Volume 97 issue 18

The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham dh University Community Since 1918 Volume 97, Issue 18

October 28, 2015

FordhamRam.com

Task Force Releases First Report

By JOE VITALE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PHOTOS BY CASEY CHUN/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Following national movements for increases in minimum wage, Fordham students gathered in Duane Library on Tuesday to discuss lobbying for a living wage.

Adjuncts Protest for Better Wage in 2016

By KATIE MEYER MANAGING EDITOR

On Tuesday night, one Duane Library classroom played host to dozens of activists. Made up of students, professors and community representatives, they all hailed from different organizations — some from Fordham’s chapter of Faculty Forward, a national group dedicated to raising faculty wages; others from the university’s Fight for $15 group, another

national organization that aims to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour; and still others from Fordham Students United (FSU), a campus group that, on its Facebook page, calls itself an “intersectional coalition of student leaders, activists, faculty and alumni.

Others were unaffiliated, simply to give support. But they all had one message: workers in the U.S., from fast food workers to college faculty, deserve to be paid a living wage.

The student and faculty coordinators of the event dubbed it a teach-in.

“Many students don’t understand ex-

actly why we’re fighting for a higher living wage, and we’re hoping to show why,” said Julia Gagliardi, FCRH ’18 and a member of FSU. So then, why?

As the teach-in’s panel explained, they believe there are a number of reasons wages should be reconsidered across the country. The three panelists included Chris Brandt, an adjunct professor of communications and creative writing at Fordham, Hannah Jopling, an adjunct in the anthropology department and Jorel Ware, an employee at the

Times Square’s McDonald’s restaurant.

As Ware explained, the assembled groups are fighting to raise wages because they believe the cause is “all about being human.”

“Everyone,” Ware said, “wants to be human…you want to be able to take care of your families, you want to be able to make a living wage.”

Ware began campaigning for a $15 per hour minimum wage in 2012. At the time, he said he was “tired of wage theft, tired of not having unions [and] SEE ADJUNCTS, PAGE 6

IT Addresses Wi-Fi Issues

By ERIN SHANAHAN ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

As a result of the many wifi issues experienced by Fordham students around campus, Judith Rothschild, manager of Student Technology Services at Fordham University, addressed student concerns and potential solutions at USG’s public meeting on Thursday, Oct. 26. Rothschild reported Netflix as a primary cause for these problems. The online straming site uses 38.4 percent of Rose Hill’s internet link.

According to Rothschild, the main causes of the slow wifi connectivity include interference and lack of bandwidth.

Interference is caused by different devices competing for the same airspace. In her presentation to USG, Rothschild showed the Fordham wifi signal being overshadowed by other rogue device signals on all three channels.

According to Fordham’s IT Wireless policy, only devices such as computers, mobile phones and tablets are allowed to connect to the wireless network. Any other devices connected to the network are in violation of the the University’s WireSEE WIFI, PAGE 2

Fordham University “more than sufficiently meets” its legal requirements and, through its extensive campus programming, discussions and training sessions, “strives to create a culture where sexual assault cannot exist,” according to a new report by United Student Government’s Sexual Misconduct Task Force.

In the report, which was released on Wednesday morning, the Task Force reviews and analyzes the issue of sexual assault at Fordham University. It also looks at sexual assault in a broader, national context.

The report includes survey results, testimonies and analysis of Fordham’s programming. It also provides an overview of other materials related to the issue of sexual assault, including state and federal regulations.

“This report should deepen the Fordham community’s commitment to tackling the issue of sexual assault, and the Task Force will seek to use this commitment to foster both dialogue and structures that recognize and respect the dignity of the human person,” the Task Force said in a statement.

The findings followed 13 months of work from the group, which is co-chaired by Nicholas Sawicki, FCRH ’16 and executive vice president of USG, as well as Genevieve McNamara, FCRH ’17. Established in Sept. 2014, the Task Force is a collaboration among USG, Women’s Empowerment and other student organizations. It was formed to address “the national epidemic of sexual misconduct that is prevalent at colleges and universities across the nation.”

In making the report, titled “Report on Sexual Misconduct and Assault Matters at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Campus,” the Task Force used the survey responses of more than 300 participants, using their responses SEE TASK FORCE, PAGE 5

CASEY CHUN/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Many Fordham athletes use self-balancing scooters as an alternative means of transportation around campus.

Balance Boards Take Off on Campus

By JACLYN WEINER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A new mode of transportation has been introduced to the Fordham Rose Hill campus: the smart balance board. It is a new trend that captured the attention of many Fordham students.

But Fordham is not the only place where this new toy has gained attention. Celebrities, such as Justin Bieber, Kendall Jenner, J.R. Smith and Wiz Khalifa have posted pictures and videos of themselves riding their own boards.

The Two Wheels Smart

Self-Balancing Scooters Drifting Board Electric, or smart balance board for short, is a low-carbon, eco-friendly way to get around.

The smart balance board looks like a Segway without handle bars. It is self-balancing and can go forward, backward, left and SEE SCOOTERS, PAGE 5

in this issue

Opinion

Page 7

Outdated Guest Policies in Campus Residence Halls

Culture

Page 11

ASILI Taste the World Event

Sports Page 20 Edmonds Breaks Records in Football Win

NEWS

Page 2

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS October19 Southern Boulevard 2:20 - 4:30 p.m.

A student parked his vehicle on Southern Boulevard about 50 yards north of the entrance to campus.

When he returned, the front passenger side window was broken.

His backpack, which was left in the car, was missing. However, the backpack was recovered from behind the fence. The bag was delivered to Public Safety and returned to the student. The NYPD was also notified and it is now investigating the incident.

October 22 1:00 p.m.

Lorillard Place A student reported to the Office of Public Safety that she was followed into her building by an unknown male. She was not injured. She walked from Fordham Road to Lorillard Place. When she reached her building and entered into her courtyard, she noticed a man following her. He piggybacked into the lobby with her through the front door and he then followed her up the stairs.

She asked if she could help him and he then fled the building. The student contacted Public Safety. NYPD was notified and also responded.

The building was searched, but the male was not found. NYPD is now investigating the case.

October 28, 2015

Journal From Abroad

The Debate Between European and National Identity

By CATHERINE OLIVER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

FREIBURG — A perk of studying abroad in Freiburg, Germany is the ability to travel and explore new cultures and food. Freiburg is located in the southwest corner of Germany, making it easier to travel to France or Switzerland than to navigate Grand Central during rush hour. This region, known as the Schengen area, has an agreement with 26 European countries to permit travel across their borders without a visa. The results of this agreement are a mix of cultures and a fluid yet complicated European identity.

My flatmate grew up in Germany, but worked in Switzerland and France. She identifies as German and cheers for SC Freiburg, the local soccer team, but the French and Swiss cultures that she was exposed to have had strong influences on her lifestyle. While she identifies as German, she does not want to discount the French and Swiss culture that have been a part of her life. For this reason she also identifies with a European identity. The debate between a European identity and national identity plays a major role not only for the people, but also in

the politics of the European Union.

The European Union is unique from other governments because it is a federal system composed of sovereign national states. Typically, national interest and pride overpower the European identity. However, this is not the case for Germany.

The national pride is surprisingly low. Yes, they cheer for Germany in the World Cup, but they do not always embrace their German identity in other ways. For example, at the beginning of the month, Germany celebrated the 25th anniversary of its reunification as a national holiday.

My friends and I were expecting parades and festivities, much like the Fourth of July, but, instead, there was little celebration. The biggest shock to us was the low number of German flags flying. As I ate my kaffee und kuchen, an afternoon coffee and cake tradition, with my flatmate, I asked her why this was.

She replied that when people think of German pride they think of the Nazi regime, and Germans do not alighn themselves with that. I could not believe that this was the reasoning she gave, but it goes to show the lasting impression history can have on the present day.

Last week, I traveled to differ-

ent European Union institutions and government buildings in Strasbourg, Luxembourg, Belgium and Paris, and discussed the role of national identity and European identity. I attended lectures at the Council of the European Union, the Commission and the Parliament and realized that these institutions are trying to balance the importance of national identity with a united Europe. Along with these citizens, these institutions are attempting to achieve a balance between both. During my free time in Brussels, I talked with the locals about whether they identify more with their national or their European identity. The answers were split.

I honestly cannot blame them for that. With current political events, such as the refugee influx or the Euro crisis, some EU politicians are advocating for a united EU stance, while others are pursuing national agendas. I do not believe the citizens on the EU should ignore their national cultures or the surrounding European cultures, but I do believe in embracing both identities and creating a harmonious blend of them. For now, I am going to explore as much of the European culture as I can while not forgetting about my second home in Freiburg.

October 24 6:40 a.m.

Hughes Hall A smoke alarm was set off in Hughes Hall. Public Safety responded along with the NYPD. They discovered smoke coming from an air conditioning unit in the basement.

Facilities responded and corrected the unit. The room was then vented and the alarms were reset. There were no injuries and no damage.

—Compiled by Erin Shanahan, Assistant News Editor

Follow us on Twitter! @TheFordhamRam CATHERINE OLIVER/THE FORDHAM RAM

A student abroad in Germany attended a conference at the EU headquarters that addressed the role of European identity.

Fordham IT Addresses Wifi Usage FROM WIFI, PAGE 1

- less printers, gaming devices, cell phone hotspots, smart TVs, Apple TV, Roku and Chromecast.

In an email sent to students, IT explained this issue through a traffic analogy: “Imagine our network is a highway. When a lot of cars are on the road, traffic will slow down.

Similarly, when a lot of devices use the network, it slows down.”

“We are also looking to work with Student Affairs to make it more mandatory that students don’t have extra devices on the network,” Rothschild said in the the USG meeting. “It may eventually be in violation of Fordham’s policies. Regardless, it is an official violation of IT’s policies.”

Fordham’s one gigabyte Internet connection is saturated from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., meaning, Fordham students are now regularly exceeding the capacity of our 1Gb pipeline.

When the capacity spikes, the network crashes, causing the wifi issues students have been experiencing.

The bandwidth is not large enough to support the many streaming services used this year. Streaming of videos and other forms of media contribute to the majority of network traffic. According to Rothschild’s presentation, Netflix uses 38.4 percent of Rose Hill internet link, and 20 percent of Lincoln Center’s internet link.

As a result of these issues, IT has proposed several immediate solutions. IT encouraged student to take all prohibited devices offline, limit streaming, report problems to IT Customer Care or RTCs, fill out the Fall resident IT survey and informed all Fordham students about prohibited devices on the network.

Although they have made no definite plans yet, Fordham IT is exploring some other long-term solutions to the wifi problems. “We are currently trying to work with Netflix directly so we can get a line to Netflix in the city so that we can take that burden off our network,” Rothschild explained. “However, the problem is that this takes time, it takes money, and it takes a lot of collaboration with everybody at the university.”

Rothschild informed USG that the issue will not be resolved overnight. It will take some time to prepare a solution and execute it. Although she did not promise an exact date, Rothschild expressed that she hopes a solution will be found by the end of the year, or by the end of the semester.

This Week at Fordham Thursday Oct. 29

Friday Oct. 30

Friday Oct. 30

Trick-or-Treat Street

Trick or Trot 5K

Eddie’s Sidewalk 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

McGinley Lawn 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

The event is sponsored by Campus Activities Board. Students will be able to decorate pumpkins and compete in other games to win prizes.

The 5K run is sponsored by Residence Hall Association, Campus Activities Board, United Student Government and others. There is a $5 registration fee. All proceeds will be donated to the B+ Foundation.

It’s a Sketch and Improv Show, Charlie Brown!

Monday Nov. 2 Jon Favreau: Inside the White House

Blackbox Theater 8 p.m.

Keating 1st 7 p.m.

Two Fordham Experimental Theater groups with take the stage for a special Halloween-themed sketch and improv show. The event is free, and line-up starts at 7:30 p.m. There will be a second performance on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 8 p.m.

Guest speaker Jon Favreau, who has worked in the Obama Administration, will share his insights and experiences while working the White House. The College Democrats of Fordham University sponsored the event.

For more campus events, visit FordhamRam.com

Monday, Nov. 2 Cinevents! Presents: Inside Out Keating 1st 9 p.m.

Campus Activities Board will host a Cinevent to show the Pixar’s latest animated feature Inside Out. There will be a second showing on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 9 p.m.

NEWS

October 28, 2015

Page 3

Pumpstash LLC Start Up Launched by Gabelli Student

By ROBERT PALAZZOLO STAFF WRITER

Life can toss challenges at those living with Type 1 diabetes, each and every day. But, one Fordham student has launched a new product in hopes of alleviating at least one of those daily difficulties.

Corinne Logan, GSB ’17, officially launched a new startup, called Pumpstash LLC, on Oct. 19.

The company makes and markets spandex shorts that have pockets specifically designed to hold an insulin pump. They are meant to hold the apparatus, which delivers a consistent supply of insulin to the wearer, safely and securely during physical activity, which can range or vary from jogging in the park to an intense game of soccer.

For Logan, the budding enterprise is personal: She too has Type1 diabetes and has to use an insulin pump.

“In high school, I was playing lacrosse and soccer for a bit as well. And the insulin pump I have doesn’t have a clip or anything like that—and so it’d be always falling out,” Logan said.

Logan and her mother then decided to put a small pocket in the back of the spandex, precisely measured to fit the slightly awkward shape of the pump. It worked beautifully, eliminating the problem of the pump falling out. In fact, the shorts have been useful even outside of athletics.

“I just started wearing them more and more,” said Logan.

The discreet nature of the clothing item was especially helpful for

COURTESY OF CORINNE LOGAN

Corinne Logan, GSB ’17, has started a clothing line for diabetic athletes who use insulin pumps.

Logan, given that many earlier options for wearing the insulin pump were things like patterned fanny packs. “[I was a] sixteen-year-old girl, [I was] not about to wear an American flag fanny pack,” said Logan.

It was not until Logan came to Fordham that she realized her product had potential, and that she could have access to the resources that would enable her to get her efforts off the ground. What started as a simple solution to Logan’s problem of playing lacrosse with the pump now had the potential to become a viable business.

During her freshman year, Logan got involved with the Compass Fellowship, a national program

that helps socially-conscious undergraduate business students develop their own businesses. She later received help in the venture from the Fordham Foundry and through a Kickstarter campaign.

Fordham’s chapter of the Compass Fellowship is a community of 15 freshmen fellows and five upperclassmen mentors who aspire to become social entrepreneurs. Each week, the Fellowship meets with a CEO, author or social activist to discuss their entrepreneurial endeavors and provide resources and a support system.

For Logan, the program gave her the platform for taking her high school-era solution to the next level: entrepreneurship.

“I did a little bit of background, and market research as well, on how well this would be received,” she said. “And I was really surprised, everyone was like ‘We’d really like this, we’d really like this!’”

Given Logan’s personal experience with diabetes, she knew the value of the product she had developed and how it would make daily life easier. After discovering that others would like to see the same benefits she saw, Logan knew that developing the product would not only help her make a name in the business world and hopefully earn money, but it would also have a social value.

Such is the aim of the Compass Fellowship. With companies like

online glasses retailer Warby Parker gaining steam, so called “social entrepreneurship” seems to be on the rise. The Fellowship hopes to capitalize on the idealism, energies and social awareness of many college students and funnel all of those qualities into financially viable, yet socially responsible businesses.

Now that Pumpstash LLC is launched and the product is available, there is still much more to do.

“I want to get some feedback, see if the shorts are as good as they are, make improvements,” she said.

“Right now I only have women and girls and I want to launch a line for men.”

Within the first few days, Logan said she sold around 40 pairs of shorts out of an initial inventory of 300 units. She said she was pleasantly surprised to see that the orders came from around the country.

“Most of my orders, I don’t know them — and they’re from, like, Indiana or Texas, and I don’t know anyone from Indiana or Texas,” she said.

Logan attributed this to the company’s social media marketing, favorable coverage of herself and the product on blogs that serve the national community of those who have diabetes.

But, for Logan, a large part of the satisfaction of starting Pumpstash has been helping those with diabetes. It goes beyond giving a person with an insulin pump the freedom to move around without worry — Logan also donates 10 percent of the proceeds from each pair to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

USG Approves Fordham Special Olympics Chapter

By ALEXANDER DICKERSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Special Olympics has just begun its first chapter at Fordham.

The Special Olympics Club (SO Fordham) was approved on Oct. 22, after over a year of preparation.

The club is run by four Fordham students: Erin Biggins FCRH ’17, Alyssa Dolan FCRH ’16, Jamie Toto FCRH ’16 and Von Ancken FCRH ’16. The founders all have prior experience of working with children and adults with special needs, some even volunteering at the Special Olympics itself.

“We wanted to give the athletes an additional opportunity to engage in worthwhile activities and foster their happiness because these individuals have already brought so much happiness into our own lives through the events we have taken part in throughout both high school and college,” said Dolan.

“From working with special needs individuals in high school, I’ve developed great friendships and memories that I missed when I came to Fordham. After attending my first Special Olympics World Games in 2014, I knew that this was something that Fordham needed,” Biggins said.

SO Fordham has four main objectives. The first, to gain members, has already been achieved.

Over 300 people signed up at the club fair and interest is growing rapidly. Their second objective is to attend events hosted by Special Olympics New York City (SONYC), an organization that host monthly events for SO athletes throughout the five boroughs. At these events, those who sign up will either be “Fans in the Stands” cheering on the athletes or be their “buddies” for the event.

SO Fordham also aims to host events on Fordham’s campus and spread the Special Olympic values of inclusion, respect, and compassion for people with special needs.

They also plan to eradicate the casual use of the word “retarded,” as it has become colloquially used as a synonym for dumb or stupid.

SO Fordham’s fourth objective is to raise funds to alleviate costs of transportation to Special Olympics events, and to be able to donate a portion of their funds to the Special Olympic games.

Unlike the Olympics and the Paralympics, the Special Olympics provides year-round training and competitions, including the Special Olympics World Games, which takes place every two years, alternating from Summer to Winter games. Special Olympic competitions are held every day across 170 countries and around 4.5 million athletes take part, in local, national or regional com-

petitions. SONYC will be hosting multiple competitions for the rest of 2015 leading up to their winter games in February next year.

The Special Olympics has a division within its organization called SO College, which is devoted to increasing the amount of Special Olympics chapter across

colleges in the United States, as well as many other locations around the world. SO Fordham is one of the newest additions to a large number of college clubs involved in the division. Biggins is glad to be a part of this national collegiate project, “Fordham’s community should foster a place

of love, respect, and dignity for people with or without a disability” she said. According to Biggins, the club’s inspiration is the motto of the Special Olympics: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

COURTESY OF ERIN BIGGINS

A chapter of Spcial Olympics started by four Fordham students was approved b by USG on Thursday, Oct. 22.

NEWS

Page 4

October 28, 2015

Fordham In The Bronx

Exploring Haunted Sites in the Bronx

By MICHAEL DOBUSKI BRONX CORRESPONDENT

In case the crafty decorations in the windows, sudden popularity of horror movies or actual date on the calendar were not clear enough indicators, it is almost Halloween. This means it is time for an extra spooky, Halloween edition of Fordham in the Bronx, made all the more scary by the fact that the places and events highlighted are completely true.

In the East River, northwest of Rikers Island, lies North Brother Island, a 13-acre plot of overgrowth and derelict hospital buildings. Claimed in 1614 and nicknamed “duo De Gesellen,” meaning the companions in Dutch, North and South Brother Island were largely ignored for about the next 250 years, mostly owing to the violent currents that surrounded them.

The smaller South Brother Island was a summer home for a time in the early twentieth century before burning down. It is now a wildlife sanctuary owned by the city. Years earlier, the Bronx neighborhood of Morrisania bought North Brother Island in 1874, where it was used by the Sisters of Charity as a tuberculosis hospital.

In 1885, the city of New York acquired the island and expanded the facility to focus on all infectious disease. In addition to tuberculosis, the hospital on North Brother Island treated diseases like scarlet fever, diphtheria and polio. Renwick Smallpox Hospital moved many of its patients to the island after the facility was completed.

By the turn of the century, overcrowding led to common medical instruments being in short supply and not being cleaned and sterilized properly.

Fires on the island were especially common during outbreaks, due to the overabundance of

MICHAEL DOBUSKI/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Many of the neighborhoods in the Bronx such as Woodlawn are home to some of the borough’s spooky tales.

patients necessitating the use of flammable cloth tents heated by wood-burning stoves. In the summer of 1904, a fire broke out on a passenger ship called the General Slocum. The captain managed to beach the vessel on North Brother Island. However, the propeller of the ship claimed the lives of most of the passengers. Only 321 survived. It is said that, as they lined the beach of North Brother Island with the recovered bodies, the death toll was over 1,000 people. It was the deadliest disaster in New York City’s history until the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

North Brother Island’s most famous resident was a woman named Mary Mallon, or, as she is more commonly known, Typhoid

Mary. Mallon was a carrier of typhoid fever, which means that, while she exhibited no outward symptoms of the disease, she was still infected and contagious.

She is known to have infected 47 people while working as a cook in Manhattan and Long Island, three of whom died from the disease.

She was arrested in 1907, and given the option by the Health Department of either having her gall bladder removed, or being quarantined on North Brother Island. Mallon believed adamantly that she was not infected with the disease, and chose to not have the risky operation. She lived alone, save for a dog, for three years in a bungalow away from the main hospital buildings. A legal battle

in 1910 resulted in her release from the island, upon which she immediately took up another cooking job under a pseudonym, this time at Sloane Maternity Hospital. Twenty five more cases of typhoid at the hospital lifted the veil off her deception, and she was again exiled to North Brother Island in 1915 until her death in 1938.

In the 1950s, the island was turned into a rehabilitation clinic for recovering heroin addicts. The newly-admitted were given baths and searched for drugs before being placed in observation rooms.

Here the patients went through withdrawal “cold turkey,” unless the symptoms were too severe, in which case they were weaned

off the drug. The clinic was shut down in 1963 after a messy corruption scandal. The hospital was abandoned after that, and now, from April to October, the island serves as a bird sanctuary.

Across the Bronx in the Woodlawn neighborhood, there is the Woodlawn Cemetery. Over 400 acres of meticulously landscaped scenery make up one of the largest burial grounds in New York.

Woodlawn is non-sectarian, and is said to be the final resting place of over 300,000 people. The cemetery opened in 1863, which was before the land was officially part of New York City.

The remains of many famous people, including Herman Melville, Duke Ellington, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Fiorello LaGuardia are counted among those interred at Woodlawn.

Over 1,300 mausoleums, some of which were designed by renowned architects such as Beatrix Farrand and Louis Comfort Tiffany, line the paths and a variety of memorials like the Anne Bliss Titanic Memorial are interspersed throughout the grounds.

In 2011, Woodlawn Cemetery was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Parks Service. Plots of land start at $200 per square foot, but this steep price has not dissuaded many from erecting elaborate and ornate tombstones commemorating their deceased loved ones. One of the most impressive things about Woodlawn Cemetery, and indeed all cemeteries, is its surprising ability to mesh vastly disparate styles of architecture and design.

So if you ever find yourself at the end of the line on the 4 train, take a walk around Woodlawn.

Its tranquility is a reprieve from the surrounding city, which of course was the point, and despite its inherit eeriness, really is quite peaceful. Oh, and have a Happy Halloween!

Campus Briefs & Bites ASILI Presents Taste the World Showcase

Jazz Night Celebrates Hispanic Heritage

Fordham Alum Wins Big on Jeopardy

Fox News Contributor Speaks at Fordham

ASILI: The Black Student Alliance presented a night of performances at the annual Taste the World showcase. The event was held this past Thursday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. in the McGinley Ballroom.

The showcase celebrated many different cultures and heritages through different performances as well as through food and spoken word poetry. The Ballroom was packed for these performaces throughout the night. Performers included Fordham Flava, Satin Dolls, Ramblers, the Hot Notes as well as Sláinte: Fordham Irish Dance. In addition, several poets shared poems addressing race and present day society as a whole. At Taste the World, free food, representing several different cultures, was served as well.

Rafael Lamas, PhD, an associate professor of modern language and literature, brought together her passion for literature and music last week at an event at Lincoln Center. In recognition of Hispanic Heritage month, Lamas performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Saturday, Oct. 24. In addition to teaching Spanish literature, Lamas is a musical conductor. He has published a book about the fusion of literature and music titled Ecsuchar e Interpretar, translated as Listening and Interpreting. Lamas performed three musical selections that correlated to famous pieces of literature in Spanish culture. He performed alongside Dylan Cote, FCLC ’15, and Victoria Oliver, FCLC ’15, in an event sponsored by the Dean of Arts and Science faculty, the Department of Modern Language and Literatures, the Latin American and Latino Studies Institute, as well as the Consulate of Spain.

A Fordham alumni made an appearance on the popular trivia game show, Jeopardy! last Wednesday, Oct. 21, and Thursday, Oct. 22.

Dennis Golin, FCLC ’13, won $31,999 on the popular quiz show the first night. When he returned for his second night on the show he increased his winnings to $59,099.

Golin’s appearance on the show comes just two weeks after the show’s host, Alex Trabek announced he would donate $1 million to Fordham for scholarship students living in Harlem. In Feb. 2014, Golin took the qualifying test before having a live audition in Philadelphia. A life-long fan of the show, Golin was chosen to compete on the show.

He currently works as a video editor at the Jewish Broadcasting Service and he produces a late-night sketch comedy show with his Fordham classmates Adam Hemmert and Andrew Scherer, both FCLC ’13, on Manhattan’s public access cable network.

This past Wednesday, Oct. 21, College Republicans at Fordham University presented their second speaker for this semester: Jedediah Bila. Jedediah Bila is a Fox news contributor and author of the book Outnumbered: Chronicles of a Manhattan Conservative. She spoke on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Duane Library’s Tognino Hall.

Bila expressed her difficulties working in a liberal environment as a conservative.

She discussed her difficulties in college as a conservative as well as in her work place.

However, overall, Bila encoraged the College Republicans that they can succeed in a liberal environment while retaining their conservative view points.

— Compiled by Cailin McKenna and Erin Shanahan, Assistant News Editors

NEWS

October 28, 2015

Page 5

Report Paints Complex Picture of Assault at Rose Hill FROM TASK FORCE, PAGE 1

to gauge student opinion and attitudes toward sexual assault.

Overall, according to preliminary information provided to The Fordham Ram, the Task Force made significant findings based on student responses. More than half of respondents, for example, found that they had “learned something useful” through university programming, while about 18 percent of students said that they had not.

However, 56 percent of respondents felt they were “unaware as to how to report a sexual assault.” And, according to the Task Force’s statement, 63 percent of participants said they “did not know how the University defines sexual assault.”

The report also found that 60 percent of students would feel comfortable bringing a case of sexual assault to the Department of Public Safety, while 40 percent said they would not.

Relying on testimony from students of various genders, the Task Force also set out to assess the level of trust between stu-

dents and administrators. “The report highlights that the lack of understanding surrounding the reporting procedure for sexual assaults leads to confusion, and this confusion leads to mistrust,” the group said in its statement.

It continued: “Mistrust further breaks down the University-wide dialogue that needs to be ongoing to help create cultures and structures that effectively combat sexual assault.”

Still, the lens of the testimonies featured in the report “indicate the clear existence of a predatory culture amongst portions of our student body, a culture that sees others as objects to gain rather than as valued individuals,” said the group, though no further information was provided.

The report also highlights some changes in the Campus Assault and Relationship Education (CARE) brochure and materials, a document that details university policies and procedures regarding sexual assault.

Since its formation, the Task Force has worked with Christopher Rodgers, the Dean of Stu-

dents at Rose Hill, to revise some aspects of CARE, each of which are detailed in the report. Revised sections, according to the Task Force’s statement, concern inclusiveness, bystander intervention and victim-blaming language.

The most recent version of CARE outlines many of these topics, including the Students Bill of Rights, as well as definitions of sexual offenses, ways to prevent sexual offenses and tips for bystander intervention. In addition, the brochure provides information on the reporting process and procedures, as well as information about available resources, both on and off campus.

While the work of the Task Force focuses on Fordham University students and student culture, it is set against the backdrop of the broader conversation surrounding sexual assault on college campuses. USG’s Task Force is one of many college student groups across the country working to combat sexual assault on campuses.

In addition to grassroots work from student groups and organi-

Admininstration Announces Anniversary Planning Committee

By CAILIN MCKENNA ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

In June 2016, the university will launch a yearlong celebration of the 175th anniversary, or dodransbicentennial, of the founding of the university and the College of Rose Hill.

The celebration will also honor the 175th anniversary of Fordham as a Jesuit institution, as well as the centennials of the founding of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School of Education and the Graduate School of Social Service.

“Our dodransbicentennial will not merely be marking Fordham’s anniversary, but an opportunity—indeed many opportunities—for all of you to take part in the planning and celebrations of our storied history,” said Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, in an email sent to the Fordham community on Thursday, Oct. 15.

McShane also announced the creation of the planning committee and the appointment of two committee co-chairs. Liz Manigan, associate vice president for development and university events, and James P. McCartin, associate professor and director of the Fordham Center on Religion and Culture, were tasked with creating a planning committee for the anniversary.

The committee will be composed of university administrators and faculty members. Additionally, while a second advisory committee made up of administrators from both undergraduate and graduate colleges, student body representation will provide input.

Organizations such as the Faculty Senate, Fordham Athletics, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, WFUV and many others will be represented on the planning committee.

“We believe this large and diverse group will ably represent faculty, students, staff and alumni interests in planning the anniversary celebrations, and in carrying out those celebrations across the year,” said McShane.

The planning committee has already met twice and plans to meet again in February.

McShane also announced the launch of a website commemorating the anniversary celebration providing information about the university’s history and a calendar of events, including exhibits

and special lecture series.

This is not the university’s first mention of the momentous anniversary of the founding of the university at the Rose Hill campus. In March 2009, McShane announced the “Excelsior: Ever Upward —The Campaign for Fordham” to raise over $500 million before the university’s 175th Anniversary.

The fundraising endeavor would support new facilities and provide more student scholarships, endowed faculty chairs and monetary resources for the development of Fordham’s colleges and schools. McShane announced at the 14th annual Founder’s Dinner on March 31, 2014 that the campaign had achieved its initial goal of $500 million.

RAM ARCHIVES

Father McShane, in 2013, meeting with a student in an administrative office.

zations, larger groups have continued to assess sexual assault on campuses and seek ways to raise awareness on college campuses.

One such report was published by the Association of American Universities, which reported that nearly 25 percent of undergraduate women reported being victims of sexual assault or misconduct.

The AAU’s report, which surveyed more than 150,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students at 27 universities, also found that “nonconsensual sexual contact involving drugs and alcohol make up “a significant percentage of the incidents.” Less than 30 percent of the most serious incidents are reported to an organization or agency, the study found.

Stronger campus voices on the issue have urged politicians to pursue new policies and regulations regarding sexual assault.

New York State’s legislature, for example, recently passed a statewide law requiring that all New York colleges and universities adopt an affirmative consent policy.

Fordham University currently has in place an affirmative consent policy, which CARE defines as “a knowing, voluntary, and mutual decision among all participants to engage in sexual activity.” This consent, the definition states, can be given by words or actions “as long as those words or actions create clear permission regarding willingness to engage in sexual activity.”

It continues: “Silence or lack of resistance, in and of itself, does not demonstrate consent.”

(CARE, under a later subsection, adds to this, noting that “any type of manipulation, threat, or force that is used to obtain a “yes” to sexual activity, the “yes” does not qualify as consent.”)

Though it is its first major report, the Task Force has continued to maintain a high profile on campus. Following a false report in October, the group issued a statement, condemning false reports, but adding: “We want to reaffirm the importance of fostering a culture in which consent is respected and the voices of survivors are heard.”

Last Spring, it released an awareness video that addressed the issue of sexual misconduct and extended support to survivors of sexual misconduct.

In a separate survey from one conducted by the Task Force, Student Affairs conducted a survey in May to assess “campus climate.”

The online survey, which was answered anonymously, was tailored to Fordham students, but it also resembled the climate survey guide for universities and colleges released by the White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault.

In addition to asking about personal experiences of students, the survey asked students to gauge their opinions toward the university, and existing attitudes on campus. The results of the survey have not been made public as of this month.

Student-Athlete Creates Balance Board Business FROM HOVERBOARD, PAGE 1

right.

The board weighs around 22 pounds and has a top speed of about six miles per hour.

The price of a smart balance board can vary. They can cost anywhere between $300 and $1500, depending on where you purchase it.

If you are interested in purchasing a board for yourself, Ryan Rhoomes, FCRH ’16, has started a business called “theroverbros,” where you can purchase a smart balance board for $350.

“I started a business called “The Rover Bros,” because I got sick of the main companies selling the same product for over a thousand dollars,” said Rhoomes. “Anyone can buy them as long as you have $350, which is relatively cheap for these scooters. The scooters are all legit; I will never sell anyone a broken or cheap scooter.”

Rhoomes and his friends started using the smart balance boards this past summer while attending summer school. “Workouts were literally all day, and by the end of the day we were exhausted, so we figured this was the best way to get around for lazy people like ourselves,” said Rhoomes.

There have been varying reactions to the recent use of the boards on campus. “I thought

that they were a bit surprising because I didn’t believe that they would be allowed on campus,” said one sophomore Fordham student.

“I see a lot of athletes riding them around campus and I think that it is an element of the superiority complex.”

“At first, people would stare and become amazed, but now everyone is pretty used to it,” said Rhoomes.

“Some are actually annoyed with us and I honestly don’t know why because we don’t think we’re cool, we’re just lazy,” Rhoomes said.

There are many positive reviews online, regardless of the brand. “My kids enjoy this thing more than anyone,” said a reviewer who purchased a board from an online scooter store. “Other than the fear of falling, the thing is fun as heck.” “Incredible toys,” commented an Amazon reviewer. “I bought a couple for the office and everyone loves them.”

The most common problem with the smart balance board that people have expressed online tends to be the safety of the product.

Many advise that it is smart to use a spotter until you are completely comfortable riding it, because falls can be dangerous.

NEWS

Page 6

Adjuncts Protest for Fair Wages FROM ADJUNCTS, PAGE 1

tired of this poverty wage. “ He currently works an average of 32 to 34 hours per week at McDonald’s. Any more, he says, and he does not qualify for food stamps or state healthcare. He primarily works at night — his current hours are 2 a.m. to 9 a.m., which frees him up for activism work with Fight for $15.

Ware acknowledged that many detractors of Fight for $15 do not believe fast food workers deserve such a high wage. But fellow panelist Brandt noted that Ware’s job, and resulting financial situation, is not so different from his own.

“I want to be out there with Jorel [Ware] because it’s the same fight,” he said. “We’re not any better than they are. It’s the same deal.”

And as Joplin, the third panelist said, that deal is a raw one.

Adjuncts at Fordham, she said, are paid around $3,800 per course — Jopling said she once worked out the math, and found that in one semester, the tuition of about one and a half of her students could pay her entire $3,800 wage. “I guess Fordham pockets the rest of that money,” she said.

As The Fordham Ram has previously reported, adjunct professors are only allowed to teach two courses per semester. The average wage for both semesters adds up to $15,200, a sum that is not, Jopling pointed out, enough to live on, particularly in an expensive city like New York.

Most adjuncts, she explained,

make ends meet by teaching at multiple colleges and by taking on additional work in the summers. Jopling supplements her Fordham salary by teaching courses at Hunter College.

She said others teach at up to three schools concurrently. Jobs are also not particularly stable, she said. Contracts are only granted to adjuncts on a semester-by-semester basis, making it difficult to plan far ahead.

To complicate matters, classes are taught based on demand — ten students must be enrolled at the beginning of the semester for a class to be held. Jopling said she has seen cases where a class was cut, and the wouldbe professor, unable to find other work, had to go on welfare, a process she called “humiliating.” This treatment of adjuncts, she said, directly contradicts Fordham’s Jesuit-inspired “lofty stance on social justice.”

Brandt agreed. He believes adjuncts are treated as consummate second-class citizens, both at Fordham and elsewhere.

“I am a contingent employee,” he said. “An academic temp worker. I’m not a professor. I’m not even really an adjunct.” He said he tries to drive that point home to his students, frequently signing emails with the acronym CEATW after his name (for his selfgiven title, Contingent Employee Academic Temp Worker).

And students, he said, do not escape the effects.

“Students are getting shortchanged,” he said. “What are you

October 28, 2015

United Student Government Updates Club Approvals Erin Biggins, FCRH ’17, from the Special Olympics Club at Fordham (SO Fordham) attended Thursday’s meeting requesting club approval. The club’s goal is to raise awareness about people with special needs. In addition, club members will work as volunteers at events sponsored by Special Olympics in the area. The club was approved unanimously.

Linnea Willey, FCRH ’17, from Meditation Club attended as well. The club’s goal is to promote physical and mental well-being through meditation. At the club’s meetings, members will explore several different forms of meditation; the club is non-denominational. In addition, the club is hoping to bring in speakers, as well as take trips to utilize outside meditation sources. The club was approved.

French Club requested to be formally recognized as a club by USG. French Club member Angelica DiIorio, FCRH ’18, attended to pitch the revival of the club. The club’s goal is to share appreciation for the French culture and language through meetings as well as promote French-themed excursions and on-campus speakers. The club was approved unanimously by USG.

getting for this enormous amount of money? You’re getting teachers who can’t give full effort in your education.”

By and large, the Fordham students who attended the teach-in reflected that sentiment.

“It’s important for students to care about their teachers,” said Gina Foley, FCRH ’18, a liaison between

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Residence Hall Association’s Communications Director, Stephen Esposito, FCRH ’16, requested USG’s Co-Sponsorship in regard to the Trick-or-Treat Trot on Friday, Oct. 30. The trot will include a 5K race around campus and a pumpkin patch, as well as a raffle among other fun activities. All proceeds will go to the B + foundation. Two B+ heroes will be in attendance at the race.

USG unanimously approval to co-sponsor the Trickor-Treat Trot with RHA.

FSU and Fordham’s Fight For $15 chapter. “If our professors are having trouble getting by, how are they going to focus on teaching us? How are we going to learn from them?”

Others had more personal reasons for supporting the movement.

“I’m from a union family,” Brad Langhoff, FCRH ’19, said. “If it weren’t for unions and worker rights,

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I wouldn’t be going to Fordham.”

But regardless of students’ impetus for supporting the wage movements, Brandt said he’ is grateful to have them on board.

“A lot of this is on the adjuncts to do the organizing. But it would sure as hell help if you guys got in there with us,” he said. “Because lets face it, you’re getting screwed too.”

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OPINION

October 28, 2015

Page 7

The Fordham Ram

Outdated Guest Policies Need to Go

By BAILEY HOSFELT STAFF WRITER

Anyone who goes to Fordham knows about both the 3:30 a.m. rule and the 24-hour advanced notice guest pass policy, as well as how inconvenient, hypocritical and arbitrary such restrictions are.

This is not to say I blatantly disagree with the safety precautions upheld by the hired personnel that monitor the front desk in each building throughout the night. The procedure of having sign-in sheets for visitors is crucial to keeping tabs on the influx of people entering and exiting the residence halls. However, university administration must consider altering the policies regarding how long guests can stay and the advanced notice for overnight guests.

The 3:30 a.m. rule is plagued with hypocrisy. The time is rather illogical and, frankly, dangerous.

Fordham takes the necessary steps to ensure the utmost safety of all students with guards strategically placed at every campus gate. Administrators drill (718) 817-2222 into your head as soon as you say goodbye to your parents and encourage you to call any time you feel unsafe. Yet they totally disregard this concept of “safety” by sending individuals, whether Fordham students or not, outside of the gates at a highly vulnerable time of the early morning.

The university must also factor in some degree of spontane-

ity when making such rules. The tagline “New York is my campus, Fordham is my school” proudly hangs over the McGinley Center and serves as a constant reminder for students to take advantage of their surrounding environment.

New York City has something to offer at all times of the day and night, so it is not news that students will be out late.

Often, friends of Fordham residents who attend various city schools, such as NYU, Columbia and Pace, make the trek to our home borough. After a night out in the Bronx, it would certainly be easier and safer for that individual who does not attend school at Fordham to stay overnight on campus as opposed to taking the subway back to Manhattan, perhaps alone, at such a late hour.

Students cannot account for all visits. Someone who initially planned to stay until midnight might need to stay until the morning. People miss their trains. People change their minds. And not always 24 hours in advance.

Even if you take the inconvenient twenty-four-hour rule in stride, you may find yourself in your Resident Hall Office on a Thursday evening being told that they “have run out of guest passes.”

I recently had a friend who lives in Alumni Court South be told by her Resident Director when attempting to obtain a guest pass that her visitor should “start looking for other accommodations.”

Fordham would rather have an 18

CASEY CHUN/FORDHAM RAM

The process of signing in guests is a popular source of complaint among students who live in Fordham residential halls.

year old who is unfamiliar with the surrounding area stay alone in a hotel than extend the supposed “limit” and allow her to stay on campus? But this person of authority instead chose to ostracize her resident by saying that she was “careless” because she failed to come earlier in the week.

Additionally, the guest policy fails to coincide with the occupancy of the residence halls. The halls are all co-ed spaces, which allowed guests to gallivant with whomever whenever as long as they were assigned the same temporary home. Shutting out any guests of the opposite gender from visiting student of the opposite sex in from another residence hall is illogical.

Such policies also completely overlook homosexual residents.

Fordham takes great pride in identifying as a Jesuit university with strong morals that promote diversity and acceptance of all different races, socioeconomic backgrounds and sexual orientations; however, this policy sends the latter progressive ideal into retrograde.

By only allowing Fordham students to sign in overnight guests of the same gender, university administration is turning a blind eye to people of the LGBT community. Heterosexual couples can get documented for something that LGBT couples cannot.

Administration would likely argue that the current policies

are there to ensure the safety of all residents, but that logic clearly does not hold. If their intention is to decrease the amount of intimate relations between students, 3:30 a.m. is certainly not going to stop that from happening.

These polices only perpetuate behavior opposite of the ideal, as residents slyly break the rules right under the noses of higher authority.

Fordham’s guest policies are arbitrary and outdated. They should be revised in order to protect the safety of all students and their guests.

Bailey Hosfelt, FCRH ’19, is undecided in her major from Wheeling, West Virginia.

Eliminating the NCAA’s Marijuana Restriction

COURTEST OF FLICKR

The NCAA’s policy regarding marijuana does not match the changing national attitudes regarding the drug.

By JACLYN WEINER STAFF WRITER

The marijuana policy of the NCAA has been under criticism, especially in the past couple of years. It is getting more difficult to justify the testing of college athletes for marijuana use, when the legalization of marijuana has been spreading throughout the states.

The policy is outdated and creates more harm than good to studentathletes.

Recently, NCAA punishments to student-athletes have lessened when it comes specifically to marijuana, but the punishments are still quite severe. The individ-

ual athletic departments for each school are responsible for administering drug programs, including the severity of punishment for infractions. But the NCAA has a year-round testing program.

NCAA tests for marijuana in postseason championships and bowl games for college football. The punishment has changed from a full season suspension to a halfseason suspension, which is still incredibly harsh.

The punishments associated with marijuana use are especially strict, considering the sheer amount of college athletes that have admitted to smoking. A 2014

study done by the NCAA’s Research Department found that 22 percent of college athletes admitted to smoking marijuana within the past year. College lacrosse had the highest percentage of players who admitted to smoking marijuana, with a recorded 46.3 percent.

If all college athletes who have smoked marijuana were caught and punished, college teams would be decimated.

Also, the percentage of studentathletes who admitted to smoking pot in 2014 and the percentage of student-athletes who admitted to smoking pot in 1984, prior to the NCAA’s drug testing program, are

very close. This makes it obvious that the system in place has not had much of an effect.

It is unacceptable that the NCAA’s policies have not changed with the changing climate. Around 23 states have legalized marijuana in some form. Four states, Alaska, Colorado, Washington and Oregon, as well as the District of Columbia, have all legalized marijuana for recreational use.

Additionally, states that have not legalized marijuana as of yet are making moves to decriminalize marijuana-related offenses. When taking this information into consideration, the NCAA’s stance on marijuana can be deemed harsher than the law.

The classes of banned substances by the NCAA include stimulants, anabolic agents, alcohol and beta blockers, diuretics (water pills) and other masking agents, street drugs, anti-estrogens and Beta-2 agonists. This list and many examples of each drug class can be found on the NCAA website, but it is made clear that there is no complete list of banned substances. Punishment is still involved if substances are used outside of the examples listed. Depending on the type of drug, punishments seem to vary.

The NCAA still considers marijuana to be a street drug, but that is clearly untrue in many states

across the country. This definition is in contradiction with the law, but marijuana is still listed next to heroin on the list of banned street drugs.

Additionally, the NCAA does not include medicinal marijuana when it comes to medical exceptions, but exceptions are made for student-athletes with a documented medical history that require regular use of other substances that are usually banned by the NCAA. Exceptions may be granted if the drugs are stimulants (including those used to treat ADHD), Beta blockers, Beta-2 agonists, diuretics, peptide hormones, anabolic agents and anti-estrogens. However, no matter the medical condition, student-athletes with medical marijuana prescriptions are not authorized to use marijuana and will still be subject to punishment.

The fact that the NCAA still tests student-athletes for marijuana use and inflicts such harsh punishment when tested positive is perplexing. The system is ineffective and in many cases is in contradiction with the law. We will just have to wait and see if and when the NCAA will make the logical decision to shift its policies on marijuana use.

Jaclyn Weiner, FCRH ’18, is a communications and media studies major from Wantagh, New York.

OPINION

Page 8

R Serving Fordham University 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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Editorial Page Policy The Fordham Ram’s editorial and ramblings topics are selected on a weekly basis and reflect the editorial board’s view on a campus issue.

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October 28, 2015

From the Desk | Anthony Pucik

Following Your Passion at Fordham I usually dedicate a small column on whatever topic I wish to address, usually something involving sports. This time, however, it is going to be a bit different; sports will be mentioned, but I will not be talking about the 1980 USA Miracle on Ice team or the recent changes to NHL rules (you can find that in the Sports section this week). Instead, I will be reflecting on my time here at Fordham and at The Fordham Ram. The first semester of my senior year is more than half over, which means at the end of this semester, I will no longer be Sports Editor here at The Fordham Ram, and will be one step closer to ending my Fordham career. For freshmen, sophomores or even juniors reading this, I have one piece of advice: follow your dreams.

I know it sounds cliche or sappy, but it is a good piece of advice to hold onto, especially of a university like Fordham. You are just a train ride away from the greatest city in the world, one of the media capitals of the world and a place rich in culture and history. Whatever your passion is, you will be

sure to find something here that appeals to your interests.

Fordham was admittedly not my first choice for college. Having a passion for sports journalism, I wanted to attend Syracuse’s Newhouse program, one of the most prestigious communications programs in the country. I ended up getting in, but it did not make sense financially for me to attend, so I decided on Fordham instead. Looking back on it, it was the best decision I could have ever made. When I got to Fordham, I involved myself in anything possible involving journalism and broadcasting. I was not even aware of the existence of WFUV, Fordham’s public radio station, before coming, but I was aware of the long line of famous broadcasters that had passed through the Rose Hill campus. So I began as a trainee in the WFUV Sports program, wrote an NHL blog here at The Fordham Ram and became the Rangers correspondent on Overtime, Fordham’s TV sports talk show.

Fordham’s numerous opportunities have been dreams come

true. I have spent time in the Rangers and Yankees locker rooms as a beat reporter for WFUV, gone from writer to Sports Editor here at The Fordham Ram and currently intern at Madison Square Garden as a production student associate at MSG Networks. I am now also currently the assistant sports manager at the station and have been given to opportunity to witness a Triple Crown race at the Belmont Stakes, perform a live radio show from Citi Field and the U.S. Open and spend Hall of Fame Weekend in Cooperstown, New York, this past summer. I have also covered the Stanley Cup playoffs, been in the Yankees’ locker room after they clinched a postseason birth and have been given a chance to work at a place I have considered my second home since I was taken to my first Rangers game as a six-year-old with my father. This would not have been possible without all the opportunities Fordham offers and a drive to do what I love: be involved in sports.

I advise all of you to do what I have done. Maybe do not go cover

the Yankees or spend numerous hours in the McGinnley basement on Monday and Tuesday nights, but follow your dreams. It could be art, music, politics or whatever it is that interests you. Do what you love no matter who tells you how difficult it will be, and get involved as early in your Fordham career as possible. Fordham and New York City have options for all interests and if you are passionate about what you are doing, you will be sure to find something you love. But I do warn you, it will make time go a lot faster. If you think your college career is going by quickly now, just wait until you are a senior.

Editorial | Academic Life

Drop the Presentation, and Get to the Lecture With the advent of new technologies, nearly all levels of education, from grammar schools to college classrooms, have welcomed new modes of learning. Among them is active learning, which implements group discussion and input. It is largely a response to the shrinking attention spans of younger students and new studies that argue that engaged students are more likely to succeed and enjoy their time in the classroom.

Many education experts have published research on this issue, though professors may have some of the most insightful opinions.

A recently published op-ed in the New York Times has temporarily revived the discussion about learning in college classrooms.

Author Molly Worthen, who is an assistant professor of history at the University of North CarolinaChapel Hill, defends the college lecture against its critics and suggests that, despite it being seen as an outdated mode of teaching, lecturing can be an exciting learning experience.

After explaining the qualities

of a good lecturer (someone who does not recite an encyclopedia article but communicates “the emotional vitality of the intellectual endeavor”), Worthen suggests that lecturing is not a passive learning experience. On the other hand, a lecture “teaches students that listening is not the same thing as thinking about what you plan to say next — and that critical thinking depends on mastery of facts, not knee-jerk opinions.”

In the world of academia, there is no “one-size-fits-all” style of teaching. As the area of study varies, so does the most effective way of teaching it.

At Fordham, there is no definitive way to examine how professors teach, though it is likely that students have had experience with all kinds of styles of teaching. Across this spectrum, students may have their favorite styles and professors, but one thing is certain: no style of teaching is worse than the dictation style.

This style may not have a catchall name but most students know it when they see it. The profes-

sors begins the class with either a presentation or a set of notes, and reads directly from them for an entire class session. The professor may momentarily depart from the prepared text, but, for the majority of the course, reads word for word what is prepared. And the worst part is that students often have the text in front of them or will be sent the presentation after class.

If there is an attendance policy in place, each class session is nothing more than a formality. Students show up, listen and know that if they missed anything the professor said, it is in the presentation slides.

Could anything be more mindnumbing than this?

This is not to say that the content of these presentations are always boring. It could be detailed, organized and informative. It could change the student’s perspective on a subject of his or her interest.

But it makes one question what part of this makes a college education “invaluable.”

When students enroll in college, they are looking for an intellectual

challenge that encourages them, according to Fordham’s mission statement, “to foster in all its students life-long habits of careful observation, critical thinking, creativity, moral reflection and articulate expression.” Does listening to someone, however qualified, educated and widely-published, read from a prepared text, foster these habits?

When a student registers for a course, whether it is required or an elective, one expects to have a new experience. At Fordham, that is certainly possible with a lecture.

Monessa Cummins, the chairwoman of the classics department and lecturer at Grinnell College, suggests in Worthel’s piece that lectures can “place a premium on the connections between individuals facts.”

Doing this in a classroom setting at the college level requires an engaged professor who does not recite the words from a pre-written script, but builds an argument, interacts with students and engages their curiosities — and does not read from a prepared text.

Tired of fitting your political rants into 140 characters on Twitter? Write for the opinion section!

Email us at fordhamramopinions@gmail.com to find out how.

OPINION

October 28, 2015

Page 9

Needless Attacks on Planned Parenthood

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Planned Parenthood has recently been at the center of much contoversy and debate over whether to defund it.

By THERESA SCHLIEP STAFF WRITER

Attacks on the Planned Parenthood Federation of America are not solely attacks on the organization, but also on women across the nation.

This past year, there have been movements, largely governed by Republican congressmen, to stop subsidizing the sexual health organization. Republicans have justified these efforts with the claims that through taxpayer money, Planned Parenthood maintains an abortion factory and profits off of such services.

These arguments are not only erroneous, but are also malicious, threatening to endanger the health of thousands of women who otherwise would not have access to affordable healthcare.

Planned Parenthood supplies a multitude of services to women, which are not restricted to abortion. This includes tests for sexually transmitted diseases, access to contraceptives, cancer screenings and prevention, family planning and other health services. These services grossly outnumber the abortions performed at Planned Parenthood clinics across the country. Only about three percent of the services

provided by Planned Parenthood are abortions.

If defunding the organization is a moral crusade against abortions, then Republicans are fighting the wrong fight. Not only are very few of the services provided by the nonprofit abortion related, but Planned Parenthood cannot use any government funding for abortion services.

A moral crusade would not threaten the healthcare of women in the lowest strata of the socioeconomic fabric of this country. Planned Parenthood largely caters to lower income and rural women. Most private clinics do not accept Medicaid because it is substantially insignificant in compensating for expenses used to run their practices. Nearly half of its patients rely on Medicaid to access the healthcare, according to Planned Parenthood.

Decreasing the number of abortions does not come from restricting access to abortions. Accessibility to contraceptives is irrefutably the most essential component of “preventing abortions.” And Planned Parenthood’s 2013-2014 annual fiscal year report reveals that a startling 34 percent of their services involve providing contraceptives.

Republicans consider videos of

Planned Parenthood staff discussing the donations of fetal tissue damning in this moral crusade. Some consider this perfectly legal practice disgusting, and videos released by the Center for Medical Progress, an antiabortion organization, might disturb viewers. But a forensic experts panel called Fusion GPS reviewed the videos and denied their validity, arguing they were largely altered and missing large portions of time in order to mislead viewers into believing that the organization produces fetuses to sell for profit. Fusion GPS considers these videos to be so misleading that they would not hold up in a court of law.

Again, if Republicans defund Planned Parenthood because of the legal donations of fetal tissue, they are fighting the wrong fight. According to the organization, only one percent of clinics are permitted to donate fetal tissue.

If we are working with the assumption that congressional Republicans are logical politicians, it cannot be an ethical war against the healthcare service, but a political one.

A political war is not surprising. In 2013, a gridlocked Congress could not agree on a budget bill because of bickering over the Affordable Care

Act, charmingly nicknamed Obamacare. This shutdown furloughed all non-essential government personnel. Republicans were accused of holding the government hostage because of their disdain for the healthcare bill.

In 2015, we again see efforts made

by House Republicans to defund the federal government, this time if Planned Parenthood continues to receive government funding.

This current campaign season appears to be a time of party alignment and radicalization, when liberals become more liberal and conservatives become more conservative. Perhaps, then, Republicans are catering to the most conservative of the conservative, those who deny the freedom of choice to women, even in cases of rape and incest. But this radicalization will come to hurt those running for president in the popular election, when people recall Ben Carson’s comparisons of abortion to slavery or Carly Fiorina references a completely imaginary video in which a fetus’s brain is harvested.

If this is neither an effective moral crusade nor an effective political war, then what are the efforts made

by Republicans to defund Planned Parenthood? If nothing else, they are attacks on the marginalized women in America. Some women can afford to go to private clinics to obtain reproductive services, but many others rely on Planned Parenthood for their health services.

This perspective is not unique. A quick search on the Internet reveals a plethora of valid news sources that reflect the same view. How many editorials, research articles and professional testimonies must we publish to establish the heinous nature of these efforts? When will we deny personal bias and subjective morality, and instead, accept objective scientific facts?

Theresa Schliep, FCRH ’19, is undecided in her major from Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey.

Limited Recognition of Coming Out Day

By KERRY ROTA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

If you are a student at Fordham University, it is my guess that you have heard the phrase “men and women for others” several times throughout your time here. For each of us, this simple phrase may take on different significance.

For me, “men and women for others” means advocating for the oppressed, the marginalized and the silenced.

It means upholding the fundamental dignity that is inherent in each human being. It means cultivating an environment of love, understanding and compassion through our words and actions. Ultimately, it means standing together as a Fordham community, unwavering in our support of each other.

On Oct. 11, many colleges throughout the country celebrated the 27th National Coming Out Day. Coming Out Day is an annual event that celebrates the LGBT community.

Students around the country came together in rallies and parades to provide their support to the LGBTQ

community on their campuses, to honor their courage and to share in their joy.

Where were the rallies at Rose Hill? On campus, the PRIDE Alliance held a dance to celebrate the event, but by and large, the administration at Fordham chose not to acknowledge the day.

Coming out is a pivotal moment in the life of an LGBTQ individual. According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, the average age at which a LGBTQ individual comes out for the first time is 20 years old.

Thus, this empowering event often occurs at a time in which the individual is at college, and separated from family and hometown friends. College can be a stressful time for many, as adjusting to a new schedule among a sea of strangers is overwhelming in and of itself. Now imagine how these fears and anxieties are compounded by the trepidation that may precede a person’s revealation as an LGBTQ individual.

As “men and women for others,” we are endowed with the gift and responsibility of caring for others. We become part of a proxy family for our

classmates and peers. As “men and women for others,” we should strive to build a foundation of love and support, and to create an environment in which every individual feels not only welcomed, but also cherished.

Only 42 percent of LGBTQ individuals believe that the communities in which they live accept them, according to the Human Rights Campaign. More than half of these men and women fear that in revealing their sexual orientation and identity, they will be subject to intolerance and animosity at the hands of their peers.

Are we doing all that we can, as a university that prides itself on developing “men and women for others,” to propagate a culture of compassion and solidarity? I do not believe that we are. The event held by the PRIDE Alliance was not enough. There should have been a campus-wide event held to foster a welcoming environment for every Fordham student.

By failing to do so, we failed to step up as allies of all LGBTQ individuals.

Despite the staggering progress that has been made towards securing the rights of all LGBTQ individuals, the fight is far from over. Through-

out the world, these individuals are often targets of animosity, violence and political and social oppression.

It is imperative that we are attuned to the prejudice that many LGBTQ individuals face. We cannot turn a blind eye to the discrimination that is still prevalent against the LGBTQ community. We cannot become complacent.

Many may find it unsurprising that Fordham, a Catholic university, did not host a huge celebration of this event. I do, however, find this surprising. As a community dedicated to the mission of living for others, we blatantly violated this ideal. We neglected our responsibility to the Fordham community by failing to support our classmates and friends.

We ignored the struggles faced by our peers, and we failed to celebrate the lives of many wonderful people.

The phrase “men and women for others” should come without qualification. We are not “men and women for some.”

Kerry Rota FCRH ’17, is a psychology major from Princeton, New Jersey.

Marcelle Meyer Mental Health as a Scapegoat We hear it from both sides of the aisle every time there is a mass shooting at a university or public place: we need to pay more attention to mental health in this country. To their credit, Democrats are generally more focused on restrictive gun laws, but neither Democrats nor Republicans have any qualms with labeling many domestic shooters as people with undefined diseases taglined as “mental illness.” When did the media become certified psychiatrists?

Many times, after a mass shooting, the shooter commits suicide before the police can even speak to him or her. We base our obscure diagnoses on accounts from those who knew them, and personal writings same as accounts. We say that they must have been sick, for no one with a “healthy” mind could have done something so terrible (although I haven’t seen too many psychological analyses of international terrorists recently).

And although it is hard to argue that it is unfair to label the perpetrator, these vague claims of “mental illness” certainly have horrible implications for society as a whole.

Donald Trump, in a statement responding to the shooting in Oregon, said that people with mental illness will “come through the cracks” and commit horrible atrocities regardless of national gun restrictions.

I cannot help but picture a zombie movie, with all of the creatures clawing their way out of the ground and coming to suck our blood (or whatever zombies do).

Is this the narrative we will apply to the 26.2 percent of Americans estimated to be suffering from a diagnosable mental illness? Is this what we want to tell a young college student suffering from depression or schizophrenia — that there is something egregiously wrong with him or her?

Regardless of what the policy focus is, be it healthcare or gun laws, the automatic association made between mental illness and violent actions is both unwarranted and insulting.

Even in a speech meant to turn blame away from mental illness and toward gun lobbying, President Obama did not deny that the shooter was mentally ill. We as a nation are constantly perpetuating the idea that all “crazy” actions can be linked back to a diagnosable illness, despite the fact that this isn’t necessarily true.

But it is more harmful in the way that it leads to continued misunderstanding of people with psychiatric disorders and how they operate in society. One-fourth of America is certainly not comprised of a bunch of people with a desire to murder others. It is comprised of a diverse collection of problems, struggles, emotions and solutions that few Americans have internalized.

If we keep responding to every violent action with “he’s probably crazy,” then they never will internalize it.

OPINION

Page 10

October 28, 2015

Fordham Needs to Readjust the Colleges

By MATTHEW CALHOUN STAFF WRITER

Over the past five years, the now defunct College of Business Administration and Graduate School of Business Administration have gone under significant rebranding and restructuring from the ground-up to become the unified Gabelli School of Business. These changes have enabled the programs to vastly rebrand themselves and sparked a barrage of donations. With the new branding and funding available, Gabelli has been able to transform into a major player among business schools.

This heavy investment in Gabelli by outsiders has fueled discontent and anger from many of the other constituent schools, notably Fordham College at Rose Hill. Feeling abandoned and overlooked by the administration, liberal arts students have been pushing for similar investments to their college that Gabelli students are receiving. However, the university itself is not fueling Gabelli’s climb to the top, outside donations are.

Even though the university is not at fault, it does not mean there is nothing they can do. Instead of pushing general campaigns for the university as a whole like the “Excelsior: Ever Upward – The Campaign for Fordham” that just closed over its goal last year, they should spark a rebranding strategy all on their own.

Gabelli has successfully rebranded following the “two divisions, two campuses, one school, one mission” mantra. Fordham should push the liberal studies program in the same way, by also severing it from the arts and sciences. Fordham’s science programs have been at the center of a lot of debate and controversy

MICHAEL REZIN/FORDHAM RAM

recently. Seeing as science majors following the pre-med track complete a modified version of the core curriculum just like Gabelli students, it only makes sense that they should have their own constituent college as well. Science students have also been frustrated with the severe underfunding the department currently faces. Creating a new college specifically for science offers the opportunity for big donations from alumni, just like the tremendous inflow of cash from donors that occurred during the rebranding period of the Gabelli School from the former College of Business Administration.

The creation of a school strictly for the sciences would also make the engineering program more appealing. As it is, students must transfer to either Columbia or Case Western Reserve University after junior year to finish his or her degree. Should Fordham announce an entirely new college with an entirely new brand, this would create a huge and attractive opportunity for potential donors to contribute to the endowment of the college.

First, there should be a college

for the arts at both campuses but focused at Lincoln Center. The arts, whether acting, dance, theatre or the new media and digital arts programs, are an area where Fordham excels as a standout college. Fordham’s dance program, partnered with Alvin Ailey, is second in the country only to Julliard. Media and communications, while seen as “the easy major” at many colleges, is actually one of Fordham’s best programs.

LinkedIn even ranks Fordham as eighth in the country for producing media professionals, well ahead of where LinkedIn ranks Fordham for finance and accounting professionals. New media and digital design is one of the newest and fastest growing majors at the university, and many students in the program choose to minor in marketing, which shares significant overlap in terms of career opportunity. The creation of this college would also attract significant donations, and perhaps a keystone donation from a namesake donor among the many notable alumni who have succeeded in the arts such as Denzel Washington and Alan Alda.

Second, there should be one

liberal arts college for both campuses. FCRH and FCLC would be dissolved into one Fordham College. As both schools today offer nearly identical programs, this new college would be less confusing and would eliminate the unnecessary border between the schools. However, the previously mentioned programs would be separated into their own new colleges. This change would improve simplicity in the application process to Fordham, as many prospective students are puzzled by the differentiation of the academics in the two separate schools. Though not being significantly rebranded, Fordham College could draw in donations with the massive excitement being created by the merger of FCRH and FCLC and the creation of the two new schools.

Fordham has clearly outgrown the current alignment of the undergraduate constituent schools.

In the past five years, Gabelli has transformed into a much larger, more innovative college at two campuses with both graduate and undergraduate divisions. It is time for FCRH and FCLC to do the same. Gabelli has thrived on donations that have poured in since the school rebranded. A common theory in real estate is “if you build it, they will come,” and the same applies to the rebranding of Fordham’s other undergraduate schools. If Fordham can readjust our arts, sciences and liberal arts programs in an appealing manner, the donations from alumni and any individual or corporation who wants to be involved in the creation of a new innovative brand in higher education will come pouring in.

Matthew Calhoun, GSB ’17, is a finance major from Springboro, Ohio.

Do Universities Hate Free Speech?

By MARIA DECASPER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Moriah DeMartino, a political science major from Maryland is suing her college, Hagerstown Community College, over infringement of her First Amendment rights. As a freshman, the student felt that her college’s limited selection of clubs did not reflect her interests. DeMartino decided to start a local chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative activist club that promotes education on fiscal responsibility, free markets and limited government.

However, Hagerstown Community College did not share the student’s sentiment.

While universities and colleges often deny club creation requests due to limited budgets or lack of student interest, Hagerstown Community College gave a reason that specifically addressed the political nature of the club. The college’s administrators argued that a club like Turning Point USA could not exist on campus because the creation of an expressed republican club would necessitate the creation of a similar club for democrats. Furthermore, the administrators claimed that a club “that duplicates the purpose and mission of existing clubs” could not be created,

according to a blog post on Turning Point USA’s website.

However, the college has only three clubs that are political in nature: an LGBT rights club called “Spectrum,” a general political science club and a National Organization for Women club. Therefore, the college’s argument that Turning Point USA would “duplicate the purpose and mission of existing clubs” is unfounded. Furthermore, the college only has a men’s golf club team, which showcases that the college did not require the creation of a women’s golf club team simultaneously with the men’s golf club team.

Turning Point USA is an explicitly non-partisan group. Therefore, the creation of a club for democrats would not equalize the political landscape of clubs at Hagerstown Community College.

The college’s actions are clearly against the constitution. By denying DeMartino the right to even submit an application for a club, the administrators showed bias and disregard for their students’ constitutional rights. The administrators did not bother to even review the club’s goals before reaching their decision. While colleges have the right to disagree with the political sentiments of their

students, it is not right that a place of higher learning polices the free exchange of ideas and beliefs on campus if they are not hateful in nature.

By restricting the types of political clubs on campus based on their own personal beliefs, the administrators robbed their students of discovering differing opinions and ideas. The college’s decision not only violated the constitution, but it stifled intellectual discussion and growth, which goes against the very nature of a college or university.

Unfortunately, Hagerstown Community College is one of many colleges and universities across the United States who take it upon themselves to police the beliefs and ideas of their students. Earlier this year, Butler University fired Loni McKown, the advisor of Butler’s award winning student newspaper, after an article criticizing the administration was published. The school then chose to appoint their head of public relations as an interim advisor, completely censoring the newspaper for the time being.

While students at Butler University protested the decision, Moriah DeMartino chose to hire a private lawyer in order to protect her and other student’s constitutional rights,

despite the financial cost. However, even if DeMartino’s case reaches the Supreme Court, there is no guarantee that a decision in favor of students’ right to freedom of speech would make a substantial change.

There are numerous laws on the state and federal levels that explicitly protect student’s freedom of speech.

The state of Indiana, where Butler University is located, has an Illinois College Campus Press Act in place, which explicitly states that all college newspapers at both public and private universities are public forums protected by the constitution. The law, however, did not stop the administrators at Butler University.

With every new law passed, college administrators across the country find loopholes in order to protect their interests and public image. Almost every college, including our own, has a policy on Dissent.

While Moriah DeMartino’s case is an important step towards securing student’s rights, our constitutional freedoms will continue to be in peril unless the government finds a way to enforce laws that protect students’ rights to freedom of speech.

Maria DeCasper, FCRH ’17, is a philosophy major from Miami, Florida.

Cate Carrejo Let’s Get Physical Junior year has been very good to me thus far. I have interesting and engaging classes, a great internship and two part-time jobs, so I stay busy and productive throughout the week.

But it also means I sit on my butt a lot, typing on my laptop.

I would love to take advantage of Fordham’s resources for physical activity, but I simply do not have time.

Pressure to build your resume is on high by junior year, and for many, including myself, working out takes the back burner compared to schoolwork, clubs, internships and jobs.

The only way I could justify a better fitness routine was if it was being integrated into my school curriculum (or if I somehow got paid to do yoga).

Physical education was a requirement at 97 percent of four-year colleges in the 1920s, but fell to just 39 percent by 2010, according to USA Today. That is pretty bad considering the epidemic of obesity in the country today, and considering that college is supposed to prepare us to live enriched, successful, complete lives, which necessarily includes physical activity.

Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, requires each freshman to take one three-credit physical education course and offers classes on everything from nutrition to women’s self-defense to roller skating. And P.E. requirements are not limited to smaller, lesser known schools — Notre Dame and MIT both require physical education for graduation, and Dartmouth offers equestrian and sailing for credit. If that does not sound like a cool, low-key break from your stressful major classes and your intolerable core classes, I do not know what does.

Another solution is to offer credit incentives to students who find time outside of class to work out. If you prefer doing your own thing, or do not have the same time management problem that I do, you could and should still be rewarded for staying healthy and active. We already have to sign in to the RamFit Center — why not put that puzzling bureaucratic non-necessity to some good use? Or, instead of regular classes, students could attend weekly seminars with discussion facilitated by a professor (like the ridiculous internship class that makes you pay to have an unpaid internship).

Exercise is its own reward, and many Fordham students are workout fiends without any credit value (try getting a treadmill at the Ram Fit Center around 5:00 p.m.). But if we could be rewarded for the workouts that we already do, or be offered an incentive to be even more physically fit while exploring new hobbies, it seems like the thing to do.

Unfortunately, P.E. does take a lower priority to academic pursuits at an institution of higher learning. I would rather have Fordham Nightly News back than a newly offered class on weight lifting. But if Fordham ever gets the budget, a P.E. requirement, or some other incentive for students to stay physically active is not a bad idea. Until then, you can probably find me sitting on my bed with my laptop.

October 28, 2015

CULTURE

Page 11

The Fordham Ram

Fordham Tastes the World at ASILI Event

By ALYSSA OPDYKE STAFF WRITER

This Thursday, if you were to walk into the McGinley Center between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., you were likely to smell a variety of foods, hear lots of laughter and conversation and most notably, hear a variety of music — ranging from Irish step music, to soulful India Arie to the party starter music of Fetty Wap himself.

What was the source of all of this entertainment? ASILI, The Black Student Alliance at Fordham, hosted its third annual Taste The World cultural event in the McGinley Ballroom on Oct. 22.

Here, numerous cultural and performing groups, including members of ASILI, Slaínte, The Ramblers, Satin Dolls, B-Sides and Hot Notes as well as individual performers, shared in both musical and dance performance over a comfort food dinner of macaroni and cheese, fried plantains, rice and fried chicken.

There were a number of highlights present throughout the night. Both B-Sides and the jazzfocused Hot Notes, co-ed a capella groups on campus, opened the night of performances with a variety of songs. Additionally, Adanze Unaegbu sang a stunning rendition of India Arie’s “I Am Not My Hair,” discussing the issue of external versus internal beauty through song and was concluded with major applause.

The Satin Dolls, Fordham’s all-fe-

TESSA BLOECHL/THE FORDHAM RAM

The Fordham Hot Notes opened the third annual Taste the World cultural event with jazz hits.

male a capella group, entertained the crowd with a variety of songs ranging from singer-songwriter to the biggest surprise of the night: a very crowd-pleasing and singand-rap-along performance of Fetty Wap’s “679,” led by Sahana Holla, Jessica Mannino and Laura Villaraut.

The night then transitioned to dance-focused performances.

The dance segment opened up with Flava, Fordham’s hip hop dance troupe, who performed a

very tight and enthralling routine to a number of rap and hip hop songs. Up next was Expressions Dance Alliance, Fordham’s inclusive dance company, whose Beyoncé dance medley was met with universal praise from the event’s large crowd. Slaínte, Fordham’s Irish dance company, shared Irish culture through both soft and hard shoe Irish dance, encouraging the crowd to clap along to their routines. The last of the group performers, Fordham’s all male-a

capella group, Ramblers, performed a variety of tunes, ranging from Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight” to Starland Vocal Band’s and Anchorman favorite “Afternoon Delight.” The night closed out with a performance by Hans Lueders, FCRH ’16 and ASILI co-president, who rapped an original song.

Fordham’s overall reaction to the event was overwhelmingly positive. Maddy Sulla, FRCH ’16, commented, “Taste The World is

always one of my favorite Fordham events because I feel like it really brings us together as a community to embrace and celebrate our differences, which is really important given the recent incidents on campus.” Katie Melz, FCRH ’16, agreed: “It was a lot of fun!

All the performers did an amazing job. They were very moving and the performances were well done!

And the food was great!”

Danielle Rowe, FCRH ’16, co-president of ASILI, was also very pleased with the turnout and performances at the event. Rowe commented, “I think everyone on e-board was incredibly happy with how the event turned out — I know I definitely am. Every year, we are stunned at how many people actually turn out for the event, and also just the quality of the performances. I’m really happy with how the show turned out and we couldn’t have done it without our amazing e-board putting in so many hours of hard work, the people in Office of Student Involvement, Sodexo and of course all the amazing performers who are always stoked to perform for us.”

As for the future of the event?

Rowe said, “This is definitely going to continue to be an annual thing. We’re actually talking about expanding the event and looking into getting the Lombardi Field House at the rate we’re going.” Sulla agreed: “I’ll miss the community aspect of it and the fun of the performances. And, of course, the food.”

Standup Comedy in a Politically Correct Culture

By NICOLE HORTON CULTURE EDITOR

Political correctness in standup comedy has become a contested issue due to growing sensitivity of social issues and amplification from social media platforms. Politically correct is defined by Merriam-Webster as “agreeing with the idea that people should be careful to not use language or behave in a way that could offend a particular group of people.”

Some say that political correctness goes overboard because comedy is supposed to poke fun at people and situations. Meanwhile, others maintain that political correctness is a way to be respectful to those who have long been discriminated against by the rest of society.

Although some believe that political correctness is changing or censoring comedians, their careers have not been affected by controversial jokes. Trevor Noah did not lose out on hosting “The Daily Show” because of his contentious tweets that people found from a few years ago. Stephen Colbert weathered criticism over an Asian

joke, but is still widely respected.

Amy Schumer has made ethnic jokes about black and Asian people in her standup, but 2015 was a very successful year for her. It almost seems that these accusations are merely a blip in the headlines.

Comedian Anthony Jeselnik’s TV show was almost canceled, following a joke he made on Twitter about the Boston Marathon.

However, in his most recent special, he talks about how he only had to remove the tweet to satisfy Comedy Central. In “Thoughts and Prayers,” he jokes about death, animal cruelty, cancer and abortion. Some people like that Jeselnik’s dark style of comedy does not cave to political correctness, while others strongly dislike it and are offended. This also presents the notion that someone can achieve fame by going against a politically correct society — a style of comedy that may gain more popularity.

In June, Jerry Seinfeld told ESPN radio, “I don’t play colleges, but I hear a lot of people tell me, ‘Don’t go near colleges. They’re so PC.’” He added that younger people “‘just want to use these

words: ‘That’s racist;’ ‘That’s sexist;’ ‘That’s prejudice.’ They don’t know what...they’re talking about.’”

It is surprising that Seinfeld took that stance considering his brand of comedy is more conversational.

People can watch one of his standup specials with their parents and not feel uncomfortable at any one point. However, it is a view that other comedians like Chris Rock, share.

Rock told Vulture that with a new generation, you cannot even mention race. “You can’t say ‘the black kid over there.’ No, it’s ‘the guy with the red shoes.’”

At a Kevin Hart show I attended this past summer, one of his opening acts from the Plastic Cup Boyz joked about how white, black, Hispanic and Asian people would react to getting kicked out of the show for using their cell phones. He did not single out one group, and he used stereotypes in a way that was poking fun. Everyone was laughing and it did not seem like anyone was offended by the prospect of political incorrectness.

When Eddie Murphy accepted the Mark Twain Prize for Ameri-

can Humor, he dusted off his Bill Cosby impression from his standup days. It was relevant since Cosby had received the honor in 2009. This was not the first time he joked about Cosby. In his 1987 special “Raw,” he talked about how Cosby called him to complain about the bad language in Murphy’s act. Bad language in standup can be viewed as a predecessor to political correctness, showing how comedy has evolved.

When speaking about Murphy at the event, Trevor Noah called comedy “a pressure valve of sorts” that seems to factor in political correctness.

“It acts as a place where people can come together and acknowledge that things are happening around them,” Noah continued, “and then get to address those issues in a space that hopefully doesn’t turn it into a negative experience. I think that’s really a powerful position that a lot of comedians have.”

However, Murphy refused to do his popular impression of “The Cosby Show” star on “Saturday Night Live’s” reunion show, so his

dismissing any notion that he empathized with the comedian. Many comedians have joked about Cosby, including Hannibal Burress, whose joke brought to light accusations that Cosby shrugged off earlier in his career. Despite these jokes, comedians like Burress and Murphy have made the conscious decision to make the jokes about Cosby, not about the women who claim he sexually assaulted them.

Meanwhile, comedians like Jeselnik have mentioned that joking about Caitlyn Jenner seems to be off-limits.

Political correctness is not easily defined since it reflects society’s attitudes about particular subjects. Comedians like Jeselnik and Schumer proved that they can take the heat when it comes to accusations of political incorrectness, so they will continue developing their style of comedy. Although it seems simple, the only way to conclude is that it is up to viewers to decide which type of comedy they enjoy. At least for now, political correctness has not affected standup comedy enough to change its landscape.

CULTURE

Page 12

October 28, 2015

La Dolce Vita

Food and Architecture Amaze in Budapest

By PASQUALE GIANNI STAFF WRITER

Budapest, Hungary is a lovely and quite historic city with unique character. I would stop short of calling it breathtaking or jaw-dropping, but the views are really quite nice, the food is good, the beer is decent (and more importantly, cheap) and the architecture is definitely a highlight. The grandiose remnants of the magnificent, but short lived, Austro-Hungarian Empire serve as the city’s main draw for tourists. Surprisingly, the city has done very well to market itself as a modern European capital, despite its several decades of Communist rule.

There are brand new shopping malls, fast-food and store chains and foreign banks everywhere. And where the Budapest’s ‘Eastern-Block’ past does show up, it is as a shining example of entrepreneurism.

The landmarks and buildings are more than numerous enough to keep one occupied for a long-weekend trip. The city, despite being separated by a river which once divided Buda from Pest, is very walkable. Among the must-sees is the chain bridge, which is long and decorated with magnificent lion statues, a spectacular link to what had long been considered a great crossroad between east and west of the city. Another gem of the city, St. Stephen’s Basilica, is an enormous Catholic church with

MARCELL KATONA/FLICKR

Budapest, Hungary is rich in history, architecture and delicious food.

an observatory deck that encapsulates incredible views of the entire cityscape. The Parliament building, however, is the main attraction. It is a grand spectacle perched upon a hill as a key focal point visible from anywhere in Budapest. Other attractions worth seeing are the Heroes’ Square and Castle District, which serve as a nod to the rich and ever-changing history of the country. Even the parks are pleasant, although unable to be enjoyed much during October because of the cold. Budapest is known for many things, but good weather is not one of them. Unfortunately, this trip did not include a stop at a famous Hungarian Bathhouse due to time constraints, but I had always heard of their uniqueness and enjoyability,

Culture Shock | Meredith Nardino

Unbottling Catfish and the Bottlemen It was a scene not unfamiliar to the Midtown venue Terminal 5, as fans lined the street waiting for Welsh rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen to take the stage last Tuesday night. Clad in their black skinny jeans and Converse, some of these loyal fans began camping out as early as five o’clock that morning, hoping to be in the front row at a nearly sold-out show. And when the show finally began, the Bottlemen proved they were worth the wait.

After an impressive opening performance from the up-and-coming Jamie N Commons, the Catfish crew energized the crowd with their brief but powerful set. High off the success of their debut record, The Balcony, the Bottlemen exuded confident rock and roll charisma.

Front man Van McCann relished in the adoration of his screaming fans, the majority of whom were girls between the ages of 15 and 25.

Dynamic guitar riffs and rich bass lines echoed through a wall of ten stand-up amplifiers surrounding the drummer’s den. The band seems to belong in another decade, but their contagious choruses and hypnotic hooks emulate the commercial rock and roll made popular by bands like the Strokes and Arctic Monkeys.

Though the band excels in messy guitar licks and marathon drum solos, the most impressive moment of the night by far was when McCann braved the stage alone for the acoustic “Hourglass.” In a seamless transition from the amplified album opener, “Homesick,” McCann’s three supporting band members snuck away, leaving him

standing beneath a single spotlight.

The crowd responded to McCann’s somber demeanor and quickly fell silent to savor the tender, but still edgy ballad. Developing fame has turned McCann into an unsuspecting heartthrob, a virtue he surely recognizes when pouring his heart out to his devoted — and predominantly female — fans during this brief solo moment.

His voice, similar to that of Justin Young (The Vaccines) or Noel Gallagher (formerly of Oasis), floats through the slow chorus with ease, with hints of his trademark raspy tone escaping along the way. It’s safe to say that if there was anyone in the audience who was not already smitten by Van McCann, they were after hearing the vulnerable side of his voice that night.

Catfish and the Bottlemen breezed through the entire track list of their one and only album, ending the eleven song set with fan favorite, “Tyrants.” McCann’s rowdy energy was enough for the whole band, as the rest of the four-piece remained focused and obediently provided back-up vocals when needed. What the anthem lacks in lyrics it makes up with enormous instrumental skill. The Bottlemen are unpolished on the surface, but exhibit a natural ability and passion that makes them stand out from the multitude of bands hoping to give rock music the revival it desperately needs. Though their name may still be relatively unrecognized in the States, these UK rockers surely convinced this Terminal 5 crowd that Catfish and the Bottlemen are not to be forgotten.

so this alone is enough to warrant a return.

In honesty, this trip’s sightseeing excursions seemed to serve the purpose of filling time between meals.

The food was heavy, but something different, and overall really good. The cuisine consists of lots of meats, sausages, soups and pastries.

At Hungukarium Bistro, a cozy informal restaurant serving Hungar-

ian classics, I had goulash soup and baked pork knuckle with spicy potatoes. goulash soup is an absolute classic: a beefy broth with fresh vegetables and chunks of meat, a delicious winter stew indeed.

At the New York Cafe, the oldest cafe in Budapest, the incredible oldworld ambiance and interior décor, featuring a gold and maroon room with chandeliers worth more than my college educaiton, outshined the food. The crispy half roasted duck was certainly worth it for the beauty of the restuarant. The street food was very good and served as a great afternoon snack to hold me over during the depressing lag time between lunches and dinners. More than anything, my waistline is suffering from the richness of the excellent pastries, strudels and chocolates that the country is famous for.

At night, there’s one way to do Budapest correctly: ruin bars. These swanky spots are often abandoned societ-era factories that are spraypainted and decorated with old art,

industrial ruins and equipment. Most even have projections rolling old Hungarian film footage and dated video game machines that add to the vibes of a world left behind. The atmosphere and dynamic were unusual, but enjoyable. One of the main beers, Belle-Vue, was a sweet and tasty lager brewed with fresh seasonal Hungarian cherries, and I drank a lot of it. I even did some gambling just for the experience at the Las Vegas Casino. It was slightly underwhelming, but it was what one might expect from a casino in Eastern Europe.

I didn’t get to see everything in Budapest, but I liked what I saw. It was clean, historic, architecturally impressive and fun. I had always heard Budapest being spoken of as a “Paris of the East” or “the greatest city in Eastern Europe,” but that just wasn’t my take. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it a lot and absolutely hope to return.

There is still much more to see for me in this charming Hungarian city. And of course, a good time and good food is always worth the trip.

Editor’s Pick | ’90s Halloween Movies

Reminiscing On Feel-Good Scares

By ELLIE BRUCKNER DIGITAL EDITOR

While the Halloween season has been upon us since the first few minutes of October, this week we will reach the peak and end of the season as we enter “Halloweek.” Although Halloween celebrations have changed as we have gotten older, one thing that remains constant are the spooky, sometimes laughably scary movies that accompany the season.

These outrageous representations of mystical towns and dark magic were my favorite part of the season growing up. Every year, Disney Channel and its competitors treated us to a new comically scary movie that managed to both amuse and, admittedly on occasion, terrify me. As a person who prefers not to be traumatized by actual horror films, I use the Halloween season as an excuse to get nostalgic and re-watch these childhood spooky flicks.

Hocus Pocus, the 22-year-old Disney classic tale of three witches hanged in the 1600’s and their quest for revenge and ever lasting youth, was the first movie that genuinely scared me. The witches’ mannerisms and voices were creepily cringeworthy all on their own. The fact that they were gallivanting through the town and attempting to suck the souls out of children definitely deemed it the most disturbing plot line in my limited movie experience.

Although it no longer has the same scare factor as it did in my younger days, this cult classic is an essential part of getting into the Halloween spirit.

While Hocus Pocus satisfies the scary requirements for a Halloween movie, I was, and remain, a sucker for the more cutesy tales of any season. For the easily frightened and even more easily heart-warmed, Casper is your perfect source of nostalgia this season. The haunted house, evil ghosts and, of course, a ghost therapist who can speak to the

Hocus Pocus is a classic children’s Halloween movie that charmed us as kids.

evil spirits in the house, allow it to be considered a Halloween movie. The difference with this Halloween flick, however, is Casper, “the friendliest ghost you know,” whose only wish is to be human again. The innocent love story that develops between Casper and the ghost therapist’s daughter, Kat, turns this spooky fallfavorite into a Cinderella spin-off.

Casper provides a heartwarming story that is refreshing during a season more focused on nightmares and dark magic. If you need a feel-good film, don’t forget about this friendly ghost.

Finally, what would this season be without a visit to Halloweentown?

The world was first introduced to this mystical town back in 1998 as it watched three siblings and their magical grandmother travel to a village that completely embodies

the spirit of Halloween. The movie follows the oldest sibling on her quest to save the other supernatural creatures in the town from an evil spirit terrorizing the village. For others, like myself, who were quickly hooked on the world of Halloweentown, Disney did not disappoint and gave us Halloweentown 2, Halloweentown High, and Return to Halloweentown. The cheesy editing effects, overload of Halloween decorations and overpowering ‘90s feel is sure to bring out Halloween nostalgia for days of trick or treating, and to revive your belief in magic.

Although tastes in movies and celebrations for Halloween have matured, reliving your childhood with one of these cheesy ‘90s flicks will remind you of the magic of Halloweens past and be sure to get you into the spirit.

CULTURE

October 28, 2015

Page 13

Spooky Things To Do This Halloween

By AMANDA GIGLIO CULTURE EDITOR

The scariest week of the year is upon us, and the best way to celebrate is to dress up in absurd costumes and watch the most terrifying movies of all time. If you are not sure what to do for Halloween weekend, there are plenty of events taking place in New York City as well as right here at Fordham.

Fordham Events: On Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. there is a raffle for tickets to see Wicked in the McGinley lobby. What better way to get into the Halloween spirit than watch a musical about witches? On Thursday, Oct. 29, at 2:30 p.m. in front of Eddie’s there will be Trickor-Treat Street sponsored by Campus Activities Board (CAB). CAB is handing out candy and will have tabling to make masks and fun Halloween crafts. Also on Thursday, Jurassic World is being shown in Keating 1st at 9 p.m.

On Friday, Oct. 30, CAB is hosting the annual Trick-or-Treat Trot: A Hero Run. This charity 5K will have a pumpkin patch, fun raffles, fall foods and novelty personalized water bottles. Proceeds will be donated directly to the B+ foundation to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Fordham’s a cappella

TINA FINEBERG/AP

The Annual Halloween Parade is a fun way to check out the coolest costumes.

groups will take part in a Halloweek a Cappella Teaser Concert in Keating at 7 p.m. This is a sneak peek at the Fordham a cappella groups endof-semester concerts, featuring BSides, Satin Dolls, The Hot Notes, The F#’s from Lincoln Center and The Ramblers.

Haunted Houses: While Fordham has tons of events to enjoy this Halloween week, the party gets an upgrade in New York City. Besides the annual Village Halloween Parade, there are tons of scary activities to partake in leading up to Saturday.

Blood Manor is deemed the scariest haunted house in the city, too scary for children under 14 years old. You pass through themed rooms sure to

produce some screams. This is a very popular venue, so be sure to get there early. Times Scare is a year-round haunted house right off of Times Square. New to this year’s haunted events is the New York Haunted Hayride, located at Randalls Island Park, Manhattan.

Ghost Tours: If bloody haunted houses are not your favorite, try going to a real-life haunted house, with ghost tours. The Merchants House Museum in downtown Manhattan is one of the most haunted houses on the island.

This museum holds candlelight ghost tours from Oct. 28 through Halloween.

Review| Music

With “Hello” Adele Doesn’t Miss A Beat

By AMANDA GIGLIO CULTURE EDITOR

So if you have not been living under a rock for the last couple of days, you definitely have heard, seen or at least heard about Adele’s newest song “Hello.” This first single from her new album, 25, which is coming out in November, is the biggest thing to hit the internet in a while. Not only has this album been long-awaited since Adele’s sophomore album, 21, which was released in 2011, but the music video for “Hello” already has over 73 million views.

When looking at Adele’s career so far, it is really amazing that she only began gaining a following in the United States when “Rolling in the Deep” was released. Her rise to fame started in 2006 with her deal with XL Recordings. In 2009, her song “Chasing Pavements,” along with her debut album, 19, gained critics’ approval. That same year she won Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. With 21 and its gospel and disco-infused tracks, Adele proved herself once again, as the album became one of the longest-running numberone albums in history. Even with a canceled tour due to hemorrhages on her vocal chords, Adele won six Grammy Awards in one night.

This new album follows suit with her other albums, as it is titled after her age at the time. According to Adele, her last album was a break-up album and this new

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Adele’s third album, 25, is to be released on Nov. 20, 2015.

one is about making up with herself and making up for lost time. After just listening to “Hello” it is obvious that this is what she was going for. With her signature vocals and quiet piano, the song is amazing.

The black and white video flashes between present scenes of Adele going back to an empty house and scenes reminiscing of a past relationship with a man. The video shows both happy and sad moments in the relationship. The little bit of conversation you can hear in the background of the video adds a new layer to the song, and it gives

context to the lyrics. The raw emotion in the video, as well as in the lyrics and her voice, is powerful and effortlessly portrays the meaning of the song.

“Hello” has an addicting tune and makes you excited for the upcoming album. The song is an out-of-body experience, perfect for getting out of the funk you may be in or just for a fun song to sing with friends. If you are one of the few who have not heard this song yet, take a listen now and you will truly be impressed.

For a more intimate horror scene, magician/performer Jason Suran recreates the unexplainable experience of The Seance with you and 12 other strangers. If you want to stay closer to the Bronx, the New York Botanical Garden is having a wrap-up celebration for its Frida Kahlo exhibit, celebrating the traditional Mexican day of the dead holiday. Dia de Los Muertos will have stilt walkers, Latin music, Mexican films and artists carving giant pumpkins starting at 10 a.m. on Halloween day.

Horror Films: Another way to get into the Halloween spirit is watching horror films. While you can go on Netflix and watch some of the top rated horror films, plenty of places in the city are hosting horror movie nights. Some movies that will be shown are: Scream at Throne Watched, Spooky Fest 3 at the Williamsburg theater, Night of the Living Dead at the Rubin Museum of Art, Nosferatu, including a live per-

formance of the score at Videology. The IFC Center is showing The Hills Have Eyes on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31, A Nightmare on Elm Street will play at Landmark at Midnight on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 and The Brood will play at the Museum of the Moving Image on Halloween day.

Village Halloween Parade: The annual Village Halloween Parade is the most iconic New York Halloween thing to do. Starting at 7 p.m. and ending at 11 p.m. on Halloween, the parade runs up Sixth Avenue, from Spring Street to 16th Street. Anyone can march in the parade, but costumes are mandatory if you want to join. If not, still dress up and grab a spot along Sixth Avenue to watch the parade, which features dancers, floats and more. Watching the parade and seeing all the crazy costumes, then grabbing food before heading back to the Bronx to party is the most exciting way to spend Halloween in New York City.

Binge Guide | Nicole Fiorica

Hannibal At a glance: Genre: Psychological Thriller Seasons/Episodes: 3/39 Avg Episode Length: 42 minutes Available on: Amazon Prime What it’s about: Criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy, Black Hawk Down) is recruited by the FBI Behavioral Science Unit to catch serial killers, thanks to his unique ability to fully empathize with others.

Given that this skill involves fully immersing himself in the killers’ shoes in order to determine their mentality and motives, Will’s own mental health becomes a cause for concern. The head of Will’s unit, Special Agent Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne, The Matrix) employs the help of psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelson, Casino Royale) to keep an eye on Will. Of course, nobody knows that Dr. Lecter is a cannibal and a serial killer himself.

Why it’s so good: As visually stunning as it is disturbing, “Hannibal” brings a whole new dimension to the serial killer you may already know from books and movies past (see: Thomas Harris’s The Red Dragon and most famously, The Silence of the Lambs). Delving into Will’s mind as he struggles to maintain sanity and seeing the famous psychiatrist before he becomes infamous for eating people is an irresistibly compelling combination. “Hannibal” is far from the jump-scares you might come to expect from the horror genre; its macabre and often grisly imagery mixed with suspenseful pacing (possibly involving you screaming at the screen that his name literally rhymes with cannibal) make it a great bet for the Halloween season.

Why you should binge it: Despite its pretense as an episodic crime drama with new murders every week, “Hannibal” is much more suited to the description of psychological thriller, as the cases that Will encounters often come back in one way or another, whether because of Hannibal’s underhanded involvement or because of the toll they take on his mental state. With fewer than 40 episodes in the entire completed series, relatively little subplot and the fate of the main characters constantly hanging in the balance, the show moves quickly enough that it is hard to resist absorbing the whole thing at once.

Standouts: Dancy and Mikkelson both carry the show with ease as they embody the complex psyches of two vastly different men whom the viewer can only hope to understand. The characters’ relationship with one another is just as fascinating as they are individually, and they steal each scene they are in. Still, keep a look out for the phenomenal Gillian Anderson (“The X-Files”) as Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier, Hannibal’s own psychologist who adds intrigue with hidden secrets and motives of her own.

Potential Pitfalls: While you would expect a show about a cannibal to be gruesome in some degree, don’t be misled by the show’s placement on a prime-time network like NBC. That “Viewer Discretion Advised” warning is something to take seriously if you have a weak stomach, especially given that all of the serial killers on the show seem to find the most visually graphic way to dispose of bodies. If “Dexter” or even the average medical drama proved too hard to watch, “Hannibal” is not the crime fi x you’re looking for.

CULTURE

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October 28, 2015

Who’s That Kid? | Felicia Zhang, GSB ’16

Advice | Catherine Kastberg

Student Pursues Business and Medicine

Midterm Stress This is a very stressful time during the semester. Midterms are winding down, projects are starting up and it seems like you never get a moment to just breathe and calm down. It is so important not to let stress get the best of you. Here are some tips that you should try if you are feeling stressed.

Ohm… Yoga is one of the best ways to de-stress. It helps to keep both your body and soul fit, as well as helping to teach you the art of concentration, which works to release the tension in your muscles. Yoga is a very calming and focused workout that forces you to pause and reflect. It is a great way to make sense of your mind even when it seems to be running in different directions. The RamFit Center offers numerous yoga classes at various times, so one is sure to fit into your schedule. These times are Mondays at 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and Fridays at 1:00 p.m.

Sometimes, something as simple as a nice walk or jog can help to clear your head. Fall is a wonderful season to visit the Botanical Gardens to get some fresh air. Not only is the landscape scenic and beautiful, but it is also always quiet and enchanting. You completely forget that you are in the middle of the Bronx or amidst crazy schoolwork.

Maybe your stress is coming from a deeper place, like a recent fight with a friend or a bad decision. Take the time to reflect on your recent actions and determine if they are the real root of your anger. Forgiving someone will lift a huge weight off your shoulders. It is not good to hold on to grudges and let them weigh you down. Maybe even consider attending Mass or Reconciliation. As Fordham students, we are so fortunate to attend a school that offers these so frequently. Liturgies and Reconciliation are offered every day of the week except Saturdays.

Here is a fun one: do something spontaneous and nice for yourself.

Take advantage of Fordham’s close proximity to the city and go on a mini-shopping spree. Lose yourself in the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. Treat yourself to a nice dinner. The city is full of amazing restaurants with any food you could imagine. You could even do something as simple as sending yourself a bouquet of flowers. Not only will they help to brighten up your room, but who doesn’t like flowers?!

Cry it out. Sometimes all you really need is to turn on a sad movie and let it all out, or even put on a sad playlist with a friend and let go. Release all the pent up emotions and I promise you will feel better. There are so many different ways to de-stress your life. Try out one of these ideas, or come up with something on your own. Just remember that everything is going to be ok.

COURTESY OF RAM ARCHIVES

CASEY CHUN/THE FORDHAM RAM

On a scenic autumn day, Felicia Zhang reflects on medicine, business and family.

By CASEY CHUN PHOTO EDITOR

Running out of my biochemistry exam, I was a tad late and I did not want to take away from her busy schedule. A student in the Gabelli School of Business, senior Felicia Zhang manages to balance a premedical coursework. Moving from the brisk autumn outdoors to a cozy, yet professional, room on the third floor, I was able to sit down with her.

Neatly put together, no one would have guessed that she only slept three hours the night before. The only hint of it would be the large coffee in her hand. Caffeine she says, is what, helps her through all of this.

“I have a presentation later,” she told me prior to sitting down. “My thesis is on drug pricing policy.”

Felicia’s goal is to get a medical degree and enter the field able to draw parallels between business and patient care. She comments that “the political aspect [of medicine] — like the Affordable Care Act and what it’s doing to the industry — has to do with what it’s like to becoming a provider.”

Hailing from the Golden State, she says, “[New Yorkers] are a little more aggressive…Being in this environment has helped become a little less naïve — to push and pull.”

That is, in fact, what she has done at Fordham. She is one of the few Gabelli students on the pre-health route.

Last year, she co-founded the Busi-

ness Innovations in Healthcare Club (BIHC) with James Finora, GSB ’17.

She says it is one of her greatest accomplishments. Students on the prehealth route are discouraged by the school’s requirements to pursue both avenues of education. This almost Janusian combination is difficult to navigate with different requirements from both departments. “[The administration is coming to know] what our needs are as business/pre-med [students]. Through BIHC, I hope to develop a mentoring program and a precedent for other business/pre-meds.” With a smile on her face, her promise as a dedicated student is evident.

“Would you say your career comes first?” I ask.

There is a moment of hesitative thinking. “Out of what? At this point, in college with my privilege, I can be a little selfish and focus on myself — and that means my career.”

“What is one social movement that you think you can place yourself behind?”

“Black Lives Matter. As an Asian, I feel like…” There is a pause. “How do I put this? As a member of the ‘model minority’ and as a person of color, I believe that whatever the injustices that Asians and Asian Americans feel that are done to them can only be resolved if all people of color could come together. I believe the gravest injustices are done to the Black American populations. Those injustices have to be addressed before the

‘lesser’ injustices of my community.”

“So you’re saying BLM should gain priority in social activism?”

“It should gain priority from that, when [the policing of black and brown bodies] is addressed, other issues that should be addressed will follow,” she says firmly, obviously giving much thought on this topic before I even asked.

“I do miss home. I can talk about my family. They’re important to me, especially my parents. What makes me love my parents so much is the struggles we’ve endured together. I find myself worrying about my parents and their retirement. I think my father finds enjoyment in duty to the family. I can understand that; I think I would too.”

She is family-oriented. She talks to her parents often and has a genuine concern for them. Caring and studious, I wondered how she balances work and being positive.

“I have this weird sense that I should be doing work in the night hours, and I’d be wasting time if I slept. I feel like sleeping is a waste —” She pauses to reword. “I don’t think it’s a waste of time — but I think I could be doing better things.”

“How do you back that statement up as a pre-med?”

She smiles and almost immediately responds, “How do hospitals back up how they work residents? I’d rather be saving other people’s lives than sleeping, unless my efficiency is compromised.”

It is important to take your well-being into account during the stress of midterms.

Review | Television

Anthony Jeselnik Epitomizes Dark Comedy

By NICOLE HORTON CULTURE EDITOR

The title of Anthony Jeselnik’s Netflix comedy special “Thoughts and Prayers” was inspired by the joke he tweeted soon after the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. He tweeted, “There are some lines that should not be crossed today, especially the finish line.”

“I found that people, they wanted just one reaction to a tragedy, and that is they wanted you to say, ‘My thoughts and prayers are with you.’

And I thought it was such an empty sentiment that I thought, let me attack this,” Jeselnik tells “Entertainment Weekly” of that tweet. “My goal for this special is that no one will be able to use that phrase again without feeling like an idiot.”

Jeselnik definitely challenges the notion of political correctness and what is “okay” to laugh about, whether it is death, child molestation, racism, abortion or any other taboo subject. If you do find his dark humor funny, it is still not the laughout-loud funny that audiences have come to expect from comedy specials. Unlike other popular comedians like Aziz Ansari, Kevin Hart and Amy Schumer, Jeselnik does not use his experiences and the people in his life as inspiration. Regardless of whether you appreciate his humor or not, “Thoughts and Prayers” is very different from other Netflix comedy specials and is worth a look. However, if you want to stop watching early and miss another dead baby or abortion joke, that is

up to you.

Jeselnik has a slow swagger and uses misdirection before getting to the punchline. His smirk and intense gaze never waver, and you begin to wonder if he is truly unapologetic.

The formula for the special is best explained by the following: Jeselnik jokes about political correctness and what people are not supposed to say before he, of course, says it. Then he explains why people hate the joke and why they are wrong. However, he seems to give conflicting notions about why he makes those types of jokes. In this special and his overall mentality, it seems that Jeselnik is capitalizing on controversial issues, rather than being a daring comic like he wants people to believe.

CHARLES SYKES/AP

Anthony Jeselnik takes on political correctness and controversial issues.

October 28, 2015

SPORTS

Page 15

The Fordham Ram

Men’s Soccer Second in A-10 Conference

By TARA CANGIALOSI STAFF WRITER

It was an up and down week for the Fordham men’s soccer team.

In a rematch of last year’s Atlantic 10 Conference Championship final on Oct. 21, Fordham beat the University of Rhode Island for the second year in a row, winning 1-0.

However, the excitement did not last. Four days later, the Rams fell to the George Mason University Patriots 5-1 on Jack Coffey Field.

Fordham is now 6-6-3 on the year, and holds a promising 4-2 record in the A-10 Conference.

Against URI, the Bronx-based Rams displayed energy and intensity early in the first half.

The contest’s lone goal came in the 18th minute, when Jannik Loebe found Andres Penfold in the center for a shot. The redshirt senior beat URI’s goalkeeper Nils Leifhelm with a shot to the bottom left corner, putting Fordham ahead 1-0. It was Penfold’s second goal of the season.

The teams played evenly for the remainder of the first half, and nearly all of the second half. The best chance Fordham had to pull ahead 2-0 came in the 80th minute. Graduate student Gabe Stauber rocketed a shot across the net from where Leifhelm was standing. Though the sophomore keeper could not grab it, his defender blocked it on the goal line.

URI tried to bring on an extra attacker for the final 16 minutes of play to score a tying goal. Fordham keeper, freshman Rashid Nuhu, made two key saves in the final five minutes to secure the shutout win.

He and his counterpart Leihelm each ended the game with three saves total.

After a very solid defensive effort at URI, the Rams could not stop George Mason’s line of attack

ZACK MIKLOS/THE FORDHAM RAM

The men’s soccer team took down Rhode Island 1-0 on Wednesday before falling to George Mason 5-1 on Sunday at home.

this past Sunday, losing 5-1.

The Rams allowed three first half goals — an unprecedented amount for a defense that held the team together last season and that has been a strong point for the Rams this year.

George Mason started the scoring early, going up 1-0 just 19 minutes into the game.

The goal came on a flurry of shots in front of the Fordham goal.

George Mason’s Henning Dirks started the rapid fire with a shot from the right side, which Nuhu blocked. His teammate Brice Colcombe headed the ball for another shot, but Fordham senior defender Ryan Cupolo responded with a header of his own. But the ball did not clear far enough out of the 18, and Dirks got another two shots.

The first was blocked, but the second flew in for his third goal of the

year.

It was a defensive lapse for the Rams, and it dictated the rest of the game.

George Mason scored another two goals in the next 10 minutes.

In the 25th minute, Mason’s Matt Tucker centered the ball along the six-yard line toward Dirks. The sophomore from Munster, Germany, chipped a shot over Nuhu for his second goal of the game.

Less than four minutes later, Ahmed Ismail took an unbelievable shot from 35 yards out. The senior’s shot glanced off a Fordham player in flight, but ultimately ended up in the bottom left corner for a goal to give Mason a 3-0 lead going into the half.

With 10 minutes left in the half, a foul on junior Ole Sandnes went unnoticed by the referee. A George Mason player went in for a tackle

with his cleats up, but play continued. Head Coach Jim McElderry was audible from the far sideline, clearly upset with the lack of a call.

McElderry, in a possible effort to rally his team, gave the referee a hard time about the call when checking Sandes’s condition on the field.

Luckily, the junior was uninjured and the score remained the same for the remainder of the half.

Following the break, the Rams showed signs of life by scoring a goal in the 56th minute. Freshman Janos Loebe took a left-footed corner kick, which a George Mason player sent airborne toward his own net. Sophomore Eric Ohlendorf got his head on the ball and sent it into the back of the net to close the gap to 3-1. It was Ohlendorf ’s first collegiate goal.

The Patriots got the best of Ford-

ham’s backline just a minute later when Conlan Kemmerer knocked Nuhu’s bobbled save-attempt into the goal for a 4-1 lead.

The Patriots closed out the scoring in the 76th minute. Kemmerer got his second goal of the day off a pass from Dirks, who was awarded with the assist on the play. Mason went ahead 5-1, and would maintain that lead for the rest of the game.

Fordham had six shots on goal and nine corner kicks that the team could have converted on. Also, George Mason committed 13 fouls that the Rams should have taken advantage of on the offensive end.

It was an interesting pair of games for the Rams as a whole. The team looked especially sharp in its road contest at URI, but fell extremely flat at home against George Mason.

The win at URI was a huge confidence booster for the Rams, as the team hopes to make big things happen at the A-10 Championship again this year. Coming off the loss to Saint Louis, the Rams were fired up and came away with the desired result — a hard fought, well-executed win.

The team’s performance against George Mason is of greater concern, however. The Patriots are now 5-7-3 on the year, but only 1-2-3 in A-10 play. This is a game that the Rams should have taken advantage of, as they will face a tough rival in the University of Dayton this weekend. The Flyers are 9-4-2 overall and 4-0-1 in the conference.

The Rams need to regroup in this week’s training sessions, particularly on the defensive end to see where the back four — who have been so solid all season — went wrong.

The Rams will take on Dayton on Halloween night, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. at Jack Coffey Field.

Water Polo Wins Three of Four At Home

By BRENDAN TAGUE STAFF WRITER

Fordham had a dominant few days last weekend, winning all three of their contests against Salem International, George Washington, and Mercyhurst University before falling to St. Francis Brooklyn on Tuesday night.

The Rams, coming off of an overtime win last Wednesday against Iona, hosted all four matches at the Colonel Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center on the Rose Hill campus.

Fordham began the three-game weekend by playing Salem International at 8 p.m. on Friday, handling the squad and winning 16-9. The game was highlighted by a careerhigh five goals from sophomore Ethan Vandeventer. Salem International made it a close game on a few occasions, but the Rams led for the entirety of the game.

Fordham followed this game with a 12-10 victory against division-rivals, George Washington, with 10 different Fordham players

SAMUEL JOSEPH/THE FORDHAM RAM

After winning four straight matches, including three at home this past weekend, water polo fell short on Tuesday night.

scoring in the match. The Rams led 2-1 after a break-away goal from Vandeventer, and exclusion goals by both teams. However, George Washington won the second quarter 3-1 to tie the game going into the second half. In the third quarter, scores from freshman Diego Delgado and junior R.J. Simmons,

topped off by a goal from Vandeventer with three seconds left, gave Fordham an 8-7 lead going into the final quarter. George Washington scored an equalizing goal to open the period, but Fordham held the lead for the remainder of the game after a goal from senior Andrew Gonzalez. George Washington

had a chance to send the game into overtime with a penalty with 33 seconds remaining in the game, but a clutch save from sophomore goalie Alex Jahns effectively ended the game.

Fordham then went on to beat Mercyhurst 10-6, in a game that opened with two scores from Del-

gado. Three unanswered goals gave Mercyhurst a lead in the second quarter, but Fordham ran away with the lead from that point, topped off by a late score from freshman Ryan Guso.

On Tuesday night, the program honored its 10 seniors prior to the 7:30 p.m. match. Patrick Harrigan, Bobby Wurtz, Gonzalez, Davis DeFontes, Patrick Reyes, Patrick Lenihan, Landon Kern, Mike Hay, Peter Bergum and Ethan Hallowell were all recognized pre game.

Senior night started off promising for Fordham as the team led 4-3 after the first quarter on goals from Gonzalez, Delgado, Simmons and Wurtz. St. Francis tied it in the second quarter and the game headed to halftime deadlocked at four.

The second half was not as kind to the Rams as St. Francis outscored Fordham 4-3 in the third quarter and 2-1 in the fourth quarter to go on to win 10-8.

Fordham’s second half goals were scored by sophomore Cameron Shewcuk, Hallowell, Lenihan and Reyes.

SPORTS

Page 16

Anthony Pucik

October 28, 2015

Rowing Impresses at Schuykill

Stephen Fragano

How Hockey Should End

The Sports Cycles

This season, the NHL implemented a few new rules and one of them involved overtime play.

Instead of having four-on-four for five minutes, teams would skate three aside, then go to a shootout if no goals were scored. The goal is to limit the amount of games that go to shootouts in the league, after it was tried in the American Hockey League last season and produced less shootouts and more games ending in the OT period. It’s only been a few weeks, but three on three OT has been incredibly fun to watch.

For starters, it is exciting. Teams have the choice of playing with a top center and two defensemen, two forwards with a lock-down defenseman, or even go for broke and put three forwards on the ice, creating a new level of strategy that adds another dimension to overtime that was not there before. The amount of open ice three-on-three leaves has led to heart-palpitating plays up and down the ice for both teams.

If one team gets an odd man rush and is stopped, one long pass out of the defensive zone leads to a partial breakaway on the other side, allowing the other team to put the game away. Look at the Rangers OT loss to the Devils just over a week ago.

Derek Stepan hit the post, the puck careened back towards center ice and led to a two-on-one breakaway for New Jersey that led to Lee Stempniak’s game-winning goal.

It’s incredibly frustrating for Ranger fans, awesome for Devil fans, but overall just exciting for all fans.

Another importance of threeon-three OT is that it limits the amount of games that go to shootouts. I personally cannot stand the shootout. It is a skills competition that doesn’t properly gauge a team’s overall abilities, but rather a handful of players’ ability to defeat the opposing goaltender in a one-onone matchup. A team should not be able to get a crucial extra point in the standings simply because they have more skilled shootout players than another team. Games should be decided by events that would actually occur in a hockey game. A penalty shot is awarded when a player is on a breakaway and would essentially have had the same chance at a goal if he was not illegally stopped, but having players consistently have breakaways over and over again until one team scores more than the other is not the way to decide a regular season game.

Obviously you cannot have games continue into numerous overtimes in the regular season when teams have games on backto-back nights and some have to travel in order to get to them, but I have a solution. Keep the three-onthree OT. You can even go back to four-on-four if you wish. But after that, the game ends in a tie. I would personally rather the game end in a tie by 60 minutes and five OT minutes than have teams earn an extra point for a skills competition. But I digress; I love three-on-three OT for the excitement it brings to the game, and for limiting games that end in a shootout.

As the semester dwindles day by day, we are all getting closer to Euro Cup 2016. For those who are not as intrigued by the European soccer scene, there’s more to this than just soccer.

It’s hard to believe that the tournament’s final match is only a little over eight months away. The qualifying stage is almost over, as some third place teams still vie for a spot in the tourney’s group stage. For those who haven’t kept a close eye, here is where we stand after the ten qualifying games: the countries that finished at the top of the groups are the Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain, Germany, England, Northern Ireland, Austria, Italy and Portugal. The runners-up of the groups, who also move on, are Iceland, Wales, Slovakia, Poland, Switzerland, Romania, Russia, Croatia and Albania. Turkey found itself a definite “in” as the best of the third place teams, while other third place teams like Norway, Hungary, BosniaHerzegovina, the Republic of Ireland, Ukraine, Slovenia, Sweden and Denmark must all contend for the final four open spots in the competition.

Spain, Euro Cup 2012 winners, and Italy, Euro 2012’s runner-up, are both moving forward as group winners. That doesn’t come across as much of a surprise, but it leaves the possibility for some dramatic rematches. There is a lot going on in European soccer, from intra-national leagues to the Champions League to the Europa League. However, everything else seems to come to a standstill when it comes time to lace up the spikes for one’s country.

It’s hard to believe Euro 2016 is just months away. Why is this such a big deal for me? It’s a big deal because, as we near the tournament, I can hear the clock ticking closer and closer to the end of my undergraduate career.

They’re two seemingly unrelated things, but the connection is not totally unfounded.

I remember that the finals of Euro 2012 took place over the summer between my senior year of high school and my freshman year at Fordham, telling myself that I would be a college grad the next time I would see a Euro Cup final. It was certainly an unnerving idea, but it was a long four years away. Now that concept is reappearing, and it’s no longer four years away. It’s months away.

Sometimes, sports games are just things to watch and turn off once they’re done. They don’t change your life drastically for the better or worse.

Yet, I think certain sporting events play a big role in life.

Particularly, major events like the World Cup, the Summer Olympics, the Winter Olympics, the Euro Cup, the Copa America or any event that reoccurs with some time gap, make you think. If you think about the last time that event happened, and how much life has changed since the last time that event or tournament took place, it really adds perspective. A sport isn’t just something to watch, but a kind of ritual or reminder in a way. It’s a catalyst of sorts that can provoke self-reflection, and although some things might have changed, the desire to watch and be a part of that event remains constant.

Now, who says sports don’t have real life value?

COURTESY OF KATIE LANE

Rowing’s first place finish this past weekend earned them an invite to the San Diego Crew Classic in the Sping.

By DEVIN ADAMS STAFF WRITER

Fordham Women’s Rowing headed to Philadelphia, Pennslyvania on Oct. 24 to participate in the Head of the Schuykill Regatta. The Rams entered five boats in the regatta.

The first boat of the day for the women’s rowing team was the Frosh/ Novice fours with cox. The boat for the Rams was headed by freshman Noelle Chaney. The Rams finished with a time of 17:06.86 which was good enough to take 3rd in the race out of 24 boats. The winner of the race was the University of Pennsylvania with a time of 16:18.95.

The Rams’ second race of the day was the Womens Championship fours and was headed by sophomore

Anastasia Mihnovets. The Rams finished the race with a time 18:57.37, which put them 40th out of 51 boats.

The University of Pennsylvania was again the winner of the race, with a time of 15:24.90.

The third race of the day for Fordham was the Womens College Frosh/ Novice eights with a boat for the Rams headed by sophomore Joanne Lebron. The Rams finished with a time of 19:09.52, which landed them in 31st out of 40 boats in the race. The winner of the race was the University of Connecticut who finished with a time of 15:16.42.

The Rams’ fourth race of the day was the Women’s Club Eights and Fordham had two boats entered into the race with the first boat headed by junior Kelly Leonard and the

second boat headed by freshman Emily Mohri. The Rams best finish was from the Leonard boat who finished with a time of 15:22.06, good enough for 3rd in the race out of 47.

Fordham’s second boat finished 23rd with a time of 16:17.52. The winner of the race was again the University of Pennsylvania with a time of 14:52.29.

The Rams’ final race of the day was the Women’s Championship Heavy Eights and the boat was headed by junior Maura O’Donnell. The Rams took first in the race with a time of 14:34.29 out of 19 boats. Fordham was able to beat out University of Pennsylvania, who had taken three separate first place finishes on the day.

This was the Rams’ final regatta of the fall season and the team finished strong with a Gold in the last race.

Volleyball Drops Two A-10 Games

By DEVIN ADAMS STAFF WRITER

Fordham Volleyball traveled down to George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, to face the Patriots on Oct. 23. The Rams were hoping to snap their two game losing streak against a George Mason team that has also struggled in A-10 play.

The first set was a tough back and forth, and although remaining competitive late, the Rams were down 19-16 and unable to overcome the deficit. George Mason would go on to win the set 25-19. In the second set, the Rams found their groove early and went up 12-11 on the Patriots. After this, though, the Patriot offense exploded and George Mason won the set 25-15. The Patriots continued this offensive barrage into the third and took the set 2512, completing their sweep of the Rams. Freshman Olivia LaPorta led the team in kills and blocks with five and two respectively. Senior Abigail Konovodoff had a team high 14 assists and senior Brennan Delsing led the team with 14 digs.

The Rams second opponent of the weekend was George Washington University in Washington, DC on Oct. 24. Fordham faced a tough opponent in GW, who is 6-3 in A-10 play. In the first set, the Rams could not find their rhythm and GW took advantage, going on multiple scoring streaks and ultimately winning the set 25-16. The Rams found some offense early in the second set, keeping the score close at 9-8 in favor of George Washington.

GW then erupted for eight straight points and took the set 25-16 from

the Rams. The third set unfolded in the same manner, with Fordham remaining competitive early and tying the game at 12. GW then continued their offensive dominance and took the set 25-18, completing the sweep of Fordham. Freshman Brenna Jones led the team with 13 kills and added an ace. Sophomore Emily Fronk led the team with 30 assists, LaPorta added three blocks and Delsing had a team-high 14 digs.

The Rams return to the Bronx on Oct. 30 to face Saint Louis, who is currently sitting in second in the A-10 standings, at 7 p.m.

With six games left in the season, there are a couple of positives

to take away from the year already.

Although they have struggled as of late, the Rams have greatly improved compared to last season in which they finished with only three wins. The squad is also a young one with only four upperclassmen players on the roster. The amount of experience the underclassmen are getting will prove to be a valuable resource for the Rams in the next few seasons. The Rams are also still in the fight for the final seed of the A-10 tournament taking place on Nov. 20-22. If the Rams can overcome this losing streak and have a strong final push for the tournament, this young team could begin to make noise in the A-10.

SAMUEL JOSEPH/THE FORDHAM RAM

Volleyball is currently fighting for a spot in the A-10 Tournament.

SPORTS Varsity Scores & Stats

October 28, 2015

Brendan O’Connell

Returning to Royalty Until last season’s World Series appearance, the Kansas City Royals had not reached the postseason since their 1985 title – a 28-year drought. Now they find themselves competing in the championship series for a second consecutive season.

Despite falling in seven games to the Madison Bumgarner-led San Francisco Giants in the 2014 World Series, the Royals reestablished their relevance by climbing back to the top of the league in the losing effort.

With a repeat trip to the title series, the Royals seem as though they are officially here for the long haul.

During the playoff drought, Kansas City finished the season under .500 21 times, and .401 or worse seven of those times. The stretch included eight last-place finishes and a 13-manager carousel as well. Yikes.

However, as a Wild Card team last year and the AL Central Division winner this time, the Royals have returned to prominence. Led by a solid starting rotation, tremendous bullpen and talented core of position players, the team has been able to snap its lengthy slump.

Former Cincinnati Reds ace and coveted trade-deadline acquisition, Johnny Cueto spearheads a very capable starting pitching group that includes Edinson Volquez and Yordano Ventura. Just a phone call to the pen away, emerging relievers Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis await, alongside such veterans as Luke Hochevar and Ryan Madson.

During the regular season, while logging the most innings in the American League, the bullpen finished at the top of the rankings, with the best record (30 wins – 14 losses), lowest ERA (2.72), lowest opponent batting average (.214), fewest runs (176) and second-most saves (56).

The outfield is sprinkled with stars, such as the dynamic Lorenzo Cain, the brilliant Alex Gordon and the experienced Alex Rios. At the corners of the diamond are fanfavorite Mike Moustakas and cleanup hitter Eric Hosmer. ALCS MVP Alcides Escobar plays shortstop and mid-season acquisition Ben Zobrist occupies second base. Catching the stellar pitching staff is All-Star and Gold-Glove winner Salvador Perez, and Kendrys Morales is the DH. The revitalized ballclub has reenergized the loyal Royal fanbase, as well. As the All-Star Game approached this past July, Kansas City fans caused a stir because, with just days to go before voting closed, eight — yes, eight — Royals were slated to start the mid-summer classic thanks to maniacal fan support.

Ultimately, the team wound up sending four starters instead, along with a reserve and two pitchers. Capacity at Royals home games averaged 88 percent, the fifth-best mark in all of baseball.

As they face the New York Mets in the World Series, Kansas City has a chance to win its first title in 30 seasons. It has been a largely slow and miserable process to regain their stronghold on the league, but the Royals may have finally done just that. All that stands in their way is a dominant Mets pitching staff and an otherwise elite squad, including a man by the name of Daniel Murphy, who’s playing like a man possessed.

Only time will tell if these Royals can climb atop the MLB throne and recapture that elusive crown.

Football Lehigh 7 14 0 21 42 Fordham 14 3 21 21 59 (LEH) Mayes 205 yds, 2 TDs (FOR) Edmonds 402 yds Women’s Tennis ITA Regionals Sato/Zobeideh

T-33rd

Men’s Soccer Fordham Rhode Island

1 0

George Mason Fordham

5 1

Women’s Soccer Fordham George Washington

Fordham Richmond

0 1

3 0

Volleyball Fordham George Mason

0 3

Fordham George Washington

0 3

Rowing Head of the Schuylkill Varsity 8 1st- 14:34.29

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Jack McLoone

St. Francis Brooklyn Fordham

10 8

Men’s Swimming Fordham Marist Fairfield Fordham

135 109 115.5 166.5

Monmouth Fordham

Water Polo Fordham Iona

12 11

Salem International Fordham

9 16

George Washington Fordham Mercyhurst Fordham

10 12 6 10

Women’s Swimming Fordham 163 Marist 80 Fairfield Fordham

121 162

Monmouth Fordham

45 168

Athletes of the Week Chase Edmonds

Jessica Widmann

Sophomore

Grad Student

Football

Soccer

A running back, Edmonds continued his sizzling season on Saturday, gaining 402 yards from scrimmage and scoring four touchdowns in Fordham’s wild win over Lehigh. For his efforts, he was named Patriot League Player of the Week.

Widmann is making the most of her final season as a Ram. She was one of three Fordham players to score a goal in Sunday’s shutout of Richmond. She now has 11 goals and 25 points on the season.

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

News & Notes • Redd

Named Patriot League Player of the Week

• Men’s Basketball MiniTicket Plans Now on Sale

On Monday, junior placekicker Makay Redd was named Corvias Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week. During Saturday’s thriller over Lehigh, he connected on a 37-yd field goal attempt and nailed all eight of his PATs, securing 11 points for the Rams. On the year, he has converted on seven of nine field goal attempts and hit all but two PATs. This is Redd’s third time winning the honor during the 2015 season.

Last week, Men’s Basketball announced that mini-ticket plans for the 2015-16 season are now available for purchase. Each plan includes tickets to three games. One, the NYC Pack, features tickets to games against Queens College, Manhattan and St. John’s; the other, the A-10 Pack, includes tickets to games against Richmond, George Mason and Dayton. While Fordham students get into games for free, families and alumni do not. The mini-plans can be purchased at FordhamSports.com/ MiniPlans.

• Sholdra

and EspinosaEsquivel Are Performers of the Week This week, Fordham Swimming and Diving senior Steve Sholdra and sophomore Wendy Espina-Esquivel were named the Atlantic 10 Performers of the Week. Sholdra, a swimmer, won a total of six events last week, leading the Rams to an undefeated start. Meanwhile, Espina-Esquivel, a diver, broke a pair of school records, scoring a 280.20 in the one-meter competition and a 307.20 in the three-meter.

•

55 178

Women’s Tennis Keeps Busy Last week, Women’s Tennis traveled to New Hampshire for the prestigious Women’s ITA Northeast Regional.

In singles, junior Mayu Sato lost a tight three-setter to Anna Morozova of St. John’s in the first round. In doubles, Sato teamed up with freshman Alexis Zobeideh and lost again, leading to Fordham’s early exit.

– Compiled by Sam Belden

The NFL’s Folly in London This Sunday, the Buffalo Bills played the Jacksonville Jaguars, and almost no one cared. In fact, less people may have cared than usual, which is really saying a lot. And why, you ask? Because the game was played in London at 9:30 in the morning E.S.T., on top of being almost exclusively streamed on Yahoo. And the NFL just extended their contract with Wembley Stadium through 2020 for two NFL games a year, because apparently people want more of these games.

However, prior experience shows otherwise. The NFL’s foray into Europe first started in 1991, and there was an NFL league entirely within Europe by 1995, consisting of six teams, though it struggled to draw much interest. The simple fact was, there was not enough interest in American football in Europe. I still distinctly remember the NFL Europe teams in Madden 2003 and how abysmal their ratings were. NFL Europe disbanded in 2007, with many teams folding and being replaced along the way.

I mean, NFL Europe wasn’t totally worthless. Kurt Warner played there in 1998, when NFL Europe served as a sort of developmental league. This was in between his time as an Arena Football league All-Pro and true NFL quarterback. And Jake Delhomme (who was Warner’s backup in ’98) won the league’s championship in 1999. The list of actual Europeans who played in NFL Europe and then transitioned to the NFL consists of just a few players who played in a handful of preseason games, like Rob Hart, known for kicking his field goals barefoot.

The only other potentially notable factoid about NFL Europe is the story of Björn Werner. Werner grew up in Berlin, right around the fading of NFL Europe. However, he came to love the game, eventually enrolling as an exchange student in a Connecticut high school. After college at FSU, he was drafted in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts. However, his career hasn’t gone the way the Colts would have hoped, amassing only 73 tackles and 6.5 sacks since 2013.

So considering the general failure of NFL Europe, why does the NFL still want to establish in Europe? The obvious answer is money. The NFL can only grow by capturing new fans, and there’s almost no one left in the United States outside of some babies, so naturally the NFL has to look outside its borders. The thing is, it seems American football is the most stereotypical American thing in existence, and will never come close to replacing soccer in Europe.

The other problem is the logical continuation of games played in London is a permanent team based in London, which has its own flaws.

First, like I mentioned before, the problems with establishing a consistent fan base are real and proven.

Second, the travel would be unbearable both when the London team is on the road and when the teams go to them. There is almost no chance that players would want to play in another continent across the Atlantic Ocean.

Essentially, I see the games remaining what they are: a semi-interesting novelty that are actually kind of inconvenient. They just serve as a reminder of those terrible teams you avoided in Madden 2003.

Page 18

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October 28, 2015

Don’t Forget to Recycle

The Ram

SPORTS

October 28, 2015

Page 19

The World Series Will Be Fast

By MATTHEW MICHAELS STAFF WRITER

The World Series will feature two expansion teams, the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets, for the first time since Major League Baseball began expanding upon its original 16 teams 54 years ago. The clubs took different paths to reach this unexpected match-up, but we should have seen it coming.

The pennant winners both bring the heat.

This match-up comes as a surprise to basically everyone; ESPN had “experts” pick divisional winners in the preseason. Of the 88 voters, only three picked the Royals to take the crown despite going to game seven of the World Series in 2014. Prognostics were even lower for the Mets with a sole vote to exceed the Nationals win total and make the playoffs for the first time since 2006. PECOTA, a well-trusted projection technique, had the Royals winning 73 and the Mets with 83. They actually finished with 95 and 90, respectively.

Despite the fact that the Royals were AL champions, most insiders were bearish on them. They had lost ace James Shields, as well as Billy Butler, Nori Aoki and Raul Ibanez. As replacements, Kansas City brought in Edinson Volquez, Ryan Madson, Alex Rios and Kendrys Morales, a fine group, but not enough to change a team entirely.

Yet the quartet had surprisingly productive seasons. The White Sox and Indians both disappointed and the Tigers showed that their dynasty was over, allowing the Royals to easily take the divisional crown.

The Royals produced runs just as they had in 2014. The team finished near the bottom in home runs hit and had the lowest strikeout and walk rates. The fact that they do not strikeout is terrific, but their lack of power and free passes is alarming. Instead, they use speed to be aggressive on the base paths and make catches that most

teams would surrender as hits. The Royals method of making contact and playing great defense has paid off dividends.

The Mets, on the other hand, were considered a rising team with another year left before they could be a serious contender. New York had the third least amount of runs scored in the first half near the trade deadline. Manager Terry Collins was putting out embarrassing lineups for a MLB team.

A major turnaround occurred as newly acquired Yoenis Cespedes became one of the best hitters on the planet while the young pitching staff continued to throw gas. At no point in the season were they considered great, but the Mets managed to knock off the deeppocketed Dodgers and slugging Cubs.

Daniel Murphy’s performance may be the grandest surprise of the season. The free-agent-to-be set a career high with 14 long balls but his power surge exploded in the postseason. Entering the World Series, Murphy homered in a postseason record six straight games and channeled his inner Carlos Beltran of the 2004 playoffs. In the sweep against the Cubs, he had nine hits in 17 at-bats. For the postseason, Murphy is hitting .429 with seven dingers and a pair of doubles.

While Murphy’s outburst is surprising, the role the Mets’ pitching has had in the playoff success is not. The rotation of Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard has been lights out even without postseason experience. Closer Jeurys Familia has allowed just two hits in 9.2 innings while nailing down all five save opportunities.

Speed will be a deciding factor in the World Series. Whether it is Lorenzo Cain scoring from first on a single representing the winning run, or the Mets’ rotation lighting up radar guns, the team that best takes advantage of its strength will come out on top.

By SAM BELDEN ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Before this year, it had been a while since my New York Mets had given me anything to be smile about. Sure, I developed an unrelenting and unreasonable sense of pride in the orange and blue over the years, but the on-field product was shoddy season after season. Now, all those dreams that I couldn’t get out of my head on those long summer days and chilly October evenings have finally been realized: the Mets are good, and they’ve ridden their talent all the way to the World Series.

Watching the Mets finally make it all the way to the Fall Classic has made 2015 the season of a lifetime. I feel like a father, beaming with pride as his child accepts a diploma at graduation. Even amidst celebrating, though, I can’t help but reflect on the long road that the Mets took to finally get here — a road that I, along with millions of other fans, walked with them.

Sandwiched between New York and Massachusetts, my home state of Connecticut produces a diverse crowd of baseball fans.

Most of them have experienced some incredible highs over the past 15 years. After their unbelievable run through the late ’90s, the New York Yankees have remained a powerhouse throughout the new millennium and won two World Series, in 2000 and 2009. Similarly, the Boston Red Sox have been perennial contenders, going to the playoffs seven times and taking three titles. These teams are the Nutmeg State’s most popular, so most Connecticut baseball fans have gotten to watch their team win it all within the past few years.

But not me.

I grew up as one of a small but dedicated group of Mets fans. Unlike the majority of baseball fans I know, I’ve never witnessed my team win a championship. Heck, I barely even remember the last time they made the World Series back in 2000 (I remember the result, though: a loss to the Yankees). Things soured after that Subway Series, but by the time I was in middle school, the Mets were back on the upswing, taking it all the way to the 2006 NLCS.

Ah, 2006. Tiger Woods won two major titles, Deal or No Deal had just hit the airwaves and the New York Mets were hot. The nucleus of stars that propelled that team to 97 wins — David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado — had become as iconic to Mets fans as the Core Four is to the Yankees. It was a dream season until the deciding game of the NLCS. With the game tied through eight, Mets pitcher Aaron Heilman surrendered two runs to St. Louis in the top of the ninth.

The orange and blue went down quietly in the final frame, sending the 83-win Cardinals to the World Series. In 2007 and 2008, the Mets held sizable leads in the NL East on Sept. 1, but stumbled to the finish on both occasions, allowing the Phillies to take over.

Finally, in 2009, the bottom fell out. That team lost 92 games, despite hovering around .500 until the end of June. What followed was a slow, incremental rebuild.

From 2009 through 2014, the orange and blue lost between 83 and 92 games per year, usually not bad enough to net a top draft pick. And while most of my fellow Connecticut baseball fans got to watch their favorite players revel in postseason success, my season always ended

by the first week of October.

Numerous unforgettable moments from the past several years have punctuated the Mets’ woes.

From Luis Castillo’s dropped pop-up, to the Wilpon family’s financial struggles, to the signing of Jason Bay, the franchise always seemed to be blundering in some way, shape or form.

The beautiful thing is that none of that matters now. The Mets are back in the postseason, and because of that, 2015 will go down as one of the best years of my life. Sure, this year’s team doesn’t much resemble that old 2006 squad — only Wright, now the team captain, remains — but the team, not individuals is the focal point of a sport (yes, even if that individual happens to be LeBron James).

Besides, looking at this year’s team photo, you can spot some players who were there for the worst of it: Daniel Murphy, Lucas Duda and Jonathon Niese. They finally did it, and they did it together.

I don’t mean to imply that I’ve suffered nearly as much as the guys who have taken the field over the years. I’m just saying that it feels good to be among some of the last fans standing for once.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Citi Field will host its first World Series this season for the NL champion Mets.

Varsity Calendar HOME AWAY

Thursday Oct. 29

Friday Oct. 30

Football

Colgate 1 p.m.

Men’s Soccer

Dayton 7 p.m.

Women’s Soccer

Davidson 7 p.m.

A-10 Champioinships

Daniel Murphy is red hot, and will be a player to watch in the World Series.

Volleyball

St. Louis 7 p.m.

Women’s Swimming

Army West Point 5 p.m.

Water Polo

Sunday Nov. 1

George Mason 1 p.m.

Cross Country

KEITH ALLISON/FLICKR

Saturday Oct. 31

Dayton 7 p.m.

Conn. College MIT/Harvard 8 p.m.

1 p.m.

Brown 2 p.m.

Monday Nov. 2

Tuesday Nov. 3

Wednesday Nov. 4

SPORTS

Page 20

October 28, 2015

The Fordham Ram

Edmonds Leads Football Past Lehigh 59-42

By DREW CASEY ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Chase Edmonds is an exceptional college football player. Honored with the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman football player in the FCS last year, many are familiar with the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, native’s athletic talent. However, no one could have expected or predicted what the five-foot-nine-inch sophomore running back did on Saturday afternoon at Jack Coffey Field in the Bronx.

Helping the Fordham Rams to a 59-42 Patriot League win over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks, Edmonds rushed for a career-high 347 yards and totaled 402 all-purpose yards, including four total touchdowns.

“If he’s not the best football player in the country at this level, then I’d like to know who is,” Fordham head coach Joe Moorhead said. “It not only shows in his performance and his production, but it shows in his preparation, his work ethic and his character. The things that he does on the field fail to surprise me, because I’ve come to expect it from him, because he expects it of himself.”

The remarkable numbers set both Fordham and Patriot League singlegame records. Edmonds even neared FCS records on a postcard-like fall day at Rose Hill. Maurice Hicks rushed for 437 yards for North Carolina A&T in 2001, while Joey Stockton amassed 467 all-purpose yards for Western Kentucky in 1995.

Despite the ultimate overall success that Edmonds and the Rams achieved on Saturday, the afternoon did not start out in promising fashion for the defending Patriot League champions.

After winning the opening coin toss and deferring possession until the second half, Fordham sent its defense, which allowed 570 total yards last week, to the field first. Despite

MIKE GROLL/ AP

Sophomore running back Chase Edmonds set a Fordham single game record by rushing for 347 yards against Holy Cross.

starting deep in its own territory, Lehigh took an early 7-0 lead when junior quarterback Nick Shafnisky rushed three yards for his seventh touchdown of the season.

Attempting to answer and tie it up early, Fordham went three-andout, giving possession quickly back to Lehigh. Shafnisky was not equally up to the task this time, though, as sophomore free safety Caleb Ham intercepted his first of two Lehigh passes. The Rams converted the turnover into points eight plays later when junior quarterback Kevin Anderson found freshman wide receiver Austin Longi in the end zone for a three-yard score. Longi’s fourth touchdown of the season tied it at seven.

Fordham’s defense kept the momentum on the home team’s side, when the unit forced a turnover on Lehigh’s next drive as well. Junior linebacker George Dawson recovered a Dom Bragalone fumble, and Fordham took over at their own 34-

yd line.

Defense again turned into offense as senior tight end Phazahn Odom found the end zone on a 15-yd Anderson pass, putting the Rams on top for the first time.

With three losses entering play against tenth ranked Fordham, Lehigh did not begin to fold. In fact, they did just the opposite to close out the first half. The Mountain Hawks rattled off two straight touchdowns to take a 21-14 lead, and Fordham appeared to be in a bit of trouble.

Junior place kicker Makay Redd helped to curb some of the visitor’s momentum, connecting on a 37-yd field goal with under two minutes remaining in the second quarter. Lehigh led 21-17 at halftime.

It was a tale of two halves.

Fordham emerged in the second half with new energy, in large part due to Edmonds, whose four scores all came in the final 30 minutes. The first second half highlight, though, was a recycled first half connection

as Anderson hit Odom from 30 yards out to put the Rams up 24-21.

Enter Edmonds.

On Fordham’s next two drives, Edmonds scampered into the end zone from nine yards out before breaking off a 60-yd sprint to propel the Rams to a 38-21 lead.

“I don’t look at the things that I do great,” Edmonds said, referencing his second career collegiate game when he rushed for negative five yards on nine carries against Villanova last year. “I look at the things that I didn’t do or the chinks in the armor. I really want to [become] a complete football player.”

Lehigh answered with a score early in the fourth quarter after Edmonds and Anderson coughed up a handoff to make it a two possession game. Sophomore Nana Amankwah-Ayeh scored his first collegiate touchdown to cut the Mountain Hawks deficit to 10.

Edmonds and Anderson quickly made up for their turnover as the two

teamed up on a 50-yd catch-and-run to keep the Rams in front, 45-28, early in the fourth quarter.

It was then time for the defense to step up yet again with a big play.

Junior defensive back Jihaad Pretlow, who returned a kickoff for a touchdown last week, intercepted a Lehigh pass and took it back 23 yards to the end zone to put Fordham up 52-28.

The game was still not quite over yet as Lehigh rattled off two quick scores to make it 52-42 with over seven minutes left in regulation.

Fordham quickly gave it back to Lehigh, but a late missed 34-yd field goal doomed the Mountain Hawks in the final minutes.

Edmonds added the final recordsetting exclamation point just two plays after the missed field goal, rushing 75 yards for his fourth score of the afternoon.

“It was a great team win,” Moorhead said. “All three phases of the game, chipping in at the appropriate time. Offense putting points on the board. Defense creating turnovers.

Special teams handling their business. And the credit goes to the kids and the coaches. I couldn’t be more proud of these guys.”

Fordham outscored Lehigh 42-21 in the second half after falling behind 21-17 in the first two quarters.

Edmonds has now amassed 1,734 total yards and 23 touchdowns in just eight games this season.

The 7-1 squad is next in action on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m. at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York.

Colgate is 2-0 in the Patriot League and 3-4 overall.

“Part of the reason why we’ve been able to maintain and improve upon our level of success is we’re not looking too far off in the future,” Moorhead said. “Starting Sunday, [we have to] concentrate on our preparation, effort and execution and the things that it takes to defeat Colgate.”

Women’s Soccer Ready For Final A-10 Push

By LEIGHTON SCHNEIDER STAFF WRITER

Fordham Women’s Soccer split its Atlantic 10 games for the third straight week. Last Thursday, the Rams fell to league leader George Washington 1-0, before shutting out Richmond on Sunday 3-0.

Thursday’s game ended up becoming a showdown with the top two defensive teams in the conference playing each other.

Fordham held George Washington to one shot, but it ended up in the back of the net. In the fourth minute, freshman forward Sophie Pavon scored off of a free kick that ended up in the top right corner.

Fordham was able to lock down defensively for the rest of the way, but could not find an equalizer in the final 86 minutes of action.

Graduate student midfielder Jessica Widmann, senior midfielder Ivana Lahcanski and junior forward Turner Block led the Rams with one shot on goal each. Despite the loss, head coach Jessica Clinton thought the team played tremendously.

“We, as a coaching staff, walked

SAMUEL JOSEPH/THE FORDHAM RAM

The Fordham women’s soccer team fell to George Washington 1-0 on Thursday before beating Richmond 3-0 on Sunday.

out of that game feeling good,” said Clinton. “Despite the 1-0 loss we were the better team. Overall, we were extremely happy with the effort that was put out on defense, as well as offensively with what we were putting on goal.”

On Sunday, the Rams were able to get their offense going, while their defense locked down again.

Red-shirt senior forward Kristina Maksuti opened the scoring in the

13th minute with her sixth goal of the season and 23rd of her career. Junior defender Ally Doyle sent a free kick from the right side of the field into the box and Maksuti then headed it into the back across the goal to the far post. It was Doyle’s first assist of the year.

“Ally Doyle played a great ball to Kristina and she put it into the back of the net with conviction,” said Clinton.

In the 35th minute, the Rams doubled their lead when Widmann scored her team-leading 11th goal of the year. Sophomore midfielder Natalie Sims sent a lob pass over defenders to Widmann who shot it from eight yards out on the left side to the far post. The assist was Sims’ first of the year.

Freshman midfielder Lane Cronin capped the scoring in the 41st minute with the first goal of her career. Cro-

nin was able to force a turnover in the Richmond backline and scored from five yards out.

Clinton thought that goal would give Cronin a confidence boost.

“I know the team was excited when she scored and there was a big celebration,” said Clinton. “I think it is a confidence builder for Lane. I think she has been trying to put the ball into the back of the net. I think it was a terrific moment.”

Junior goaltender Megan Fitzgerald ended the game with four saves.

She is now 10-6 on the year. The shutout was Fitzgerald’s seventh on the year and Fordham’s ninth overall.

The nine shutouts are a single season record for Fordham.

The Rams are 11-6-0 on the year and 5-3 in the A-10. They are currently tied for fourth in the league with Saint Joseph’s, with two games remaining in the regular season.

The Rams finish the season with two home games this week. They face off against Davidson on Thursday night, before ending the year against George Mason on Sunday. The Rams are 4-1 at home on the season.