Volume 96 issue 13

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The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 Volume 96, Issue 13

FordhamRam.com F dh R

SSeptember b 17, 2014

Faculty, Administration Remain at Impasse

SAMUEL JOSEPH/THE RAM

Following disputes over their healthcare provider, faculty administration have yet to reach a plan of action.

By MAX PRINZ SPORTS EDITOR

The faculty and administration remain entangled in their negotiations over a new healthcare plan after the Faculty Senate voted this past Friday to reject the administration's latest proposal, 23-0-0. The impasse stems from the administration's decision to choose a

new health care provider without the consent of the Faculty Senate, an action that the faculty believes violates university statutes. John Lordan, senior vice president and the university’s chief financial officer, has been representing the administration in negotiations with the Faculty Senate. At the meeting this past Friday, the Faculty Senate also voted 22-0-0

to formally censure Lordan. The Fordham Ram attempted to attend last Friday's meeting, but was told that no non-faculty members would be allowed. The university also released a statement late Tuesday afternoon announcing that Lordan was stepping down from his position as Chief Financial Officer (See Fordham CFO Steps Down).

According to the Senate's action minutes, Lordan received his censure "for violating the University Code of Conduct (Statutes, 6-03.01[h]) by disrupting the University-wide faculty meeting held on September 10, 2014; by limiting through intimidation the free expression of ideas by members of the faculty; and by refusing a request by officers of the Senate to leave the meeting." The university declined to comment on Lordan's censure. In addition, the senate voted to express its lack of confidence in Mr. Lordan and its desire "that the president of the university directly represent the Administration in negotiations concerning faculty salaries and benefits." Dr. Patrick Hornbeck, secretary of the Faculty Senate, said that, in his eight years at Fordham, he was not aware of any other faculty member who had been censured. "Mr. Lordan's conduct at that meeting from last week did not represent a fair sense of the relationship that should exist between the faculty members and the administration," Hornbeck said. "The purpose of the resolution was for the Senate to put SEE HEALTHCARE, PAGE 3

Fordham CFO Steps Down By KELLY KULTYS & MAX PRINZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & SPORTS EDITOR

Amid heated faculty and administration debates over salary and benefit packages, Fordham University’s Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer, John Lordan has stepped down, according to an official university statement. Lordan served in this role since his arrival in April 2000. In fact, according to the statement, he was the first and only person to ever serve in this role, as it was created just prior to his arrival. “John has overseen many improvements to the University’s financial operations, including the creation of a chief investment officer’s position, more rigorous accounting procedures, and schoolbased budgeting,” the statement reads. According to the statement, he SEE CFO, PAGE 6

Big Class, Bigger Questions New Organization Distributes Condoms At 2,246, Class of 2018 Prompts Housing Concerns for Coming Years By ERIN SHANAHAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Fordham’s incoming Class of 2018 is the largest the university has ever served. The class of 2018 consists of 2,246 students. In addition to this outstanding number, the university’s Admissions Department reports an acceptance rate of 48 percent — nearly 41,000 applications, and a little over 19,000 acceptances. The Class of 2018 is also one of the most diverse. “The new class hails from 43 U.S. states and the District of Columbia,” comments Dr. Patricia Peek, director of undergraduate admission, “We have over 50 students from the Southwest region of the United States, and we have 140 students from the in this issue

Opinion Page 7 Core Programming Is Ineffective

Culture Page 11 President’s Ball a Hit Among Students

Sports Page 24 Fordham Football Dominates Homecoming Game

West, including 120 from California alone. We have enrolled over 150 international students from countries including Brazil, India, Myanmar and Venezuela.” Compared to the Class of 2017, the size of this year’s freshman class has increased by 15 percent. Out of the 2,246 freshman, 1,678 attend the Rose Hill campus, and 568 attend the Lincoln Center campus. While the size of the freshman class presents benefits, such as an increase in diversity, it has provided its fair share of troubling situations as well. One problem many students worry about is housing. However, Kim Russell, assistant dean of students and director of Residential Life, explained that the large freshman class did not make housing assignments more difficult this year. “It certainly took us some more time, but we do everything very intentionally through our room selection process,” Russell said. “It’s a very well-thought-out process whether we are placing 100 students or 20,000 students. I wouldn’t say it was any more difficult; it just took some more time.” Russell said that, with the addition of the new residence hall, crowding has not been an issue this year, citing that the number of converted triples has actually dropped from last year. She also believes that next year’s housing SEE HOUSING, PAGE 2

By JOSEPH VITALE MANAGING EDITOR

If students attended either of this weekend’s homecoming events, some may have returned to their residence halls or off-campus apartments with an unexpected souvenir: a NYC condom attached to a small informational sheet. That was no accident. The contraceptive was distributed by a recently-formed coalition of students which calls itself Students for Sex and Gender Equality and Safety (S.A.G.E.S). The group — not associated with the university — has emerged with a mission to combat what it considers a restrictive free speech policy, coupled with dated and dangerous sexual health policies. “The condom distribution is just one tactic of many that we intend to use to engage students in our campaign,” the group said via email. “We are raising awareness of both sexual health facts and practices, as well as the outdated and out of touch policies that inhibit the safety of students.” The group’s solution to the university being “extremely restrictive” is its rogue form of action-driven social justice initiatives that is making waves on campus, chiefly because the distribution of contraceptives is not allowed by the university, despite a diversified student population which is representative of an array of religious and ethnic backgrounds. “As an institution in the Catholic, Jesuit tradition, Fordham Univer-

SAMUEL JOSEPH/THE RAM

Condoms attached to informational tags were found by students this weekend.

sity follows church teachings on reproductive issues,” reads Fordham’s official policy, which can be found on its website. “Distribution of contraceptives, contraceptive devices and/or birth control, in any form, is prohibited on Fordham University property and at university-sponsored events.” For that reason, students may have been taken aback to see free condoms changing hands on the dance floor of the McGinley Center Field House, where President’s Ball took place on Friday, and in the student section of Jack Coffey Field, where Fordham hosted the University of Rhode Island on Saturday.

S.A.G.E.S. used the two widelyattended events to launch their initiative, but remained anonymous for fear of repercussions from administrators. (The group maintains a Twitter account and a Tumblr page, on which it posts photos, releases brief updates and documents its campaign goals.) However, either due to the concealed identity of its students, the nature of the coalition’s initiatives or both, the group has received some early jabs from the Dean of Students Office on social media. “Instead of anonymity, @fordhamSAGES try some Fordham valSEE CONDOMS, PAGE 5


NEWS

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SECURITY BRIEFS

September 17, 2014

ResLife Considers Future Housing Options

Sept. 9 Finlay Hall 1 a.m. A Fordham student gave his ID card to a non-Fordham student in order to bypass the sign-in procedure. The guard stopped the nonFordham student, and referred both students to Residential Life. Sept. 10 650 E. 189th 2:50 a.m. Two students were involved in an altercation with two unidentified males outside of their apartment building. The altercation began when the students became engaged in a verbal dispute with the two males, who were on the street below their window. One of the students then went down to confront the two males, one of whom headbutted him. The student was taken by FUEMS to St. Barnabas hospital, where he was treated for a gash on his forehead. The male who headbutted the student is reported as having a cast on one of his arms. Sept. 10 Finlay Hall 11 a.m. A student reported that several of his shirts, totalling a value of roughly $150, were taken from one of the dryers. The student reportedly put his laundry into the dryer at 9 p.m. the night before, and when he returned at 11 a.m. the next day, some of his clothing was on the table but his shirts were missing. Sept. 11 Jack Coffey Bleachers 6 p.m. During a promotion for the Fordham football team, which took place beneath the bleachers of Jack Coffey Field, a cardboard figure of one of the players was stolen. Public Safety is currently investigating. Sept. 11 Queens Court 7 p.m. Residential Life notified Public Safety that a student had two box cutters and two push daggers within a sheath in his room. The items were confiscated and the student was referred to the dean. —Compiled by Michael Cavanaugh, Assistant News Editor

CAB Creates “Awkward” Moments By MARIA PAPPAS STAFF WRITER

MARIA ANCONA/THE RAM

The size of the freshman class has raised significant concerns over the availability of on-campus housing. SEE HOUSING, PAGE 1

situation will not be as cramped as some are predicting. “We are always looking at our housing numbers, and we are always looking at how to accommodate the current students we already have,” she said. Russell was not able to speak about any future plans or options, but assures everyone that the administration will be in communication with students about these options as soon as possible. Resident Assistants, on the other hand, know the freshman housing situation well and worry for the future of the class. “It’s a little scary for next year,” commented Loschert Hall RA, Jack Murray. “The Class of 2018 might not be able to have the luxury of such space that upperclassmen have gotten in the past. However, it’s exciting to note that growing class sizes mean, logically, more new residence halls will be required. If Loyola is the new standard, we have so much to look forward to for buildings in the coming years.” The new Loyola residence hall has caused much excitement, and some envy, from the student body. Loyola houses the 120 Manresa Scholars in a luxurious renovated hall that includes spacious rooms, renovated bathrooms, buildingwide AC, large study commons and a social lounge with a flat screen TV. Father Philip Florio, S.J., is the Jesuit in residence.

“The Class of 2018 has the privilege of being the first to reside in Loyola Hall,” RA Peter Hulburt from Alumni Court South remarked when discussing next year’s housing challenge. “And while housing selection will most definitely be a challenge over the next summer, I am confident that this year’s freshman class will be able to live comfortably next year, on or off campus.” Current Fordham residents worry that the influx of students entering Fordham will not only affect the residential halls, but the on-campus facilities as well. “I have the fullest confidence that ResLife will do its best to allow incoming freshmen to have the most fulfilling and comfortable experience possible,” commented the RA from Queens Court, Chris Hazlaris, FCRH ’16. “Though I am worried that replacing the senior class with yet another gigantic freshman body will continue to overload facilities and eating establishments on campus,” continued Hazlaris, “I have the utmost confidence and respect for the central staff at Fordham and know that they will work their hardest to accommodate the number of freshmen with which they are provided.” Loyola RA Delia Grizzard, FCRH ’15, agreed with Chris Hazlaris, and is optimistic about the increased class size. “The caf is really crowded, certainly,” she added, “but more students also

means so many more people interested in joining clubs, starting student initiatives, and hopefully enacting change and growth on campus. That is definitely something I’m excited about, and I’m really eager to see what freshmen bring to the art, music and theater culture on campus.” Some RAs are feeling a moderate strain regarding their responsibilities from the large freshman class. “I personally do feel that the increased size of the freshman class has made some of my responsibilities more difficult,” Martyrs’ Court Jogues RA, Ellysa Smith, FCRH ‘15, stated. “This year I am responsible for roughly 45 freshman in my hall, which is more than I had last year. This translates to more one-on-one meetings and potentially more participants at programming events.” Smith continues by explaining how it affects her duties as an RA. “This translates to more oneon-one meetings and potentially more participants at programming events. With that said, as a Residential Assistant, I just have to be more strategic with my time and the types of events that I am planning so that my freshmen can get the best experience.”” Although the Class of 2018 is significantly larger than previous incoming classes, the admission rate at Fordham has remained relatively constant at 48 percent versus 47 percent in 2013.

At the homecoming game on Saturday, Sept. 13, the Campus Activities Board (CAB) introduced their newest event, Awkward RAMily photos. The idea for this event came from CAB’s comedy co-chairs Anisha Mirchandani and Loretta Malloy, both FCRH ’16. The comedy cochairs are mainly in charge of booking the Spring Weekend comedian, as well as other comedy events on campus. In the past, this has included trips to comedy shows at the Upright Citizens Brigade and the campus-wide Last Comic Standing that took place close to Spring Weekend last year. The newly instated comedy cochairs started the year on a successful note with their first event, Sweet Test of Fate, in which students threw pies in their friends’ faces. Awkward RAMily Photos provided another success for the year. When coming up with the idea for this event, Mirchandani and Malloy were inspired by Awkward Family Photos, a popular series of photos in which people are posed or dressed awkwardly. Mirchandani was most excited for the first event in this recurring series to take place during the homecoming game against the University of Rhode Island. She said, “Everyone is with their friends, decked out in Fordham gear, and ready to show some insane school spirit. Awkward Ramily photos just adds to the fun!” From noon to 2:45 p.m., students had the opportunity to recreate their favorite Awkward RAMily Photo, or try out a new awkward pose. Along with props such as wigs, crowns, feather boas, tutus, hats and oversize sunglasses, CAB also surprised students with a life-sized dancing panda. The panda stole the show, and many students opted to take selfies with him. This event will be returning for Fordham’s next two home games. The first of these will take place on Oct. 3 when Fordham plays Lafayette College, the second will be on Oct. 11 against the University of Pennsylvania. All of the pictures that were taken will be posted to CAB’s Facebook page, where students will be able to access them. Mirchandani said, “CAB Comedy just wants to find more ways for students to laugh at whatever event they are at, and hopefully Awkward RAMily Photos is doing just that!”

This Week at Fordham Thursday Sept. 18 Fordham Athletics Free Ticket Giveaway Rose Hill Ticket Office 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Fordham Athletics is giving away free tickets to the Liberty Cup game at Columbia to the first 50 students who stop by the ticket office, which is located in the basement of the Rose Hill Gym.

Friday Sept. 19

Sunday Sept. 21

Open Mic Night Rodrigue’s Coffee House 8 p.m. Rodrigue’s is hosting its first open mic night of the fall semester. Signups are at the door the night of the performances and all talent is welcome.

People’s Climate March Manhattan 1 p.m.

Wednesday Sept. 24 New Law School Building Open House Fordham Law School 10 a..m. — 3 p.m. .

Meet members of the Students for Environmental Awareness and JusThe dean of Fordham Law School, tice on Eddie’s to make signs for the Michael M. Martin, invites the FordPeople’s Climate March being held ham community to join him for the in NYC that day. The march is to new law school building open house, bring awareness to climate issues located at 150 West 62nd St., New facing our nation today. York. For more campus events, visit FordhamRam.com

Wednesday Sept. 24 Student Life Council Meeting Bepler Commons, Fabler Hall 12 p.m. Join students and administrators at Rose Hill’s the monthly town hall meeting, where policy iniatives and particular issues concerning student life will be addressed. Students are invited to submit an agenda as well.


NEWS

September 17, 2014

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FORDHAM IN THE BRONX

In Little Italy, America’s Melting Pot Simmers — With a Kick BY JEFF COLTIN BRONX CORRESPONDENT

The thriving Mexican restaraunt in the heart of Little Italy is the best example of America’s melting pot. Amidst the mozzarella and soppresatta, there is room for tortas and gorditas. Chianti is traded for sangria, and mascarpone makes way for guacamole. Even holidays flow seamlessly. While last week belonged to the Italians with Ferragosto, this week belongs to the Mexicans and El Grito de Dolores. El Grito, another name for Mexican Independence Day, falls on September 16. The name can be translated as “the cry of Dolores,” referring to when Mexican hero (and Catholic priest) Fr. Hidalgo declared war on the Spanish colonial forces from the Mexican town of Dolores in 1810. The event is marked every year by the Mexican President giving el grito, from the main plaza in Mexico City, ending with a triple-cry of “¡Viva México!” Isis Quijada, FCRH ’15, planned to watch the events on TV at home with her family. Quijada was born in Puebla, Mexico and moved to the Bronx at age seven so she could get a better education in the U.S. She has not been back to Mexico in more than five years, but there is one thing she would love to return for: “I’ve always wanted to go to Mexico and be there for a Grito!” she said. Jan Krouham, GSB ’15, had other plans, hoping to celebrate at a party thrown by the Mexican Consulate in New York. “They invite anyone with a Mexican passport, “ Krouham says — and he gets an invitation, having lived in Cancún until coming to the U.S. for high school. “They have drinks, they have food and

you get to meet other Mexican people,” he said. “It’s always fun because Mexican people like to party. So you can put them anywhere and you have fun.” While their Grito plans differed, there is one thing both absolutely agreed on: Estrellita Poblana III. “We like the people there,” Krouham says of his fellow Mexican friends. “They’re nice to us, and the food is actually very close to what you can find in our country!” Quijada recommended the guacamole and the torta milanesa. “It’s really, really good. It really resembles Mexican food,” she said. The “Poblana” in the restaurant’s name means the menu comes from the Central Mexican state of Puebla—just like Quijada. And that just makes comparisons to home-cooked meals easier. As much as she likes it, Quijada said, “It would never compare to my mom’s food!” Estrellita is the most visited Mexican restaurant among Rose Hill students. The small space at the southern end of Arthur Avenue in Little Italy is popular for generous baskets of chips before the meal, great guacamole and a lax attitude toward carding when it comes to the homemade sangria. Estrellita’s popularity makes it the standard that all other Mexican restaurants are judged against. Nicole Holm, GSB ’15, and Nicole Karras, FCRH ’16, were eating at Rancho Estrella at 187th and Hughes Avenue the week before El Grito. Holm, a “big-time” Mexican food fan sought out the restaurant on the recommendation of a good friend. “She said the guac was really good, but there wasn’t any sangria, like Estrellita,” Holm explained. “But, the guac is still really good

and the tacos are really cheap.” Still, Holm is not ready to switch food allegiances just yet. “I’d still have to go with Estrellita,” she said. “I think it’s the sangria. If they were to get that here, maybe I’d have to switch tunes.” The Mexican culture in Rose Hill’s vicinity is not just limited to food. On Hughes, just south of 188th Street, a tiny record store is squeezed in between a Mexican restaurant and a Mexican bakery. The walls of El California Records are packed with all the CD’s and DVD’s running the gamut of Mexican culture. Cynthia Lopez, 18, has been working there for a year. As a first-generation American born to Mexican parents, she said it is a great place to come if you want to get into Mexican music. If that is not your tune, “we sell everything that has to do with Mexico!” Lopez said. That includes a wide variety of green, white and

red soccer jerseys, untouched by any of Rose Hill’s soccer-mad citizens. “We don’t get any Fordham students, unfortunately,” Lopez said. That row of Mexican-owned businesses is not an anomaly in the Belmont neighborhood. In an area known as Little Italy, home to many Albanians and predominantly home to ethnic Dominicans and Puerto Ricans, Mexican residents have left their mark. The area around Adams Place near the southern end of Little Italy is full of businesses proudly identifying their Mexican identity — from Mi Jacalito Deli-Grocery announcing the sale of productos mexicanos to the Mexico Sport Center to a barber shop painted with the familiar eagle adorning the Mexican flag. That is not to mention the numerous other Mexican-owned businesses peppered throughout the neighborhood, like Sammy’s Deli-

Grocery on Arthur or Ruben’s on 187th. And, no discussion would be complete without mentioning El Rey de Mil Coronas Restaurant and Bar on 186th street with its intricately painted façade. Krouham, who was headed to the Mexican consulate party, would not be surprised that many Mexican businesses seem to gather in an area. “We have like a team mentality,” Krouham explains. “If I were to meet another Mexican in New York tomorrow, he’ll probably become my friend, just because he’s Mexican… we look after each other.” For all this talk of Mexican businesses, Krouham said you will not find Mexican culture in the Bronx just by going to a certain place. “It’s definitely more about the people and the company… it doesn’t matter where you take us, but as long as we’re together, we’ll have fun, we’ll have a good time.”

JEFF COLTIN/THE RAM

Mexican Independence Day, known as El Grito, is celebrated by the various Mexican establishments in the Bronx.

Health Care Prompts Battle Between Admin and Faculty FROM HEALTH CARE, PAGE 1

on record our view that what Mr. Lordan did was inappropriate and that it was a violation of the standards that we hold together at Fordham.” According to Hornbeck, the university has since been represented in meetings, one last Friday and one early Tuesday morning, directly by Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university. Hornbeck said he was pleased with the work done by his fellow members of the Faculty Senate. “I thought that the Faculty Senate did a good job of fulfilling its role of representing the faculty of Fordham," Hornbeck said. “When you look at all these resolutions together what you see is a faculty who are united behind the principle that faculty need to be fairly and competitively compensated.” The rejected proposal from the administration, which included structures for wage raises as well as the new health care plan, called for the faculty to assume nine percent of the cost sharing for United HealthCare (UHC) in 2015, as well as to keep the cost-sharing percentage open for discussion with the ultimate goal of increasing cost-sharing to 15 percent.

It also called for an increase of 2.5 percent of faculty salaries, distributed by the Faculty Senate between merit and across-the-board increases. Cost-sharing, the amount an individual faculty member would pay for his or her health insurance, has been tied to the faculty's salary increases. It was one of the main disagreements in the latest administration proposal. According to the Senate, the administration sought to raise the cost-sharing to 15 percent. “Starting a year ago, the administration proposed that we would pay as much as 15 percent of the cost of health insurance, Hornbeck said. “That difference, especially for faculty members with families, could represent $4,000, or $5,000, maybe even $6,000 over what they are currently paying.” The Senate hoped for a cost-sharing level of nine percent, with provisions not to increase the cost-sharing number for a number of years. “We're in the process of agreeing on a number that would be between eight and 11 percent,” Hornbeck said. “But, as we all know, health care and health insurance is a rapidly shifting market. One of the things the faculty is concerned about is that the mechanism stays in place,

where cost-sharing can only go up by a percentage relative to our salary increase.” The Faculty Senate, according its web page, serves as "the representative body of the university Faculty and is composed of 25 members elected proportionately from the faculties of the colleges and graduate schools within the University.” The Senate serves as an advisor to McShane on all matters concerning the university and “exercises faculty responsibilities for university governance.” The listed officers of the Faculty Senate are President Maryann Forgey of the Graduate School of Social Services, Vice President Andrew Clark of the Modern Languages and Literature Department, Secretary Hornbeck of the Theology Department and Executive Committee members Margo Jackson, of the Graduate School of Education and James A. Cohen of the Fordham School of Law. The origins of the difficulty to reach agreement extend back five years ago, to September of 2009. That was the first time the administration signaled its intention to drop CIGNA, the university's faculty insurance provider until recently, and pursue a cheaper option.

That intention did not come with the full approval of the Faculty Senate. The administration’s first Request for Proposals, or RFP, was sent out without the cooperation or inclusion of the Faculty Senate. In response, the Faculty Senate created an ad hoc committee to research the best route to a new health care provider for the faculty. A new RFP was sent out in March of 2014, this time with the inclusion of the Faculty Senate. Following that process, the Faculty Senate narrowed down its list of health care candidates to two providers, CIGNA and UHC. The Faculty Senate says that, while both providers’ plans were acceptable, the senate overwhelmingly preferred CIGNA. The senate and the administration continued negotiations over a new provider this past summer. In midJune, the administration notified the senate of a deadline set by the Board of Trustees. The board wanted a new health plan in place by June 30. The Faculty Senate, until midJune, had not been aware of any such deadline, nor does any such deadline exist in university statutes. The June 30 deadline passed without the two parties coming to an agreement. Then, on June 15, the administra-

tion notified the Faculty Senate that it had chosen UHC as the university’s health care provider. This, the Faculty Senate adamantly believes, was in violation of university statutes. The administration is required to seek the approval of the Faculty Senate before choosing a health care provider. Despite many of the recent difficulties, the senate still hopes to come to an agreement with the administration. The administration and faculty are continuing to negotiate for a new health care plan. “I was in several meetings today, as were other officers of the senate, and we are making progress,” Hornbeck said. “As a result of some of the momentum which was generated in the faculty-wide meeting Wednesday and the open senate meeting on Friday, I think we are moving forward.” Hornbeck continued, “Certainly there are a lot of questions that still need to be answered about what is the best health care plan for the members of the Fordham faculty. Are we indeed getting the plan that we thought we were getting?” he asked. The open enrollment for the faculty in a new health plan is scheduled to begin Oct. 10.


NEWS

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Photo of the Week

September 17, 2014

News Briefs & Bites • On Sept. 13, the morning of Homecoming, at around 6 a.m., an unidentified male was shot in the leg on Hughes Avenue, between 188th and 189th Street. Later that morning, NYPD detectives canvased the area and questioned students in surrounding buildings about the incident. News 12 reports that the woman who called in the incident overheard a verbal dispute between a man and a woman, followed by a number of gun shots. The victim was taken by emergency medical services to St. Barnabas hospital.

CAB’s new event, Awkward RAMily Photos, was coordinated this year for the first time on homecoming weekend. The photo station was placed near the homecoming tent and all day students and alumni dropped by to take pictures in their Fordham gear with their friends and a panda. Awkward RAMily photos are expected to be used for several other Fordham events in the future.

• This past Tuesday, Danny Glover — an actor, producer and a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations’ Children’s Fund (UNICEF) — took part in a panel discussion which followed a showing of Tula: The Revolt, a film which takes placed in 1795 and follows the story of a slave uprising in Curacao. Glover himself starred in this film. During the panel discussion, Glover touched upon the importance of keeping in mind the victims of slaveryand the importance of remembering our past. For Glover, being educated on the history of slavery can help contribute to nec-

essary societal changes, especially because he believes very strongly that its impact continues even into modern times. He has worked to publicize how those who are descended from victims of slavery still suffer economically and are victims of social injustice, particularly in Latin America. • Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, held the 16th Convocation on Sept. 15. He addressed Fordham’s admissions process and finances, noting the recent successes of the Excelsior Program and the additions in McKeon Hall and the new law school building at Lincoln Campus. He also referenced enrollment trends, which are positive for Fordham’s Graduate School of Business, steady for the Graduate School of Social Service, and declining for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Fordham Law School. McShane reported that the Lincoln Center campus saw an increase in enrollment in undergraduate admissions, partially due to the new opening of the Gabelli cohort at Lincoln Center this year, and partially due to the inclusion of a new residence hall called McKean Hall.

As Part of UN Program, Journalists Convene On Campus By KATIE MEYER NEWS EDITOR

For the past two days, unbeknownst to many students and faculty, Rose Hill has played host to a delegation of 15 young journalists, aged 22 to 35, from various developing countries around the world. The group came as a part of a United Nations initiative called the Reham Al Farra Memorial Journalists Fellowship Programme, which started in 1980 as a way of developing fellowships for journalists and promoting the work of the UN in the developing world. Named for a young staff member who was killed in the 2003 bombings of the UN building in Baghdad, the four-week program aims to host journalists from every country viewed as “developing.” Each year, only one journalist from each chosen country is admitted. This year’s 15 participants hail from Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Colombia, Ethiopia, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, the Republic of Moldova, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda and Vietnam, all of which are members of the 168 countries that the UN considers to be “developing.” This year’s participants join 521 journalists and broadcasters who the program has hosted in years past. According to Zvi Muskal, a UN worker who has been the program’s coordinator for the past five years, each country is invited approximately every eight years. The participants have a chance to experience New York City culture,

as well as participate in various programs and seminars around the city The visit to Fordham came in the second week of the program and serves as an instructional time for the journalists. Over the two-day period, a number of faculty members from Fordham’s communications and media department give presentations to the visitors on everything from humanitarian crises, to reporting on religion in secular media, to the geopolitics of digital communication. The Fordham-hosted portion of the program has been happening for “seven or eight years,” according to the longtime coordinator Robin Andersen. Andersen explained that the idea for holding the program at Fordham came after someone from the UN heard her speak at an event and invited her to submit a bid for the two-day seminars, which she did. “It was an enormous amount of paperwork to become a ‘vendor’ for the UN, so at first, they paid us,” Andersen said. “Then, about four years ago, I proposed to Dean Latham that we establish a different kind of partnership with the UN…we offer them this two-day program, and they don't charge our students who visit the UN the entrance fee, and don't charge students in our International Communications class the fee for the briefings they are given at the UN.” Zvi Muskal, who has been the UN coordinator of the program for the last five years, hopes that when these journalists return to their

home countries, “they are able to write more. More accurately, with balance, and…with better understanding of the work of the UN.” Muskal said that the process for applying to such a selective program is highly selective. “Each year, I select the countries who I invite to submit nominees to the program. Of course I invite more countries than actually I need, because of course there are many countries in which the media is in very bad shape, in a very bad situation, and they don’t have candidates,” he said. “I send letters to those [approved] countries’ United Nations information centers and I ask them to advertise in the local media…after candidates fill out the proper paperwork, I interview them on the phone and make sure they speak adequate English and have social skills, and I ask for a few examples of their work related to the UN. They have to be interested in the UN.” Muskal then has his pick of qualified journalists from all over the world. “The UN is very careful to pick highly qualified and promising journalists,” Andersen said. “The attendees [are balanced] in terms of media, gender and global region.” In past years there have been issues with participants taking advantage of the program. One man even tried to gain asylum while in New York. The journalists attending this year, though, have been a good group, according to Muskal. Irene Namyalo, a TV news report-

er from Uganda, said she has had a very good experience so far. Never having been in New York before, she marvels at the differences between the city and her home country. “Everything is so beautiful,” she said. “It is very nice, we have learned a lot. I got to know how New York covers its stories, and we can use these skills we’ve got now, use them in our own countries, and we can look at news with a different perception.” Namyalo was recomended for the program after covering several stories with the UN agencies in rural areas. “Zvi [Muskal] took me through an interview and, after that interview, I was selected for my country,” she said. “He told me the competition was tight. All of us were good, but I think somehow I got in.” She was impressed with the Fordham professors she had met, particularly with their speaking styles. “I like the way they present themselves,” she said. “They express themselves so well, and they make sure everyone has got something they can take back home.” Babele Some, the representative from Burkina Faso, West Africa, who specializes in radio, has also found the experience valuable thus far. He has been working as a journalist for several years, and his office works with several UN organizations covering countries like Mali and Chad. He heard about the program through coworkers, applied and was selected. Like Namyalo, he has never been to a city like New

York. “New York is a bigger city, and difficult to be in for the first time. It’s not easy to know where you are going. But it is a good place, I think,” Some said. “I’ve learned a lot through this program from the different presentations from different departments of the UN. I want to strengthen my knowledge.” Some plans to continue writing to the UN about his country in order to promote its programs, specifically concerning refugees in Mali. For their part, the Fordham professors who have been involved with the program have enjoyed having the chance to interact with these foreign journalists. “My experience has been great,” said communication and media professor Kimberly Casteline, who was involved for the second year in a row and presented on religious reporting in the US. “The journalists are very excited to be here and ask lot of great questions, and some of them even keep in touch after they return to their home countries.” Gregory Donovan, a communication and media professor in his first semester at Fordham, agreed, and said that presenting to the journalists is very different from teaching a normal class of students. “These are people who are working professionals,” he said. “It was more of a dialogue with people who are already experts in their own fields, their own trades. It was like a round table discussion, and it was really exciting. They were great people.”


NEWS

September 17, 2014

Page 5

Anonymous Coalition Tests Administration Policies FROM CONDOMS, PAGE 1

ues this homecoming: open debate and respect for beliefs and traditions of other,” the Dean of Students Office’s account, @RHSLFORDHAM, tweeted on Saturday. In a separate tweet, which included a link to Fordham’s guide to Campus Assault and Relationship Education (CARE), the account wrote, “Secret protests are fun, but at college, we debate ideas rather than litter about them.” S.A.G.E.S, which responded to one of the tweets, maintained that the post underscored the university’s goal of controlling the debate about sexual health, among other taboo topics on campus. “We have already seen this with Dean Rodgers through social media for our campaign. He has reached out, aiming to undermine the legitimacy of this campaign,” S.A.G.E.S. said. “Administrators would rather us talk with them behind closed doors with no witnesses, no progress and no accountability rather than allow us speak up and organize en masse when we are bothered.” Protecting students from sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy, they say, is reason enough for the university to act on distributing contraceptives. “Safety and well-being are not negotiable,” the coalition said. “The decision to attend a university for its academic record should not and must not mean sacrificing personal safety and well-being to do so.” Even with a considerably eyecatching campaign, S.A.G.E.S. is wary of dominating the campus conversation on its own. Along with social media and direct action initia-

tives, like the distribution of contraceptives, the group is using an online survey to gauge the Fordham community’s attitude toward contraceptives. The brief questionnaire posted on its website asks users about their views on the issue and their perceptions of Fordham’s policies toward it. “After we have collected a decent sample size for our survey, we intend to publicly release the data and analysis along with a petition that addresses our demands and the findings from the data,” S.A.G.E.S. said. Despite the best efforts of S.A.G.E.S and the wide use of contraceptives in America (99% of women ages 15-44 who had sexual intercourse between 2010 and 2014 have used at least one contraceptive method, according to the Center for Disease Control), the anonymous group is likely to be met with adversity from administrators who claim that the university does little to stifle free speech on campus, particularly on topics regarding sexual health. “We have had a variety of University-provided as well as studentrun programs on sexual health at Fordham stretching back decades,” said Christopher Rodgers, Dean of Students. “These begin over the summer with incoming students taking the Haven online educational course, through orientation’s extensive session on sexual misconduct, health and relationships and the CARE session given by health services at Freshman Core Programming. Our residence halls will be doing additional programs this year in this area and we are encouraging relevant clubs and organizations such as Women’s Empowerment to do the same.”

“The policy prohibiting distribution of birth control follows Church teachings on reproductive issues and this should of course be respected, but conversation about beliefs is something we are always eager to have,” he added. According to Student Health Services, Fordham says it recognizes free speech and open inquiry, but says that it will uphold its integrity as a Catholic institution. The service, which performs women’s health exams at the center, sends lab work to other medical offices and offers counseling,” cites the university’s compliance with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services as cause for its provided resources. “As an independent Catholic, Jesuit University, Fordham University is not, and cannot be, neutral on moral questions such as abortion and contraceptive devices. The teachings of the Catholic Church on these issues have been clear and consistent,” reads a policy notice under Student Health Service’s FAQ page. “When issues arise that might not coincide with the university’s position on these topics, we recognize the importance of upholding the principles of free expression and open inquiry.” The service continues, “At the same time, the university has the equally important responsibility of maintaining a clear focus on its identity as an institution in the Catholic tradition, and the principles and values that serve as the foundation of that identity. We explain our policies to our students, with support and always without judgment. Health education is offered on sexual issues and practitioners are available

to clarify concerns and misunderstandings.” Some campus leaders, emblematic of a segment of the student population largely in disagreement with Fordham’s position along the cultural divide, are weighing in on the issue as it begins to resurface in light of the efforts of S.A.G.E.S. “Generally, I think that any effort to open up dialogue on campus is a good thing, especially one that deals with an area as important as sexual health and safety,” said USG Executive President, Nevin Kulangara, GSB ’15. “I do hope that S.A.G.E.S. can become a strong voice on campus while adhering to the policies of the Student Handbook.” “The S.A.G.E.S. Coalition is taking several important steps, I believe, in holding the university accountable for the well-being and safety of all Fordham students regardless of gender or sexual orientation,” said Eilís Russell, FCRH ’15, a general coordinator for Women’s Empowerment. “Their campaign, particularly the encouragement of open conversations about the diverse sexual experiences of Fordham students, is also an integral part of the Women’s Empowerment mission.” While the topic has remained on the back-burner of Fordham’s Jesuit Catholic campus for the past few years, similar coalitions have popped up at other leading Jesuit Catholic schools, including Georgetown University and Boston College. Georgetown’s unofficial coalition, called H*yas for Choice (HFC), formed in 2010 and plays an active role on its campus. The group does not have access to official funding and is unable to advertise in spaces other than the school’s designated

free-speech zone. The restrictions have not stopped the group, however, which actively distributes free condoms at student events and parties. While the university was expected to seize HFC, the administration decided not to condemn the effort because it did not use university resources and was working within the limits of its free speech policy. (S.A.G.E.S. does not use university resources either, as it has distributed already-free N.Y.C. condoms that are widely available at medical centers across the city). A similarly-structured group also sprung up at Boston College in 2009. The unofficial campus group, titled Boston College Students for Sexual Health, began working with campus offices like the school’s housing and health services to plan sexual health-related forums and programs. Administrators later warned students to discontinue distributing the contraceptives if they did not want to be disciplined by the university, putting an end to their on-campus involvement. The health of current and future Fordham students, S.A.G.E.S. believes, is worth the risky fight — even if it means dodging school administrators, remaining a vocal entity on campus and inherently violating school policy. If it means promoting an open discussion on campus and protecting students from the dangers of not using contraception, the coalition says it plans on making strides on the issue at any cost. “The debate about policies that affect students daily lives happen behind closed doors,” the group said. “And this issue must be fought in the public eye.”

Several Fordham Clubs Come Together for 9/11 Tribute By MICHAEL CAVANAUGH ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

A respectful silence lingered in the basement of the University Church on Thursday as members of the Fordham community trickled into the downstairs chapel. Students sitting in the dimmed light were honoring the lives of those who died 13 years ago. Among the almost 3,000 victims, 39 men and women of Fordham University were lost on Sept. 11, 2001. A memorial service to honor their memory has been held each year since. Despite the painful memories that surface near the anniversary of the most deadly terrorist attack that has occurred on U.S. soil, students attended the memorial service as a reminder that those who lost their lives remain in our hearts. “This ceremony has just always been something that’s been special,” said John Leto, GSB ’14, GBA ’15, who has attended the ceremony each year during his time at Fordham. “It will always be touching, and I’m glad that Fordham does something like this, because we did lose people that day and it really affected all of us in a great way.” The touching service is the result of the combined efforts of the United Student Government (USG), Interfaith Council and

SAMUEL JOSEPH/THE RAM

On Sept. 11, students honored the victims who lost their lives in the infamous terrorist attack 13 years ago.

Campus Ministry. The College Republicans were also supposed to play a role in the event before the threat of inclement weather pushed the event into the basement of the University Church. “College Republicans aren’t directly involved with other 9/11 memorial events, but last year the procession left from our display, and the procession was poised to leave from our display again this

year before the weather changed things,” said Ben Shull, FCRH ’16, president of the College Republicans. The display is set up in front of McGinley Center each year: one American flag is placed into the grass for each of the 2,977 victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. They are arranged in such a way that they outline both the Pentagon and the Twin Towers.

The arrangement of these flags is a project of the Young America’s Foundation (YAF), according to Shull, and is set up by the College Republicans. Despite this, Shull says that the display is meant to be “completely non-partisan,” and the intention is solely to memorialize the victims. The memorial event traditionally begins in front of McGinley Center at the site of

this display, after which the procession continues to the memorial stone in the Finlay Gardens. With the threat of rain this year, however, it began with an interfaith prayer service in the basement of the University Church, which, through a reflection on the events of Sept. 11, focused on praying for peace in the world. At the end of the prayer service, 39 long-stem yellow roses were placed on the altar beneath a spotlight — one rose for each member of the Fordham community lost on Sept. 11. “It’s an opportunity for us to gather together as a community of diverse faiths and bear witness to the lives of those people that were lost — the 39 members of our Fordham University community and all the people we hold in our hearts,” said Conor O’Kane, associate director of Campus Ministry and director of interfaith ministry. The service culminated in a procession led by a bagpipe honor guard to the 9/11 memorial stone in the Finlay Gardens. There, the 39 yellow roses were placed beneath the memorial stone. Before the service came to a close, attendees were invited to join in a moment of silence in front of the stone. Samuel Joseph, Photo Editor, contributed reporting.


NEWS

Page 6

September 17, 2014

CFO Leaves Shortly After Censure By Faculty Senate FROM CFO, PAGE 1

was able to oversee the expansion of Fordham’s endowment and a few years of budget surpluses, but in recent years, he has had to manage a very tight budget. Last October, Lordan spoke at the university’s planning and budgeting meeting for the upcoming fiscal year 2014-2015 and described how Fordham had to readjust and allocate funds to “make ends meet.” In V. 95, I. 16 of The Fordham Ram Lordan said, “Eight out of 10 schools failed to achieve budgeted tuition and fee revenue. It’s rare that so many [schools] went in a single direction.” This created a budget gap during the 2013 year of $5.2 million. The projections for the 2014 fiscal year were not exactly glowing. The Fordham Ram reported that, according to the Board of Trustees’ Financial Plan for 2014-2015, “the revenue problem only gets worse in fiscal 2014 and beyond.” At that meeting, Lordan also discussed growing university expenses, the largest portion of which is devoted to faculty salaries and benefits. According to the financial plan, over $300 million is devoted to salaries, wages and fringe benefits for the faculty and staff in the 2014 budget. Even at that time, according the article, the faculty was upset by the proposal. “This budget is more for buildings than for people,” Henry Schwalbenberg, Ph.D, associate

JOSEPH VITALE/THE RAM

Lordan was one of the key players in the decision to change the Fordham faculty’s healthcare plan, which may have initiated some tension with administration.

professor of international political economy and development, said last October. Still, Lordan and the Board of Trustees remained optimistic at the time, as according to the financial plan, the university expected to bring in around $504.8 million in revenue and plans to spend about $504.7 million. This would bring the books back into balance without dipping into the reserve funds, which was one of the problems of this past fiscal year. That seemed to be the precursor to the estranged relationship

between the faculty and the administration. (See Faculty, Admin Remain at Impasse) Lordan had been representing the university in negotiations with the Faculty Senate over a new health care plan. Lordan attended a faculty-wide meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 10, was asked to leave and declined. He was censured by the Faculty Senate for his refusal. The Faculty Senate voted, 220-0, to censure Lordan on Friday, Sept. 12. According to the Senate’s action minutes, Lordan was censured for “for violating the Univer-

sity Code of Conduct (Statutes, 6-03.01[h]) by disrupting the University-wide faculty meeting held on September 10, 2014; by limiting through intimidation the free expression of ideas by members of the faculty; and by refusing a request by officers of the Senate to leave the meeting.” Further, the Senate voted 14-43 to pass a resolution saying the Senate had “no confidence in Mr. Lordan,” and requested “that the President of the University directly represent the Administration in negotiations concerning faculty salaries and benefits.”

The university declined to comment on the censure. According to the university, they are conducting a nationwide search to fill the position, while Frank Simio (who declined to comment) will step up from his position as vice president for finance, to temporarily fill the void. Lorden also declined to comment for the story. Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, has since been in meetings with the Faculty Senate. One took place last Friday, and the other was early Tuesday morning.


September 17, 2014

OPINION

Page 7

The Fordham Ram

Why CORE Programming Misses the Point By KATIE NOLAN COPY CHIEF

This past week, freshmen at Rose Hill sat through a rite of passage, CORE Programming. An essential part of CORE Programming is information on sexual assault and Fordham’s Campus Assault and Relationship Education (CARE) program. With the recent concern about sexual assault on college campuses, USG’s task force on sexual assault issues and the two recent sexual assaults reported in security alerts last week, I decided to sit through this CORE Programming with the freshmen to get a refresher on how the university is addressing sexual assault. Sitting in a lecture hall with about 50 freshman, I watched as Debbie Mosko, FND and associate director/wellness programming coordinator, told us all not to laugh as we embarked on the topic of sexual assault on college campuses. If anyone was thinking about laughing, I imagine those thoughts were quickly dispelled as she asked all the women in the audience to raise their hands and then informed us that one in four women will be a victim of sexual assault. She presented a list of chilling statistics about sexual assault on campus. The presentation, as a whole, was tense. The university has the best interest of its students at heart, and I think CARE is a worthwhile program that does a lot of good things and provides valuable support to students. Having said that, CORE Programming should be revamped to better assist freshmen in protecting themselves and others from sexual assault. I also think that refreshers about sexual assault would be

helpful for upperclassmen. I am a senior, but I had not heard a lot of this information since the first week of my freshman year. Sexual assault prevention should be an ongoing conversation for all students. Refresher programs on university policy should be more than a passing reference to CARE at floor meetings. The conversation on sexual assault should be just that, a conversation. We as a university need to keep talking about sexual assault and how to stay safe beyond week one of freshman year. One of the ways CORE Programming, and CARE in general, could improve is by spending more time discussing bystander intervention. A recent NPR piece called “The Power of the Peer Group in Preventing Campus Rape,” detailed a new prevention technique “exploring the idea that having male friends who object to violence against women can be a powerful antidote to rape on college campuses.” The piece cited a 2002 study on campus sexual assault by David Lisak that found sex offenders “hiding in plain sight.” Lisak’s and others’ studies have found that somewhere around 10 percent of men admitted to rape or attempted rape. And, a significant number of those men were found to be repeat offenders. Because sexual assaults rarely get reported on campuses, some of these serial offenders rape with impunity. Lisak also found that many of these men had a strategy for committing sexual assault, usually involving getting women drunk to the point of incapacitation. The NPR article suggested that focusing on bystander intervention could help prevent a lot of these situations.

JOSEPH VITALE / THE RAM

CORE Programming focused more on promoting drinking responsibly rather than how to deal with sexual assault.

The CORE Programming lecture did address bystanders, as does the CARE brochure, but I do not think either venue provides enough useful information to students. The advice they give is as follows: “Take the initiative to help friends who aren’t thinking clearly from being targets of violence (or) take steps to stop a friend who chooses to use violence.” “Prevent an intoxicated friend/ person from going to a private location with an acquaintance or friend.” “Ask a friend, acquaintance or stranger who is attempting to take sexual advantage of another to stop and leave the location.” This is not bad advice, but it is incredibly vague. When do I know if someone is too intoxicated and needs me to intervene? How can I intervene safely if I think a person is being targeted for violence? How do I read situations like this to decide if intervention

is appropriate? The sexual assault prevention programs detailed in the NPR article walked men and women through potential situations, discussed reading body language and gave scripts for how to intervene if something seems wrong. Sometimes, preventing an assault can be as simple as distracting the potential victim and guiding him or her away from a dangerous situation. Prevention tactics can be simple, but they are not necessarily intuitive. Discussing strategies before situations occur would make it more likely that someone would intervene if they saw something alarming. The main problem with the CORE Programming lecture was that it focused too heavily on telling people not to drink as the number one way to stay safe. While this might be true, it is not a realistic prevention strategy. College students drink, and college students hook up when they have been drinking. For this

reason, telling college students not to drink in order to avoid being assaulted is not helpful. Sometimes, a girl or guy may be responsible with his or her drinking and still end up in a dangerous situation because an assaulter uses date rape drugs or other tactics to incapacitate victims. Empowering everyone, men and women, to keep each other safe by learning how to intervene as a bystander could help reduce the number of sexual assaults on campus. The statistics for campus sexual assaults are scary. Clearly, all colleges, including Fordham, need to adjust the conversation and move beyond telling girls not to drink and boys not to rape. Bystander intervention is a key part of the conversation, and we all need to do more to learn how to keep each other safe. Katie Nolan, FCRH ’15, is an English and History double major from Louisville, Kentucky.

What’s Rolling on Police Body Cameras? The Truth By SAMANTHA FRANCO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Aug. 9, Officer Darren Wilson of the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri. fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown, an alleged suspect in a robbery that took place the same night. Eyewitnesses to the crime say that Brown submitted to Wilson’s demands before the shooting, getting on the ground with his hands in the air saying “don’t shoot!” However, Wilson claims that it was self-defense after Brown attempted to physically assault him and take his gun. Though there are other factors that play into this situation, many gaps in the story could be filled if there were film of what actually took place. If Wilson was wearing a body camera, there would be no need to speculate on the cause of Brown’s death and the liability of Wilson. This situation is just one of many that could have been prevented if police were required to wear body cameras. “I feel that in cases such as that

DAMIAN DOVARGANES / AP

The NYPD is piloting a new program where police officers will wear body cameras to capture police actions.

of Brown, having police wear body cameras would be a way to eliminate the trial and upset that cases like this cause,” Catherine Banach, FCRH ’18, said. “Body cameras allow evidentiary support in any case where a cop is forced to use his or her gun on someone.” In many places across the country, such as New York City; Fort Myers, Florida, Anaheim, Califor-

nia; and Iowa City, Iowa, police departments are beginning to run trials using this technology. In a few months, 60 NYPD officers will be testing two different types of cameras in at least one precinct in each borough. This comes after Eric Garner’s fatal altercation with the NYPD on July 17. In light of the recent increased coverage of police violence, I be-

lieve this trend is coming at the right time. In 2014, we have the ability to weave cameras into police uniforms in order to record their interactions with civilians to make sure they are correctly performing their jobs and not taking the law into their own hands. Technology has also made it easier for civilians to access information and news, which is why recent

events such as those in Ferguson and Staten Island have caused many to be angry and call for the police to start wearing body cameras. Cameras can be used in order to either prove or disprove the truth behind anyone’s allegations regarding violent police-civilian altercations. Though integrating body cameras into the police force can only improve public safety, it brings into question the nature of the police system in the United States. Have policemen lost their sense of integrity and morals that all of their actions need to be caught on film? Have police forces become so corrupt that they protect their fellow officers who have done wrong and yet do not get charged for any of the wrongs they commit against those they have sworn to protect? When citizens are afraid to walk the streets because they feel like they are targets, it is time for change. Samantha Franco, FCRH ’18, is an English major from Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.


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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.

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Editor-in-Chief Kelly Kultys Managing Editor Joseph Vitale Copy Chief Katie Nolan Assistant Copy Chief Robert Frerich Editorial Director Shannon Marcoux 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 Web Editor Tara Cangialosi Business Director Felicia Zhang Business Staff Jason Chan Juan Gabriel Garcia Faculty Advisor Dr. Beth Knobel Editorial Board Kelly Kultys Joseph Vitale Shannon Marcoux Katie Nolan Robert Frerich Richard Bordelon Felicia Czochanski 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

September 17, 2014

From the Desk | Leighton Schneider

Farewell to the Captain On Thursday, Sept. 25, Derek Jeter will step onto the field at Yankee Stadium for the final time in his illustrious career. It will mark the end of a childhood for college-aged students. Many of my friends at Fordham and back home in Connecticut feel the same as I. We have all known this day was coming since he announced that he would be retiring in early February, even if we did not want to think about it. This day is so important to me that I bugged my father for five months about getting tickets to this game before he realized that this was a moment we could not miss. With just over a week until he plays his last game, I have been thinking about Jeter’s accomplishments and how he shaped my childhood by making me a New York Yankees fan. No athlete has had a bigger impact on my life than Derek Jeter. The way he handles himself on and off the field shows his true character, which is hard to find in this day and age with the rampant use of steroids in baseball, racist owners and general managers in

basketball and domestic abuse in football. Going back 20 years, I cannot think of a time Derek Jeter had any negative off-the-field press. He has been a role model for Little Leaguers around the world since he began playing for the Yankees and will remain one now and for years to come. My room has been covered in Yankees posters and signs since I can remember. Growing up, my first Yankees jersey was Jeter’s number two pinstripe jersey. I still have a sign in the corner of my room that reads “2 Derek Jeter Drive” and I have multiple Derek Jeter rookie cards. If you tried to make a list of the top three or top five plays of Derek Jeter’s career and compared it with other Yankees fans, there is no doubt in my mind there would be a large variety of answers. There are three plays that stand out in my mind more than athe others; two from the 2001 season and one from 10 years later. First, “The Flip.” Derek Jeter’s legacy of being great had already been developing for the previous six years. In Game Three of the American League Division Series

in Oct. 2001 against Oakland, Derek Jeter made a remarkable assist on a play that preserved the Yankees 1-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Right fielder Shane Spencer missed first baseman Tino Martinez on a throw while Oakland’s Jeremy Giambi rounded third base. This is where Jeter came into the picture, charging out from his position at short stop he picked up the bouncing ball before tossing it to catcher Jorge Posada. Second is “Mr. November.” Later that same postseason, Jeter was given a nickname that will live on. Due to the 9/11 attacks, the end of the baseball season was pushed back from late October to early November. During Game Four of the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Derek Jeter was given this nickname after hitting a game-winning homerun in the bottom of the tenth inning, alluding to Reggie Jackson’s legendary nickname, “Mr. October.” The final play was a long time in the making. It happened on July 9, 2011, against the Tampa Bay Rays. His 3 thousands hit

came as a game-winning home run against Tampa’s star pitcher David Price. The reason this play stands out in my mind is that Jeter was the first Yankee in the franchise’s 110year history to reach 3 thousand hits. Even with all of the great players who have put on the Yankee uniform, no player had joined the 3,000 hit club. When Derek Jeter walks off the field on Sept. 25, Yankee fans will lose the greatest player in the team’s history. I know that it will be an emotional moment, even more than when Mariano Rivera was taken out last season. The final member of the Core Four will retire. This date will live on forever as the end of an era. Thank you, Captain.

Editorial | Student Life

Mandatory Attendance Policy Does More Harm Than Good Woody Allen once said, “90 percent of success is just showing up.” Here at Fordham, “showing up” can count for as much as 20 percent. Among Fordham’s many rules, the university has a relatively strict policy regarding class attendance. According to the Student Handbook for Fordham College Rose Hill, Gabelli School of Business and Fordham College Lincoln Center, students are expected to attend “every class of every course for which they are registered.” It justifies the policy by saying that “each class meeting has its own dynamics and provides a unique opportunity for learning.” There are, of course, exceptions. The university rightly cites exceptions for religious holidays and university events. It goes a bit further — despite its “expectation” — and states that students are permitted a number of unexcused absences over the course of a semester. For example, students may not miss more than six classes for a course that meets three times per week. For a class that meets two days per week, the maximum is four unexcused absences. The policy also requires that a more stringent policy set by a professor must be approved by his or her department. Despite the purported benefits of the university-wide policy, mandating attendance, coupled with the way it is enforced by professors, does an exceptional disservice to Fordham students.

In the editorial board’s opinion, the policy should be removed from the university handbook for a number of reasons. The first reason is that attending class Fordham is a service for which students pay. Students should have the right to choose when they use and when they do not use the service. Punishing students for missing class — most commonly in the form of a grade penalty or some other predecided method — penalizes the utilization of a student’s right to choose not to use the service for which he or she is paying. Placing such an authority in Fordham professors makes their job description resemble that of an army sergeant who must carry out a roll call each day. And yet, professors are not paid to document the presence of adults via a roll call each class period, but to design interesting courses, prepare engaging lectures and assess the ability of their students to understand and analyze course material. If you divide the cost of tuition by the typical number of class periods a student has, the average cost per class is just over $100. On the contrary, rewarding students for attending class, which usually comes in the form of a class participation grade, is nothing more than a pat on the back for doing something they already agreed to do. Even so, there is a dilemma due to the university’s liberally and unfairly enforced idea of “at-

tendance.” One of the greatest disservices that has developed as a result of a mandatory attendance policy is that students who choose to spend class time on their laptops, tablets, and cell phones are privileged with the status of “present,” despite a blatant lack of presence. Tapping away at a screen is not only a gross act of disrespect toward a professor but is also disrespectful to other students. It is distracting to sit behind a student who is online shopping or watching a sports game without sound. Each time a professor marks a student who spends the class period on his or her laptop as “present,” it is an injustice to students who focus in class and take notes. We do not think they should be penalized for it, but they should be not be granted the same reward as a student who is truly present. Making these two choices should come to an end at Fordham. Eliminating the mandatory attendance policy also places more responsibility on students to take initiative in learning and succeeding while at college. For those who choose not to attend class, their penalty would come in the form of poor performance on papers and exams. This will reward students who attend class, bringing both short-term benefits (a high GPA, a more complete education) and long-term benefits (a concrete understanding of responsibility, the pitfalls of indifference and laziness). One could argue that an at-

tendance policy is only a slight inconvenience for professors to enforce and that it adds pressure on students to focus on learning, and resist the temptation to skip. We believe the attendance policy is ultimately a disservice to the campus community. Students should be rewarded for doing well, not for just showing up. We believe that students should go to class. We equally maintain that students who score well on exams without attending class should not be penalized for doing so. However, we believe that there are plenty sufficient systems already in place to encourage students to go to class and perform well at Fordham, which includes, but is not limited to the following: midterm grades for underclassmen, grade point averages, advising meetings, familial demands, academic motivation, societal pressures, grade minimums for athletes, requirements for scholarship students, career prospects, personal accountability and the monetary investment in attending a private university. There is little reason to believe that an attendance policy should be another system on this already-exhaustive list.

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.


OPINION

September 17, 2014

Page 9

Marcelle Meyer

Refugees Require Attention

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

New York crowds this year will now be able to cheer on LGBT groups who are now able to register to participate in the 2015 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

March On, LGBT, March On NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade to Allow LGBT Groups in 2015 Parade By BRITTANY HEALY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On June 24, 2011, gay marriage was legalized throughout the state of New York. This marked the first step toward gay equality. Supporters of the movement — myself included — jumped with joy at the newly instated Marriage Equality Act. Now we have another reason to jump with joy because recently, New York City took another large step toward equality. On Wednesday, Sept. 3, the organizers of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade announced that they were lifting the ban on LGBT groups marching in the parade. For the past two decades, there have been countless protests against the organizers of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade because of the ban against LGBT groups. The ban caused corporate groups who previously participated in the parade, and even

Mayor Bill de Blasio, to withdraw support. Now the tables have turned and LGBT groups will be able to apply for marching spots in the parade. This action is a clear representation of the acceptance of LGBT equality in American society. By allowing LGBT groups to march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, we are recognizing progress toward social acceptance. The New York St. Patrick’s Day parade organizers are allowing LGBT groups, like all the others in the parade, to be celebrated and treated with respect. The whole point of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is to celebrate Irish culture. Discriminating against certain people within a culture because of their sexual orientation is offensive and wrong. How can you properly celebrate a culture and a race if you tell certain people in that culture that they are not worthy of the same respect as others? While the lifted ban against

LGBT groups marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade shows social evolution, it also shows religious evolution. The St. Patrick’s Day parade is organized and run by St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a Roman Catholic Church in New York City. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the grand marshal for the 2015 parade, emphasizes his approval of LGBT groups marching in the parade. “I have no trouble with the decision at all,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan. “I think the decision is a wise one.” LGBT representation in a Christian setting is exactly what our society needs. The fact that LGBT groups will be allowed to march in a parade that is run and organized by a Roman Catholic church shows the evolution of social and religious acceptance. This movement proves that religion is no longer an excuse for discrimination. I am extremely proud of this

step forward toward equality. The St. Patrick’s Day parade is supposed to be a fun and exciting event, an event where people of a culture can come together. Now, for the first time, the entire Irish culture can come together at the famous parade. Irish people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender have the opportunity to be recognized for who they are in the St. Patrick’s Day parade. It is time for people to put their personal beliefs aside and remember the true meaning of St. Patrick’s Day. Straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender: we are all people who come together to celebrate a culture. We are all people who deserve the same rights and respect. Every single day, New York City is moving closer and closer to equality, and I could not be more proud or happy to live here. Brittany Healy, FCRH ’17, is a economics major from Westport, Connecticut.

Do opinions run through your veins? Call a doctor, and then e-mail fordhamramopinions@gmail.com to become a writer.

In our world of the 24-hournews cycle, it can be easy to forget, it can be easy to forget nation-shattering occurrences just a week later as they are replaced by the latest catastrophe. As President Obama announces plans for what appears to be a longterm commitment to combating ISIS, the immigration crisis that occurred earlier this summer is gradually making fewer headlines, keeping many of us from realizing the major discrepancies in how both the United States and the international community approach these problems. We send warplanes to the Middle East to help combat one of the most terrifying violations of human rights that our world has seen because we believe that it is our responsibility as a powerful nation to prevent these crimes. Yet, when thousands of children approach our border seeking protection from murder in their own streets, many people want to send them away and Congress consistently stalls passing immigration laws that deal with these issues head-on. This trend is not only present in the United States, but is common throughout the international community, as well. Many Africans wishing to flee dangerous conditions attempt to cross the border between Spain and North Africa often as many as 1,000 at a time. In response to this, Spain was given over 13 million euros from the European Union to reinforce its borders. The most common response worldwide to immigrants seeking refuge from their own governments, or violence within their countries, is to deport immigrants instead of helping them. On the contrary, the most common response to combating ISIS has favored humanitarian aid and military interventions. Even Pope Francis suggested support for the use of airstrikes by the United States in order to stop the spread of ISIS in Iraq. Why are victims of government violence and oppression only considered victims until they try to escape? Of course, ISIS has committed unspeakable crimes against the people of Iraq and Syria, and the citizens’ awful experiences under this regime of horror are not to be diminished. Rather, the international community should elevate the trials of those who seek refuge in their countries to this same status. Refugees do not ask for power over the US military; they do not request our warplanes. They ask for help. They do not even ask for us to send them aid; they came to us for it. If we are willing to provide military aid to people across the world, why are we so reluctant to provide essential, non-military aid to the people on our very doorstep?


OPINION

Page 10

September 17, 2014

Homecoming Tent Tradition

Mike Syku

Large Number of Seniors Barred Due to Age By JAMES DEMETRIADES STAFF WRITER

On Sept. 10, I was greeted by an “Invitation to the Homecoming Tent for the Graduating Class.” As a senior I was eager to read the invitation, yet I was dismayed to learn that the invitation only applied to those members of our class who are 21 years of age. The invitation repeats the age restriction not once but twice, reminding younger students of the Class of 2015 of their exclusion from an event the rest of their classmates can otherwise enjoy. The invitation is extended to alumni and graduating class members. In addition to alcoholic refreshments, it also features music and a barbecue. Students like me who are underage cannot enjoy the food and the music before the game. Other senior friends of mine, whose parents are alumni, were not able to enter the tent event with their parents because they were underage. This separation from our own class represents a huge source of discontent from the student body. James Polke, FCRH `15, said, “It was particularly frustrating to not be able to join my roommates and friends under the tent. I was not interested in drinking, but just sharing time with friends.” The major problem I find with the exclusion is the score of other events on campus where alcohol is served to students of age, within the same facility where underage students are located. Examples of this include the annual “Under the Tent Dance,” where a separated section features drinks for those students of age

MICHAEL REZIN / THE RAM

Attending the homecoming tent is a tradition for seniors, but seniors under the age of 21 are barred from entering.

while allowing everyone to enjoy the music and food. Another excellent example is the Annual Greek Dance where parents and students of age can get alcohol from an open bar, and where no notable separation exists. The bartenders simply ask for student and parent IDs twice. When you enter the facility for the Greek Dance, you receive a drink bracelet if the event staff verifies you are of age, and again when you are at the bar. One possible explanation is that it is campus policy to restrict the exposure of minors to alcohol, yet the Greek Dance, as well as many senior nights, demonstrate opportunities where students of various ages are in the same room. The fact that the Office of Student

Leadership and Development put on numerous Senior Nights where underage students can be in the presence of alcohol demonstrates an exception to the policy. Another explanation is that Sterling, the caterer, does not allow underage individuals to be in the presence of alcohol. Sterling is a national catering company that caters private parties and weddings. At these events, however, they card at the bar and no doubt the vast majority of these events have guests of many ages, legal drinking age and not. New York City legalities do not allow those under 21 into bars, yet they are allowed in restaurants or pubs where alcohol is served. This begs the question: what is the classification of the Homecoming Tent?

Is it an alumni buffet with some beverages, or a homecoming bar? If it does present itself as a mixed food and drink service location, then there is no feasible reason that students of the senior class should be denied buffet service at the tent if they pay their entrance fee. There are clear on-campus precedents which allow underage students to be in the presence of alcohol and the exclusion of seniors from these events is an insult to the trust the school places in us. Seniors have worked three years to enjoy their last homecoming with their classmates and should be given that opportunity. James Demetriades, FCRH ’15, is a history and political science major from Cromwell, Connecticut.

Ram on the Street Do you care about Fordham’s new college rank?

The new rank doesn’t matter as long as we’re still up there. They should really try to maintain a good rank though. — James Horoho, FCRH ’17

The rank matters because when you give your resume in to someone, you want to make sure your school is ranked higher because it makes your grades seem more impressive. — Jessica Mannino, FCRH ’17

The rank is important. We’re paying a lot of money for this education. I hope we move up in the rankings next year. — Alexis Williams, GSB ’15

Yes, it’s a good way to compare us to other schools and it helps us see where we are at on a national level. — James Decker FCRH ’17

Compiled by Felicia Czochanski, Asst. Opinion Editor Photos by Samuel Joseph, Photo Editor

Why Police & Citizens Are at War ‘Broken Windows’ policing is the theory that heavily patrolling urban areas and cracking down on low-level crimes, such as grafitti and shoplifting, will discourage the development of more serious crimes in the urban community. It also postulates that the main cause of serious crime is basic incivility in a city that creates a feeling of lawlessness and makes it seem more acceptable to commit a crime: think growing police forces and “stop and frisk” tactics. The theory, essentially, is predicated on the assumption that fear of being arrested will dissuade incivility and, eventually, serious crime. Why, then, are we dying in the streets? Why are we rioting? Why isn’t this method of policing working? Look no further than the basic thesis of the method itself: keep the people in line with brute force and fear. The coercive nature of instilling fear into the citizens of a city creates a war-like discrepancy between the people who think of themselves as the “protectors” and the people who view themselves as people just trying to mind their own business. Overzealous police who truly believe they are keeping their cities crime-free accost people several times a week. The citizens become aggravated as the massive amount of pressure and fear builds up day after day, generated by a system tailored to create as much fear as possible. They lash out, as people systemically oppressed are wont to do; a step forward, a raised voice, gesturing, pleading, screaming. Then, the police who have been trained to fear the civilians will react to that fear. They see knives where there were actually cigars. Guns where there were cell phones. They see a big man yelling and assume he will eventually attack. They, like all people, will protect themselves. They have guns, or numbers, fire or both, and they usually win. How can we stop these deaths? The problem is fear, paranoia and distrust. The only answer is mutual understanding. If cops understand just how oppressive it is to live every day in fear, and citizens understand how terrifying it is for police to risk their lives every day with no information, maybe we can dispel the fear and end the deaths of unarmed civilians. When every altercation is not clouded by the fog of fear, maybe civilians will not feel oppressed by the system and police will not jump to conclusions prematurely. When everything slows and everyone involved feels just a bit safer, maybe we can actually make our communities and our lives a bit safer.


CULTURE

September 17, 2014

Page 11

The Fordham Ram

Hopstop: A Useful Tool for Urban Settings

Students Take to the Floor for Annual Pres Ball

By ALLISON HOERSTER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Having moved from a relatively small suburb of Chicago to the vast, urban jungle that is New York City, I had worries about finding my way around the city using different methods of public transportation. The subway system is very confusing to me; it is not something you master overnight. It takes a lot of time and practice, beginning with learning the numbers and letters that correspond to where you are traveling. Now, if you are at all like me, you do not want to seem like a tourist in the main concourse of Grand Central Station, holding various train and subway schedules and looking very confused. I recently discovered a new app, HopStop, that put all of my concerns to rest. With the app, you are able to type your current location and destination into two search bars that appear on the screen. There are several ways of getting to your final destination, and you have the ability to choose between the subway/rail, a bus, walking, taking a taxi or riding a bicycle in order to do so. Once you choose the time you wish to depart, the app provides many routes from which to choose. For example, if I am currently at Grand Central Station and wish to end up at the Plaza Hotel, HopStop gives me several options with times and prices attached: a 6-minute taxi ride for $7, a 10-minute combination of walking and the 4 Train/R train for $2.50, a 19-minute walk, a 13-minute combination of walking and taking the M2 Bus for $2.50, the list goes on and on. The app also has full train and subway schedules and a ‘Live!’ feature that lets people write reviews about the different methods of transportation they use and whether or not they are running on time. I have used this app a few times and it has been a complete life saver in helping me navigate this amazing and bustling city.

REYNA WANG/THE RAM

At President’s Ball, both Rose Hill and Lincoln Center students gathered together at the Lombardi Fieldhouse to dance and socialize.

By AMINA BHATTI STAFF WRITER

The night of Sept. 12 was festive and frivolous as it pulsated with the beat of pop music into the wee hours of the next day. Students crowded into the large dark hall of the Lombardi Fieldhouse, dressed to the nines and full of energy and excitement. This was the scene of the 11th annual President’s Ball, which is open to Fordham students from all the university’s campuses, bringing them together as part of one large ramily. Sodexo catered a variety of snacks and beverages that were served at the event. Students could enjoy their food sitting at one of the many small round tables set up in the back of the room or head to the dance floor to move to the beat of the latest hits. It was a night full of merriment and memories. The President’s Ball is a tradi-

tion that began when Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, was inaugurated as the 32nd President of Fordham University and deemed it to be an event worth holding each year. Assistant Secretary of Fordham University Jennifer Nolan explained that the event originally took place at McGinley Center before it was moved to the Lombardi Fieldhouse to accomodate the throngs of students in attendance. “As many as 1,500-2,000 students come each year,” Nolan said. She pointed out the fact that the RSVP list several hours before the event kicked off already had 900 names. “People don’t always RSVP,” Nolan mentioned. Many people, generally more than what the list indicates, attend. The Ram Van, the intercampus tranportation service for Fordham, shuttles students from Lincoln Center to the ball and back. As with any event of its size,

the President’s Ball takes careful planning. Both the Office of the President, as well as the Office of Student Leadership and Community Development (OSLCD) coordinate to set up and run the ball. The ball usually takes place close to Homecoming for Fordham students. Last year, Nolan explained that the ball took place in October, so this year it was hosted relatively early. While the particular date of the ball is subject to change, certain traditions are kept as they prove popular with the crowd. DJ Cassidy is a great favorite with Fordham, as evidenced by his presence at the President’s Ball for the past few years. This year was no exception: Cassidy arrived to turn up the music and mix beats for the entertainment of all. Whether students wanted to take a break from dancing or were simply hungry, they had a circle of

tables full of food throughout the night to keep themselves energized or just stuffed. The selection of foods included various hors d’ouvres, chips, crackers, fruits, salads, sambosas, other fun finger foods and even desserts. The beverages included sodas, lemonade and iced water. While some students thoroughly enjoyed the party, others thought that the event could use a few changes. Ryan Khan and Kimberly Velasquez, FCRH ’17, agreed that “[the event] was fun, but there could’ve been better food and music.” Perhaps the essence of the ball was captured in the statement of another student, Tiffany McKay, FCRH ’17: “[While it was fun] the best part was seeing everyone have fun as well!”Overall, the special tradition of the President’s Ball has given the student body a night to remember and look forward to every year.

Your TV Binge Guide: Dexter At a glance: Genre: Thriller, Crime Drama Network: Showtime Seasons/Episodes: 8/96 Avg. Episode Length: 55 min Available on: Netflix, Showtime, Amazon Instant Video What it’s about: “Tonight’s the night.” So begins Showtime’s popular psychological thriller about a serial killer who kills serial killers, based on the book Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay. Michael C. Hall stars as titular character Dexter Morgan, a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department who uses his job to find killers who have slipped through the cracks of the law. Trained by his father at an early age to cover his tracks, Dexter maneuvers around his coworkers and loved ones to satiate his need to kill. At the same time, he finds himself struggling with his own nature, or “Dark Passenger,”

COURTESY OF AP

as he contemplates what he really wants out of his life. Why it’s so good: Despite being a criminal, Dexter’s mission makes him a perfect antihero. The psychological journey Dexter goes on as he attempts to understand his own psyche, while simultaneously trying to blend into normal society, results in an incredibly compelling character. At the same time, viewers are sucked

into the lives of the other members of the Miami Metro Police Department and their separate attempts to find serial killers at large in Miami. If you like crime drama, this is for you. Why you should binge it: Each season of “Dexter” has its own plot line, usually involving a new killer that has come to plague Miami. Dexter races against his coworkers to find the serial killer first, often resulting in

a heart-stopping thrill ride that lasts the entirety of the 12-episode arc. Even though the main plot of most seasons ties up nicely, the individual episodes blend into each other so effortlessly that arguably the best way to watch “Dexter” is a season per day. Standouts: Hall’s impressive, Golden Globe-winning performance completely captures Dexter’s charm and intensity. Likewise, Jennifer Carpenter is outstanding as Dexter’s ambitious and (in later seasons) often emotionally scarred sister Debra Morgan, who must deal with her own demons as she tries to work her way through the ranks of Miami Metro. As far as popularity goes, fans agree that seasons one, two, four and seven are the best of the series. Season one expertly sets up the intense, dramatic storytelling that fans of Dexter come to appreciate throughout the rest of the series. The other three seasons are known for their brilliant acting,

shocking twists and revelations and thrilling plot lines that are as psychological as they are filled with action. Potential Pitfalls: As the show winds its way toward a close, fans find themselves most frustrated by seasons six and eight. Season six is all over the place, with nonsensical subplots distracting from an already desperate overarching theme. That being said, season six has perhaps one of the best season finales of the show, raising the tension higher than ever before. That same redeeming quality cannot be said for the show’s final season, which seemed to drive so much potential into the ground, resulting in a finale that was incredibly disappointing for most viewers. I am not telling you not to watch season eight. I am just saying to brace yourself for an ending that does not compare to the show’s outstanding earlier seasons.


CULTURE

Page 12

September 17, 2014

A Guide For Your Grocery Shopping Needs By ROBERT FRERICH ASSISTANT COPY CHIEF

If dining hall food has already become unappealing, Fordham is fortunate to be a neighbor to many grocery stores and markets that can make your dreams of cooking a meal in your residence hall a reality. Compare Foods (421 E. 189th St. –Fordham Plaza) Compare is one of the largest grocery stores around Fordham and offers a much larger selection of canned, dry and frozen foods at a more reasonable price than many surrounding stores. Compare’s produce selection is rather limited and typically of lower quality than other stores, but for the basics you cannot go wrong. Bonus: Compare also has a deli in the front of its store. Modern Foods Center (2385 Arthur Ave.) 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Modern seems to be a Fordham staple for groceries; however, it lacks selection. Modern has excellent produce and cheeses, but its dry goods are sorely lacking. Though the store is clean and staff friendly, its location in relation to campus is a drawback for residents. Modern’s small size does not give space for a deli counter and, in combination with the higher prices, is not your best option for groceries. C-Town Supermarket (688 Crescent Avenue) Mon.–Sat. 7:30 a.m. –8 p.m. C-Town is the largest grocery store in the Fordham area, but lacks typical grocery store selection. Marketing more to Hispanic tastes, its products are not necessarily what you would expect to find at a grocery store, but its international options beat those of other grocery stores in

ELIZABETH ZANGHI/THE RAM

Modern Food Center is one of several grocery stores close to campus.

the area. It also carries a decent selection of frozen and canned foods, though not as extensive as Compare Foods. Its location at the end of Arthur Avenue also makes it a far trek for those on campus. Arthur Avenue Market (2344 Arthur Ave.) Home to the Bronx Beer Hall, this space contains one of the coolest Italian markets around. For the best selection of meat and Italian oddities, this market is by far the best choice for fresh, reasonably-priced food. The market also carries a great selection of fresh produce often directly from the growers. Extensive produce and Italian meat specialties define this marketplace. Borgatti’s Ravioli & Egg Noodles (E. 187th St. and Hughes Ave.) For the highest quality pasta around Fordham, you can never go wrong with Borgatti’s. Familyowned since 1935, The New York Times and others have called it the best pasta in New York City. Famous for their large ricotta ravioli and fresh egg noodles, the pasta is always fresh

Culture Shock | Natalie Sturgeon

Tattoos, Without the Permanence This fashion statement has rolled in and out of town for Lorde concerts. Vanessa Hudgens was seen wearing them at the famous music festival Coachella. You may have even seen them around campus. This new trend which I speak of is the infamous Flashtat. What is a Flashtat? A Flashtat is basically a temporary tattoo for adults. They come in different designs such as bracelets, necklaces, rings and even just random shapes to put wherever your heart desires. There are even some tattoos that are big enough to span from your midriff to chest, which are ideal for summer. The company Flash Tattoos has become very popular in the past couple of months, as they have continued to debut their designs during high-end fashion shoots and celebrity appearances. The different designs are displayed on a model so you have an idea of what will look best on you. The interesting twist to this online shopping experience is that, since they are temporary tattoos, Flash Tattoos allows customers to order tattoos in sets rather than just ordering one. As a consumer,

you pay between 20 and 30 dollars for the design rather than a specific Flashtat and the company will put together a care package, so to speak. Although this is a very prominent feature on girls and women everywhere, will it last? Will Flashtats be a fashion necessity or will it come in and out just as hair feathers did? Boho-chic clothing itself has been wildly popular for years now, but in this generation trends can become tired so quickly. As catchy and cute as these tattoos are, it is hard to match it with any style other than bohochic, which might make it harder for this fad to stick around. The popularity of these tattoos is definitely in its infancy — it is just hard to tell whether or not it will be a one-hit wonder or inducted as a classic. Regardless of how long we will be seeing it, it is safe to say that the buzz in the fashion world will be all about Flashtats as it makes its way across the United States. So if you’re walking to class and something glistens and catches your eye, have no fear: the Flashtat is here.

and delicious. Its limited hours are a drawback for Fordham students since it closes at 5 p.m. Teitel Brothers (2372 Arthur Ave.) Teitel Brothers carries Jewish and Italian specialties, ranging from some of the best olive oils to gourmet cheeses and pasta. One of the oldest remaining stores on Arthur Avenue, dating back to 1915, Teitel Brothers is a must-visit for serious cooks and Italian cuisine fans alike. Calabria Pork Store (2338 Arthur Ave.) Calabria Pork Store is famous for Italian sausages and has been proclaimed the “bourough’s sausage king” by SeriousEats.com. If you

dream of anything sausage, Calabria has it. Calabria also sells a delicious Italian version of pâté , good on almost anything. Biancardi’s (2350 Arthur Ave.) Biancardi’s is another great deli on Arthur Avenue that sells Boar’s Head cold cuts at a reasonable price. If available, San Daniele-brand cold cuts are excellent on sandwiches and are of a higher quality than the ubiquitous Boar’s Head. This deli also sells excellent pancetta (italian-style bacon) and freshly-butchered meats. Casa Della Mozzarella Deli (604 E. 187th St.) Casa Della Mozzarella is one of my favorite places to go on Arthur Avenue. Self-described as “the best mozzarella in New York City,” its claim just may be true. My favorite products are its prosciutto-infused mozzarella balls, bocconcini and imported parmigiano-reggiano cheeses. Calandra’s (2314 Arthur Ave.) Calandra’s is known for its large selection of cheese that some students argue is better than Casa Della Mozzarella. The two stores’ distinct selections complement each other, so there is no shame in stopping by both stores to fit your cheese needs. If you give Calandra’s a day’s notice, they will make fresh mozzarella specifically to your liking. Take advantage of this.

Cerini Coffee (2334 Arthur Avenue) For fresh and specialty coffee grounds and espresso, you cannot go wrong with Cerini’s Coffee, which imports its selection from Europe and South America in dozens of varieties and blends. Madonia Bakery (2348 Arthur Ave.) Personally, this is my favorite bakery on Arthur Avenue. It bakes up a delicious, addicting olive bread. For any and all types of bread, Madonia is your place. Tip: They also serve excellent, freshly-filled cannolis. Terranova Bakery (691 E. 187th St.) Known as the people who supply Tino’s with its heroes, this relatively unknown bakery is also an excellent option. Terranova’s sourdough and cicola breads are always fresh and delicious. This bakery also beats its competition in terms of overall selection, but is rather far from campus. Cosenza’s Fish Market (2354 Arthur Avenue) Cosenza’s offers fresh fish and other seafood options at its small market in the middle of Arthur Avenue. Cosenza’s sells excellent oysters and features an open-air raw seafood bar. The New York Times featured this market in a 2009 review and gave it high praise.

Editor’s Pick | Madvillian

Breaking Barriers, DOOM-style By JOSEPH VITALE MANAGING EDITOR

It is fairly difficult to document the history of a musical genre without taking inventory of the style’s “greatest hits.” One can hardly talk about the development of jazz, for example, without mentioning Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue. In the same way, few cannot chart rock music’s evolution without referencing Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon. For underground hip-hip, its classic is undoubtedly Madvillian, a 2004 album that united the forces of producer Madlib (Otis Jackson Jr.) and rapper MF DOOM (Dumile Jackson). Both suave visionaries, Madvillian was their only album, but after it was released, the genre would never be the same again. While the album achieved credible commercial success, peaking at number 179 on the U.S. Billboard 200, it is widely praised for its uncanny approach to all aspects of hip-hop: lyrics, instrumentals, composition and concept. Lyrically, the album explores some familiar hip-hop topics, but in MF DOOM-style. Taking on the character of Marvel Comic’s Doctor Doom, DOOM constructs a fictional character akin to a supervillain in a comic book. At once cartoonish and creative, DOOM makes use of alliteration and allusion, internal rhyme and double- and triple-entendre to entertain his listeners. “They just tryin’ to get a nut like squirrels in his mad world,” he raps in the song “Curls.” In the song “Money Folder,” DOOM raps, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone/After you who’s last? It’s Doom, he’s the worst known.” DOOM makes odd nerdy refer-

COURTESY OF ITUNES

Madvillian is an underground hip-hop classic that breaks stereotypes.

ences, oftentimes philosophical and religious, and does it all in relentless flows that put DOOM’s dark voice in a hypnotic meter. Instrumentally, Madlib exhibits a mastery of beat composition. Using samples across genres, including jazz and soul, he creates beats that are obscure but instantaneously entertaining. Not only are they creative, but many of the sounds on the album resemble a sort of worn-out, vintage feel. Listeners can hear the crackle of an old record or the hum of a lowresolution digital sample. The result is a sort of dust-coated feel that makes the record sound immediately nostalgic with every flaw and crack. Compositionally, many of the songs take on a linear form. However, even without a chorus, DOOM manages to describe small sketches with unifying detail in the songs. The song

“Fancy Clown,” for example, recalls a breakup experience DOOM has where he resorts to telling his exlover that he had committed adultery before she did. He raps about the Shearling bracelet he gave her, but now “I rather waste it or give it to your girlfriend.” In “Operation Lifesaver,” DOOM raps about a date he has with a girl who unfortunately has a case of halitosis. The small vignette tells of DOOM trying to force her to take a breath mint (a creative play on the popular candy Lifesavers). Conceptually, the album transcends the typical hip-hop egoism and glorification of violence. It is a different take that is more unique in its approach and more satisfying in its product. Few albums rival its creativity and approach to the sounds of hip-hop.


CULTURE Review | Music

September 17, 2014

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Young Star Delivers in Trendy Debut By CLAIRE KIM STAFF WRITER

The older I become, the more I compare myself to others my age. Often times, I choose not my peers, but people who are creating change, finding success in their passions and receiving the global spot light. Given the same number of years on this earth, why are they there, and I here? Last month, Troye Sivan, an Australian singer songwriter, released his first EP, TRXYE, which debuted in the Billboard Top 10. Like myself, Troye Sivan is 19. Sivan began his path in show business at the age of 12, when he received his first acting role as a young wolverine in the blockbuster film, X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Afterwards, he was featured in the Spud trilogy films, which were a hit in South Africa. However, his roles

COURTESY OF iTUNES

Choosing the Right Club for You By MEGAN BRONNER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The start of a new school year is full of expectations, goals and nerves. There are new classes, new professors, new friends, a new dorm and, of course, new activities to join. At the beginning of each semester, the majority of Fordham’s clubs take to Eddies to entice new members. Approaching the club fair is overwhelming. And yet, club participation is crucial to making the most of a college experience. In case you missed the club fair, here is a brief overview of Fordham’s clubs, to help you out. There are over 90 options, and hopefully one will suit you. Some clubs may have already begun to meet, but I have found that most clubs will welcome to new members at any point throughout the year. So, if something does not work out this semester, you can always go for it again in the spring. A large part of Fordham’s mission is service, and the school provides many service opportunities on its own. However, there are some unique clubs to bring out the inner saint in you. One service club is Fashion for Philanthropy. This service club benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York. FFP hosts several events throughout the year pertaining to a certain part of the fashion industry. If you are a fashionista with a big heart, this is a club for you. Contact fashionforphilanthropy@gmail.com if you are interested. If you are looking to play a major role in the Fordham community, then I suggest participating in one of Fordham’s larger and more comprehensive organizations. One such group is the Residence Hall Association. Members of this club seek to make living at Fordham a more pleasant experience and are a connection between residents and administration at Fordham. I suggest that you check in with your resident director or resident assistant for more information on running for a position on the RHA board. For fur-

ther questions, contact fordhamrha@ gmail.com. Another club at Fordham with a large student presence is Campus Activities Board. Members of this organization are responsible for creating and running most of Fordham’s events, including Spring Weekend. CAB application can be found on orgsync.com and are due Sept. 19 at 5 p.m. If you are looking for a club pertaining to a particular major or concentration, Fordham boasts over 20 different academic clubs. One example is the Economics Society, which is a great

or via their Facebook page: Theatre Dorks. You can also take a look at Fordham’s oldest club, The Mimes and Mummers. The club puts on four shows a year. For more information, head to their website, http://www.themimesandmummers.com. Lastly, if you are looking to write, Fordham has several publications you can join. First, there is The Ampersand, Fordham’s literary club, which produces the magazine The Vagabond. If you are interested in joining, contact

Students visit tables at the Club Fair during Welcome Week.

club to join for people majoring in economics or finance. Members will learn about real life economic situations through various activities including trips and guest speakers. For more information, membership and other questions email econsociety@fordham.edu. If you are looking to get in touch with your native culture or interested in learning about a new one, Fordham has 13 cultural clubs, from Asian Cultural Exchange (ace@fordham.edu) to Insieme (fordhaminsieme@gmail. com) and other cultures. If you are looking to showcase your performing arts skills, there are 13 clubs that will allow you to do just that. Fordham Experimental Theatre is a great club to check out for all areas of theater. FET is entirely student run, and whether you are a director, actor, producer, technician or writer, there is a position for you at FET. They can be contacted at, fet.blackbox@gmail.com

SAMUEL JOSEPH/THE RAM

Fordham.ampersand@gmail.com. Mode Magazine, Fordham’s beauty and lifestyle magazine, started last fall. Contact editorialmode@ gmail.com to get involved. If you are looking to report on campus happenings, you can write for the publication you are holding, The Fordham Ram. Stop by McGinley B-52 on Tuesday nights or contact a specific editor if you are interested. Staff emails are listed on fordhamram.com. If you have not seen anything appealing in this article, check out a comprehensive club list at orgsync.com. If you are looking for more information about a certain club mentioned here or on Fordham’s website, I suggest you check if they have any social media pages. If you are interested in starting your own club, email usgops@fordham.edu for more information.

in these movies were not the most significant way he was able to reach stardom. His online presence gave him the audience which would later give TRXYE the traffic that it received. “Online presence:” a term foreign to the previous generation and the same term that is being linked to almost all up-and-coming talents today. Sivan is a Youtuber, one who uploads vlogs, sketches and covers of songs, sharing them with the viewers who subscribe to his channel. With a following of over two million people, Sivan has created a global fan base by sharing three to four minute videos that he creates in his bedroom with a webcam. Justin Bieber is another example of this newer type of fame. A record company picked him up after seeing his youtube videos. This online community is here to stay, and this new form of public-

ity and advertisement will soon be the only kind. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Youtube and Instagram are all sites where anyone can join and gain a following. They tap into this generations need for direct contact with their idols and shuts down the idea that famous people are somehow different from the average human being. Sivan’s five-song EP showcases the talent of this young musician. The songs are catchy, slow and reflect his social media background. Even in his songs and music videos, the influence from his online community is prevalent. The trendy electronic beats of his single “Happy Little Pill,” along with the muted colors in the music video, hold direct correlations to the illustrations and artwork on Tumblr. Sivan’s story reveals of a new type of fame, one that will shape and change the industry of stardom.

Around Town | Anna Creatura What: Central Perk Neighborhood: SoHo Address: 199 Lafayette St.

Since the early 2000s, pop-up shops have existed as a way to stir up buzz for a brand, market a new product or even sell seasonal merchandise. This September, a very unusual shop is becoming a temporary addition to the New York scene. The cafe from the popular ‘90s TV show “Friends,” The Central Perk, will be open for business for a month this fall. The idea of a pop-up is fairly recent and has been gaining popularity. Brands have used these temporary retail spaces in a variety of ways: sell any product that is in limited supply, to provide a permanent, affordable retail space or to target a limited demographic. In a world where retail is on a slow decline, pop-up stores continue to be a revolutionary way to keep customers shopping. While merchandisers primarily use pop-ups, this trend extends further than the retail world. One of the more notable and unique pop-ups is the Le Diner en Blanc. Originally started in Europe, participants dress all in white, bring chairs and tables and congregate to enjoy a fancy picnic together in the park. This year, more than 5,000 New Yorkers participated. It’s more of a pop up party than anything else. Another use for the pop-up idea is a temporary tourist attraction which generates buzz for a new show, like HBO did when they brought a pop-up “Game of Thrones” museum to Manhattan last year. The exhibit included original set pieces and costumes from the show, and even allowed fans a photo op on the iron throne. This pop-up engaged current fans and created interest for the new season. The Central Perk pop-up is a

tourist attraction, a cafe and a party all at once. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show’s premier, Warner Bros. and Eight O’Clock Coffee are teaming up to bring this fictional cafe to life. Fans of “Friends,” both old and new, will be able to enjoy coffee and sit on the actual orange couch used in the show. Visitors will also be treated to live music, including renditions of Phoebe’s songs, like “Smelly Cat.” “Friends” ran for 10 seasons, from 1994 to 2004, and is one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. It was nominated for 62 Emmy awards and won in 2002 for Outstanding Comedy Series. More than 50 million Americans watched its final episode, making it the most-watched episode of the decade. More than just a TV show, “Friends” had a large impact on American culture, much like “How I Met Your Mother” has done for our generation. Maybe in 10 years they will open up a MacLaren’s pub on the Upper West Side. The Central Perk pop up cafe will open on Wednesday Sept. 17 at 199 Lafayette Street, and remain open until Saturday, Oct. 18. Be sure to stop by for a coffee and a photo! Other notable pop-ups this fall include: The Endless Summer Vegan Pop Up: New York’s only all-vegan market — Sept. 21, Oct. 11, Nov. 15, Dec. 6 and Dec. 20 at the Pine Box Rock Shop in Brooklyn. Et Tu Tutu: Create your own TuTu — Sept. 18-20 at The Market NYC. Street Artist Pop-Up Tour: Support Artisans from Haiti and the Dominican Republic—Sept. 26 in Greenwich Village.


CULTURE

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Who’s That Kid? | Tara Minogue

Letters | Ask Emma

An Aspiring Broadway Star By RICHARD BORDELON OPINION EDITOR

Not all high school students can say they have sung the National Anthem center ice before a National Hockey League (NHL) game. But for four years before college, that was an average day in the life of Tara Minogue, GSB ’15. Minogue, a Buffalo, New York native, was the regular anthem singer for the Buffalo Sabres throughout her high school tenure. She also performed for the Bills. After high school, however, she decided that it was time to take her 1000-watt voice downstate. Already an accomplished singer in her own right, Minogue knew she wanted to be in the performance industry. New York seemed like the most logical place to go. “I wanted to be in New York,” she said. “I just knew that’s where I wanted to be.” Minogue’s family connections, however, pushed her to spend her college life at Rose Hill. “My grandpa grew up in the Bronx, he went to Fordham Prep and then he went to Fordham,” Minogue explained. “So it was his dream for one of his grandkids to go to Fordham — he kind of pushed it on me. But when I visited, I just fell in love with it. It was one of those things where it just clicked and I knew I wanted to be here.” Known for her signature alto belt, Minogue has appeared on the Fordham stage a number of times since her freshman year, from Urinetown to Next to Normal to Nine and now the upcoming production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. In both the Mimes and Mummers and Fordham Experimental Theater, she has played a variety of roles, including one of her all-time favorites: Natalie, in Next to Normal. “That is my favorite show that I have ever been in,” Minogue explained with a smile. “Playing Nat-

COURTESY OF TARA MINOGUE

Minogue played Liliane LaFleur in Nine with Mimes and Mummers.

alie was the first time that I had ever played a role my age. Usually I tend to get cast as the obnoxious, older, occasionally black diva,” she said with a chuckle, “which I am totally cool with; those roles are a blast.” Her other favorite role is Muzzy in Thoroughly Modern Millie, a diva in her own right. “I love playing the diva and doing those big, belty showstopper songs and just acting like a fool on stage,” Minogue said. “Occasionally I get to do accents and they’re just fun.” Minogue has also pursued the many performing opportunities in Manhattan that come from going to school in New York. She works at the world-famous Ellen’s Stardust Diner in Times Square, singing, performing and waitressing. In addition, she has appeared in a few concerts at 54 Below, a Broadway nightclub, where she performs with stars of that year’s significant plays and musicals. “I’m so thankful, but I’m still confused,” Minogue said of performing at 54 Below. “It’s a blast.” She has also used her talents to

September 17, 2014

bring smiles to the community. For three years, she has sung for the retired Jesuit priests in MurrayWeigel, right off-campus. “They love Broadway,” she said with a grin, “so we come in and sing all their favorite Broadway songs.” After she graduates in May with a business degree in marketing, Minogue hopes to keep singing and living her performing dream. “Once I graduate, I am going to spend some time in the city and see what I can do as a singer/actress,” she explained. Minogue, however, has a practical undertanding of the performing industry. “I’m gonna give myself a set amount of time to see if it takes me somewhere,” she said. “I’ll kick myself if I don’t try the singing/acting route first.” Constantly taking acting, voice and dance classes to improve her already tremendous talent, she keeps auditioning, hoping to one day secure one of those prized Broadway contracts. And who knows? Maybe we will see her name above a marquee very soon.

Dear Emma, I broke up with my boyfriend last week and I thought I would feel much better because every time I saw him I got a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I was hoping this would go away, but I still don’t feel good about it. Before, I wanted to be single and spend more time with my friends, but now I just miss him. Maybe I’m just used to talking to someone every day and I don’t actually miss him but it sucks. I don’t know how I feel and I have to pick a side because I’m hurting him. Split Dear Split, I understand that you feel like you miss him now but the fact is that that feeling was there before and you couldn’t ignore it. You addressed it and you did what you felt was best at the time and that’s all you can do. You should ask yourself, “Would I feel better if we were to get back together?” Probably not. Everybody wants somebody there all the time. Break-ups are tough because cutting somebody off that used to be a part of your daily life is heartbreaking, regardless of whether or not you want the break-up. I normally don’t advocate keeping an ex in your life for any reason, but I don’t see why you can’t talk every now and then to catch up. Depending on your situation, this might be unfair to ask of him, but other than that I don’t see why not. Your break up seemed civil enough. If it’s meant to be it will happen in the future, but right now you have to acknowledge that feeling in the pit of your stomach and do what’s right for yourself. Emma Dear Emma, I have a huge crush on my best friend’s ex. They only hooked up once but she really likes him and he has no idea. He flirts with me all the time and he confessed to me last week that he has had a crush on me for a while. The rest of my friends think we would be a cute couple but I could never do that to her. I just don’t know what to do. Bad Friend Dear Bad Friend, First of all, you are not a bad friend. You say you could never do that to her which is very respectable. A lot of girls at this school have forgotten what “girl code” is; girl code is words to live by, ladies. If you have serious feelings for this boy you should talk directly to your friend. Many people make the mistake of talking to everybody but their friend about situations like this, and it always gets back to the friend and always makes things worse. Don’t make the same mistake. If you have a little crush on him, do your best to let it go. Avoid him, or even better, put in a good word for her. Stick with the girlfriends over boyfriends card. Boys come and go, but your girlfriends are important. Emma

Have a question for Emma? Send them to fordhamramaskemma@gmail.com

Review | Movie

A Disappointing and Dull Revival for Long-Time Fans By NICOLE PIERI STAFF WRITER

The highly-anticipated Lifetime movie The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story was meant to shock viewers with its tales of scandal, teen substance abuse and backstage secrets of the popular ‘90s tween sitcom “Saved by the Bell.” Yet, the cable movie accomplished none of these things and instead remained just as squeaky-clean as the original series. Loosely based on Dustin Diamond’s 2009 book Behind the Bell that revealed the former cast member’s controversial stories about the hit show and its six young stars, this behind-thescenes movie attempts to show what really happened when the cameras were not rolling in Bayside High through the perspective of Diamond, who played the beloved nerd, Samuel “Screech” Powers. There are a few treats in store

COURTESY OF MOVIEDB

This unauthorized movie remains surprisingly squeaky clean.

for loyal fans of the television series. Dylan Everett as Zack Morris does the iconic “time out,” and Tiera Skovbye as Elizabeth Berkley acts out the infamous “I’m so excited, I’m so excited, I’m so scared” scene. The biggest delight is hearing Dennis Haskins’s spot-on impression of Mr. Belding. Diamond, played by Sam Kindseth, is the youngest and dorkiest of the gang. The cast ignores him, while the producers do not give him the same star treatment that everyone else receives. In response to his unpopularity, Diamond begins to hang out with an extra who introduces the naïve teen to a world of rebellion that includes getting drunk at a mall signing (a scene that is only recounted to viewers and not shown) and being caught on tape smoking pot. And that is about as scandalous as the movie gets. Diamond’s Behind the Bell is littered with stories of inappropriate relation-

ships between cast members, extras and even some producers and NBC executives. The book also mentioned a specific instance in which the cast was ironically getting high during the filming of the famous anti-drug episode. The movie, however, plays it safe and shows us the innocent love triangle between Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Lark Voorhies, played by Taylor Russell and TiffaniAmber Thiessen played by Alyssa Lynch. Julian Works, as Mario Lopez, flirts with fans while Berkley concentrates on bettering herself as an actress. Additionally, none of these young actors resemble the original cast that they are supposed to portray. Nevertheless, The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story was disappointing and dull, especially to a big “Saved by the Bell” fan like me. If you want a juicier story, skip the movie and watch the Zack Attack mockumentary episode instead.


CULTURE

September 17, 2014

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Accessible Fashion Week Trends in Women’s Style By NICOLE HORTON CULTURE EDITOR

For spring 2015, fashion designers reverted to classic styles and silhouettes while also utilizing new trends and keeping with recent ones. Whether it was the pictures of the many celebrity arrivals, new trends or your favorite designer’s show, New York Fashion Week has provided many buzz-worthy moments to discuss. Arrivals from the stars of the fashion world showed that the attention was not only on the runway. Kendall Jenner, who represented Marc Jacobs, Diane Von Furstenberg and Tommy Hilfiger, held her own on and off the runway. At Victoria’s Secret’s “Angel” book signing, she appeared in a simple black, long-sleeved top and studded black miniskirt. It showed off her legs and blended seamlessly together as if it were a dress. At Rag & Bone, J. Crew Creative Director Jenna Lyons posed with “Girls” star Allison Williams. Williams went for the understated minimalist look that is becoming increasingly popular in fashion. She donned a sleek, understated white frock with black heels. In addition to a whitebased ensemble, Lyons mixed prints with a blue-striped white top and an animal print clutch. Mixing prints was a noticeable trend on the runway, proving “matching” is not always important. The basic dress or shirt dress was a popular example of the new trend toward simplicity. A crisp white dress shirt could be found everywhere, including Linda Fargo from Bergdorf Goodman, and Carolina Herrera, who looks to achieve timeless fashion moments. Herrera is known for dressing stylish first ladies such

as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Michelle Obama. Oversized black polka dots popped up on varying shades of white tops and dresses in Marc by Marc Jacobs. Polka dots can add a fun touch to basic dress shirts and blazers for spring. In time for New York Fashion Week, color experts at Pantone have released their report on the hues they predict will be hot in spring 2015. For women, some of the popular colors include: aquamarine, lucite blue, scuba blue, classic blue, toasted almond, tangerine, custard, marsala and glacier gray. For men, trendy color predictions include: dusk blue, treetop, classic blue, toasted almond, sandstone, titanium and marsala. For Herrara’s collection, she went for a bold, romantic red floral flair in the form of skirts, gowns and crop tops. Floral patterns, in the form of a giant angular flower or a smaller busy print, were also heavily featured. Yellow appeared to be a big color for spring, especially in muted tones. Milly’s Michelle Smith utilized energetic pops of color, like poppy red and yellow, to contrast a black and white base. Carolina Herrera, Nanette Lepore and Tracy Reese also utilized variants of yellow. Mesh was an omnipresent new trend seen in many collections. It was in skirts at J. Crew, used in dresses by Alexander Wang and Milly by Michelle Smith and as an embelishment at Reem Acra. In addition to adding a cool edge to neutral or colorful dresses, it also shows how high-end fashion is embracing athletic wear. This is also evident in shoe choice, as chunky sneakers and sandals were used to dress down long skirts and dresses.

AMY SUSSMAN/AP

Kendall Jenner makes a stylish appearance at an “Angel “ event.

Another accessible trend that epitomizes glitz are sequins. British designer Jenny Packham, a favorite of the Duchess of Cambridge, showed lots of sparkle. She had a unique take on a white top that shined for evening. Victoria Beckham’s line took a break from clean black and white silhouettes to feature a long black sequined skirt.

For anyone whose closet features countless options in black, you can rest easy. All black ensembles made an appearance in many different shows — spring be damned. Pleating also functioned as a luxe detail when utilized in accenting tops and jackets. Many of Victoria Beckham’s dresses and tops featured a gold chain across

the waist or on the side, which added a sophisticated touch and a subtle pop of color. Gold chained belts are an easy way to switch up an outfit or add as a statement piece in the spring. Broken glass and mosaic patterns were a unique trend this year in up-and-coming designer Jonathan Simkhai and Christian Siriano’s shows. Siriano’s set played with transparency; it is said that he was inspired by Sergio Redegalli’s glass sculptures. It should be interesting to see if this new idea translates into widespread spring fashion. The peek-a-boo trend was all over for Fall Fashion Week, and it appeared quite frequently in the form of cutouts for evening gowns and crop tops paired with pants or flowing skirts. Next to twerking and ice bucket challenge videos, crop tops may arguably have had the same amount of exposure — whether it is on the street, runway or red carpet. Carolina Herrera, Nicole Miller and Alexander Wang are just a few of many designers who utilized this trend. Even Victoria Beckham, whose style is not overly trendy, featured a few gowns with sheer cutouts. It is apparent in the Spring 2015 collections that timeless trends will have staying power, such as clean black and white silhouettes. As neon colors have departed from the runway, a debate has emerged about the “hot colors” of spring, which may be yellow, poppy red or aquamarine. Some trends will continue, like the sometimes contested crop top, and new ones such as mesh or gold chains will be introduced. Whatever your fashion taste may be, Spring 2015 offers many trends and accessible buys straight off the runway.

Want to see your photos published in The Fordham Ram? Shoot us an email! fordhamramphotos@gmail.com


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Homecoming 2014

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September 17, 2014

SPORTS

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The Fordham Ram

Men’s Soccer Tops Manhattan, Ties NJIT By TARA CANGIALOSI WEB EDITOR

The Fordham men’s soccer team was back in action this past week in matches against cross-town rival Manhattan College on Wednesday, Sept. 12, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Saturday, Sept. 13. After a scoreless first half in the annual Battle of the Bronx, Fordham netted three second half goals to top the Jaspers 3-1. The win was the seventh straight against Manhattan for the Rams, improving their overall record against their Bronx counterpart to 9-0-1 in the teams’ last 10 meetings. “Getting wins against Lafayette and then Manhattan were huge for us,” senior goalkeeper Sean Brailey said. “Being able to come back after a long weekend on the road and respond with two wins at home really got some belief and energy back into the team.” The first half of the game was slow, with neither team controlling the possession or getting any significant opportunities. Several fouls were committed and free kicks were given, but none were converted for goals. Just seven minutes into the second half, Fordham got a break following sophomore defender Andy Hickey’s corner. Manhattan’s goalkeeper, Alex Coates McDowall, fumbled the ball

MARIA ANCONA/THE RAM

The Rams look to continue their winning ways against Temple on Wednesday.

as it came across the field, parallel to the goal line. His attempts to retrieve the ball were futile, as the Rams’ sophomore forward Jon Agostino finished the ball into the back of the net, putting Fordham ahead 1-0. Manhattan’s comeback attempt was stunted eight minutes later, when freshman Joe Hulme was red carded and sent off the field, leaving the Jasper’s down a player for the remainder of the game. In the 73rd minute, the Rams took advantage of their extra player. Hick-

ey sent another sailing cross from the corner, this time headed by freshman Matthew Lewis. The ball was deflected, and the Rams’ senior forward and goal-scorer, Andrew Penfold, finished the shot with an easy tap-in, putting Fordham up 2-0. Just when the Rams thought they had won, Manhattan scored a penalty kick two minutes later, due to a Fordham handball in the box, bringing the margin back to one goal. However, it was Penfold who solidified the win for the Rams. In the 78th

minute, he cut the ball to the middle of the field and dribbled toward the net. From 25 yards out, he rocketed a strike to the right of Manhattan’s keeper, finishing the shot beautifully. The Rams held the Jaspers for the remainder of the game, ultimately winning 3-1. In the process, Penfold became the first Fordham player to have two multi-goal games in the same season, since Brian Borrhello registered three in 2002. “As the season progresses, I hope to continue to improve my in-game fitness and chemistry with my teammates,” Penfold said of his own play. “Apart from that, my main concern is helping the team be successful.” Three days later, the Rams looked to bring the same energy to Newark, New Jersey, where they would face the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). After a long game and two overtime periods, during which neither team would score, the Rams managed to tie the Highlanders 1-1. With the tie, both teams move to 2-2-1 on the year. “The effort against NJIT was great,” Brailey said. “They ended up tying the game, but the guys battled for the entire 110 minutes we had to play.” Though Penfold did not score, he did set up the goal that would put Fordham ahead 1-0 in the 29th

minute. With a perfectly placed pass through the left side of the box, Penfold hit a running Jannik Loebe, a freshman, who finished the score with his first goal as a Ram. “Scoring my first goal for Fordham was a great feeling,” the German-born Loebe said. “The way of playing soccer here is different than in Germany... but with every training session and match it’s getting better.” The Rams almost had it won until the 80th minute, when the Highlanders’ Marko Drljic headed in a cross to even the score. Though both teams scrambled for a goal in the remaining minutes, and into the two overtime periods, neither could find the back of the net, much to the credit of both teams’ goalkeepers, Brailey for Fordham and Foust for NJIT. Despite the tie, the match was a positive showing for the Rams, and they will need to bring the same offensive energy and urgency in the upcoming games. “On Wednesday (against Temple), we just have to go in with the same attitude and belief we’ve had these past games,” Brailey said. “We know if we play to our fullest potential it will be hard to beat us.” The team’s next game is on Wednesday, Sept. 17, when the Rams will host Temple University on Jack Coffey Field at 4 p.m.

After Eight Losses, Volleyball Women’s Tennis Kickstarts Season Blanked Again at Hofstra By HANNAH ROESLER

By ANTHONY PUCIK ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham lost in straight sets to Stony Brook on Tuesday, Sept. 9, dropping to 0-8 on the season. They then traveled out to Hempstead, New York over the weekend to participate in the Hofstra Invitational to face Hofstra, Sacred Heart and Siena. The team’s first game was against the host Hofstra University Pride on Friday, Sept. 12. Hofstra came out strong, jumping out to an early 6-2 lead in the first set. The Pride then scored six unanswered points to go up by 10, and eventually won the first set 25-8. Hofstra started the second set in a similar fashion and jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but the Rams went on a 7-3 run to tie it up at seven all. The back and forth play continued throughout the set. Fordham scored four points in a row after a Hofstra score to make it 11-8, then Hofstra went on a 8-5 run to tie it at 16 all. It was 19-18 Hofstra when the Pride scored six unanswered points and went up two sets to none, winning the second set 25-18. The third set featured Fordham jumping out to an early 3-0 lead, but Hofstra tied it at seven and did not look back from there. A 12-3 run by the Pride put them up 19-11, and Fordham tried to muster up a comeback. It was too much for them to overcome and Fordham dropped

the set 25-16, and the game. Junior Brennan Delsing led the way for the Rams with five kills in the game, junior Abigail Konovodoff had 15 assists and junior Grace Muller had six digs in the match. Fordham’s next match was Saturday, Sept. 13, against the Sacred Heart University Pioneers. The first set was knotted at eight all, but Sacred Heart went on a 12-4 run to go up 20-12. The Rams rattled off five straight points to pull within three, but the Pioneers ended up holding off Fordham’s surge, winning the first set 25-19. The second set was also tightly contested early before the Rams went on a six point run to go up 10-6. The set was eventually tied at 15 all, then Fordham went on yet another long point scoring streak. Seven straight points gave the Rams a 22-15 lead and the eventual 25-16 second set victory. In the third set, the Rams continued their play from the second set, jumping out to a quick 4-1 lead they never gave up. They went up by as many nine points in the set, and cruised to a 25-16 victory and 2-1 set lead. But, Sacred Heart woke up in the fourth set, getting a 7-2 lead early that it would not relinquish. Their lead peaked at eight, as the Pioneers rallied to bring the match to a fifth set, winning the fourth 25-17. In the fifth and final set, Sacred Heart built off their momentum from the previous set, going on a six point scoring streak to go up 9-3. From there,

Fordham only scored four points to the Pioneers’ six, and Sacred Heart took the set 15-7 and the match. Delsing once again lead the team in kills with ten, Konovodoff lead with 26 assists and Muller had 20 digs. Fordham’s final game of the tournament was against the Siena College Saints. The Rams took a 10-7 lead, but Siena came back to tie the set and 15, 17 and pulled ahead 2017. Fordham would once again battle back and tie the set at 24, but the Saints would score three of the next four points to win the opening set 27-25. Siena then continued its solid play into the second set, getting out to an early 6-2 lead. Fordham cut the deficit down to two, but that would be as close as it got. The Saints eventually took the second set 25-17. The Saints went for the sweep in the third set and once again jumped out to an early lead. Siena lead Fordham 7-3, then 11-4. The Rams brought themselves back to within five at 11-6, but the Saints would not let Fordham get any closer than that. They pushed their lead as high as nine at 22-13 and completed their sweep of the Rams with a 25-14 third set win. Delsing, Konovodoff and Muller remained atop the Rams’ stat sheet with 12 kills, 29 assists and 18 digs respectively. Fordham’s next chance to get its first win of the season will be at the Seton Hall Classic on Friday, Sept. 19. The Rams will start the tournament against Seton Hall at 6:30 p.m.

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

While most students were out enjoying the homecoming festivities, the Fordham women’s tennis team was busy preparing for its 2014-15 season opener. On Friday, Sept. 12, the Rams kicked off their season at the Stony Brook Invitational in Stony Brook, New York. Seniors Ellisa Ball and Sarah Ali played their opening matches of the season in the “A” doubles draw. Ball and Ali defeated Bryant 8-5 while Rams’ freshmen Estelle Wong and senior Julie Leong fell to their competitors 8-3. The “A” singles draw saw Ball and Ali record wins once again when Ali defeated URI’s Kathleen Uy 6-0, 6-1 and Bryant’s Marion Bouillin 3-6, 6-1 and 10-8, advancing to the semifinals. Unfortunately Ball lost her opening match to Bryant 6-1, 6-1 and once again to Navy in the back draw 8-7. Leong, playing for the singles “B” draw defeated a URI opponent, 7-6, 2-6 and 10-6 in her opening match and advanced to the quarterfinals. In the “C” draw Sa fell to Army 6-2, 6-4. Grunin topped Army 3-0 but fell soon after to Stony Brook’s competitive play 6-4, 6-4. Genkina and Novacek represented the Rams in the “D” draw and Novacek advanced to the semifinals. After Genkina’s opening round bye, she fell to Navy 6-2, 6-3. By the end of day one she stood in the back draw against Bryant. Novacek held wins

against Marist 6-3, 6-0 and Stony Brook 6-2, 6-1 and earned a spot facing Army in the semifinals the following day. After her winning streak on Friday, Ali advanced to the A flight semifinals, where she could not hold up against Army’s competition and fell 6-1 and 6-0. Leong won her B flight quarterfinal match against, Navy yet fell to Bryant 7-5, 6-0. Grunin was a force to be reckoned with, defeating Navy 8-4, Marist 8-1, and another Navy competitor 8-0. Genkina opened play with an 8-2 victory over Bryant and scored another win against Army 8-3. Genkina quickly advanced to the finals, where she defeated Fairleigh Dickinson University 8-0. On the doubles side, Genkina and Novacek fell to Navy 8-5. The Stony Brook tournament was a great way for a Rams to get a taste of what is in store this season. The senior leader Genkina, a standout performer this weekend, seemed to have no trouble facing the tough competition. “Our season started very early this year so unfortunately we only had a week to train beforehand. This tournament was a great opportunity to practice and warm up into the season,” said Genkina, a San Diego, California native. “Stony Brook, Army, and Navy are always strong teams that we face.” The Rams continue their season on September 26 when they open play at the Eastern Championships at West Point, New York.


SPORTS

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September 17, 2014

Orange Crushed Varsity Scores & Stats By MATTHEW MICHAELS STAFF WRITER

During Chris Davis’ career year, which included 53 home runs, people began to insinuate that he was using performanceenhancing drugs. Many casual fans assumed his increased power output at the age of 27 was the result not of a combination of hard work, luck and a fly ball swing, but due to his use of human growth hormones or steroids. They were right about one thing; he was using a banned substance. In 2013, Davis provided the Baltimore Orioles with a capable middle-of-the-order bat despite his 199 strikeouts. His 138 RBIs helped him lead the American League in two of the Triple Crown categories as well as earn third place in the MVP voting. While the Orioles have been defeating AL East opponents all season on their way to Baltimore’s first division title since 1997, Davis’s disappointing season has come as an unwelcome surprise to fans. An even bigger surprise came on Thursday, Sept. 11, when Davis was suspended following a drug test. Because this was his second failed test, MLB issued him a 25game suspension that will end his regular season. Davis will still be suspended for Baltimore’s first eight playoff games if they make it that far. His suspension was not for using a human growth hormone but for a more traditional performance enhancing drug; he was caught taking Adderall, a prescribed drug for Attention Deficit Disorder. Baseball players have a long history with amphetamines, an ingredient in Adderall. Until amphetamines were banned in 2006, big leaguers would pop green pills known as “greenies.” The “greenies” would help players focus and were thus considered a performance enhancing drug. MLB grants therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) to some players that apply to take a certain drug for treatment of a certain

disorder. Davis had a TUE in the past, but his exemption expired sometime before 2013, at which time he did not reapply. So, he could not legally take Adderall. When the ball started to look like a blur to him, Davis started using Adderall again so he could focus on the pitches. His suspension raises many questions, such as why players have to apply for a TUE every year and why Davis was no longer granted one even though he obviously qualified for it. Another is why Davis continued to take the banned substance after failing a first test and knowing the implications of a second failed drug test. The third question revolves around the Orioles’ World Series chances following the suspension. The former two are confusing matters that may not have an answer for a long time, but the latter is quite obvious. Davis was batting .196 and reaching base at only a .300 pace, so his bat was not doing much for the Orioles’ lineup out of the five spot. Manny Machado and Matt Wieters, two of the Orioles’ best position players, are out for the season. The offense will now rely even more heavily on outfielders Nick Markakis and Adam Jones as well as designated hitter Nelson Cruz. The rest of the offense will be comprised mostly of role players. None of the starting pitchers have had stellar years, but Chris Tillman has led the rotation well enough to give Baltimore a large lead in the division. The pitchers may be good, but they are unproven. Manager Buck Showalter will not feel comfortable with any of his options starting a decisive game. All in all, the Davis suspension is not a deal breaker to Baltimore’s push towards the World Series. We could not have expected Davis to perform all that well in the playoffs anyway. When Baltimore is eliminated from the postseason, it will not be because they are missing Davis; it will be because Baltimore was an inferior team to begin with.

Football Rhode Island 0 0 0 7 7 Fordham 14 3 30 7 54 (URI) M. Lowrie 13-29, 1 TD (FOR) C. Edmonds 4 TDs

Volleyball Fordham Hofstra (FOR) B. Delsing 5 kills (HOF) K. Wills 15 kills

Men’s Soccer Fordham 1 NJIT 1 GOALS: Loebe (FOR) 29’, Drljic (NJIT) 80’

Fordham Sacred Heart (FOR) G. Muller 20 digs (SHU) T. Kemper 16 kills

2 3

Fordham Siena (FOR) B. Delsing 12 kills (SIE) B. Flagg 29 digs

0 3

Women’s Soccer Fordham Iona GOALS: OG (NJIT) 77’

1 0

Citadel 0 Fordham 2 GOALS: Cannicatti (FOR)16’, Widmann (FOR) 61’

Water Polo Fordham Toronto

0 3

Fordham RV Bucknell

7 6

Men’s Cross Country LIU Post Invitational Brian Cook

1st- 24:52.01

Women’s Cross Country LIU Post Invitational 1st Brynna Harum 3rd- 18:47 Men’s Tennis Fordham St. Peter’s 3 10

Golf Rhody Invitational

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

4 3

3rd

Fordham 14 Washington & Jefferson 3

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

Chase Edmonds

Ally White

Freshman

Senior

Football

Soccer

The Corvias Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, Edmonds had 231 rushing yards, a freshman record and four touchdowns versus Rhode Island.

White was in net for a half in the Rams’ win against Iona and played the full game agianst Citadel. She improved her goals against average to 0.44 on the year and her record to 2-1-0.

News & Notes • Fordham cross country freshman runner Brian Cook earned Atlantic 10 Cross Country Rookie of the Week Honors this week after his performance at the LIU Post Invitational. In his first collegiate race, Cook earned the individual title at the invite with a time of 24:52.01. Fordham also came in first at the invitational. • Former Fordham Ram kicker Patrick Murray made a 36 yard field goal, had one blocked and made two extra points in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 19-17 loss to the St. Louis Rams. • Former Fordham Ram safety Isa Abdul-Quddus had one pass defended, eight total tackles and two solo in the Detroit Lions 24-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers. • The Fordham golf team finished third overall at +71 at the Rhody Invitational Monday afternoon. Senior Drew Dufresne led the way for Fordham, finishing seventh overall at +12 followed by senior Jeff Hogan and freshman Joe Trim who shot +19 and were tied for 13th.

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/theram_sports The Orioles need to play eight playoff games before Davis can make his return.

1st


September 17, 2014

Senior Profile: Jessica Widmann

SPORTS

Water Polo Makes History at Bucknell Invitational By ANTHONY ALI STAFF WRITER

ANDREW ESOLDI/THE RAM

Widmann had three goals and three assists in 17 games played last season.

By DREW CASEY STAFF WRITER

Jessica Widmann, an East Meadow, New York native, has helped the women’s soccer team to an impressive 6-1-0 start, scoring three goals and collecting two assists. The senior midfielder and defender is very excited about what the remainder of the season holds for the team. The Fordham Ram: It looks like you played four sports in high school. How did you decide to stick with soccer? Jessica Widmann: I’ve been playing soccer since I was three, so that’s stuck with me. In the back of my mind, I knew that was what I really loved. I just love to play. I’m competitive. I tried out basketball, lacrosse and track. I played them all. But I knew that I always wanted to play soccer in college, and it was just my favorite. I love playing. TFR: Can you tell me about your recruiting process and why you eventually chose Fordham? JW: I was playing on a travel team, and we were going to a few tournaments, and I had no idea where I wanted to go at all. And, then, the coach at the time approached me at one of the tournaments and said that he was going to be in touch. I came to campus and I just loved it. He brought me on a tour, and what’s not to love about this place? I decided academic-wise and for soccer that I just wanted to come here. This was the place for me, and it’s close to home so it really made the decision easier. It made my parents happy. TFR: The team is off to quite the fast start. Do you have any goals for the season (individual or team) other than scoring a lot of them? JW: Well, out of my three years here so far, we haven’t made it to the A-10 playoffs, so that’s definitely a goal for the team. We’re hungry for that, and we want to make it there. We’ve come so close each year that I think everyone’s working for it. And, I think that would be my personal goal too. I really want to make it to A-10’s this year and hopefully win that. TFR: As a senior, do you think that you’ve taken on more of a leadership role this season? JW: I would say yes. I think definitely being one of the oldest on the team, it just comes naturally. Everyone looks up to you. We have a huge group, and I think that all of us seniors take on a role of being leaders

in our own different ways. I think that being one of the older people helps in that. TFR: Two game-winning goals in the first five games — you’re doing something right. What’s been working for your game the first few matches? JW: We’ve definitely changed our style of play to be more possessionoriented, and I think that my teammates have helped me. My two goals so far have been purely from my teammates help, giving me the right balls and being in the right spot. I wouldn’t have been able to even score without them. The way we’re playing now, keeping the ball and looking for the right time to finally attack, has helped us. TFR: You’re listed as a midfielder and defender, but you can clearly find the back of the net. With that said, what’s your favorite position to play on the field? JW: It’s tough. I love defense. I love center back. I played there when I was growing up, so I think that will always hold a place in my heart. But, I’m liking playing attacking midfielder right now. I think it gives me the chance to go forward: something that you don’t get as a center back. It’s really hard to pick between the two. TFR: Do you have a favorite memory or story from your Fordham soccer career so far? JW: It would be my first game playing here. It’s close to home, and all my friends from high school came. They didn’t have school yet. We played a scrimmage against Iona, and it was my first time playing the college game. With all my friends and family there to cheer me on, it definitely was such a cool feeling. TFR: What’s your favorite thing about Fordham not related to soccer? JW: I would have to say the friends I’ve made here. Obviously, a lot of them are my teammates, but just all the people here are really nice and I feel like the relationships we have will continue on. And I think the academics here are great, so I would say those also. TFR: Do you have any plans after graduation? JW: I actually got hurt my sophomore year, so I redshirted and have a fifth year (of eligibility). I plan on using that fifth year, and I’m going to apply to grad school. I’ll stay here and play one more year, and then after hopefully get a job. That’d be nice. I’m definitely looking to go to grad school here after.

Page 21

The water polo team headed to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania this weekend to continue the momentum from a strong showing at the Navy Invitational last weekend. Going 3-1 in that tournament, the Rams sought to match that record or improve it at this weekend’s Bucknell Invitational against a group of tough opponents consisting of George Washington, University of Toronto, Washington & Jefferson and the host, Bucknell. The Rams suffered an early stumbling block against George Washington in their opener. With each team scoring twice in the opening quarter, the Rams managed to open up a lead, allowing them to go into halftime with a 5-3 lead. In the second half, the Colonials would manage to cut their deficit to one, by netting three goals in the third quarter to Fordham’s two. With the score at 7-6, the Rams conceded two goals in the final quarter of play, ultimately leading to the loss. Juniors Davis DeFontes and Patrick Lenihan each bagged two goals, while juniors Patrick Reyes and Andrew Gonzalez, along with sophomore R.J. Simmons, rounded out the scoring with one apiece. Senior Noah LeBeau, having earned his third Collegiate Water Polo Association Northern Division Defensive Player of the Week award, posted 10 saves. In its second match, Fordham rallied from its tough loss to cruise to an easy 10-3 victory against Toronto. Ending the first quarter of the game tied at 1-1, the Rams snapped the deadlock in an emphatic fashion by scoring the next six goals. Simmons would lead the scoring for the team, snagging three goals. Senior Eric Minowitz and junior Mike Hay added two each, with DeFontes, junior Landon Kern and junior Peter Bergum registering goals as well. LeBeau made four saves before being subbed out for junior goalkeeper Patrick Harrigan, who made a stop of his own in the fourth quarter. Going into Day Two of competition, the Rams came up against

Washington & Jefferson in the morning session, trouncing them 14-3. Starting off hot, they impressively netted six goals in the first quarter, each of which was scored by a different player. The Rams would later double that lead, adding two in the second quarter and another four in the third. They would add another pair of goals in the fourth quarter to complete the rout. Hay scored three goals to lead the team, while Minowitz, Simmons and freshman Cameron Shewchuck hit the back of the net twice. Gonzalez, Reyes and Bergum would continue their scoring runs by getting one each, with junior Bobby Wurtz and freshman Andrew Vandeventer getting in on the act as well. LeBeau would go on to get another seven saves in the first half, with Harrigan making three saves in one quarter of action. Freshmen Alex Jahns and Bryce Charles would split the final quarter of play in net with the former making one save. In the afternoon session, the Rams would go on to make history against a strongly favored Bucknell side, earning their first win in 33 years against Bucknell in a thrilling sudden death encounter. Fordham started off strong, with Gonzalez scoring twice in the first half and Simmons netting another to give Fordham a 3-1 lead at halftime. Minowitz and Simmons would add goals in the third quarter, widening their lead to 5-2. Bucknell would rally to pull themselves within one, making the score 5-4. Gonzalez

then added his third goal of the match to make it 6-4, before two goals from Jeff Hagen of Bucknell forced extra time. With neither team able to find the back of the net in three sessions of overtime, the game was forced into a sudden death period. Following what could have been a foul call against the Rams, Fordham quickly made their way down the pool where Bergum would draw a foul. As Bucknell coach John McBride expressed his displeasure with the call by throwing his water bottle, Lenihan would find Vandeventer off of the restart and the freshman would find the back of the net with his quick shot. The Rams would be led in scoring by Gonzalez, who bagged another three goals, with Simmons netting two and Minowitz netting one in addition to Vanderventer’s game winning goal. LeBeau made a phenomenal 15 saves and three steals, justifying his Defensive Player of the Week award. For Fordham, LeBeau continues to be a commanding presence in goal and seems to be continuing his exceptional form from his junior year. Despite temporarily losing Minowitz to a bloody nose, the Rams seem to be in good shape for their conference openers on Saturday, Sept. 20. The Rams start conference play with a double header against Connecticut College (0-2) at 1 p.m. and then against Brown (6-3) at 7 p.m. A stream for the Brown game can be found on the Ivy League Digital Network.

DREW DIPANE/THE RAM

Fordham’s 6-2 start is one of the best the team has had under Coach Harris.

Horschel Takes FedEx Cup By SAM BELDEN STAFF WRITER

In 2007, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem unveiled the FedEx Cup, a yearlong competition with a $10 million payout designed to reward the player who could best sustain excellence for an entire season. Since then, the trophy has gone to some of the most consistent golfers out there, so it has served its purpose well. However, there is nothing to stop a player from getting hot at the right time and winning the PGA Tour’s ultimate prize. That is exactly what happened this season. This past Sunday, American Billy Horschel, 27, won the Tour Championship by three strokes to claim the FedEx Cup and the large bonus that comes with it. He took full advantage of his position in the top five in FedEx Cup points and an opportunity to close out the ultimate

title with a victory. Jim Furyk and Justin Rose both had chances to play the role of spoiler on the back nine, but Horschel would have none of it, playing steady golf and sinking a par putt on the 16th hole to seal the deal. Most of the year was tough for Horschel, a former Florida Gator who notched just two top 10s in the regular season, but after missing the cut in the first playoff event, he tied for second at the Deutsche Bank Championship and won in back-toback weeks at the BMW Championship and Tour Championship. A notoriously streaky golfer, Horschel has now ridden one of his good runs to the biggest payout in golf. Last year, we saw his tendency to go hot and cold; he notched eight top 10s in 2013, but six of them came within a nine-week stretch. He still qualified for that year’s Tour Championship. Now, he has taken the next step and gotten hot at an even more

opportune time. Given the way that he’s been performing over the past few weeks, his confidence is through the roof and in golf, confidence leads to consistency. The FedEx Cup title is a huge accomplishment in itself, but now, the sky is the limit for Horschel. He should become a fixture on the leaderboards of the rest of the top events in the world, including the majors. He has surely made US Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson kick himself for not choosing him as a captain’s pick. By becoming just the seventh man to hoist the FedEx Cup, Horschel has changed the course of his career. His national profile has been raised to another level. He’s in for increased attention, as well as more appearances, both for the media and in tournaments. Uncharted waters may lie ahead, but he will be able to enjoy this week’s accomplishment for the rest of his life.


ADS

September 17 2014

e n eds m a ph R o m t a

Shoot an email to fordhamram photos@ gmail.com.

phers ra og

The Fo rd h

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SPORTS

September 17, 2014

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Golf Stuck In Rough at Colgate By SAM BELDEN STAFF WRITER

The Fordham golf team kicked off its season by placing 12th out of 14 teams at the Colgate Invitational. The tournament was held on Sept. 6 and 7 at Seven Oaks Golf Club in Hamilton, New York. Senior Jeff Hogan led the way for the Rams, shooting a score of 16 over par and tying for 25th place. He started the tournament solidly, notching back-to-back rounds of 75 in the first two rounds. He faltered in the third round, however, getting off to a sluggish start on the front nine before righting the ship on the back. It all added up to a closing 82. Despite not finishing as strongly as possible, Hogan was optimistic about his chances to shoot some low scores this season. “I’m disappointed with the way I finished, but I’m happy with where my game is at,” he stated. He was highly complimentary of the event itself. “The Colgate Invitational is one of the best tournaments we play in all year. The course is in fantastic shape and the tournament is well organized.” While the course may have been in good condition, more than one member of the squad spoke to its difficulty. “The course was set up to play very hard, long rough and very fast greens,” said senior Andrew Dufresne, who tied for 56th. These sentiments were echoed

by senior Ben Alcorn, whose tie for 33rd place was highlighted by a second round of 76. “The rough was thick and the greens were very fast,” he said. “I thought we underperformed.” The remaining Rams, Brian Engstrom and Fernando Morett, tied for 46th and 74th, respectively. In the end, Army was the winner of the tournament; all five of its players finished in the top 10. The medalist, however, was Ryan Allison of Colgate, who shot no higher than 73 in any of his three rounds. Despite a mediocre finish, the members of the Fordham squad expressed confidence, both for this year and for the future. “With four seniors on the team this year and a lot of tournaments under the belt, we can go out and put up some low scores and hopefully see some results,” said Dufresne. “With it being our last year of competitive golf, I think we will push hard to outperform some of our expectations and try to leave college golf on a high note.” Hogan is enthusiastic about the team’s prospects for future seasons. “I feel like with the newcomers, we have a lot of depth on this team, and the future looks bright.” Before that future comes, however, the Rams have some work to do this season, with the Adams Cup taking place on Sept. 15 and 16 and the Cornell Invitational this weekend.

By MAX PRINZ SPORTS EDITOR

Just before I started fourth grade, my family moved from Brooklyn to New Rochelle, New York. It was a town I’d never heard of before and the only point of reference I could give my friends about my new home was that it was “in Westchester.” I’ve now spent the majority of life in New Rochelle. I played Little League there and knew New Roc City just about as well as anyone else. I went to high school in New Rochelle. So did Ray Rice. While Rice’s alma mater, New Rochelle High School, is not my own, we are from the same city in Westchester County. I know exactly what it is like to grow up in the “Queen City of the Sound.” There is no one from New Rochelle more revered than Rice. June 15, 2013, was Ray Rice Day in New Rochelle. Rice, fresh off a

win in Super Bowl XLVII held a one-day football camp for young players in the city. Growing up, you were more likely to see a kid my age in a Rice jersey than a Jets or a Giants jersey. NRHS and the Baltimore Ravens both use purple in their uniforms, making a Rice fandom even more accessible. Youth football players all over New Rochelle heard Rice’s story. It doesn’t matter if people think you’re too small; just work as hard as Ray Rice did. You might expect me to tell you, because I’m from the same city as Rice, that I have a different take on his predicament than everyone else. However, I am just as appalled and horrified as anyone else by the tape of Rice and his wife in that casino elevator. In fact, I bet I am even more shocked than you are at that tape. I, like everyone else from New Rochelle, know all about where Rice is from, but I cannot imagine how he got to whatever place he was in

Men’s Tennis Starts Season on High Note By DAVID BALICK CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Men’s tennis officially began its season on a stron note this Saturday, defeating Saint Peter’s University 4-3. The contest began with Fordham winning two of three doubles matches, giving it the all-important doubles point in the overall team matchup. Freshman Pol Giraldez and senior J.J. Tauil came together to win their match 8-2 over Carlos Carrera and Oliver Bellomi. Freshman Joey Brander and senior Max Peara also played well in their match, which needed a tiebreaker to determine the winner. They won the tiebreaker 8-6, giving them an 8-7 match win and the

team the doubles win. On the singles side, the Rams won three of their six matches against St. Peter’s. Giraldez won both games in his singles match 6-4 and 6-3. Junior Pedro Alonzo also defeated his opponent by the same score. J.J. Tauil sealed the deal for the Rams, winning his match 6-4 and 7-6. The win for Fordham gives the Rams reason to be optimistic looking forward. They hope to continue the strong start at their next match on Oct. 3, when they will play in the Quinnipiac Invitational. Before that, however, the team will take part in Fordham Tennis Alumni Day on Sept. 20, when they will face off against former Rams in a day celebrating Fordham tennis both past and present.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Ray Rice intends to appeal the indefinite suspension given to him by the NFL.

Upcoming Varsity Schedule Home games in CAPS

Friday Sept. 19

Saturday Sept. 20

Sunday Sept. 21

Tuesday Sept. 23

Wednesday Sept. 24

at Columbia 7 p.m. at Stony Brook 2 p.m.

at Providence 7 p.m.

Men’s Tennis

FORDHAM ALUMNI 1 p.m.

Women’s Tennis

FORDHAM ALUMNI 1 p.m.

Cross Country

at Iona Meet of Champions 10 a.m.

Water Polo

at Conn. College 1 p.m.

Golf

Monday Sept. 22

at Columbia 12:30 p.m.

Men’s Soccer

Volleyball

Fordham will face Marist and Adelphi following the Quinnipiac Invitational.

Thursday Sept. 18

Football

Women’s Soccer

RAM ARCHIVES

that elevator. I’m upset and saddened that someone from my town could be capable of something like that. I don’t know what part of growing up in New Rochelle made him think that there was any justification for his actions in that elevator. It’s frightening to think that someone my city has idolized could get so lost, so far removed from his roots. In the wake of the release of that video, NRHS has joined many who have attempted to distance themelves from Rice. EA Sports’ Madden NFL announced that it was removing Rice from its everpopular video game. The school, not to be outdone by a video game, has removed plaques and photographs featuring Rice, who led the school to a state title in 2003 and held a state record with 462 rushing yards in a single game the following year. Pretending that Rice never existed seems silly to me. That is not what will make this situation better. If he truly wants the forgiveness of the football world, Rice must show that he can earn it. He must show that he clearly understands the gravity of his actions. He must gladly accept any punishment that is handed down from the league. He must join the many already speaking out against domestic violence and become a beacon of support for those who need it. The Journal News, the local paper in New Rochelle and Westchester County, reported that Rice returned home this past weekend and was on the sidelines for a NRHS football game. This is an important first step. For Rice to truly start to make amends, he will need a home that can serve as his support system. A home that is compassionate and kind. A home that will welcome him and help him as he attempts to right his wrong. I can think of no better place than New Rochelle.

at Seton Hall Classic All Day at Cornell Invitational All Day


SPORTS

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September 17, 2014

The Fordham Ram

A Victorious Homecoming: Fordham Defeats URI, 54-7 By MAX PRINZ SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham football bounced back in a big way this past homecoming weekend, using 654 yards of offense, a pair of 100-yard receiving days and 231 rushing yards from freshman Chase Edmonds to soundly beat Rhode Island, 54-7. This win, just one week after a very disappointing showing against No. 7 Villanova, was very important for head coach Joe Moorhead’s team. “I saw the team that I’m used to seeing,” Moorhead said after the game. “They gave great effort during the week in practice and we earned the right to come out here and have a chance to win.” The team bounced back in all aspects of the game. The running game, which gave a lackluster performance one week ago, was dominant. Edmonds broke his own freshman single-game rushing record, racking up 231 yards and scoring four touchdowns. Edmonds has turned in two spectacular games at Jack Coffey Field. “This team always says that we never lose at home,” Edmonds said. “At home we have the great fans and the great momentum.” The defense also turned in a great performance after a previous rough showing. Fordham recorded a defensive touchdown, a safety, picked off two passes and recovered three fumbles. Senior Ian Williams was the standout performer, picking off a pass and scoring a touchdown on one of the recovered fumbles. “The defense played great today,” Williams said. “It was a blessing how well we did out there and we’ve got to keep it up and continue to work.”

Coach Moorhead, too, expressed pride in the job his defense did. “I like our guys on the defensive side of the ball,” Moorhead said. “You can tell that they wanted to make a statement today.” Fordham started the game with a prime display of sloppy play. Senior quarterback Mike Nebrich’s first pass of the day was intercepted. Nebrich threw another pick before the first quarter ended and that, coupled with a fumble by senior Brian Wetzel on a punt return, gave Fordham three turnovers before the first 15 minutes had elapsed. After attempting to capitalize on the first turnover and driving the ball into the red zone, URI was poised to shock the homecoming crowd and take an early lead. However, a field goal attempt clanged off the upright and missed. That momentum swing turned out to be all Fordham needed to get back on track. Edmonds scored his first touchdown of the day with 2:48 remaining in the first quarter and never looked back. Sophomore linebacker George Dawson made a brilliant defensive play, diving for an interception on Rhode Island’s ensuing drive that set up Edmonds’ second score, a run from 10 yards out. Just like that, the scoreboard read 14-0. The second half was filled with more Fordham scores. Fordham scored its defensive touchdown on a sack that forced a fumble in the end zone. Williams tackled a URI ballcarrier in the end zone for a safety. Nebrich connected with senior Tebucky Jones for a 32-yard touchdown pass. Even Nebrich’s backup, senior Peter Maetzold, got in on the action, throwing a 39-yard touchdown to junior Tony Patrignelli late in the fourth quarter. It was a perfor-

SAMUEL JOSEPH/ THE RAM

Ian Williams was a standout performer against URI, intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble for a touchdown.

mance that delighted the home fans, but it was not, however, without blemishes. “It certainly wasn’t perfect today,” Moorhead said. “But that’s the team that I know and that I recognize.” One of those blemishes came in the form of penalties. Fordham was penalized 14 times for a whopping 153 yards. Many of those penalties led to stalled drives and punts. “You’re always concerned about penalties,” Moorhead said. “Certainly 14 is 14 too many.” Nebrich has yet to show some of the brilliant play he displayed last season. He has led the team very well through three games, but says he could still reach another level.

“I think it’s a work in progress still,” Nebrich said. “I still need to be better. I thought I threw the ball much better today, but there’s always room for improvement.” Still, this win was a huge one for Fordham. Back-to-back underwhelming performances might have spelled doom for the season, something the Fordham players and coaches were clearly aware of. “Obviously it got off the tracks a little bit last week and it was a performance that was unacceptable on every level,” Moorhead said. “We challenged them to hang our hats on the things we’ve been successful in two-plus years and that’s having a great practice week.”

Women’s Soccer Continues to Roll By DREW CASEY STAFF WRITER

Entering the weekend with a 4-1-0 record, the women’s soccer team continued its winning ways. On Friday afternoon it defeated Iona 1-0 and on Sunday the squad bested The Citadel 2-0. The two wins put the team’s winning streak at six, which is tied for the longest such streak in program history. The 2008 team also reached this mark, but was unable to get to seven consecutive victories. “What’s been working well is our style of play,” senior midfielder and forward Maria Lorena Canicatti said. “Trying to keep it to feet, pass it around, keep our composure— so we’re doing a good job of just staying calm.” After defeating LIU Brooklyn on Sept. 5, the team traveled a short distance to Iona’s campus in New Rochelle, New York, for a Friday matinee contest. Neither team mustered a shot on goal in the first half and the game remained scoreless until the 77th minute.

At that time Sydney White fired a shot that deflected off an Iona defender and ended up in the back of the net. The goal was officially an own goal, but proved to be enough to give Fordham the win. Megan Fitzgerald and Ally White combined for the shutout between the pipes, playing a half each. Fewer than 48 hours later, the team returned to the pitch for a matchup with The Citadel at Jack Coffey Field. Fordham fired off 20 shots, nine of which were on goal, and dominated the visiting Bulldogs. The Rams opened the scoring in the 16th minute after Bulldogs goalkeeper Naomi Carter made three early saves. Kate McDonnell’s shot struck the post, and Canicatti corralled the rebound and put the ball in the back of the net. In the second half, senior Jessica Widmann added her third goal of the season after Canicatti’s shot hit the crossbar. White earned the complete match shutout. The wins put the Rams at 6-1-0, the best mark to start a season in

ANDREW ESOLDI/THE RAM

The Rams are currently 6-1-0, their best start in school history.

Nebrich and Edmonds both spoke to the importance of keeping focused after the win. “Our sense of urgency,” Edmonds said. “That was a problem for us last week. We have to stay on track and stay focused every day.” “We lost track of the things that are right,” Moorhead added. “The lesson that we learned was a tough one. No one in that locker wanted to experience that loss again and we got back to doing the little things right.” Fordham football’s next test comes this Saturday against Columbia in the annual battle for the Liberty Cup, a matchup the Rams have won each of the past three years.

program history. The team is also perfect at home and is outscoring opponents 7-1 at Jack Coffey Field. “It’s that home field advantage,” first-year head coach Jessica Clinton said. “We sleep in our own beds. We know what we’re getting for the day. We’re on a certain timeline.” While the team is having such great success, they are poised to remain focused on its goals, which include staying perfect at home, improving on the road and qualifying for the Atlantic 10 Championship. “We just want to come out to training everyday looking to improve,” Clinton said. “There’s always room for improvement because each team that we play is different. It’s just knowing who our opponents are and what our strengths are and how we can improve and how we can break down other teams.” The team will look to make history and win a seventh consecutive game for the first time in program history on Friday night when the Rams visit the Providence Friars. They will then play on Sunday afternoon at Stony Brook. The conference season does not begin until October.


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