one who cannot go a day without coffee without dealing with an insufferable headache. The Fordham Ram actually began the addiction way back during my freshman year when I would stay in the office editing pages until 3 a.m., return home, “go to sleep” and then get up to intern the next morning at 6 a.m. I began consuming about four cups a day to function, which is similar to my current intake as my schedule is a bit reversed. Now my 3 a.m. alarm for my internship requires a bare minimum of two

Page 15

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SAMUEL JOSEPH/THE RAM

cups before 7 a.m. to start my day.

However, I would not change a minute of it because I have to say coffee is delicious. First, there are the flavors. My personal favorite is French vanilla in its many shapes and forms, especially from Dunkin’. There are an infinite number to try from, including traditional ones such as hazelnut and caramel or the more adventurous flavors, such as mocha or blueberry. Then there is always the choice between the hot and iced, which depends on the day. From spring to fall, iced runs king, while in the winter there is nothing bet-

ter than waking up to a fresh mug of steaming coffee to drink while getting ready.

There is also the social aspect.

It is the simplest meeting place for friends, a date or your boss.

Going down to grab coffee at the local Starbucks or café is a daily routine for co-workers or the best place to meet someone to talk.

There is no need to worry about meeting someone at a bar and getting too drunk — there is coffee instead. To me, it is the perfect social environment. There is low background noise that creates a hum in the environment which is

perfect for intimate conversation or even studying. Back in the days of Empire State Café at Fordham, there was no better place to study especially with an iced coffee in hand.

People argue that caffeine and its addictive powers can be problematic, but I think that for young adults, it is a necessity. For students, it is a great way to prevent the embarrassment of nodding off in class and it allows us to be able to juggle internships, school and extracurricular activities with ease…unless that is just the caffeine talking.

Flava’s ‘Fame’ Brings Audience ‘Fortune’

By JOE VITALE MANAGING EDITOR

On a Saturday night in April, hundreds of students packed Leonard Theater to watch Fordham Flava grace the community with its annual Spring Showcase.

The two and a half hour show, was the culmination of the group’s preparation throughout the semester. The theme of Flava’s performance, “Fame & Fortune,” allowed the group to showcase a little bit of everything.

The group dedicated time not only to developing the event, but also creating a memorable marketing campaign, featuring an intersection of social media and the arts. In the group’s program, for example, each member tweeted a personal bio, incorporating hashtags. The event’s schedule was in the format of a Facebook timeline and other social media sites (This was partly in the hands of Zachary Vaughn, GSB’ 15, who handled much of the group’s marketing).

Flava, formed in 2004, is composed of 21 dancers. Ranging across class year and major, Flava boasts a wide array of talent. The dancers find the performance group a rewarding way to express their creativity.

“I was fortunate enough to join Flava second semester, and dancing with people who are passionate about the art of dance, dedicated, creative, welcoming and hilariously dysfunctional, has made my freshman year more than I could have ever imagined,” Taylor Branson,

JOSHUA KIM/ THE RAM

Fordham Flava rocks the stage, dancing to various songs by today’s popular artists, such as Kanye West

FCRH ’17, said.

Members commit several hours to performing, and sometimes feel like their hard work goes unnoticed. Other students agree.

“I think that with all the attention given to the athletic teams on campus, performance groups often get overlooked. I, for one, did not realize how much time and effort Flava and other performance groups on campus put into preparing for performances,” Kelsey Bourke, FCRH ’17, said. ”After seeing first-hand how much work it takes to get a show together on campus, I definitely think that Flava and other performance groups at Fordham deserve much more recognition.”

As for the performance itself, the night ran wild with hard-hitting beats and energetic choreography.

Four diverse mixes carried the night, many of which featured hiphop songs, as well as more soulful, R&B-inspired beats. Industrial and trap influences also found their way into the mixes, giving Flava a wide-ranging choice of costumes for the showcase.

The initial mix, set under pink and purple hued lights, featured an ensemble adorned in all-white clothing. Dancers skipped and stepped, until two of the dancers found themselves in the spotlight.

In the brief scene, a bright-eyed girl stumbled upon one of the male

dancers and flirted with him, forcing him to look over his shoulder.

The mix ends with the girl whispering in her partner’s ear, and then the male and female dancers locked eyes. It served as climactic ending to a swaggering performance tuned to Kendrick Lamar’s “Backseat Freestyle” and Kanye West’s “Black Skinhead,” as well as a precursor to the mixes to follow.

The second mix transitions to a set that showed off the entire group. With cheers from fans, the group, costumed all in black, moved blissfully onto the stage, opening with Beyoncé’s “Partition.” The six-minute set closed SEE FLAVA, PAGE 16

CULTURE

Page 16

April 30, 2014

NBC Page Program Welcomes Two Rams

By VICTORIA BORKOWSKI STAFF WRITER

The NBC Page Program offers arguably one of the most desired entry-level positions in the world of media. The goal is to foster the growth and talent of young, aspiring media-lovers. The Page Program is a demanding program that often leads to bigger at better things at NBC. Little did I know that Daniela Pierre-Bravo, an actual NBC page I had once witnessed on the “TODAY Show” and “30 Rock,” would be greeting me.

According to Pierre-Bravo, “After those two internships I became more confident in my avenue to go into media, and so I applied for the page program that following semester.”

Fordham students Emily Pandise, FCRH ‘14, and Celia Anisovich, FCRH ‘14, have just succeeded in securing page positions after a daunting interview process just like Pierre-Bravo’s.

Pandise stresses her love for storytelling, which since high school have led to an interest in television production. Once a treasurer at her high school’s station WYHA, Pandise made the transition into producing both Fordham Nightly News in college and later, Fordham Mornings in the spring of 2012. What started as strong campus media involvement turned

into an official NBC internship in January of 2013 with “Weekend Today” and “Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” the following fall of her senior year.

So what does the process of actually becoming a page really look like?

It is not exactly the simplest of processes. Following an initial phone interview comes a panel interview, which is then followed by a one-onone interview with some high-level NBC executives. Then there is the final creative presentation. Prospective pages have to use their creative juices to put together a presentation about their life using just one prop.

For Pandise, her creativity comes from her love of theater, yet she argues that television brings both the art of telling a story and entertaining audiences to a whole new level. “I’ve always thought of myself as a storyteller. There’s something really special about the way that people connect with TV as opposed to other mediums,” she said.

“Those mediums are not in your living room the same way TV is and I feel like people really connect with characters over really long periods of time,” says Pandise. She refers to the TV show “Friends” as an example of this. “You get attached to those people they’re in your home with you, every week for ten whole years! There’s something special about that, and I think that there’s something special about how NBC does that too.”

Fordham Flava: Famous and Fortunate FROM FLAVA, PAGE 15

with Justin Timberlake’s “Strawberry Bubblegum,” a sugary pop and soul track. The dancers moved off-stage, then back on, and seemed to multiply by the second, creating a mesmerizing sequence of movement on the stage.

“We are larger, more beautiful versions of ourself through our mutual love for dance and one another,” Branson said.

The third mix, which incorporated an urban flair, featured the crew’s swift and sexy moves accompanied by Jason Derulo’s ubiquitous “Talk Dirty.” In this mix, ‘90s fashion abounded. The dancers wore plaid shirts wrapped around their waists.

The mix ends with all the group’s females standing with their fists in the air.

The fourth set of the show was perhaps the most subdued. An eclectic blend of moves and tunes abounded, as the dancers strutted slowly but sharply around stage. The show closed with an arrangement to Kanye’s “Good Life.” While the song faded, the applause only grew louder as the group took their bows.

Looking forward, the group will be losing four seniors this year, but are eager for the growth that will ultimately come of the changes.

“The team dynamic is unique every year. The shoes of our older members will never be filled. Instead, the number of shoes simply grows,” Branson said. “And the colors are increasingly more vibrant.”

Rosemary Derocher

“Be Still”

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

NBC boasts a competitive page program for college students.

Aniskovich took a similar approach at her presentation as she also found it important to tell her own story, in a very appropriate “newsy” fashion, in the form of a traditional news rundown. Aniskovich is no stranger to the world of media as her experiences with the industry trace back to her elementary school days in Branford, CT, and not to mention eight internships, including “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”

As with any great success story, the moment of finding out you were accepted into the program is a crowd-pleaser to say the least.

Pandise describes the moment she received word of the coveted missed call from 30 Rock.

“My roommate was home, and she was in the middle of writing a paper. It was her busiest day ever and I’m like ‘Becky, I need you

Summer 1: May 20–June 27

to hold my hand as I listen to this voicemail!’ ...I still have the voicemail saved, and they told me I got it, and I immediately started crying. Like, big, ugly cartoon tears like boop boop boop out of the corners of my eyes.”

So, what is to come for Pandise and Aniskovich? Where will the Rams head first?

Perhaps they’ll be on assignment at Saturday Night Live, as Pierre-Bravo once was, or maybe they’ll be in charge of assimilating NBC interns into the crazy world of politics-meets-media at Studio 3A. What is certain is that while the page program is not the end all be all for careers in media, as Pandise puts it, it provides an immersive learning experience for those interested in pursuing a career in media.

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Lately, with the sun out and very few jackets in sight, I’ve been binging pretty regularly on my “SPRING” playlist. It is filled with all the catchiest, most upbeat songs I know — perfect for walking around campus when the weather is so nice that you can hardly believe you are willing to go to class. There are a number of songs on that playlist that are catchy and interesting, and that I considered for this column.

In the end, though, I went with one that has gotten me through so many of the cloudy days and late nights at Club Lib: The Killers’ “Be Still,” one of the calmest songs I have ever heard. It has been very valuable to me as of late, and I am sure that it will continue to be so in the next couple weeks as I dive back into the real world after Spring Weekend.

“Be Still” is a moment of pure musical encouragement. It is a place to rest your head when everything is going on at once, and the song reflects this musically through its simplicity. The music’s tone is gentle, the tempo is standard and the chords are solid but not innovative.

Logically, this seems to build to a rather boring song that deserves no recognition. The Killers somehow pull it off expertly, creating a feeling of comfort that causes you (or at least me) to stop for a moment and take a deep breath.

Lead singer Brandon Flowers’ vocals on “Be Still” also play a very important part in building this calm atmosphere. Aside from the objectively pleasant delivery, the lyrics manage to be patiently encouraging without coddling. The song opens with “Be still / And go on to bed,” but it doesn’t suggest that you should simply stay there. Even though being in bed is generally tempting and comfy, and admittedly necessary, you need to eventually roll over and get back to work. Flowers reminds you not only to give yourself a break sometimes, but that there are things to be done.

As he sings “Rise up like the sun,” you realize that you may not exactly rise out of bed with brightness and enthusiasm, but you sometimes just need to do what you need to do.

“Be Still” also carries a different kind of encouragement, though — it is a kind that is less matter-of-fact and almost a little more personal.

“Don’t break character,” the line goes, because “you’ve got a lot of heart.” This seems like a very simple thing to say, almost generic. It is a reminder, however, of one of the toughest things about dealing with something difficult — be it a lot of work, a tough situation or that one day of the week where the sun will not come out and somehow you cannot deal with that.

Whatever you do, you have to try to be you. Snickers has been reminding you for the last few years that you are not yourself when you’re hungry, and The Killers remind you that it can be hard to be yourself when you are overwhelmed. It is often, however, the thing that will help the most. No matter what, take a breath first. Things are going to be just fine.

April 30, 2014

CULTURE

WHO’S THAT KID?

By NICOLE HORTON CULTURE EDITOR

Whether she is traveling around the world, writing or exploring New York City, Claire Mullen, FCRH ’16, has had a broad range of experiences.

Mullen, a Chicago native, took a year off after high school before coming to Fordham. She traveled and backpacked for eight months, mostly through Southeast Asia. She visited Japan, China, Vietnam and Cambodia. She also traveled to Peru and Puerto Rico. Mullen took particular note of the unique culture of each country she visited.

“In Vietnam everyone was very conservative [in regards to mannerisms and clothing],” said Mullen. “In Cambodia, everyone was very laid back in the cities and beaches. I really loved the pace. I went to Sa Pa in north Vietnam where I stayed with a family and went hiking across the countryside. They were so poor, but they were the happiest people I’ve ever met, which really affected me.

I didn’t feel bad for these people in poverty, because they found comfort in their farm life that I can’t really comprehend in my life in America.”

Mullen enjoyed the music in Vietnam, especially the French and Vietnamese DJ Onra. He blends Vietnamese pop music and hip-hop music together to create his sound.

In regards to food, she tried a variety of regional delicacies, such as tarantula, ants, cricket and snake. “The best food was in Cambodia. They had their own sauce and put coconut curry in everything.”

COURTESY OF CLAIRE MULLEN

Claire Mullen, FCRH ‘16, traveled to Vietnam in 2011 while on a gap year.

For anyone looking to travel, Mullen would tell you not to let the language barrier hold you back. “In China, they were learning English and were interested in practicing with Americans,” said Mullen. “Also, I had language books and apps. Of course, it’s a disadvantage, but it shouldn’t inhibit you from traveling.”

While in Southeast Asia, Mullen was surprised at how locals were often taken aback by her pale skin, blue eyes and blonde hair. “People wanted to take pictures with me. Once a Vietnamese woman came up to me and said that my skin was so beautiful and white.”

This awe toward white skin, which lead to the popularization of BB cream in Asia, upset her. “It makes you realize how easy you can give into preconceived ideas of beauty,

like tanned skin in America. I always wished I was tanner here.”

Mullen does not believe that her travels have been life-changing.

While reflecting on her experiences prior to attending Fordham, she said, “There are subtle changes only that I would notice. I didn’t have to leave America to find out there’s poverty.”

Growing up in a house with four rowdy kids, Mullen found and developed her own voice, which has impacted her style as a writer. Back home in Chicago, Mullen saw a huge divide between poverty and working class in the South Side.

“My mom was adamant about driving to Cabrini Green in a Volvo,” said Mullen. “She would go to Target and pick up clothes and food and drop stuff off there. She always wanted to expose me to that and not to

take anything for granted. She didn’t want us to be spoiled.”

This year, Mullen had a first person narrative featured on “Thought Catalog” about her experiences as a nanny while home in Chicago.

“For my “Thought Catalog” piece, in retrospect it was funny but nannying was hell. I hated it,” said Mullen.

“I think it’s important to be self-deprecating and have a sense of humor, so you can look back and laugh.”

Although Mullen is always jotting down her ideas, she plans to become more serious about her writing and hopes to one day be published. She stresses the importance of everyday moments and conversations in her writing.

“I write funny things down in my phone so I won’t forget thoughts or memories. People say, genius, funny things and not even realize it,” she said.

Mullen has worked on cultivating her writing style and found professors who served as a support system.

“This year my professor Kim Kupperman pushed me to go to writing events, like poetry readings. I read out loud for an audience, which I’ve never done before. I explored this whole writing subculture that I never knew existed before.”

Going into junior year, Mullen has many more things she would like to experience. She said, in addition to studying abroad in London, “I’d like to write for a school publication and create a project for Campus Movie Fest. I’d like to go to more professional and college baseball games too.”

City Culture, Without the Cost

By AMANDA GIGLIO ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

Fordham is our school. New York is our campus. However, the fun in the city does not need to stop once the school year is over. New York City has things to do all year round, but the best and most affordable time to be in the city is during the summer. With free concerts, food festivals and craft shows, Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs have cheap and fun activities every weekend.

If you are a student who is staying in New York over the summer or are planning to visit the city for vacation, here are some of the most interesting summer events.

Every Saturday through Sept. 27, Brooklyn, N.Y. has its unique food festival called Smorgasburg. On the waterfront of Williamsburg, in East River State Park, food vendors from N.Y.C. and the surrounding regions come together to share packaged and prepared foods and food-related items. The festival is free and is usually from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

During this time of year, Brooklyn, N.Y. is also known for its flea markets.

Through Nov. 23, multiple venues in Brooklyn hold flea markets showcasing local artists’ work as well as crafts and clothing. The Brooklyn flea market is in Fort Green on Saturday and in Williamsburg on Sunday.

In Manhattan, N.Y. each Saturday afternoon, the Central Park Dance Skater Association holds a free Central Park skate circle. You can rent roller skates or bring your own for a day full of music, skating and barbe-

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Central Park hosts free concerts and shows through the summer season.

cues.

Starting in Union Square this weekend, and throughout the rest of the summer, the Union Square Partnership and Big Onion Walking Tours will be having free 90-minute tours around New York’s Gramercy and Flatiron district. The Union Square: Crossroads of New York tour gives a history of the surrounding neighborhoods and takes place on Saturdays at 2 p.m.

Not only are there events happening weekly throughout the season, but there are also parties and parades that take place throughout June and July. For those interested in museums, some of the most renowned institutions are opening their doors to the public for free on June 10 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. This event is the Museum Mile Festival, a walk down 5th Avenue with amazing exhibits open. To see specific exhibits, try to get there earlier and plan out your evening ahead of time.

Another museum that is celebrating the season is the Museum of Natural History. On May 16 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., the museum is hosting One Step Beyond, an ongoing party series in the Rose Center for Earth and Space. This includes DJs, dancing and a multimedia presentation.

Tickets come with a free pass to the museum for future use.

Parades are fun and affordable activites. For those who are new to the area, Coney Island is a fun way to go to the beach while staying in the city.

On June 21 at 1 p.m., Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade will be taking place down Surf Avenue and the boardwalk, showcasing art and music.

New York City’s Pride March is an exciting experience as well. Starting at 12 p.m. on June 29, the parade begins on Fifth Avenue and 36th Street and heads down into Greenwich Village. There are elaborate costumes and floats, and social and political organizations come to support LGBT

rights.

While parades and flea markets are always fun to do for a spontaneous outing, the real events in New York City involve free (or fairly lowpriced) concerts. The Governor’s Ball Music Festival is coming up in the beginning of June, and if you are lucky enough to have a ticket you are in for a great couple of days of music and dancing. But, if you are one of those not-so-lucky students (myself included), you should look into the other concert choices for over the summer.

In Madison Square Park, near the Flatiron district, there is a Big Apple Barbecue Block Party taking place June 7 and 8. The event is free and offers music and food.

On June 14, the Chelsea Music Festival is hosting at various venues with all types of music, including classical, opera, chamber and postclassical.

For continuous concerts throughout the summer, do not forget the Central Park SummerStage from June 29 through August 30. Central Park is full of concerts all over and, even if you cannot get a ticket beforehand, the acoustics can reach most of the park. Also, Good Morning America and The Today Show always have morning concerts. As long as you get there early enough, you will be able to get a seat to some of the best performances of the summer.

So, whether you are staying on campus or planning a trip back to New York for the summer, try to get as much out of the city as you can.

For more information go to www. timeout.com/newyork.

Page 17

ask ♥ emma Dear Emma, I’m about to graduate and I’m starting to panic. There’s a boy I met in my freshman orientation group that became my best friend.

We were best friends all throughout college, and we always joked about dating and getting married one day.

We both dated other people over the years, but we’re both single now and he hasn’t brought up dating at all. I wouldn’t be panicking if we were going to the same place after college. I’m living in New York, and he has a job in Boston. I’m starting to realize my feelings for him now that we’re leaving, and I’m nervous that if I don’t say anything I’ll miss my chance completely. But, I also don’t want to lose him as a friend if he doesn’t feel the same way. What should I do?

Friend-zone Dear Friend-zone, Some of the best relationships come from friendships. If you can see yourself seriously being with this guy, you should definitely bring it up to him. If you were to just let him go, you could easily regret it years later. Before you bring it up, you should be sure about your feelings for him. Situations like this are really tricky because you could easily lose him as a friend. Looking at the big picture, you should definitely say something. If you’re nervous, maybe get a friend that you trust to suggest to him that he should ask you on a date, so that if he doesn’t want to, it doesn’t look like it came from you and it won’t ruin the friendship. In the worst case scenario, at least you tried.

Emma

Dear Emma, My ex-girlfriend and I broke up two weeks ago. She ended things with me, but now she’s been texting me. She’ll text me when she’s out late at night, which I understand is probably when she’s feeling most lonely. But, she’s not saying she wants to get back together or anything; she’s texting me pointless things. When she’s drunk she’ll say she misses me, but then she’ll deny it the next day. Sometimes I don’t answer, or I’ll answer with one word, but she’s not getting it. How can I make her stop without being mean?

Nice Guy Dear Nice Guy, Since she ended things with you, she has no right to be texting you those things. She should be giving you space unless she has something important to say. The next time she texts you, just ask her to stop. Tell her that if she has something important to say she can text you about it, but other than that you don’t want to hear from her anymore. It’s disrespectful and inconsiderate. If she doesn’t get it after that, you should either block her number or be firm.

You deserve better.

Emma

To ask Emma questions at fordhamramaskemma@gmail.com

CULTURE

April 30, 2014

Shakira

By VICTORIA BORKOWSKI STAFF WRITER

The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer’s new album may be entitled Shakira, but do not expect to hear the same signature Latin sound we have come to expect from her. The singer’s breathy, exotic vocals mixed with fresh rock, techno and reggae beats serve up a Shakira no one saw coming. After

Page 18

Ram Reviews

“Faking It”

track features pretty powerful lyrics as well as a unique, vintage sounding mix of percussion instruments.

“Cut me Deep” adds to the previous song’s bitter, lamenting storyline, but do not shy away if you are looking for something more upbeat; this song is the ultimate rock ‘n’ reggae track out there right now. It even features a trumpet in its grand finale, giving it an

SCOTT GRIES/ AP IMAGES

By BRIDGET DARCEY COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

four years of work on tour and in the studio, Shakira is back.

Shakira’s first track, “Dale (La La La),” opens the album with a Brazilian-esque, ethnic dance track that even includes an upbeat techno beat as the anchor for the loud, chanted chorus.

You may recall “Can’t Remember to Forget You” as Shakira’s first single from the brand new album. The fact that it features Rihanna with a reggae and rock accompaniment makes it a perfect “island punk” hit.

“Empire” was Shakira’s second single and instant hit off the new album.

A soft piano echoes behind the intensifying rock ballad from the very beginning and meets with strings in the chorus, making the entire song seem like it belongs in a movie soundtrack.

Shakira’s vocals do not disappoint either, as she shows off her range well with a very personal, sensitive tone.

The first time I heard “You Don’t Care about Me” I was immediately reminded of the song “Cosy in the Rocket” by Psapp (also known as the “Grey’s Anatomy” theme song). The

urban sound.

Here is where the album’s energetic yet emotionally epic tracks transform into more personal, happier songs about love, and specifically Shakira’s new relationship with her boyfriend Gerard Pique.

“Medicine,” featuring Blake Shelton, leads the transformation. Naturally the song has a country twang, which is a musical landscape Shakira has hardly ever visited before.

Shakira expresses her love for the then 23-year-old Gerard in “23.” Her lyrics are personal to say the least, and she happily scats throughout the chorus, almost as if to remind listeners what it feels like to fall in love for the first time. What is even more adorable is her son Milan’s laugh featured at the end of the track.

Shakira’s newest album is well worth the listen. In fact, take it home with you once finals come to an end.

Roll down the windows in your car, sit back on the beach or grab a friend to dance. This album could possibly be the soundtrack to your long-awaited summer of 2014.

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

MTV’s “Faking It” shatters convention as Karma (Katie Stevens, “American Idol”) and Amy (Rita Volk, The Hungover Games) take drastic, uncommon measures in order to fit in at their progressive high school in Austin, Texas. The teenage comedy follows the two best friends as they are mistakenly identified as lesbians, which catapults them higher into the school’s hierarchy.

“Faking It” begins with a phone call between Karma and Amy, during which Karma reveals her latest scheme to pretend to be blind from a sudden brain tumor in order to achieve popularity from her classmates. “In this school, you have to stand out to fit in,” Karma explains. From this scheme alone, it is clear that Karma is desperate to break into the popularity ring of her high school. Amy, on the other hand, is content with who she is and where she stands amongst her peers, but placates Karma’s burn-

ing desire to be popular. Watching the exchange between Karma and Amy, there is a sense of reliability and familiarity that is relevant to the audience. Obviously, Karma’s latest scheme falls through, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Shortly after Karma’s failed attempt to fake her blindness, the popular and openly gay Shane mistakes Karma and Amy as lesbians and inevitably nominates them to become their high school’s homecoming queens. At first, Amy clarifies that they are in fact straight, but Karma wants to go a different route and continue with the facade in order to ensure admission into the popular crowd.

While the overarching storyline is one worth watching, the smaller storylines within the show make it much more enticing.

Initially, it is slightly worrisome that the show attempts to make a person’s sexual orientation just a trend that can be adopted or shed at the drop of a hat, but at the end

of the episode there is a redeemable foreshadowing. After sharing a kiss to prove their fake romantic relationship, one of the girls seems to realize that she may not be pretending to have feelings for her friend.

Furthermore, the progressive and accepting environment that exists within the high school is a breath of fresh air from the typical high school dynamics that are usually portrayed on the small screen. The inclusive nature of the student body will hopefully resonate with teenager viewers and make them feel that being different or unconventional is OK and worth celebrating.

Show creators Dana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov could potentially have an incredibly successful show on their hands that delivers a different kind of message to its millennial audience on acceptance not only from others but also of yourself.

Even within these deeper messages, however, the dialogue remains quick and witty, creating an overall enjoyable show.

114th Auto Show Rolls into Javitz Center

By KARA SCAGLIOLA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Last week, the Jacob Javits Center hosted the 114th New York International Auto Show, putting on a display of concept and production cars that kept even those who were not car experts in wonder as they journeyed through the huge complex.

The Javits Center, located on Manhattan, N.Y.’s West Side just next to the Hudson River, is an impressive, even overwhelming venue in a city that is very condensed. The fact that they fit nearly 200 cars into a building in the middle of New York City is quite an amazing feat.

While the uber-luxury cars, including Bentleys, Rolls Royces, Lamborghinis and Bugattis, remained behind glass encase-

COURTESY OF FLICKR

ments, not allowing the general public near them, there were still plenty of amazing vehicles to see.

While it is too difficult to name the single car that was my favorite, I have managed to pinpoint a few that stood out.

The 2015 BMW M3 sports sedan made its New York debut,

and the hoards of loyal BMW Motorsport fans surrounding the car spoke volumes about the hype this legendary model generates.

It packs a high-tech 425-horse power turbocharged six-cylinder that is both more powerful and more fuel-efficient than the traditional eight-cylinder in the outgo-

ing model. These significant improvements hint at the amount of research and development that go into groundbreaking sports cars.

While it is nice to fantasize about driving cars of such a high caliber, the auto show also displayed plenty of cars that are more in the realm of possibility for somebody like myself, who is about to graduate college and may not be able to spend over $100 thousand on a car right away. The most attractive of these was the first-ever Audi A3 sedan, a sporty four-door the size of a Honda Civic with the luxury and craftsmanship, for which the German automaker is known. The Audi A3’s suggested retail price starts at $29,900.

The show also showed off many types of electric and hybrid

TO READ THESE REVIEWS ONLINE, VISIT FORDHAMRA M.COM

vehicles.

The Javits Center even housed a small test track where attendees could test drive the new BMW electric cars, which are bringing luxury to the usually unappealing super-compact class.

Finally, one of the most impressive cars was the 2015 Corvette, all new for its seventh generation.

The iconic American sports car has been completely redesigned from the ground up, bringing its aesthetics to a new level and delivering world class performance at a tremendous value versus its European competitors.

The New York International Auto Show was an impressive event, both in quality and quantity, and is certainly an event that car enthusiasts and novices alike could enjoy.

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April 30, 2014

e n eds m a ph R o m t a

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Page 20

April 30, 2014

Track Prepares For A-10 Championships

By BRYAN KIEL STAFF WRITER

The track team concluded a busy week this past Sunday with two meets under its belt. As the team prepares itself for the Atlantic 10 Championship next weekend, top finishes at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia and at the Brick City Classic in Newark, N.J. give a hopeful indication of what is to come in the championship meets over the next few weeks. Strong performances from David Fajoyomi and the men’s and women’s 4x800 team were the highlights of the competition in Philadelphia, while five Rams took first in their respective events in Newark, N.J. Thousands of athletes from over 60 countries competed at the 120th installment of the Penn Relays last week at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. Fordham competed in the collegiate level, and many Rams posted season-best times. Junior Kristen Stuart posted the first time in the 400 meter hurdles, placing 26th with a time of 1:01.82. Junior Jonathan Annelli posted a PR of 9:10.82 in the 3000 meter steeplechase, good for 15th overall. Seniors Titi Fagade, Averie Sheppard, Stuart and sophomore Danielle Rowe competed in the 4x400 relay.

The team won its heat with a time of 3:52.39, but placed 44th overall and was knocked out of competition.

On Saturday, Fordham competed in three championship competitions. The 4x800 men’s relay team, comprised of freshman Devin Rocks as well as juniors Lester Taylor, Jonathan Annelli and Daniel Green, took 19th overall with a time of 7:43.34. The 4x800 women’s team did even better, taking home sixth place with a time of 8:50.90. Fordham featured Fagade, Staurt and juniors Melissa Higgins and Mara Lieberman in the race against some of the top schools in the country including Villanova, Oregon, Tennessee, Georgetown and Princeton. The final competitor was senior David Fajoyomi, whose height of 7’1 ¼” was fourth overall.

Fajoyomi’s jump just missed the school record by ¼ of an inch, set by Barry Cantrell in 1996.

“It’s always a great opportunity to get to run in the fast heat with some of the fastest half-milers in the country,” said Higgins. “We finished sixth, better than last year, but we are hoping and focusing on get-

ting even faster times.”

Sunday’s meet in Newark featured the rest of the squad in a smaller competition hosted by New Jersey Institute of Technology.

The meet featured many of Fordham’s throwers, including three out of their five wins in field events.

Junior Pat McGuire won the hammer throw with a season-best mark of 38.7 m, edging out fellow junior Austin Ruiz by a little over one meter. Freshman Nicholas Regan won the javelin throw with a distance of 56.68 m and Ruiz won the shot put with a mark of 15.13 m. Freshman Hailey took second in the hammer throw with a distance of 34.74 m and second in the discus with a distance of 31.50 m.

Both the men’s and women’s 4x800 relay teams won their races, with times of 8:15.71 and 9:39.89, respectively. Fordham also had a plethora of second place finishers, including the 4x100 relay team with a time of 52.49. Senior Christina Vivinetto led a pack of Fordham runners for second place in the women’s 1500 m with a time of 4:50.60, while senior Joe Hartnett came in second with a time of 4:07.74, just .2 seconds behind Zakaria Fouad of NJIT. Other Fordham runners who came in second place include junior Elise Tigani in the 400 m dash and senior Brian Walter in the 800 m with a time of 1:58.90.

The rest of the season looks bright for Fordham. As Fordham suits up for A-10s this weekend at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, many Rams have still other competitions coming up.

“I am definitely looking to have some season best times,” Stuart said. “The competition is always fierce at these meets, but I’m hoping to run fast and hopefully have some top place finishes.”

“We have a couple of girls still hoping to qualify for regionals, and who will head to UVA for a last chance meet the weekend after A10s,” said Higgins. “Then comes ECAC/IC4As, where the 4x800 will fight to defend our title as ECAC champs, and hopefully break the ECAC record.”

Although graduation looms for some members of the track team, their Fordham career might not be over just yet. With some top times and qualifications, Fordham may just have a presence in Eugene, Ore., the site of this year’s NCAA national championship in June.

SPORTS

Page 21

Varsity Scores & Stats Baseball Fordham 5 Columbia 7 (FOR) T. Swatek 3-5, 3 RBI (CU) J. Falcone 1-3, 2 RBI

Softball Fordham 11 La Salle 2 (FOR) K. Lombardo 4 RBI (LAS) A. Aughton 1-2, 2 RBI

Men’s Track Penn Relays

Massachusetts 5 Fordham 10 (MU) B. Walsh 3-3, 2 RBI (FOR) J. C. Porter 1.2 IP, 0 H

Fordham 8 La Salle 2 (FOR) E. Fortier 2 HR, 7 RBI (LAS) C. Bascara 2-3, RBI

Brick City Classic

Massachusetts 3 Fordham 5 (MU) R. McCunney 2 RBI (FOR) T. Caputo 2-4, 2 RBI

Women’s Tennis Fordham Rhode Island

Women’s Track Penn Relays

Massachusetts 4 Fordham 1 (MU) A. Grant 9 IP, 1R, 9 K (FOR) M. Cianci 1-4, RBI

4 0

Fordham VCU

0 4

3000 m steeplechase J. Annelli 15th- 9:10.82

Hammer Throw P. McGuire 1st- 129’4”

400 m hurdles K. Stuart 26th- 1:01.82 Brick City Classic

Golf A-10 Championship

9th

Hammer Throw H. Serrano 2nd- 120’8”

Athletes of the Week Each week, The Fordham Ram’s Sports editors honor one male athlete and one female athlete for their on-field performances as their “Athletes of the Week.”

Jonathan Annelli

Rachel Gillen

Junior

Junior

Track and Field

Softball

Annelli finished 15th in the 3000 meter steeplechase at Penn Relays with a time of 9:10.82. He was also part of the 4x800 meter relay that came in 19th with a time of 7:43.34.

Gillen was Atlantic 10 Co-Pitcher of the Week. She pitched her first collegiate no-hitter against St. Bonaventure on Tuesday. She also won this weekend at La Salle and is 8-3 on the season.

News & Notes • Softball’s Elise Fortier was named Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Week. She bat .444 on the week with four homeruns, 14 RBIs and a 1.778 slugging percentage. Fortier also set her career high in RBIs over the weekend in the second game of a doubleheader against La Salle with seven.

• Softball’s Amy Van Hoven was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week. She hit .714 with seven runs scored and an RBI. Her average on the season is a team best .371 and she leads the A-10 with a .533 in-conference batting average.

• Track and Field’s David Fajoyomi was named Atlantic 10 Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Co-Performer of the Week. He came in fourth in the high jump with a season best height of 7’1”. He was just three quarters of an inch short of breaking the school record set by Barry Cantrell in 1996.

• Fordham football closed out their Spring season on Saturday, April 26. Some of the players who stood out were sophomore running back Kendall Pearcey, junior wide receivers Marcus Jones and Tebucky Jones Jr., junior defensive back Jordan Chapman and sophomore JQ Bowers. The team also received their 2013 NCAA Championship appearance rings on the field during halftime.

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/theram_sports COURTESY OF KERRY SORENSON

Many Fordham runners saw season-best times at the famous Penn Relays.

SPORTS

Page 22

Kearns’ Kickoff The Indiana Pacers are now down 3-2 to the Atlanta Hawks after losing two of three home games.

How could the Pacers, who started the year 46-13 and earned the conference’s top seed, go 12-16 since then?

It has been an epic fall for Indiana, the likes of which may be unequalled in NBA history. The first seeds of doubt were planted in late January, when the Phoenix Suns convincingly beat the Pacers twice in nine days.

The next cause for concern occurred on Feb. 20, when Indiana acquired Evan Turner for Danny Granger. The move was praised at first, as Turner was supposed to be a key bench contributor. However, the absence of Granger’s veteran presence became an issue in early March, when the Pacers lost four straight. By late March, there were visible chemistry issues and serious offensive struggles. All-Stars Paul George and Roy Hibbert struggled to hit double figures in some games, and Hibbert suddenly looked like garbage. To make up for their issues, Brooklyn native Lance Stephenson played more isolation offense, limiting his effectiveness and the success of the bench unit.

By the end of the regular season, many experts wondered if Indiana would even make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. In the playoffs, people were concerned that the Pacers would struggle to score 90 points in games, especially in a potential matchup with Chicago. Yet, nobody doubted that Indiana would defeat the Hawks in round one. Atlanta went just 13-23 to close the regular season after losing center Al Horford to a season-ending injury and barely held off the Knicks for the eighth seed. Against this ragtag Hawks squad, everyone expected Indiana to advance.

None of that mattered in Game 1 though, as the Pacers were stunned by a third-quarter barrage of Hawks’ threes. Indiana again lacked crisp offensive ball movement, and its defense was abused all game long in the 101-93 home defeat. Pacers coach Frank Vogel prides himself on defense and motivated his players to play lockdown defense in Game 2.

For a half, Indiana looked like a title contender again and gained critical momentum.

However, the Pacers played down to the Hawks level in Atlanta and were fortunate to split the two games.

When the series returned to Indiana, most fans expected the Pacers to grind out a /game 3 win. Instead, they self-destructed in the second and early third quarters, getting outscored 60-29 in one 18 minute stretch. In two especially wild minutes, Hawks reserve Mike Scott hit four straight three pointers without facing significant defense on any attempt.

Three months ago, Indiana’s future looked bright with George, Hibbert, Stephenson and Vogel forming a long-term core group, but unless the Pacers make some season-saving adjustments, that core four will likely be split apart. The Pacers are just 48 minutes from a devastating offseason, and they have only themselves to blame.

— Dominic Kearns

April 30, 2014

Women’s Tennis Concludes Season at A-10 Tournament

SAMUEL JOSEPH/THE RAM

Fordham’s women’s tennis team exited the A-10 tournament in the second round for the second consecutive year.

By TARA CANGIALOSI WEB EDITOR

The Fordham University women’s tennis squad saw its season come to an end on Friday, April 25, with a 4-0 loss to top-seeded Virginia Commonwealth University at the 2014 Atlantic 10 Championships at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.

With the loss, the Rams’ spring season record closed at 10-11, a mark that does not demonstrate their high level of play at the season’s end.

For the past two weeks, Fordham peaked in its level of play as a team. Throughout their last five regular season matches, the Rams upended three teams in a row and fell by close margins in their two losses.

The Rams first lost to out-ofconference rival Temple University on April 9 by a score of 5-2.

The team fell short, dropping both completed doubles matches and winning only two of the six singles matches.

Despite losing to the Owls, Fordham came back strong against A-10 opponent University of Rhode Island on April 12, upending the Kingston-based Rams 6-1.

The Rams took two of the three doubles matches and five of the six singles matches. Sarah Ali, Bella Genkina, Angie Dabu, Julie Leong and Destiny Grunin picked up wins at spots two through six.

After the two away matches, the Rams returned home on April 14 for a match against the Long Island University Blackbirds on the Hawthorn/Rooney Courts.

The Rams dominated the court, winning all three doubles and singles matches in sweeping fashion, giving them the 7-0 win.

Although the individual matches themselves were fairly close, the Rams battled back and came out on top each time. Grunin, the freshman, won her match against Brittany Thompson at sixth singles 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) to complete the singles sweep and secure the overall match victory.

Two days later, the Rams traveled to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. to face the Marist Red Foxes in another out-of-conference match.

The team’s momentum from the wins against URI and LIU propelled it to a 6-1 victory, where again, the Rams won all three

doubles matches, and then five of six singles matches. In one of her best-played matches of the season, Leong bounced back from a first set loss at fourth singles, winning the second and third sets by identical 6-0 scores.

In the final regular season match of the year on April 21, the Rams lost to the New York Institute of Technology 5-2 on Fordham’s home courts.

NYIT, the 11th best team in the country at the NCAA Division II level, played an exceptional match against the Division 1 Rams.

The Bears won the doubles point, taking all three matches, and then continued to dominate in the singles competition, winning four of six matches to give them the overall victory.

Although the Rams ended their season on a loss, their previous three wins helped boost them to an eight seed at the Atlantic 10 Championships, with the opening rounds on Thursday, April 24, and the final match on Sunday, April 27.

Going into the tournament, the Rams felt they were well-matched against their opponents in the A-10 and could come out with several solid victories.

In their opening match, the Rams again faced URI, who earned the ninth seed. Similar to their regular season match, the Bronxbased Rams upended the Rams from Kingston, this time taking the match 4-0.

“Winning three matches in a row definitely gave us momentum going into the conference tournament, especially since we drew Rhode Island in the first round,” Dabu said in an email. “We had just played them so we knew what to expect and what to prepare for.”

Fordham first won the doubles point, as it won both completed matches. In first doubles, Elliesa Ball and Ali defeated Nithila Asokaraj and Kathleen Uy, 8-1, while Genkina and Hanna Fritzinger defeated Taylor Holden and Jordan Rucks, 8-4, at third doubles.

Dabu and Leong were ahead of Galina Chernykh and Elizaveta Sadovnikov, 6-4, at second doubles, but play was halted and the match did not count.

The Rams then won the match during singles play, when Genkina beat Sadovnikov 6-1, 6-2 at fourth singles and Leong upended Asokaraj 6-4, 6-3 at the fifth spot. At

third singles, Dabu clinched the match for the Rams, as she was victorious over Uy 6-0, 6-3.

The win sent Fordham into the next round but against the topseeded VCU Rams. The Rams’ second round match was played indoors, due to the inclement weather.

Fordham lost the doubles point, as Fritzinger and Genkina fell to Ludivine Burguiere and Sitilia Rencheli, 8-1, at third doubles, and Leong and Dabu were upended by Salome Kvitashvili and Olga Terteac at second doubles, 8-2.

VCU moved on to the next round when it won the first three completed singles matches. Burguiere defeated Leong 6-0, 6-2 at fifth singles Olga Barscheuskaya bested Genkina at the fourth position, 6-2, 6-1, and Daria Yakauleva clinched the match with her 6-2, 6-2 win over Ali at second singles.

Unfortunately, both Grunin and Dabu were ahead in their matches at sixth and third singles, respectively, when play was halted. This occurred because VCU had already secured the match, and the results would not impact the final overall score.

Although the Rams did not come out of the A-10 Championship with the results they had looked to achieve all season, they should still be proud. Despite the up-and-down nature of the spring season, individual and team play improved as time progressed.

By the season’s end, the Rams were playing as a much more cohesive unit, especially on the doubles front. Their three victories out of the last five regular season matches are a sign of a team on the rise for next year.

After this season, the Rams will lose two seniors in Dabu and Fritzinger, who played on the team all four years.

“The past four years of tennis have definitely been a learning experience for me, and they have helped me grow so much as a person, not just a tennis player,” Dabu said. “I’ll be sure to keep the memories with me and look back on them with a smile on my face.”

The rest of the team is currently composed of five rising seniors, and one rising sophomore. Freshman players will commit to the team in the coming months. The Rams will look to build off of this season’s success, and come back stronger than ever for the fall 2014 season.

Deuce’s Wild With strong, powerful and quite audible words Tuesday, Adam Silver did what was entirely necessary by placing a lifetime ban on Donald Sterling.

With players and well-known fans of the game speaking out against the hateful views of Sterling, this had to be done. With the Clippers feeling shame in their own brand, turning their warmups inside out and negative attention being drawn to the league on a national level, this had to be done.

The reactions to reports leading up to the press conference which stated that Silver would simply suspend Sterling indefinitely show what the Commissioner risked if he had made a conservative ruling such as that one. Countless bloggers and some writers seemed to be outraged. Netw3rk of Grantland tweeted, “If the TMZ report is correct, Silver better turn the microphone up loud enough to make that slap on the wrist really ring out.” TMZ was the news outlet to inaccurately report that punishment.

Silver made what he called a “decision as a human being,” and acted on comments and feelings he said left him in “outrage.”

It shows Commissioner Silver is a transparent and caretaking person in power, who also has an ear to the ground when it comes to what his players want. It was later reported some players were going to boycott an entire day of the playoffs if Sterling wasn’t banned.

More so, it was an absolute display of power that cemented the fact that Adam Silver is commissioner. I’d go as far as to say I think this is the day Silver truly became the commissioner of the NBA. For months we had speculated on how Mr. Silver would run the operation, and we also heard various views he had, such as the one directed toward the age limit in the NBA draft, and wondered what kind of regime would come. With this decision to remove Sterling from the league, we can be assured the league has a competent and unwavering leader, who will not stand by and allow hate or other detrimental views or acts to take place on his watch.

The ban and fine handed down will clear the way for someone new to step in and freshen up a front office that has stunk of corruption in this way for some time. Los Angeles, Doc Rivers, Chris Paul and the rest of the Clippers can put this behind them and continue in their pursuit of a finals berth this year, and many more down the road with a promising core of players.

Further, we can pick up where we left off with the NBA Playoffs, appreciating each night of nailbiting, remote-chucking, oh-mygoshing goodness. The NBA will have little issue bringing positivity back to the league with such a great postseason taking place.

And that all starts with Adam Silver and his ability to see what had to be done. To leave any ounce of speculation on whether or not the league stood, at any level, for racism would have tarnished its name.

— Kenny Ducey

SPORTS

April 30, 2014

Back From the Dead: MSG and College Basketball

By MACK ROSENBERG CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The atmosphere. The fans. The anticipation. The Garden. It was St. John’s versus Georgetown. It was a big time college basketball game in New York City in the early 1980s between the top two teams in the country, and Tom Pecora was there.

“People were offered three or four hundred dollars for the ticket.

It was that big of a game,” says Pecora. “I wasn’t making that much a month.”

The 1980s paled in comparison to today if you are measuring the level of popularity college basketball had in the tri-state area. In fact, some may argue the 80s was the final decade in a slow, painful death of the sport in New York City. At the time, Pecora, now the head basketball coach at Fordham, was coaching high school ball at Long Island Lutheran. He remembers when Madison Square Garden and New York City were college basketball’s crown jewels.

Being a city kid, Pecora attended St. John’s games regularly at Alumni Hall in Queens. “We’d sneak in the back door of Alumni Hall with either old tickets or ushers would give you a wink and let you walk in.

They knew you were a little kid who just wanted to watch basketball.”

It was a time when the NCAA tournament and New York were inseparable.

But as Pecora got older, the idea of going to games at Madison Square Garden (MSG) enticed him, and he caught on with some of the older kids in the neighborhood who could take him there.

“New York was the place to be.

The NCAA realized that,” says Richard Rothschild, a sports history writer for SI.com. “For most of the 1940s, both the NIT and the NCAA tournament were in New York City.”

They realized that only after seeing the success of the NIT, which was the first postseason tournament in college basketball.

It was first played in 1938 at the old Garden. Kids these days probably could not even tell you what NIT stands for, but this was a time when it dominated the sport. One year later, in 1939, came the first NCAA tournament on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. Six or seven thousand people attended. Meanwhile, at the Garden, nearly 20 thousand people attended the NIT. The NCAA got the message, moving its East Regional and Championship games to Manhattan beginning in 1943.

MSG was and still is an alluring place to have a basketball game.

Just ask Cal Ramsey, a small forward who played for NYU from 1955-1959 during an era when the Violets were household names.

“It was very exciting as a young kid growing up in New York and getting a chance to play at Madison Square Garden against top flight teams in the metropolitan area,” reflects Ramsey. “It was very competitive.”

The Garden was magical in its heyday, and the players — Ramsey included — did nothing to take away from the mystique. Kids from cities and small towns from all over the country made the Garden the hottest ticket in college basketball.

And, you could not watch them on television. It was always a big event that you had to see in person.

“The market wasn’t flooded.

Now, with ESPN and all the other networks, you can watch a different college basketball team from anywhere in the country on any given night in your home,” says Pecora. “People would come in and say, for example, ‘Iowa’s coming to play at the Garden. Wow, they have that kid so and so. Let’s go see him.”

Imagine today if a team was invited to participate in the NCAA tournament, and decided instead to play in the NIT. It happened in 1970 when Marquette head coach Al McGuire decided to play in the NIT because the NCAA did not put the Warriors in their preferred region of Dayton, Ohio.

“That was a big deal because it meant all of a sudden he was snubbing the NCAA. It was the last time anyone did that,” says Pecora.

As a result of McGuire’s antics, the NCAA created a new rule saying any team who declined an invitation to the NCAA tournament could not participate in any other post-season tournament. It began a slow but steady end to the dominance of the NIT. Geography, believe it or not, also had a lot to do with coaches like McGuire deciding to ditch the tournament. The Final Four’s stay at the Garden only lasted until 1950, transitioning afterward to places like Kansas City, Mo. and Seattle. For schools on the east coast, why travel thousands of miles to play in a lesser known tournament with only eight teams?

If a team could play in the NIT closer to home in New York City, where its fans see them, it was not going to pass up that opportunity.

“No coach in his right mind today would say ‘we’ll go to the NIT.’ But, back then, a lot of coaches felt it was more fun to go to New York City, because the competition was outstanding,” admits Rothschild.

Also, 1950 was the last year that the NCAA tournament would feature just eight teams. It began expanding in 1951. In the same year, the first of two devastating point shaving scandals swept across the sport. The first made a dent in the sport’s metropolitan reputation.

The second one in 1961 ended it for half a century. Rothschild says the move was predictable, but unforgiving. “You could say it was harsh to stay out of Madison Square Garden for 53 years.”

The gap in between has seen a lot of great games come through the Garden, reminding everyone that the tournament was due to make a comeback appearance in midtown Manhattan for this year’s East Regional Final.

Page 23

By MATT ROSENFELD SPORTS EDITOR

When it comes to discipline, the NCAA is a joke.

We’ve known this for a while now, but when the organization decided to showcase its ignorance and incompetence once again in the saga of Mitch McGary, I felt the need to shed some more light on the situation.

Full disclosure, Mitch McGary is a very important piece of the Michigan basketball team, a team I openly support. He was the breakout star of the 2013 NCAA tournament, where he helped lead the Wolverines to the National Championship game as a freshman.

McGary decided to skip a chance at the NBA to come back for his sophomore season. He was a preseason All-American, projected to be a top 10, if not top five player in the country. Unfortunately for McGary, he suffered a back injury that kept him out for all but eight games of the 2013-2014 season. It was a shame to see a kid that was destined to have a big season, bound for big money in the NBA go down with such a bad injury.

Without their best player, Michigan was able to survive and even thrive. McGary had been out since mid-December, and the Wolverines were winning the Big Ten, one of the toughest conferences in all of college basketball. They were cruising to a two-seed in the 2014 NCAA tournament, led by breakout sophomore Nik Stauskas. McGary was a spectator. His absence was an afterthought for many college basketball fans.

Then, in the middle of March, while hanging out with a few friends, McGary was offered some marijuana.

“I always turned it down,” McGary told Yahoo Sports. “But that night I didn’t.”

That’s not a lie, McGary had passed five drug tests just this year, even though he barely played.

Fast forward to March 28. Michigan is facing Tennessee in the Sweet 16 of the tournament. McGary, who had been sitting with his teammates all season in a full suit, dressed in uniform for the game. It was a motivational tactic, head coach Jim Beilein wanted to amp his team up, and he thought letting McGary suit up and

warm up with the team before the big game might do just that. He was never going to play. Not a chance in the world.

Michigan won that game. After the brief celebration postgame, McGary was told he’d be subjected to a random drug test by the NCAA. You see, during the season, drug tests are usually just administered by the schools. The NCAA gives some, but it’s only for performanceenhancing drugs. If you fail a school test, you’re subject to the school’s punishment. In postseason play, however, the NCAA takes over completely, and they test for any and all drugs.

As you probably guessed, McGary failed the NCAA test. The punishment for testing positive for marijuana the first time is suspension for an entire year. Marijuana, which is legal in two states, gets you a year suspension from NCAA competition.

McGary, who again, had not played for most of the season, was expected to come back to school for his junior year, remind NBA scouts just how great he is, and go pro following the 2014-2015 season.

Well, the NCAA made that decision easy for McGary. He’s officially declared for the NBA draft, projected as a second round pick coming off of his season-ending back injury.

“It’s just with the NCAA and their strict rules, they don’t show any

mercy,” McGary said of his decision.

“They take their things seriously.”

Allow me to point out that the NCAA decides to take seriously what the United States Federal Government seemingly could not care less about. Colorado and Washington are profiting off of marijuana. It will most likely be legal nationally within the next 20 years. In Ann Arbor, Mich. where the University of Michigan is located, a first time offense for possession of marijuana is a $25 fine.

But, the NCAA is forcing Mitch McGary out of college basketball.

To add insult to injury, the NCAA actually changed its policy on first time recreational drug offenses on April 15. It reduced the suspension to just six months. When Michigan and McGary appealed, trying to get McGary’s suspension cut in half, the NCAA promptly denied the request, saying McGary failed under the old rules, so he will serve a year.

Yes, I’m bitter that Michigan is losing a player that could help them make a run to a national championship. But, it’s ridiculous that over a one time recreational drug use, Mitch McGary will be departing the University of Michigan.

We knew the NCAA was out of touch, but this is just one more decision that makes the organization seem archaic in its decision making process, and it needs to change.

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Michigan will have a hole at the post next year, after losing McGary to the NBA.

Upcoming Varsity Schedule Home games in CAPS Baseball

Softball

Thursday May 1

Friday May 2

Saturday May 3

Sunday May 4

LA SALLE 7 p.m.

LA SALLE 4 p.m.

LA SALLE Noon

at Dayton (DH) Noon

BINGHAMTON (DH) 4 p.m.

Women’s Tennis Men’s Tennis Rowing Track & Field

A-10 Championship TBA at Atlantic 10 Championships 9 a.m.

Monday May 5

Tuesday May 6

Wednesday May 7

A-10 Tournament TBA

Sports Rams Clinch A-10 Title, Gillen Throws No-No

April 30, 2014

Page 24

By ANTHONY PUCIK ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

It has been an impressive 22game stretch for Fordham softball.

They won 15 in a row and 21 of those 22 games compiling a 13-1 Atlantic 10 record en route to the A-10 regular season title. This stretch improved Fordham’s record to 33-16 on the season.

Doubleheaders have been the norm for Fordham in the month of April. They faced the University of Rhode Island, Binghamton University, St. Louis University and the University of Massachusetts, sweeping all four doubleheaders.

Their next after these was Tuesday, April 22, at home against A-10 conference rival St. Bonaventure, and it was here junior pitcher Rachel Gillen stole the show. The Bonnies started off the first game with two runs in the top of the third inning off Fordham’s junior ace Michele Daubman. The Rams countered in the bottom of the inning with two sacrifice flies by senior Elise Fortier and junior Paige Ortiz and an RBI single by Gillen to take a 3-2 lead.

Fordham added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run by freshman Sydney Canessa, RBI singles from junior Kayla Lombardo, senior Gabby Luety and Daubman and a Gillen RBI ground out to take an 8-2 lead.

A fielder’s choice RBI for St. Bonaventure’s Ashl Snider cut into the Rams’ lead, but a Luety sacrifice fly brought the lead back to six at 9-3.

The Bonnies would score three runs off reliever Patti Maloney, but it was not enough as Fordham won the first game. Daubman picked up her 14th win of the season (14-9) for

JOSHUA KIM/THE RAM

Fordham swept the A-10 awards this week. Fortier, Gillen and Amy Van Hoven were Player, Pitcher and Rookie of the Week.

the Rams, and the Bonnies’ Carly Bilchak suffered the loss (1-7).

It was during the second game of the twin bill when history would occur. Two home runs each by Fortier and Luety accounted for eight of Fordham’s 12 runs in a 12-0 shutout for starter Rachel Gillen. More impressively, Gillen walked three but did not surrender a hit, making her the 13th pitcher in Fordham history to pitch a no-hitter. Gillen picked up her seventh win of the season (7-3) while Aleix Sloat received the loss for the Bonnies (1-7).

“It’s definitely an awesome moment and something I’ll always

remember,” Gillen said of the nohitter. “We’ve had so many talented pitchers come through our program, and combined with the other three we have on staff now, it’s a crazy thought to know that I’m in such a small group.”

Gillen did not realize she was pitching a no-hitter until very late in the game. “I actually looked up at the scoreboard with two outs in the fifth because I had put a runner on with a walk,” she said. “I glanced up and saw the zeroes and kind of thought ‘Oh wow don’t let up now’ and just trusted Gabby behind the plate and knew the defense was behind me. The offense really explod-

ed in the second game especially.”

For the Delaware native, who had gone through Tommy John surgery, which she called the hardest experience of her life, pitching a no-hitter has an even greater meaning. “I’ve had my ups and downs but the coaches and the team have really stuck with me, so for [the game] to play out the way it did was a really special moment in the whole comeback process,” she said.

Fordham’s next doubleheader was on the road against A-10 opponent La Salle Explorers. In the first game, the Rams got the scoring started when Gillen reached second on an error that allowed two runs

to score, giving Fordham the early 2-0 lead on Explorer starter Alicia Aughton. La Salle tied the game quickly in the bottom of the inning on a two-run home run by Aughton off Daubman. Fordham turned to the long ball in the top of the third when Luety went deep for a threerun home run, giving Fordham the 5-2 advantage.

Fordham added five more in the fourth on a Fortier RBI walk and a Lombardo grand slam, and one in the top of the fifth on an error to earn the 11-2 victory. Daubman earned another win (15-9) and handed Aughton her ninth loss (11-9).

In the second game it was much of the same, as Fordham’s offense dominated the Explorer pitching.

A Daubman RBI single in the top of the second gave Fordham a 1-0 lead. Then a grand slam by Fortier in the top of the third increased the lead to five. The Explorers picked up two off Fordham’s Gillen in the bottom of the fourth on a Christina Bascara home run and an error to make it 5-2. But Fordham would add three more on Fortier’s second home run of the game, this one a three-run blast which gave Fordham the 8-2 advantage and the win.

Gillen went four innings for the win (8-3), Mary Cate Scott picked up the loss for La Salle (7-11) and Maloney’s three shutout innings of relief earned her save number four on the season. This was the win that clinched the A-10 title for Fordham.

Fordham has one more doubleheader in conference on the road against the University of Dayton on Saturday, May 3, before returning to the Bronx for the A-10 tournament as the No. 1 seed on home turf, Bahoshy Field.

Men’s Tennis Finishes Year With 6-16 Record

By JAKE GROGAN STAFF WRITER

The Rams season came to an end in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Championships, as the second seeded and defending conference champion VCU Rams took another step toward defending their title.

The tournament kicked off with a seven-ten match-up, as the seventh seeded St. Bonaventure Bonnies took on the tenth seeded Fordham Rams. An 8-2 win at second doubles for Matty Najfeld and Kuba Kowalski and an 8-5 win at third doubles for J.J. Tauil and Michael Puntillo secured the doubles point for the Rams, resulting in an unfinished first doubles match in which Mischa Koran and Alastair Barnes were up 5-4 in the first set.

The singles competition saw a similar level of domination from the Rams, as they took three of the first four matches played to guarantee a victory. Tauil lost at the third singles spot 6-2, 6-2 to the Bonnies’ Ramazan Nureev to even the match at one point apiece, a tie that would be short lived. Barnes, Max Peara and Najfeld all won in straight sets to give the Rams a 4-3 victory in the tournament’s first round. Mischa Koran and Puntillo were both up

THE RAM ARCHIVES

The tennis team, which will graduate four key players, still hopes for a rebound year next season.

in their sets but did not finish due to the guaranteed victory.

“I think that it was a pretty good conference match,” said Najfeld, when asked about the Rams upset over the Bonnies. “Beating St Bonaventure was a huge motivation boost going in to the match against No. 57 ranked VCU.” The quarterfinals started with

the doubles point going to VCU, after Najfeld and Kowalski fell 8-4 at second doubles and Koran and Barnes lost 8-6 at the first doubles spot, leading to a one point deficit heading in to the singles competition.

The first singles point came easily for VCU, as Kowalski was forced to withdraw from the sixth

singles spot. Point number three came from the third singles spot when Tauil fell to Nick Jones 6-0, 6-1. The match ended when Michal Voscek defeated Koran 6-2, 6-1 at fourth singles, putting Fordham on the wrong end of a 4-1 match score.

“My opponent from VCU beat two players in the University of

Virginia’s starting lineup, whose team is ranked in the top five in the country,” said Najfeld, when asked about his singles opponent.

“In general I’m pretty happy with my performance. Unfortunately we weren’t able to beat VCU.” Najfeld lost his first set 6-4 before ending his second set in a 4-4 tie after the overall results were solidified.

“VCU is a great team as obvious as that is,” Tauil added. “They were really good players overall stroke wise and have many top former junior international players. With that said we did have a lot of guys banged up which in the end always makes a difference so we look froward to playing them again in the future.”

The loss caps what has been a disappointing year for the Rams.

The team finished 6-16 overall, a record not indicative of the talent on the team. The inability to cash in with a talented roster will be costly for Fordham, as they are losing a number of athletes to graduation, including Koran, Kowalski and Najfeld. An influx of talent at the underclass level will be necessary to complement the rising juniors if Fordham wants to attempt to compete in a stacked Atlantic 10 conference next season.