Volume 97 issue 22

The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham dh University Community Since 1918 Volume 97, Issue 22

FordhamRam.com

December 2, 2015

McShane Recaps Past Month

Dean Hosts Community in Town Hall

By KATIE MEYER

By ERIN SHANAHAN

MANAGING EDITOR

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

In his second “University Community Monthly Update” email to the student body, Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, provided updates about goings-on at Fordham’s various campuses, ranging from cyber security awareness to combatting racial injustice.

He began with an update on the university’s Middle States Steering Committee. The group is a part of Fordham’s membership in the Middle States Association of the Commission of Higher Education, an organization in which colleges and universities are accredited through peer evaluation. The Steering Committee is tasked with carrying out a self-study of Fordham’s affairs ahead of Fordham’s next evaluation, scheduled for next semester.

In his email, McShane reported that the Steering Committee had, after three years of “research, analysis and broad input from Fordham faculty, administrators, staff, students and alumni,” presented a draft of the self-review. The members also met with Fordham’s Board of Trustees and other administrators, faculty and students, as well as two special assistants to the president at Boston College.

McShane also brought up National Cyber Awareness Month, which was

be and I really wanted to call attention to that,” said Erickson.

Pride Alliance is working to change the recognition of the transgender community. At a recent meeting, the group discussed transgender representation in the media, and how figures like Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner are changing public perception of transgender people.

One issue the group identified as improvable is casting in television and films. “People who are transgender who are portrayed in the media are not necessarily always cast [with transgender actors] and that’s something that [we] think that should really change. It’s a great

The lack of diversity in Fordham's CORE Curriculum, students knowledge of gender, sexulatiy, race and class, as well as the state of adjunct professors were discussed at a Town Hall meeting with Dean Mast hosted by the Fordham College Rose Hill's Dean's Council on Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the McGinley Center.

Fordham’s CORE Curriculum was discussed extensively at the meeting. Students at the Town Hall called for faculty to review the CORE follwoing recent bias incidents at Fordham. MaryGrace Menner, FCRH ’15, suggested that the CORE require students to take classes which discuss gender, sexuality, race or class.

“In light of the recent of the recent racist incidents on campus and the fact that my girlfriend and I got harassed on campus for our sexuality,” Menner said, “I wonder if we can make gender, sexuality, race and class classes a more mandatory part of Fordham’s CORE.” Mast responded that she has discussed making the CORE more diverse in many different forums, such as the Dean’s Council and the CORE Curriculum Committee. In addition, she has

SEE VIGIL, PAGE 5

SEE TOWN HALL, PAGE 5

SEE ADMIN, PAGE 2

ZACK MIKLOS/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham’s Pride Alliance held a candlelight vigil to celebrate Transgender Day of Remembrance on Monday Nov. 23

Pride Alliance Holds Remembrance Vigil

By CATE CARREJO STAFF WRITER

Fordham’s Pride Alliance celebrated Transgender Day of Remembrance on Monday, Nov. 23, with a candlelight vigil and procession around Edward’s Parade. Eve Erickson, FCRH ’17, president of the Pride Alliance, led the group in recognition and remembrance of the 87 transgender people who have been murdered so far in 2015. “[We] wanted to have people come out and really remember all of the lives of the transgender people who have been lost through senseless acts of violence and hate,” said Erickson.

The annual Day of Remembrance was instituted by transgender advo-

cate Gwendolyn Ann Smith in honor of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. Sadly, this level of violence against the transgender community is all too common. Since 2008, more than 1,700 transgender people have been murdered, and 72 percent of all anti-LGBTQ homicides are committed against transgender women.

Ten percent of transgender people report being assaulted by health care professionals and 15 percent report being sexually assaulted while in police custody. Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to commemorate survivors as well as victims.

“I feel like [the transgender community] is a community that’s not necessarily recognized as much as it should

In Move of Support, Athletes Advocate Zero Tolerance For Racism

By LAURA SANICOLA NEWS EDITOR

The Rams’ final playoff game against the University of Tennessee Chattanooga did not result in a victory for the team, but for Dr. Mark Naison, associate chair of African American studies at Fordham, it was a personal victory.

On the field, the players wore white stickers with the number “0” on their helmets, made by students in his Affirmative Action class. On tonight, the “0” will turn up again on armbands worn by students, faculty and alumni. They plan to congregate on the steps of

MARK NAISON/THE FORDHAM RAM

Students in Dr. Naison’s Affirmative Action course initiated the Zero Tolerance for Racism campaign. “We will not be silent or passive,” Naison said.

in this issue

Opinion

Page 7

Updating the NYC Dream

Culture

Page 11

Navigating A Cocktail Party

Sports Page 20 Football Falls in First Round of FCS Playoffs

the Rose Hill Gym during the men’s basketball game in a silent vigil, according to Naison.

The “0” represents ‘Zero Tolerance For Racism,” a campaign started by his students. “We will not be silent or passive in the face of an attack on our community's ideals,” Naison said.

The campaign began in a Fordham classroom. A conversation in an Affirmative Action class about the most recent racial bias incidents witnessed by the Fordham community — most recently that

a group of athletes on the Fordham Men’s Swim Team chanted racist remarks in an off-campus apartment — resulted in the formation of the Zero Tolerance for Racism Campaign, according to Naison, who taught the class at the time.

From there, the conversation continued in the meeting with Naison, Dr. Mark Chapman, professor of African American studies, and Dr. Marlene TaylorPonterotto, FCRH ’79. In the meeting, Naison said that the

students involved in the racial bias incidents should face serious consequences.

“I’m not for forgiveness,” Naison said. “My experience is that transforming people’s attitudes about this is an incredibly time consuming, long process.”

One of Naison’s students, football team captain Garrick Mayweather, GSB ’16, is a member of the Affirmative Action class who spearheaded the football team's participation in the campaign.

“Bringing the campaign to the

football team was the easy part,” Mayweather said. “Informing some of the other team leaders instantly led to action.”

“The football coaches were very receptive to the idea and wanted to support the campaign,” he said.

“We rush-ordered the helmet stickers so they would be delivered in time for the game, and every player wore the Zero Tolerance for Racism sticker for our nationallytelevised playoff game.”

Since the campaign launched, SEE CAMPAIGN, PAGE 5

NEWS

Page 2

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS

December 2, 2015

President Recaps November

Journal From Abroad

FROM ADMIN, PAGE 1

Nov. 15 12:15 a.m.

Lalande Hall A fire alarm was sounded in LaLande Hall. There was a cracked hot water heating vent. There was no fire, rather, steam from the heating vent which activated the fire alarm.

Although there was minor damage to the room, no one was injured because the residents of the room had left for Thanksgiving. FDNY responded to the scene. The condition was corrected by facilities and the alarms were reset.

Nov. 18 4 p.m.

John Mulcahy Hall An unknown person searched through a desk in JMH 333.

Although the papers were left in a disheveled manner, no property was missing from the desk. The university locksmith changed the locks on the doors of the office.

Nov. 17 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Southern Boulevard Entrance About 70 yards north of the campus entrance, a student’s car was broken into. The left passenger door window was broken. A package was stolen from back seat. The NYPD responded and the student filed a report. The NYPD is now investigating.

Nov. 24 12 p.m.

Dealy Hall It was reported to Public Safety that office keys and $300 worth of petty cash was moved from an office box in Dealy Hall. The key to the office box was located in a cabinet drawer. There was no damage to the lock box and no evidence of forced entry. Public Safety is investigating the incident.

—Compiled by Erin Shanahan, Assistant News Editor

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CHRISTOPHE ENA/ AP

A student abroad in Strasbourg reflects on the recent attacks in Paris such as the attack on the Stade de France.

From Europe, Taking a Fresh Look at the U.S.

By SUSANNA McNATT CONTRIBUTING WRITER

STRASBOURG — In light of the recent terrorist attacks affecting European countries, my semester abroad in Strasbourg has been interesting to say the least.

I began my semester with a twoweek traveling seminar and visited Germany, Poland and Austria, focusing on shifted borders and how each country’s history has affected its identity. I am taking classes focusing on the economic, political, social and cultural aspects of the European Union (EU), as well as its relationship with neighboring regions. The Alsatian city of Strasbourg near Germany’s border is not well known, but should not be overlooked. It is the official seat for several European institutions, including the Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights and Parliament — all tenminute walking distances from my classes.

While Europe is becoming the largest source of development assistance and emergency humanitarian aid, EU member states struggle with problems like high unemployment rates, the eurozone crisis, migration and terrorist attacks. The last few weeks saw a tragic loss of life due to bombings and raids in Paris, Belgium, Beirut, Mali and Nigeria.

Eight of my classmates were in the Stade de France watching the France-Germany game when the

bombing occurred. Fortunately, they made a safe return to Strasbourg, noting how surprisingly organized security was in filing people out of the stadium. Many people were unaware of the situation until they received online notifications and concerns from family members, implying that the commotion they were experiencing was more than just fireworks.

The entire experience was disorienting for my program. We discussed the issue in my classes and talked with representatives from the nearby American Consulate about security measures.

I have also had multiple opportunities to sit in on debates at the Council of Europe and hearings at the Court of Human Rights.

Most recently, I attended a session at the Council of Europe for the annual World Forum for Democracy.

I listened to a panel of American representatives accompanied by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe president Anne Brasseur. The speaker and technician, Jacob Appelbaum, of Berlin, is unsupportive of the NSA regarding privacy law and spoke about how living in the U.S made him feel unsafe.

William Binney, a former NSA member, embraced the opportunity to charge the NSA with illegal actions. He argued the negative impact of mass surveillance in the media and the right to personal property. It was fascinating

to hear American representatives speak out against U.S. democracy and security, surrounded by numerous EU member state leaders.

The Council of Europe works to promote democracy, rule of law and human rights — all interests the terrorists are against and trying to subvert. This makes living in Strasbourg a little unnerving as it is home base for major European institutions. Despite the fear the terrorists are trying to instill in the hearts of Europeans, city elections will still take place.

President of the Parliamentary Assembly Council of Europe, Anne Brasseur, said at the forum that “fear is the worst advisor we could have.” I one could argue that submission is not the same as keeping the peace and that pacifism is stronger when it is a choice. We must continue to be cautious of our surroundings, especially with increased threats.

My experience living in Strasbourg has been especially rewarding and eye-opening. I am able to study current events through a European perspective and hear the American perspective in a European institution.

Life is beginning to revert back to the way it was before the Paris attacks and Strasbourg’s famous Christmas markets have officially opened. Although the markets are downsized this year for security purposes, the joy and festivities continue to represent European spirit and unity as advocated by the various EU institutions.

throughout the month focusing on phishing, which the office defines as “for the malicious attempt to acquire sensitive information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, and passwords.” To drum up student response to the phishingrelated outreach, the office created an interactive quiz on the subject, which showed students firsthand how sophisticated some phishing scams can be. Participants in the quiz were all entered into a raffle for an Amazon gift card. Students had the chance to win a gift card if they won a contest for designing the best ad about cybersecurity.

McShane also addressed the recent rise in racial justice activism at both Lincoln Center and Rose Hill. Particularly, he highlighted Fordham’s efforts to address the call for a further discussion on race, writing on the university’s first Racial Justice TeachIn, which was held at both campuses and was spearheaded by the Undoing Racism Collective at Fordham University, and co-sponsored by the Dorothy Day Center. McShane reported that the events drew more than 300 participants, and quoted the event’s organizers in describing the teach-in as “a space to explore the realities and impacts of racism, and to take collective action to address personal and structural racism.”

He also gave particular attention to the Dorothy Day Center’s work on race issues, calling the office “deeply involved in University racial justice initiatives,” and noted that staff members have been guests and presenters at other teach-ins, gatherings, and discussions on race.

McShane wrapped up his address to the student body with a rundown of major figures who appeared at Fordham and Fordham-related events over the past month. One of the most notable visitors was Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Diaz, who spoke at Rose Hill in an event entitled titled 'You Are Not Dominican': Race, Identity and Diaspora.

McShane also listed off Charlie Rose and Mike "Doc" Emrick as prominent figures who have come into contact with Fordham; both received awards at WFUV's On the Record event, which was hosted at Fordham’s law school.

Additionally, former New York State Attorney General Eric Holder was awarded the annual FordhamStein Prize, and Óscar Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga, SDB, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras,spoke on a climate change panel.

This Week at Fordham Thursday Dec. 3

Friday Dec. 4

Friday Dec. 4

Sunday Dec. 6

Tuesday Dec. 8

FET Presents: Let the Right One In

Ramblers Fall Concert

ACT Excursion: The Nutcracker

The Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols

b-Sides Fall Concert

Blackbox Theater 8 p.m.

Fordham Experimental Theater will perform the play Let the Right One In directed by Elle Rose, FCRH ’17. There will be additional performances on Friday, Dec. 4, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 5, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Leonard Theater, Fordham Prep 7:30 p.m.

David H. Koch Teater 8 p.m.

Fordham’s all-male a cappella will perform their annual fall concert.

This year’s theme is the “Wet Hot American Ramblers” and will feature pop hits and holiday classics.

Admission to the event is free.

Achieving Change Together is offering 15 tickets to a showing of The Nutcracker. Students must sign up in McGinley B44 on Thursday, Dec. 3, between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. with their Fordham ID and a $20 deposit.

University Church 3 p.m.

Collins Auditorium 7:30 p.m.

The annual Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols will feature the Fordham University Choir and the Bronx Arts Ensemble.

There will also be a show on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle at 8 p.m.

Fordham’s oldest acappella group the b-Sides will perform their annual fall concert. This year’s theme is Ultimate Divas and will feature popular artists. Fordham’s Irish Dance group Slainte will also perform.

NEWS

December 2, 2015

Page 3

Students Hear Personal Story of Homelessness in the Bronx

By ASHLEY KATUSA STAFF WRITER

Homeless and on the street to a deacon of a church — this is the personal transformation Dennis Barton shared with the Fordham community at a Fordham Club discussion Thursday, Nov 19. Barton, a member of the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing, and Dr. Susan Greenfield, a member of the Fordham English Department, hosted the discussion regarding hunger and homelessness in New York City.

Dennis Barton lived on the streets of New York from 1983 to 1999. He then spent three years in a shelter for a total of 19 years of homelessness.

While speaking of his birth in the South Bronx to a single mother, his friendly, jovial tone turned somber.

“When my mom went into the hospital to have me, she didn’t expect her son to become a homeless drug addict,” he said.

Barton’s struggle with homelessness began in jail in February of 1980. During this time, he focused

himself on obtaining his GED, scoring the highest grade in the state for that quarter. Due to his success, the prison enrolled him in a college program on an educational release condition — he would attend school all day, then go back to prison at night.

However, once he was released, Batron did not have a job or school to focus his energy on.

“For the next 14 years, I’d be homeless on the streets of New York City,” he said.

Barton’s tale is not entirely unique.

According to recent polls conducted by the Coalition for the Homeless, 59,305 individuals in New York sleep in homeless shelters. This number does not account for individuals in domestic violence shelters, faith shelters, AIDS shelters, the runaway youth and people sleeping on the streets.

Barton told students of how people donated materials to him in exchange for doing odd jobs. Rather than feeling embittered, he was inspired. “I saw the goodness and charity in people,”he said. He described how he slept in trains, parks

and on rooftops and sometimes ate from dumpsters. He humorously delivered a story about how he would race to McDonald’s to be the first in line for the Big Macs they threw away at the end of the day.

In 1999, Barton lived in a homeless shelter, an experience he described as more than mildly unpleasant.

“I felt more comfortable in prison than I did in that shelter,” he said.

He decided he would do something about his situation and change his fate.

“That was the turning point for me,” he said. “I’m 49 years old, my life has been a mess, I’m living on the streets and my children are growing up without me.”

Eight years ago, he was ordained deacon in the Collegiate Church of New York system. He works as a parent workshop facilitator, and is a peer facilitator at Planned Parenthood.

Despite having a happy ending, Barton’s story was one of trials and tribulations. “I’ve been shot, stabbed, addicted and homeless…but yet I’m still here,” he said. “Today, I’m no

ZACK MIKLOS/ THE FORDHAM RAM

The Arabic Club held a showing of the movie E-Team followed by a discussion on the ongoing civil war in Syria.

Arabic Club Weighs in on Civil War in Syria

By SHEA REDWINE STAFF WRITER

The Syrian refugee crisis was at the forefront of a discussion hosted by the Arabic club this past Wednesday. A group of 25 students in the Arabic club gathered in McGinley Commons to watch a documentary regarding the human rights violations taking place in the Middle East and North Africa.

The documentary, E-Team, follows members of Human Rights Watch, an NGO dedicated to exposing human rights violations around the world, as they investigated reports of widespread killing and torturing of protesters by the Assad regime in Syria. The Human Rights Watch investigators visit the sites of the alleged violence, interviewed witnesses and examined forensic evidence to determine whether a violation of international law occurred.

In 2012, Human Rights Watch proved that a government fighter jet bombed the neighborhood of Azaz in the Aleppo province of Syria. The government attack on civilians resulted in over 40 deaths and more than 100 casualties. In August of 2013, the Assad regime attacked

civilians with chemical weapons which killed hundreds of civilians, including children. The Human Rights Watch again proved that the Assad regime was responsible for the deaths of its own people. The Human Rights Watch investigators that responded at the site of the chemical attack gathered forensic evidence that was instrumental in proving that the Syrian government orchestrated the attack and helped lead to the United Nations resolution requiring Syria to get rid of all chemical weapons.

“The documentary provided really beneficial and informative historical context for the events in Syria and Libya to help people better understand the background of the recent events,” said, Leya Maloney, FCRH ’18.

After the documentary finished, the Arabic club transitioned to a panel to discuss the crisis in Syria.

The panel members were Luke Zaro, FCRH ’16, Anthony Carl, FCRH ’16, Dana Khawm, FCRH ’16, and Professor Mohamed Alsiadi, Coordinator and Lecturer in Arabic Language and Cultural Studies Program.

Carl answered the question, “What does sectarianism have to

do with the choice of victims by extremists?” He stated that Syria is extremely diverse and the Assad regime has done well at galvanizing the minorities and turning it into a sectarian conflict; the main criterion for selecting a victim is whether they disagree with the agenda of the extremists.

A student from Hanover, Germany, where there was recently a bomb threat by ISIS, asked “What can the West do to defeat ISIS and the Assad regime in order to stabilize Syria?”

“Nothing; there is no military solution. The best solution is political—to send Assad to [international] court,” said Alsiadi. He continued to explain that Saudis intervention would lead to chaos because it will provoke a conflict with the Russians. Putin is entrenched in the conflict already by propping up Assad.

“Putin can’t win the war for Assad,” said Alsiadi. Alsiadi feels that Putin can continue to attack the moderate rebels in order to leave only two groups—Assad and ISIS; then Putin hopes that when confronted with only those two options the West will support Assad as the lesser of the two evils. Professor Alsiadi continued, “We can study the cycles of

COURTEST OF FLICKR

Dennis Barton spoke at Fordham about hunger and homelessness in the city.

longer living on the streets. I’m no longer sleeping on the subways. I have all of my children back in my life. Today, my life is so much better.”

His final piece of advice was for

students to get involved with midnight runs, soup kitchens and other charitable organizations in order to fight the poverty and homelessness in New York City.

the region. And we need to secure Pakistan and Armenian nuclear facilities.”

Panel member Khawm emphasized that Western society needs to shake itself of its ignorance. He stated that “ISIS doesn’t represent Islam—or human beings.”

“Refugees are completely separate from terrorists,” said Carl. He also pointed out that Assad, ISIS and Putin “have a symbiotic relationship.”

Assad buys oil from ISIS. When the Syrian people initiated the revolution that led to the current civil war, Assad released criminals and violent offenders from prison — knowing that they would likely become jihadis. Assad’s objective was to scare the citizens into supporting him by pointing to ISIS as what happens when power slips away from him.

Professor Alsiadi explained that Putin supports the Assad regime, though the Syrian people do not.

The Syrian people are demanding social justice and will not stop until they receive the rights they desire.

The Assad regime is an oppressive dictatorship that will not make concessions. So long as Putin supports Assad, and Assad is in power, Syria will be in turmoil according to Carl.

“We are dealing with a new type of violence. Brutal dictators and evil systems where the dictators are willing to kill everyone,” said Alsiadi.

“Is it too late for a no-fly zone over Syria?” asks the next audience member. “April 2012 would have worked; the jihadi movement would not exist if a no fly zone had been implemented then,” said Carl. “But it’s too late now.”

Alsiadi agreed that the time for a no-fly zone has passed, he says now it is “time to convince the Syrians that we are doing something. We are driving refugees to ISIS by refusing to take them in. They don’t have anywhere else to go.”

The next audience member asked, “ISIS is presented as the primary issue, and Syria as the secondary issue.

Do you agree with that order?” Alsiadi asserted that we need to “reform Syria from within first. Then attack ISIS.” “If [the Syrian people] feel hope they will be able to take care of [ISIS]. Syrians are completely ca-

pable of handling it” added Khawm. “[The International community] needs to put pressure on the Gulf countries” stated Carl. “[A] large problem is rebels can’t do anything because they are not getting enough financial support or weapons.”

The last question asked was “What is the future of Syria? If not ISIS, foreign occupation or Assad, then who?” Professor Alsiadi responded that the solution would be political, not militaristic.

“Any solution needs to incorporate the diverse Syrian nature; this is not another Iraq,” stated Carl “Any sort of peace plan has to include Russia” stated Zaro. “Putin is willing to make concessions if he has the lower hand.”

Alsiadi added that though he does not have any political affiliation, he is currently working with a group, Neda’ Syria, which he believes is a potential political solution for Syria.

Neda’ Syria, or S.C.M., engages local elected leaders who actually represent the interests of the Syrian people. A condition of support for the S.C.M. is that they do not carry guns or participate in the violence, thus they are purely a political solution. Additionally, S.C.M. is far away from the agendas of other countries.

The Syrian people do not acknowledge Geneva Communique because it pushes the West’s agenda on the Syrian people; S.C.M. would mitigate this issue. Professor Alsiadi estimates that it will take about eight months to one year for S.C.M. to gain legitimacy on the international stage.

The students of the Arabic club had very positive reactions to the documentary and panel discussion.

“In my opinion, this was a much needed program, especially in light of the recent events in Paris. People are shaken up and lost, and needed a forum like the one that was provided in which they can openly express their questions and concerns to a panel of fellow students and a professor. It was quite heartening to see how much people care about the events that are transpiring in the Middle East and the hope people have that the Middle East will someday find some sort of reconciliation,” said Maloney.

NEWS

Page 4

December 2, 2015

Fordham In The Bronx

The Bronx Prepares for Holiday Season

By MICHAEL DOBUSKI BRONX CORRESPONDENT

The tryptophan of Thanksgiving has worn off. The good cutlery has been stowed away for another year, and extended family members have made the trek back home.

That means, as the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade indicated, it is once again officially the holiday season. Though the vast majority, about 62 percent, of the Bronx’s population does not identify with or practice any particular religion, the most prominent faith in the borough is Catholicism, which makes up about 25 percent of residents. So a trip from Lincoln Center back to Rose Hill will not mean an escape from the onslaught of Christmas decorations that has

already started to consume the city.

On Christmas Eve in 1973, the Garabedian family experienced a miracle. No one outside of the family knows exactly what happened, though unsurprisingly that has not stopped speculation. Some say one of the family members experienced some sort of vision. Some report that a sick child was inexplicably restored to health, where as others say it was a miracle seen simply in the kindness of a neighbor. Whatever the impetus, the event inspired Nellie and Eugene Garabedian, along with their three children Linda, Elise and Gary, to deck out the entire exterior of their house in lights, sound effects and, strangely, animatronic mannequins dressed up as everyone from Michael Jackson to Santa Claus him-

ZACK MIKLOS/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Botanical Gardens Opens Train Show The Botanical Garden’s annual Holiday Train Show began on Nov. 21 and will run until Jan. 18. The show is on display at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Visitors can see model trains travel through iconic New York landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty and Rockefeller Center. This year’s exhibit features over 3,000 square feet of additional space allowing for new trains, bridges and tracks. self. The spectacle has been on display every Christmas on the corner of Westervelt Avenue and Pelham Parkway since 1974, and has grown in both scope and audience every

MICHAEL DOBUSKI/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Since its debut in 1974, the Christmas House has been added to annually with new figures and displays.

year. Even Mariah Carey was drawn to what is now known simply as the “Christmas House,” during the filming of the music video for her holiday classic, “All I Want For Christmas.” The Garabedians own and run a fabric-trimming business, which is where many of the mannequins, whether it be a smiling Elizabeth Taylor or a waving Cinderella — get their elaborate costumes.

Onlookers are wont to throwing money over the fences surrounding the house, as if it is some sort of over-the-top, Christmas-themed wishing well. All the money is collected by the family and donated to their local church.

The extensive amount of electricity that the house draws from the power grid has in the past caused blackouts in other parts of the Bronx. Con Edison now works with the Garabedian family both to keep the tradition alive and to make sure power loss does not occur in other households. Though the family works on the display year round, expanding and introducing new elements every year, the weird but ultimately charming Christmas House is officially on display to the public from Thanksgiving until Jan. 6.

However, not all is merry and bright in the Bronx this year. The Belmont Business Improvement District announced last Friday that its annual Christmas tree lighting

ceremony had to be cancelled. The event, which is the only outdoor tree lighting in the area, usually takes place in Vincent Ciccarone Playground on Arthur Avenue, next to Tino’s. The reason is twofold. First, it is expensive, as the tree lighting usually runs up a $15,000 bill for the Business Improvement District, with the tree alone costing three to four thousand dollars, not to mention the added cost of shipping. The organization also spends upward of $65,000 on a yearly contract for a security guard hired in July. The guard was hired to dissuade panhandlers in the area, which the city has seen a surge of in recent months. Arthur Avenue was of particular concern to the Business Improvement District due to its popularity among tourists. Plus, as Frank Franz, the organization’s treasurer, released in an official statement, “Fordham University students tend to be, I don’t know, more generous and giving.”

So this holiday season, go see the windows at Macy’s, or go ice skating in Bryant Park. But do not forget that our very own borough has much to offer in the way of Christmas cheer, even if that offering comes in the form of animatronic mannequins and a presumably huge bill from ConEd. And finally, however you celebrate, have a very happy holiday season.

Campus Briefs & Bites Rams Travel to Paris to Promote Climate Change

Alums Share Success in Global Business

Gabelli Professor Researches Phone Ads

Sperber Prize Awarded to Charles M. Blow

Henry Schwalbenberg, PhD, head of Fordham’s International Political Economy and Development program (IPED) and two students, Josh Voges and Elizabeth Shaw, both GSAS ’16, travelled to Paris to promote environmental protection and sustainability at the United Nations Climate Change Conference which began on Monday. Voges and Shaw are both Arrupe Fellows in the IPED program who have been working with the Equator Initiative in preparation for the climate conference.

Schwalbenberg will award twenty local and indigenous organizations with the Equator Prize to commemorate their efforts to protect the environment while addressing the impacts of poverty and climate change. Organizations from Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa will receive awards on Dec. 7.

Alberto Sanchez, GSAS ’96, visited Rose Hill on Nov. 17 to address Gabelli School of Business students about the keys to success in global business. Sanchez, the managing director and head of investment strategies for the Americas Banco Santander, delivered the keynote address for the school’s International Business Week, a four-day long series of lectures and panels. In his speech, Sanchez emphasized the importance of cultural empathy, honesty and a sense of humor in order to have a successful career in global business.

The four-day long series ran from Monday, Nov. 16, to Thursday, Nov. 19. In addition to the speech by Sanchez, Gabelli global business students also attended a tour of the United Nations Visitor Center and a keynote address from Fran Horowitz, GSB’ 90, the president of Hollister Co. and major figure in the international fashion industry, on Nov. 18.

Yilu Zhou, PhD, is a professor of information systems in the Gabelli School of Business who is conducting research regarding inappropriate advertisements on mobile applications. This research could eventually help prevent children from seeing shocking materials when they use a smartphone or tablet. Her research is supported by the National Science Foundation’s Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace initiative. In addition, it is the first of the Gabelli School’s research projects to be funded by the NSF. “[Most researchers] look at what information the apps are collecting — your location information, your contacts, your photos,” Zhou said. “Not many people look at maturity ratings yet. With more than 2 million apps on iTunes and Google Play alone, you can’t simply assume that maturity ratings provided by app platforms are all accurate.

So we believe this is an understudied area that we really need to look at.”

On Nov. 18 at Fordham’s Lincoln Center Campus, The New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow, was presented with the 2015 Ann M. Sperber Prize. Blow,started his career with The New York Times as a graphics editor in 1994 and in 2008 he joined the op-ed page of the times. In 2014, he wrote a memoir, Fire Shut Up In My Bones. In his memoir, Blow discussed his struggles as a child in Louisiana.

This memoir caught the attention of the judges of the Sperber Prize, which is administered by Fordham’s Department of Communication and Media Studies.

Blow is the first African-American writer to receive the award. In addition, this is the second time the Ann M. Sperber Prize went to an autobiography.

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

NEWS

December 2, 2015

Page 5

Fordham Athletes Support the Zero Tolerance Campaign FROM CAMPAIGN, PAGE 1

its presence has extended into the realm of social media. TaylorPonterotto started the Progressive Alumni of Fordham University page on Facebook, which has accumulated over 250 likes since.

The page features several members of the Fordham community wearing the armbands in solidarity with the campaign, as well as articles from The Fordham Ram and Slant News about racial bias incidents that have occurred on campus, a source of pride for Naison.

“The alumni are really up in arms about what happened and are demanding that the university take a really strong response to it and not try to cover up how bad what happened was,” Naison said.

Taylor-Ponterotto, a physician at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, has stayed active in the Fordham community since her graduation.

Though deeply disturbed by the recent events, she is impressed with the response of recent graduates.

“I’m so incredibly excited about the importance of making people

aware of what’s happening and the energy of the alumni,” she said.

This semester, Fordham has witnessed four racial bias incidents between the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses, some necessitating police involvement. The first two took place in September in Martyrs’ Court Lalande, where a racial slur was etched into a student’s door and a “crude, backwards swastika” was found drawn on a stairwell. In November, hate speech was found written in a men’s bathroom in the Lowenstein Building of Lincoln Center. The last incident involving the racist chanting at an off-campus apartment, was reported days later. Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, has addressed each of these incidents in university-wide emails.

In November, the Undoing Racism Collective held a full day teach-in to educate the community on how to address racism both on campus and off.

The Fordham Athletics Department and the Fordham Swim Team could not be reached for

MARK NAISON/THE FORDHAM RAM

In light of recent racial bias incidents, Fordham athletes show their support for racial equality by wearing arm bands.

Students, Professors Raise Grievances Alliance Honors about CORE and Adjunct Wages Victims FROM VIGIL, PAGE 1 FROM TOWN HALL, PAGE 1

explored the General Curriculum of her past institution, The University of Massachusetts, Boston.

“As a result of student and faculty activism about 30 years ago,” Mast said, “a U.S. Diversity and World Diversity requirements were added to the General Curriculum at UMass Boston. As a result, there were multiple opportunities for students to study issues of diversity and to reflect on them.”

Different mediums were suggested to teach these values as well, such as CORE programming for Freshmen during orientation. However, many students expressed disappointment with that freshman CORE programing. Brian Alman, FCRH ’19, said, “The CORE Programming, CIVILITY, training discussed how to be a good person by holding doors. However I think it would have been better to take the training a step further and discuss how students can be better neighbors in the Belmont community.”

Many agreed that CORE pregramming, although beneficial, is not the best place to discuss in depth topics such as gender, sexulatiy, race and class. Many people at the meeting called for changes to Fordham's CORE curriculum to meet these needs.

“It’s time to review the CORE Curriculum, because people forget the reasons why we learn these things — they just learn things.”

The forum discussed the difficulties associated with implementing these changes to Fordham faculty. Should these changes to the CORE Curriculum occur. Specifically, the issue of implementing these changes to the community of adjuncts was discussed by Alan Trevithick, an

CASEY CHUN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Dean Mast facilitated conversation at the Town Hall meeting on Tuesday.

adjunct anthropology professor at Fordham. “When we talk about getting the faculty on board for certain new projects,” Trevithick said, “it is difficult to bring together the teaching community because it is so fragmented between adjuncts and full time professors.”

Trevithick went on to discuss that adjuncts have a difficult time coordinating because they are only part-time employment and not incentivized by their wage to perform.

In addition, because adjuncts are not on campus as much as full time professors, it is difficult for them to keep up with their class work, school initiatives and their personal research. Trevithick, as

well as some other students, asked Mast how Fordham is working to improve adjuncts’ situation on campus. “ “These are questions that can only be answered by the Provost Office,” Mast said, “However, I can tell you that the administration is aware of the concerns and they are working on a solution to the problem. If we can pay adjuncts more, it's an important thing to do and if we can move more adjuncts to full-time statuses, it’s also a good thing to do.

However, I cannot speak for the Provosts Office, all I can say is that administration is aware of the issue and would like to do something about it if possible.”

Difficulties students experi-

ence while attempting to acquireing research, internships and job opportunities were also discussed at the meeting. Specifically, students at the meeting discussed their frustrations when trying to find opportunities for liberal arts and sciences, rather than business.

A forum where research and internship opportunities can be posted was discussed at the meeting. In the same vein, students complained that the Fordham’s website is unorganized and difficult to navigate.

The issues discussed at this Town Hall meeting will be reviewed in the next USG Meeting on Thursday, Dec. 3, during the Dean’s Council report.

opportunity to show that transgender people are people and they have skills and talents and desires.”

Erickson hopes to build up the legacy of the group and include more of the student body. “We want to hold events like this every year and really let Fordham know that we’re here and recognizing it and we would love everybody to stand with us. A short term goal is just to educate people and to get as many people out to these events as we can.”

Pride Alliance is also in support of a movement toward more genderneutral spaces on campus. “I think a good way we can improve housing to make everyone more comfortable and accommodated is to have gender neutral bathrooms in every dorm, in every hall on campus. I think that’s a way to just make everyone feel safe and recognized” said Erickson.

Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus converted six gender neutral bathrooms on campus this year, with the help of FCLC’s gender activism group, The Positive. The Fordham Observer reported that Rose Hill’s Student Affairs office was involved in the talks, but the same changes have not yet been implemented at the Rose Hill campus. “It’s not just signage that implies that this is a unisex space,” Chris Hennessy, leader of The Positive, told The Observer in April. “This is a proactive and conscientious effort to be gender inclusive.”

Inclusion and remembrance are helping to heal and protect the transgender community, and Pride Alliance is contributing by bringing awareness of transgender issues to the Fordham community. “These are people with names, ages, families, friends, goals, dreams and they’re being killed because people don’t understand and people are scared, and I really want to change that,” said Erickson.

Page 6

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OPINION

December 2, 2015

Page 7

The Fordham Ram

Updating the New York City Dream

Many students hope to call New York City their home after graduation, which is easier said than done.

By JACLYN WEINER STAFF WRITER

Many students come to Fordham expecting to start a life in New York City, but this dream is more difficult to realize than some might expect.

The cost of living in New York City has left many residents struggling.

Extending our stay in New York beyond our four years of schooling is far from a given, considering current circumstances.

According to a study conducted

by The New York Times and Sienna College, over half of New York City residents are seriously struggling economically. These residents are

either barely getting by or struggling to do so with their current household income. Three out of five Brooklyn and Bronx residents are struggling to make ends meet and 36 percent of Bronx residents say that there have been times within the past year when they did not have the money to buy enough food for their families.

It is hard to have a positive outlook on the prospects of leading a comfortable life, or even semicomfortable life, in New York City after our four years at Fordham University are up, considering the struggle that current residents are

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going through. New York City may be our campus at the present, but for many, it will not be home in the near future.

We must consider the starting salaries of new graduates when thinking about a life in New York City after college. A new report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, a nonprofit organization that provides career service help, found that students who graduated from college in the class of 2014 earned a median starting salary of $45,478. According to The New York Times and Siena College study, nearly half of the residents making

under $50,000 a year said that the availability of goods and services that meet their needs is only fair to poor. When comparing these numbers, it is hard to picture ourselves thriving in New York City anytime soon — especially when taking into account the number of graduates struggling to find jobs straight out of college.

Most students do not have a job lined up for them upon graduation. About 83 percent of the class of 2014 graduating seniors in the US said that they did not have a job lined up as of April of 2014. This makes it impossible for students to support themselves without outside monetary support. In addition to current living costs, a considerable number of students leave college with student loan debt, which could extend the ability to live without outside support at all, let alone in New York City.

For years, it has been common to move back into our parents houses after graduating college, mainly due to not being immediately employed and not having enough money to live independently. A good portion of Fordham’s commuters and instate attendees potentially have the opportunity to move home after school and still have access to New York City. These students, upon graduation, can commute to the city for work in order to save mon-

ey to eventually move out and can still enjoy the benefits of living near New York. Although this is not an ideal situation, it offers additional opportunities that are not present for all. These opportunities are not available for out of state and international students. Without outside support, life in New York City can be difficult, and many Fordham students may have no or few choices other than moving out of New York after graduation.

Even though living in New York City without a large budget is extremely tough, it is not impossible.

Certain neighborhoods, such as those in Northern Queens, the South Bronx and East Brooklyn, are more affordable than others and having roommates can cut the price of rent. Still, this would only be applicable if one has a steady income, which many recent graduates do not.

Overall, the assumption that attending Fordham will be the start of a fruitful life in New York City is not always a feasible one. Fordham students who desire a life in New York City should have hope, but should also seriously temper their expectations because it most likely will take some time.

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

Being Overly Sensitive is More Offensive

By BAILEY HOSFELT STAFF WRITER

The Daily Beast article, “College Students Say Remembering 9/11 Is Offensive to Muslims,” explained that a student who attends the University of Minnesota proposed that his college should institute an annual moment of recognition on Sept. 11 and was told no based on a 36-23 vote.

This alarming amount of student opposition stemmed from Minnesota Student Association’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion David Algadi vocalizing his opinion that implementing this proposal would offend Muslim students, for efforts to recognize the American tragedy are thinlyveiled expressions that perpetuate the existence of Islamophobia in the college environment.

While the students believed their campus government had reached a clear verdict, the university administration felt differently. UMN President Eric Kaler announced that he would allow the annual moment of remembrance to occur regardless of the vote. A spokesperson for the university emphasized when speaking to the local press that the administration is greatly committed to honoring the victims of 9/11.

The president’s reversal of the vote blatantly reveals that, in this instance, student government representatives are nothing more than overly-sensitive figureheads who frequently misconstrue well-intended ideas. The student who put the idea of a yearly mo-

ment of silence forward did not refer to Islam anywhere in his proposal. Nor did he blame Islam for the existence of global terrorism, whether past, present or future.

This leads me to believe that it is the individuals who assumed Muslim students would be offended by a 9/11 remembrance who are actually creating offense.

They are suggesting that those who follow the Islamic faith will view an annual moment of reflection negatively with no concrete evidence of such feeling. The cause of concern is not the reason for the remembrance itself, but rather the mere assumption that a select group of students would find it offensive.

Voting against an annual remembrance ceremony because Islamic students may find it insulting does nothing to act against the stereotype that all Muslim Americans should be feared. If anything, it legitimizes the idea that an entire religion is to blame for the actions of one radical group.

In a time where certain politicians are using 9/11 to justify their paranoid reaction to the idea of allowing Syrian refugees into the United States, the younger generation of voters should serve as a mouthpiece to end this bigotry instead of supporting intolerance.

Obviously, it does not come as a surprise that college campuses have rapidly transitioned from places that foster free speech and academic growth into “safe

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Some college students have recently alleged that 9/11 memorials are offensive to Muslims, but many disagree.

spaces” that emotionally and intellectually coddle students in an attempt to eliminate anything that could be deemed insulting. It is no longer just a requirement for universities to protect students from violent threats, for any statement or expression could jeopardize this hypothetical haven free of all harm. It is an attack that yoga culturally appropriates a nonWestern practice and should be banned from campuses one day and a classroom joke gone awry that results in a professor’s termination the next.

Yes, we live in a hyper-sensitive society where someone will always be able to point to something that can be interpreted as offensive. But no, we should not cease to remember the 2,977 innocent individuals who lost their lives on September 11th based on

the fear that it will fuel Islamophobic beliefs.

By feeding the worry that at least one student will feel marginalized within the university setting, we let unreasonable fear overpower the real reason for a moment of remembrance: to honor the people who are no longer with us.

When making the choice to continue to remember 9/11, I think about the families that lost a loved one: the spouses that did not realize that a Tuesday morning goodbye before work would be their last. I remember hearing the stories from a family friend who lost someone who died one week before celebrating his daughter’s first birthday and a husband who never got to see his pregnant wife give birth to their second child. I think of the children who grew up

with no memory of their fathers.

When making the choice to continue to remember 9/11, I do not think about college activist groups’ everything-is-offensive approach. The augmented concern that a select amount of students may or may not find something insulting does not constitute rejecting the suggestion to honor a tragedy that impacted thousands of Americans.

Ultimately, the students at the University of Minnesota were not justified to prioritize their perception of how someone could possibly feel over commemorating thousands of people who lost their lives in a premeditated act of terror. And they never will be.

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

OPINION

Page 8

R Serving the 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.

FordhamRam.com Advertising: (718) 817-4379 Executive: (718) 817-4380 Fax: (718) 817-4319 theram@fordham.edu Fordham University - Station 37 Box B Bronx, NY 10458

Editor-in-Chief Joe Vitale Managing Editor Katie Meyer Copy Chief Robert Frerich Assistant Copy Chief Sydney Keen News Editor Laura Sanicola Assistant News Editors Erin Shanahan Cailin McKenna Opinion Editor Margarita Artoglou Assistant Opinion Editor Kristen Santer Culture Editors Nicole Horton Amanda Giglio Sports Editor Anthony Pucik Assistant Sports Editors Sam Belden Drew Casey Photo Editor Zack Miklos Assistant Photo Editors Casey Chun Caroline LeBranti Digital Editors Blaine Kaniewski Anna Carey Ellie Bruckner Executive Copy Editor Zachary Jones Faculty Advisor Beth Knobel

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.

Opinions Policy The Fordham Ram appreciates submissions to fordhamramletters@ gmail.com. Commentaries are printed on a space available basis. The Fordham Ram reserves the right to reject any submission for any reason, without notice. Submissions become the exclusive property of The Fordham Ram. The Fordham Ram reserves the right to edit any submissions. The opinions in The Fordham Ram’s editorials are those of the editorial board; those expressed in articles, letters, commentaries, cartoons or graphics are those of the individual author. No part of The Fordham Ram may be reproduced without written consent.

December 2, 2015

From the Desk | Joe Vitale

A Final Farewell to The Fordham Ram It was four years ago when my first byline appeared in The Fordham Ram. I had been a student at Fordham for about a week when I explored a rather controversial question: Should wellness resident assistants who are 21 be allowed to consume alcohol? These students were, after all, above the legal drinking age. Still, they were already being held to higher standards given their leadership roles in wellness communities, which required a commitment to living a substance-free lifestyle. Shouldn’t that have been taken into account?

Given it was my first assignment, I took the piece seriously. I arranged interviews with important personnel, including resident assistants and top administrators of the Office of Residential Life. I had a job to do, and I wanted to make a good first impression on the editors.

The article was just one of many pieces I have written during my time at The Fordham Ram. Since then, I have covered everything from conservative politics (“GOP Must Reform Message and Tone for Future”) to the death of DVD rental services (“Blockbuster Checks Out, Memories Return”).

I have contributed pieces about serious campus news (“Fordham CFO Steps Down”) and pieces about (arguably) less serious news (“Student Snatches Black Baby Jesus From Nativity Scene in ‘Non-Bias Larceny’”). Over the past three volumes, I have contributed to opinionated editorials weighing in on everything from the heat in Faculty Memorial Hall

(“too damn high”) to Fordham’s sustainability (“our efforts can make a difference”).

Few areas of student life, it seems, have escaped my grasp, and not a moment went by when I was not enjoying my time as an editor for this newspaper.

Aside from these small successes, I have encountered my share of challenges. I have had to make tough calls about the paper’s content and even tougher calls about staff appointments. During my time here, however, the biggest challenge I have faced has been this: Balancing The Fordham Ram of yesterday with The Fordham Ram of the future. Over my three volumes here, I have done my best to respect the legacy I was inheriting, but also to do my best to build upon it.

When I first joined the staff, I became a member of a paper almost a century old. Before my first volume, there had already been more than 90 volumes of The Fordham Ram, many members of which had gone on to make notable contributions to the world beyond Fordham. I was entering an institution steeped in tradition, a privilege that called for respect.

But, during my time here, I have learned that change in The Fordham Ram is normal and expected.

Through looking at our archives and by way of conversations with alumni, I have learned that if The Fordham Ram has avoided anything, it is stagnation. There have been staff turnovers, design updates and editorial shifts — but it is all of these things that make

The Fordham Ram so great. For nearly 100 years, it has served as the Fordham community’s paper of record, but it also has served as opportunity for students to leave their mark on the university.

As I edit the final issue during my time as editor-in-chief, I can proudly say that The Fordham Ram has made significant strides over the past four years. Looking at The Fordham Ram today, it is considerably different from The Fordham Ram that featured my first byline. We have an updated website, a strong social media presence and an improved print design. We have also expanded our news coverage of social issues, from diversity to adjunct wages, and have expanded our opinion and culture sections.

For these reasons (and many, many more), my time at The Fordham Ram has become one of my proudest achievements. That said, I would like to express thanks to all of those who supported me and helped me get to where I am.

The list begins with my parents, Joe and Adriane, and my brothers, Nicholas and Christopher.

I also wanted to thank the editors-in-chief before me, Connor Ryan, FCRH ’15, and Kelly Kultys, FCRH ’15, for teaching me how to a run a newspaper. I also want to thank the current executive board members, Katie Meyer, FCRH ’16, Chip Frerich, FCRH ’16, and Sydney Keen, FCRH ’17, for their hard work and dedication to The Fordham Ram. I also want to thank my fellow senior Nicole Horton, FCRH ’16, and

my longtime friend and fellow senior, Anthony Pucik, FCRH ‘16.

When my first opinion article went to print, I thought it would go unnoticed. I continued to be under the same impression until last year, when an alumnus told me the piece made quite a stir in the resident assistant community, raising questions about the examples set by wellness resident assistants.

Four years later, I revisited the piece, somewhat squeamishly. But after a quick skim, I found that my concluding point is still worth considering: that upperclassmen leave an unmistakable impression on underclassmen because they are, as I opted to call them, “the future of the university.”

Today, after my three full volumes at The Fordham Ram, I hope that I have set a valuable example for those who will come after me.

The masthead editors of next volume are the future of The Fordham Ram the same way I once was, and so I wish them the best of luck.

Editorial | Campus Issues

Reflecting on 2015 and Looking to the New Year When we began the second half of the volume, we laid out a handful of important issues for the Fall semester. On the list was sexual assault, campus sustainability, free speech, college debt and Residential Life.

These particular topics were ones covered frequently in The Fordham Ram in the first half of the volume, and we expected them to continue to become widely-discussed topics.

For the most part, our expectations were not met. Most of the issues were a part of the campus conversation but did not receive extensive attention in the past few months.

We do not mean to say that positive things have not happened. The Sexual Misconduct Task Force released a lengthy report that found that Fordham University “more than sufficiently meets” its legal requirements. The report also found that the university “strives to create a culture where sexual assault cannot exist.” The report was discussed at the following Student Life Council meeting but did not receive much chatter afterward. There was also a Sexual Assault speak out in November.

In regard to sustainability, Fordham’s Sustainability Committee hosted a week of events in September, introducing a long list of inter-

active and revealing events.

It is not a surprise that some of these issues did not garner that much attention. After we returned to campus, there were a handful of bias and racial incidents captured the campus’s attention. There were subsequent protests and vigils, as well as countless op-eds and articles calling for university action. The incident was not an isolated one, given that there were a number of colleges that experienced similar protests on other campuses.

For the most part, the conversation around racial justice and diversity on campus was productive.

There were thoughtful op-eds and the incidents received responses from administrators, including a couple of emails from Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university.

The fact that these incidents received a great deal of our attention is not a bad thing by any degree.

However, it is hard not to notice that other important campus issues were affected. It is understandable that this campus can only have so many top priorities, but it is essential that we do not forget about some of the important issues facing students on a daily basis.

At Fordham, we have the brainpower and manpower for there to be more than one issue being dis-

cussed on campus. It is not surprising that we want to tackle issues that most recently upset us, but we cannot let them consume or overshadow other important campus-wide discussions.

The cycle of students is a challenge at college. We are, after all, only here for four years and, as a

result, it can be a problem to follow through on our initiatives and make a valuable impact on campus life.

With half of this board being seniors (and this being our last editorial of the volume), we hope that the underclassmen assuming leadership roles take up some of these issues, as well as others that they see fit.

Letter to the editor: Christmas at Fordham Back in the day, Christmas was celebrated more leisurely at Fordham, because the fall semester ended in January. After the Christmas holiday break, we came back for exams. This meant a little less pressure and a great deal more togetherness as the holiday season approached. In the square between Dealy, Hughes and the Cunniffe Administration building, where the fountain now stands, was a little stone pillared and tile roofed shed.

Under it an array of Christmas trees and a crèche with full size figures was erected. The cafeteria in the basement of Keating Hall and other public spaces had lights.

The college Dean’s office had wreaths on the door.

There was a celebratory air in the

classes, and students said farewell and hung out with friends before departing. Classes sometimes presented the professor with a holiday present – a nice bottle of wine or scotch. All the student groups had their own Christmas parties.

The Glee Club sang carols in public places. So did the different language clubs, and we were serenaded in German, French, Italian. There was much more Mass attendance in those days, and the preparatory days of Advent were prayed out. We all parted, pretty much united in the hope that once again in our hearts , an actual Child would actually come.

— Roger Wines, FCRH ’54, Professor Emeritus of History

OPINION

December 2, 2015

Page 9

Why Your Goldfish Is More Attentive Than You

Trigger Warnings Not Oppressive

By CHRISTINA COLLETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I am going to ask a favor of you.

I would like you to defy science for a few minutes and stay attentive in reading my article. The time it has taken you to read the first two sentences is the length of the human attention span, which, according to scientists, is a mere eight seconds.

Our mental capacity is exhibiting a terrible trend with no signs of improvement.

Almost everyone has heard the common axiom that a scatterbrained person has “the attention span of a goldfish.” Well, we members of mankind have officially been surpassed in concentration ability by goldfish, which have an attention span of nine seconds.

This number is down from the 12 second human attention span reported by Time in 2000, when cell phones began increasing in popularity.

Humans undoubtedly have more trouble focusing today than ever before. In our defense, several studies show that this deteriorating ability to focus may coincide with our cell phone dependency. In the 10 minutes that I have spent at my computer telling myself to start writing, I have checked my phone three times. I have refreshed both my Instagram and Facebook. I have sent two Snapchats and five iMessages. While it may appear that I have an incredible ability to multitask, having my cell phone inches from my fingertips makes it incredibly difficult to stay focused on a single project.

Reading, studying, and even sitting in class for an extended period of time can pose a struggle due to the presence of our smartphones.

We find ourselves lost in thought far too often, needing to either reread lines we had already looked at

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Social media platforms contribute to our increasing lack of patience and ever-decreasing attention spans.

or asking those around us to repeat themselves. Additionally, using smartphones definitely contributes to our lack of patience. With the world at the touch of a finger, we are awarded instant gratification.

Text messages allow us to stay in constant contact with others and social media gives us live updates on all of our acquaintances, further satisfying our craving for immediacy. We live in the wold of “let’s ask Siri” or “I bet there’s an app for that.” We do not even need to do basic math to determine how to split the tip a restaurant — all that is needed is to plug the base amount into a tip calculator application.

What a time to be alive.

I believe that this craving for immediate gratification explains our weakening attention spans.

With the desire to always think ahead and keep moving, we find it difficult to stay still in this everchanging world. This is evident in the way in which applications are always updating, new program features are continuously added and

new cell phones are designed and released every few months. In this technological world, our brains are hitting “refresh” just as fast as we are on our various forms of communication.

Nothing.

Slows.

Down.

Jessica Knowlton, FCRH ’17, is a psychology student who found that this phenomenon can be explained in terms of psychological principles.

“One can only devote a short amount of time to each stimulus, for the fear of missing the next one,” she said. “The human brain was not designed to cope with such high demands that today’s fast paced society dictates. If we devote large amounts of time to each stimulus, the result would be chronic stress or burnout, thus the brain has most likely evolved a shorter time span to prevent such consequences.”

Our struggle to stay attentive does not have an easy fix. So far, we have frequently made cell phones our scapegoats when coming to

terms with the fact that the goldfish we brought home from the carnival can hold a thought for an entire second longer than we can.

However, if a collective cellphone dependency is the root of our attention span problem, we have some control over it. Let us try keeping our phones in another room when doing homework or not Snapchatting other people when we are out with our friends.

While in class, let us just turn our phones off. Phones come with power buttons — seldom used, but there nonetheless.

There is a good chance that we will benefit from reducing our technological distractions. Sending texts and emails or posting pictures can wait. Until we teach goldfish how to operate cell phones to weaken their attention spans, the only way to save ourselves from this utter embarrassment is by making changes in our everyday Christina Colletti, FCRH ’17, is an English major from Manhasset, New York.

Pet Therapy Provides Stress Relief to Students

By COLLEEN FAHY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

How can anyone not fall for a huge pair of innocent, begging eyes or a cute little meow from an animal who loves them deeply and unconditionally? No matter the situation, animals have a simple and calming presence that seems to bring joy to anyone going through a hard time.

Both of my pets are truly part of my family. No matter what may stress me out, I can count on my pets to offer comfort and uninhibited love.

Dogs, specifically, can have healing effects in all types of situations.

I have had a bit of personal experience with therapy dogs at my high school, although under much different circumstances. I am from Newtown, Connecticut where our town had to deal with the tragedy of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Following the horrific event, our school system took many measures to make the transition back into day-to-day life just a little easier. One idea was bringing the most loving golden retrievers I have ever met to the school. The dogs’ main role was to simply sit with their trainers in the lobby during the school day for anyone who wanted to stop by in between classes for a few minutes of belly rubs and wet,

Marcelle Meyer

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slobbery kisses.

Things were still very tough, of course, but at least for a little while, my troubles were forgotten. The happiness the animals brought me was unimaginable and I think the program was a huge success in our town. In fact, the dogs still sometimes make trips from their homes in the Midwest to visit Newtown.

Two dogs are even stationed permanently at the school in a neighboring town that took in the Sandy Hook Elementary School kids. In many cases, the dogs offered solace when emotional barriers that had built up were broken down. Many found it easier to share a smile with a dog rather than talk to a counselor

where it was hard to put things into words.

In more common situations, pets can serve as great stress-relievers.

Studies show dogs can increase levels of oxytocin in humans, a hormone that reduces anxiety and elevates mood. Other studies state that spending time with pets can decrease blood pressure. Forbes featured an article in July that raved about the positive effects of pettherapy programs during midterm and finals exam periods at various universities around the country.

Tufts University and Kent State University are two schools who admit the student turnout at pet therapy events has been much greater than

they could have ever expected. One event at Tufts garnered the support of about 200 students when only 20 were originally anticipated.

Perhaps it is that the mental health of many college students is currently in a scary state. Forbes writes that about how anxiety and depression are now more prevalent than ever among college students.

“More than 11 percent of college students have been diagnosed or treated for anxiety in the past year, and more than 10 percent reported being diagnosed or treated for depression,” according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

This statistic does not surprise me at all. Just based on my group of friends, roommates and myself, I can definitely agree that impending tests, quizzes, papers and presentations cause a sense of panic and frenzy. Midterms and finals are among the most stressful times of the semester. Usually you just have to muddle through and try your best to get through the exams. However, if there is a way that Fordham could make it a little easier for students, we should take it.

Colleen Fahy, FCRH ’17, is a communication and media studies major from Newtown, Connecticut.

Every time there is a progressive movement in society, there is always an element that seems to get lost in translation. “Black Lives Matter” was followed by “All Lives Matter.” Feminism is accompanied by women who “don’t need feminism.” Transgender rights are forever stunted by the people who would like their discomfort codified in national law. And trigger warnings, with their seemingly uncontroversial intention to protect those suffering with PTSD from painful flashbacks, are somehow suppressing freedom of speech.

It has become the new media trend to publish think pieces on how trigger warnings are destroying education. The reasoning is generally as follows: it harms teaching to tell students that they can opt-out of triggering material and millennials are coddled and do not deal with struggles and there was an obscure incident that delegitimizes trigger warnings altogether in which a professor was punished for teaching certain material.

Few of these articles ever mention PTSD or why students afflicted with it should not have the ability to avoid things that may trigger it. Even fewer acknowledge what trigger warnings are actually used for.

Trigger warnings are not a mechanism for allowing scared college students to avoid talking about important topics. They have never been intended for this use. Trigger warnings are meant to protect students with severe psychological trauma. When authors use phrases like “coddled millennials” to describe the intended audience for trigger warnings, they insult each and every trauma survivor who benefits from them.

The domestic abuse survivor who opts out of an in-class clip depicting marital violence is not coddled. The rape victim is not avoiding hard conversations. The veteran is not being overly sensitive.

The fact that trigger warnings are sometimes misused by students to avoid certain topics is not a reason to avoid them altogether, just as some people occasionally abusing their food stamps should not be an argument for not helping poor families eat. The tradeoff is far too unbalanced, and we should always prioritize helping students with mental illness over making a frustrated professor’s job slightly more enjoyable.

In the long run, will one day of class make a significant difference in a student’s education? Probably not, especially if that student spends the entire class uncomfortable and distressed.

I am not sure when accommodating for the needs of minority groups in society became an affront to free speech or education, but even one student enduring psychological harm seems like too high a price to pay for a professor’s syllabus.

OPINION

Page 10

December 2, 2015

Why College Students are Still Feeling the Bern

Cate Carrejo Rethinking Time Allocation

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Vermont senator Bernie Sanders continues to hold the support of many people, especially young, college-aged voters, due to the appeal of his policies.

By VINCENT DEBELLIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Bernie Sanders, Vermont senator and Democratic candidate for President of the United States in 2016, cares about the issues that are relevant to college students in America today. Creating decent paying jobs, racial justice, women’s rights, income inequality and climate change are all issues that speak directly to a generation of college students with more women and minorities than ever before in the United States. It makes sense that his main supporters are millennials that could have the power to change the outcome of the Democratic presidential nomination.

If elected, Sanders plans to increase the federal minimum wage to 15 dollars per hour by the year 2020, make tuition free at public universities and colleges throughout the United States, cut greenhouse gas emissions, create equal pay for men and women by signing the Paycheck Fairness Act into law, establish police forces that reflect the diversity of communities and require body cameras for law enforcement officials, among many other revolutionary ideas.

The changes to the country give young people the hope that there is a brighter, more sustainable future ahead.

Sanders’ wide range of experience in politics and social activism is invaluable as both a leader and a communicator. During his college years at the University of Chicago, Sanders was a civil rights

activist, having marched on Washington at Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963.

Sanders realizes how far race relations have come in half a century and knows that Dr. King’s work is still unfinished. Who better to lead the nation to true racial equality than someone present at the most influential racial march in American history?

After spending his earlier years as a documentary filmmaker and carpenter, Sanders got started in politics in 1981 when he was elected mayor of Burlington, Vermont by a margin of ten votes.

Sanders has served in both the Senate and the House of Representatives since then, and passed more amendments than any other member of Congress during his time in the House.

Throughout a summer dominated by Donald Trump’s theatrics, Sanders has slowly but surely been eating away at Hilary Clinton’s once sizable lead in the Democratic polls. According to the Huffington Post, support for Sanders has been rising gradually but steadily since he announced his candidacy in May. On the other hand, Clinton’s numbers have been stagnant for the past year and a half.

A good deal of Sanders’ supporters are the college kids who are intrigued by the prospect of a political revolution and the possibility that public universities will be free of charge in the future. The term “political revolution” has

worked to his advantage by enticing a younger demographic, excited to be on the cusp of a potentially groundbreaking movement.

The use of social media, particularly Twitter, has helped Sanders with the young adult population of voters.

Although Hilary Clinton has over four times the Twitter followers of Sanders, Sanders has tweeted nearly twice as much as Clinton, making his presence known to the young population on the social networking site.

While Clinton often uses her social media presence to try to connect with younger voters through references to Internet trends, Sanders has been able to better to connect to youth by talking about policy changes college kids care about.

During the first two major Republican debates, Sanders trended on Twitter, interacting with users through use of the hashtag #DebateWithBernie. Sanders also uses the hashtag to critique what is going on at the Republican debate in live time.

After the debates, he criticized the Republicans for focusing on war and failing to mention foreign policy or climate change. This format allows for Sanders to participate in the debate without actually being there.

Success as president would be largely dependent on cooperation from Congress. In the Senate, Republicans are defending 24 seats in 2016, allowing much opportunity for Democrats, who need to

net just five seats to gain the Senate majority. In order for Democrats to gain control of the House in 2016, they need to gain thirty seats, which is not likely, but also not impossible.

History has shown that House results have often aligned with outcomes of the presidential race, meaning that a Sanders victory, or any Democratic victory for that matter, would increase the likelihood for Democrats to take control of the House.

With that being said, the GOP are still large favorites to have control of the House in 2016, meaning that Sanders’ success in office would hinge on his ability to find a common ground with the Republicans who are opposed to his very liberal ideas. As we have seen with President Obama’s stagnated progress thanks largely to a Republican Congress, finding this compromise is much easier said than done.

Although this should not be a deciding factor, it is important to take this into consideration when voting next year. A radical president is great on paper, but if no meaningful legislation or changes come out of his tenure, then his hyped up campaign will make many Americans unhappy.

Hopefully, millennials will be encouraged to actually vote this election to make the difference they want to see happen.

Vincent DeBellis, FCRH ’19, is a psychology major from Bergenfield, New Jersey.

Excited for new blood in the Opinion Section? Too bad! Catch us next season, Tuesday nights at 5 p.m. EST. Premiering Jan. 26, 2016!

Just before this semester started, my friends and I were sitting around my apartment, talking about our hopes for the coming school year.

I scanned over my mental college bucket list and thought about all the fun things I wanted to do before this period of my life is over, which will be much too soon.

“Let’s all take a camping trip together, that would be so much fun!”

The idealistic picture of the whole gang circled around a roaring campfire, roasting marshmallows and nursing hot toddys looked like the perfect fall activity for a weekend. “Yeah that sounds great. We can probably go next June when school gets out,” my friend Alex responded. I balked. We had to wait a whole year just to find time to go camping?

Of course, Alex was right. Between the weekly mountain of schoolwork, internships, work study, clubs and volunteering, I have not had one free weekend all semester. I work several hours a week just to be able to afford school. It is hard enough to corral all my friends together for a night out, much less an overnight camping trip.

College students today are busier and more stressed out than ever.

Studies by UCLA and the University of Missouri show that we have greater financial concern and are unable to spend as much time with friends as other generation of students before us. It is yet another symptom of the astronomical cost of college — we have to work longer and harder to make our degrees worth the $250,000 investment, and for a lot of us, that means sacrificing time building a support network.

My aunt met her closest friends from college in her dorm freshman year, and every summer they still get together and rent out a beach house for a week. I hope that I will still be doing that 25 years after I graduate, but I am not sure. I rarely get to see people I consider some of my closest friends at Fordham, simply because I do not have time. I don’t know if it will be possible to maintain those relationships once we’re out of school and our lives move in different directions.

When we have to fight to make college worth the cost by filling our schedules to the breaking point, we are subtly, unintentionally teaching ourselves to devalue friendship and prioritize work and financial concerns over our personal relationships.

I fall into the same trap — after graduation, I will have bills and student loans to pay on a (most likely) inadequate salary, so I will let my friendships slide in order to work and save money. But I am beginning to fear that I have made a mistake by prioritizing one over the other.

I have three semesters left at Fordham and, in maximizing that time, I am planning to make my friendships a much higher priority. There is not much time before we go off in separate directions, living in different cities and leading different lives, and if our friendships are not strong enough before graduation, they will not last. If we want to hold on to these people and memories, we must make our friendships as important as all of our other responsibilities.

December 2, 2015

CULTURE

Page 11

The Fordham Ram

Check It Off: Navigating the Cocktail Party

By ALYSSA OPDYKE STAFF WRITER

On Thursday, Nov. 19, approximately thirty Fordham seniors sat in Bepler Commons to talk about a common fear among the graduating class: navigating the cocktail party.

As part of the Check It Off series, the Senior Week committee collaborated with CampbellSalice-Conley Halls and Career Services to host the “Navigating the Cocktail Party” event to help seniors succeed in any sort of networking event, especially those where alcohol is present.

For many seniors, speaking and networking with coworkers, hopeful connections and potential future employers can be quite overwhelming. From proper attire to appropriate conversation topics, succeeding at a cocktail party, much less any networking event, often seems impossible.

Fortunately, Grace Huntley, a representative from Fordham’s Career Services office gave a thorough, yet humorous and interactive presentation on the best way to present oneself and interact with other attendees at any work related events, from the cocktail

CAROLINE LEBRANTI/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham seniors gathered to learn tips for networking at cocktail parties.

party to happy hour.

Highlights from the presentation included learning about suitable topics of discussion for cocktail party conversations, including common interests and career goals, as well as unsuitable topics, including religion, politics and controversial news stories. It

is important to recognize appropriate times of arrival and departure at these events, where it is acceptable to come 15 minutes late, but is unfavorable to be the first person present or last person to leave as an intern or entry level employee. This will aid in building one’s personal brand within the career world.

The presentation then opened up to frequently asked questions from what constitutes business casual attire to the acceptable amount of alcohol one should consume at these events. The floor then opened up to individual questions asked by the senior audience, thoroughly answered by Huntley.

Following the end of the question and answer session, a bar stocked with beer, wine, soda and appetizers, was opened in order to simulate a true cocktail party. This was met with open and participatory arms by the attendees, who networked with their peers while eating and drinking.

Jack Murray, FCRH ‘16 and chair of the Senior Week committee, was enthusiastic about hosting the event. “We’re so happy that we can help seniors learn practical skills that aren’t taught in the classroom through our Transitions program,” said Murray. “From navigating a cocktail party to managing personal finances or finding an apartment, these workshops are invaluable to seniors who are about to make the leap into the real world.”

Sarah Homer, FCRH ’16, agreed. “The Senior Week Com-

mittee is very proud of this year’s Navigating the Cocktail Party event,” she said. “Our fabulous Transitions Coordinator, Irene Patron GSB ’17, has been hard at work coordinating the program with Career Services and Campbell and Salice-Conley Halls for the past few months and everything came together really well.

We’re all really grateful to Grace Huntley from Career Services for her excellent and informative presentation and to CSC for coordinating with us for the cocktail party portion of the evening,” said Homer.

Fortunately, support services for seniors transitioning into the “real world” do not end here. The Senior Week committee will continue to host informational events for seniors throughout the upcoming academic year. The committee previously hosted a healthy cooking event and a transition event during the earlier months of the semester, and will host events until graduation in late May. The committee’s other events include monthly costume-themed senior nights, as well as May’s Senior Week events, including senior ball, which has been relocated this year from Chelsea Piers to the famous Cipriani.

Secret Santa Exchanges on a College Budget

By NICOLE HORTON CULTURE EDITOR

As we enter December, Fordham students are writing papers and preparing for finals. Not to mention, everyone is making time to celebrate the holidays with friends and shop for gifts for family back home.

Many groups of friends have a Secret Santa to have a fun, affordable gift exchange. Or maybe you feel pressured to participate in a Secret Santa at work or an on-campus club you belong to. You may be struggling to find a gift that your friend would like that falls under an agreed upon price limit of $10 to $20. In the second scenario, you may have drawn the name of a person you do not know well, leaving you with limited options. Whatever the case may be, here are some fun Secret Santa ideas that consider the spending limit.

Cozy Christmas Everyone wants to avoid the cold during the holiday season, so this category is ideal for both guys and girls. A mug with a tea bag or hot cocoa mix can be paired with a winter-scented candle like pomegranate, vanilla or pine tree. TJ Maxx sells inexpensive mugs and Yankee Candle offers a variety of winter scents. However, not many guys like candles, so a better unisex option is fuzzy socks.

The website Odd Sox sells bright, whimsical socks ranging from breakfast foods to Bud Light. Bath & Body Works sells fuzzy socks in a variety of colors and even a few

COURTESY OF ETSY

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Team memorabilia is ideal for Secret Santa if you know someone’ s favorite teams.

types of animals. Despite my fear of cats, I found myself buying a pair of those in addition to Christmas colored socks. It is a bonus if you can find fuzzy socks with no-slip grips on the bottom so you can avoid falling down a staircase (true story).

Body Creams Similar to winter candles, a seasonal scented cream is another great idea. Warm vanilla sugar and eucalyptus spearmint from Bath & Body are two of my favorite scents.

You can also check Sephora and The Body Shop for special promotions and free shipping deals.

For a Sports Fan If one of your friends is a New York Jets fan, or if you kept hearing that guy at work lamenting about Eli Manning’s performance, team memorabilia offers a great deal of va-

riety for gift giving. Gloves, scarves, and hats are seasonal options, while more general ideas include t-shirts, key chains or beer cozies.

Bacon Scented Underwear J&D’s Foods is venturing into lingerie with underwear designed to look and smell like bacon. A company statement referred to the purpose of the product as “marrying the ultimate in comfort and cured meat,” also known as capitalizing on the American public’s obsession with bacon. There are men’s and women’s styles priced at $20, and the company claims that they will continue to smell like bacon for up to six months to a year. I would recommend buying these as a funny gift for a friend as opposed to an acquaintance at work or student government member.

‘Gilmore Girls’ memorabilia is a fun, relevant gift idea for any fan of the TV show.

Alcohol!

If you do not know someone well, alcohol offers you some easy options. You can purchase a bottle of wine, hard liquor or a sangria mix. A wine stopper with a snowman or Santa Claus is a great holiday option. If you have a friend who enjoys playing beer pong at a party or tailgate, glow in the dark or colored balls are also fun choices.

“Gilmore Girls” It was announced this fall that the show is returning to Netflix, so this is a relevant choice if you have a friend who loves the show.

You can compare prices online to find the best variety and prices. A Luke’s Diner coffee mug is a fitting choice since that is where the Gilmore Girls spent 90% of their time and coffee is their main food group

(not beverage since coffee is of the utmost importance to them). There are also t-shirts that you can purchase if you have a higher price limit.

Perhaps you can find a “Babette Ate Oatmeal” t-shirt like the one Kirk was attempting to sell in one of his countless business endeavors.

The Gift of R&R We all know that you cannot treat your stressed out friend to a spa massage for Secret Santa, but he or she can pretend with this gift. LUSH Cosmetics sells massage bars for under $20. There is the Wiccy Magic Muscles that is an icy hot bar for sore muscles. Another more fragrant option is Tender is the Night which is made of vanilla and jasmine. A terrycloth or silk sleep mask is also a good complementary gift, so you can really feel like you are at the spa.

CULTURE

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December 2, 2015

La Dolce Vita

Bologna, Not Baloney: Bob Dylan and Liberal Thinking

By PASQUALE GIANNI STAFF WRITER

In a sad realization that my first semester abroad will be coming to an end, I decided there was so much more I need to see. So, instead of staying in Rome for the weekend, I impulsively took an express train to Bologna, a charming smaller city in north-central Italy. As a city, Bologna is known for so many things and chief among them are its foods, radical politics and the University of Bologna, which, founded in 1088, is the oldest in the Western world. Admittedly, though, I set my sights on Bologna for a short getaway for an entirely different reason: a concert.

For starters, this excursion was a testament to the incredibly easy and efficient travel possibilities through-

out Italy. On a Thursday afternoon, I arrived at Roma Termini Train Station with only a small duffel bag, and, after buying a ticket from an automated machine, I was on a Bologna-bound, high-speed, comfortable train within five minutes. The Frecciaroassa train lines connect most of Italy’s major cities and run very frequently, at speeds of almost 200 mph.

After arriving at the Bologna Station and checking into my quaint hotel near the center of town, I headed directly to Teatro Manzoni to see none other than the American icon Bob Dylan. I was shocked to discover the degree of popularity that Dylan enjoys in this country. Incredibly, despite many of the locals and concert-attendees not speaking much English, they were all singing

Culture Shock | Annemarie Marconi

Fordham’s Band Scene in a Slump On Friday, Nov. 20, local campus hotspot Rodrigues’ Coffee House hosted professional musician Max Sollisch — who performs using the stage name Dolfish — for the fourth year in a row. Some campuses will spend an entire year securing music acts for their students, but at Rods’, such events are ordinary. Throughout the years, Rodrigues’ has been the biggest outlet for Fordham’s music scene.

Sollisch himself raves about the place. “You can hear a pin drop. And if you ever hear someone talking, there will be a kid from Fordham that looks at someone and says, ‘Hey, quiet man, he’s performing.’

So, it’s like, this intense level of appreciation for music and appreciation for the arts. You’ll be shunned if you’re on your cell phone in this crowd, you’ll be told to go outside, which is not something that is common in this generation at all. So, it’s pretty much the greatest place to play.”

With reviews like that from a professional musician, Rods’ should have campus bands busting down the door to play there. And for a while, that was the case.

“There was just this big scene in the late 2000s and early 2010s,” said Tim Livingston, FCRH ’16. “All these bands were playing, and we could bring them and it was a lot busier. There are definitely fewer bands now than there once were.”

In the past few years, the music scene at Fordham has dwindled.

I can remember being told about The Keating Steps on one of the first days of New Student Orientation.

Now, as a junior, I cannot think of a music group that has reached a similar point of ubiquity. I also attended a show off-campus that featured bands like, Second Child and Bright Red Cardinal along with several others. The concert took place in the Arthur Avenue ballroom, a basic, rustic and gritty space right above Full Moon pizzeria.

However, most likely a collaborative effort on behalf of Fordham administration and the owner’s of the ballroom, concerts like the one

I attended in January 2014 became off-limits. Still, several student musicians and fans alike believe that there has to be an off-campus outlet for music at Fordham.

“There has to be, with a capital H, some spaces off-campus for music where you’re not under the strict regimen of being on campus. It just destroys the whole mystique of having a gritty, DIY show,” says one senior who plays in a student band called Church Keys. Wanting an off-campus space, however, is about more than a simple desire to be freer of the Fordham law. Inclusivity with the Bronx community has also been cited as a concern.

“We want there to be places where locals can come to see student bands, if they want,” says another senior who plays in Church Keys. “A balance needs to be struck between making sure the students are safe and not doing anything stupid and regard for families around here, because obviously we’re talking about something that’s really loud.”

Currently, there is a space called The Meat Shop on Crotona Ave. where student bands can gather with fans. However, this place is an offcampus residence, and therefore is subject to shutdown by the NYPD. To end the conversation by blaming administration or other outside forces for condemning off-campus concerts is to miss a large factor in the decline of Fordham’s music scene — the students themselves.

If students want a bigger band scene on campus, they will have to create it themselves. The more people in bands, the more people will hear about shows and the more people will go to said shows, whether on or off-campus.

However, for students who do still believe in Fordham’s music scene, there is one great way to support what does exist.

“Reach out, figure out what shows are happening every weekend, on-campus like at Rod’s and off-campus at The Meat Shop,” said the drummer of Church Keys, an FCRH senior. “There’s always something happening.”

along passionately to the songs. And after speaking with many of them, I was able to get the sense that, even in these parts, Dylan is viewed as a great symbol for generational change. It is really a beautiful story about how culture, here in the form of music, can transcend lingual and geographical barriers.

Perhaps, though, it is no accident that Dylan enjoys this large following as he is a longtime icon for liberal-minded crusaders for justice. This is because Bologna, more so than any other Italian city, has been a breeding-ground for left-wing intellectuals and radical politics.

In fact, the local government has been controlled by the Communist Party for just about the entire postWorld War II Era. You see, in Italy there is a very strong Communist tradition. The Communists, for example, were directly responsible for restoring Italian Democracy and ridding Italy of the monarchy in 1946 in the aftermath of the war. Since then, although no longer called the Communist Party in the Post-Soviet Era, they have controlled various local and regional governments

throughout the country.

If you’re not a Communist, that’s fine, but when you visit Bologna, you’ll have them to thank for the free public transit that moves the dense, seventh largest metropolitan area in the country. Out of 71 classified “cities” in Italy, they boast the lowest rates of unemployment, highest standard of living and second highest average income distribution. It is here that the headquarters of the coveted Italian Lamborghini, Maserati and Ducati manufacturers are located.

The explanation for the strong industrial economy in the city can be attributed, as per usual, to education. The University Of Bologna, with nearly 85,000 students, has long been ranked number one in Italy, and offers just about every discipline one could think up.

Many also attribute the political attitudes of the city to the influential university presence. And as with any large university presence, the surrounding area is filled with budget restaurants, bars and pubs, which always make for a bit of fun for visitors. Other than this quarter,

though, Bologna is surely not the most adventurous city in the country. But there is, of course, always the food.

Bologna, referred to throughout Italy as “La Grassa” (the fat one), is a city known for its culinary excellence. It is here that the famous Ragu al’Bolognese, Tortellini and Mortadella, a divine lunch-meat that, although incomparable for all intents and purposes, was the inspiration for American Bologna (Baloney), were born. And you better believe I tried them all.

Here you can find informal trattorias and Michelin-star restaurants, depending on what you might be looking for. When it comes to passing time between meals, however, it gets a bit trickier. Perhaps this is the reason the “La Grassa” name stuck because the Bolognese are always finding themselves indulging with excellent cuisine and wine.

It was, nevertheless, a trip worth taking, and one that’s helped open my eyes to everything, rich and varied in all forms of beauty and excellence, that this spectacular country has to offer.

Editor’s Pick | Austria

The Hills Are Alive in Salzburg

By ROBERT FRERICH COPY CHIEF

Salzburg, Austria — A town made famous for being the backdrop for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music — has much more to offer than one would think. This often-underrated gem nestled in the foothills of the Alps is one of the most beautiful and friendliest cities to which I have traveled. I had the privilege of visiting Salzburg two years ago during Christmas break, and it opened my eyes to an entire side of Europe that I had never seen.

Continuously populated since it was a part of the Roman Empire in 15 B.C., Salzburg has been a part of some of the world’s greatest empires.

Its name comes from the Salzach River which divides the new and old (Alstadt) town and means “salt castle.” As a minor, yet wealthy city in the Roman, Holy Roman, Duchy of Bavaria, Austrian and AustroHungarian Empires, Salzburg has a rich history which is evident in its architecture and its people.

As a town only a half-hour from the present-day German border, Salzburg was one of the cities first occupied by the Nazis during the Anschluss of Austria in 1938. However, Salzburg and its old town remained mostly intact from Allied bombings, and is one of only a handful of cities still in existence with extensive preserved Baroque architecture. It remained under German control until American liberation in May 1945, and was the center of the Americanoccupied territory in Austria.

Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and his family home still stands as a museum today. However, Salzburg rose to international fame in 1965 with the release of the film adaption of The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews as Maria, a young Salzburgian postulate who is

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

A view of Alstadt with its baroque cathedrals and the Hohensalzburg Castle.

sent to be the governess to Captain Georg von Trapp’s (Christopher Plummer) seven children and later helps the family escape from Nazioccupied Austria. The movie, heavily inspired by the Trapp family’s actual experiences, was shot around Salzburg and highlights many of its beautiful buildings and gardens, like Nonnberg Abbey, Mirabell Palace (the location of the song “Do-ReMi”) and Schloss Leopoldskron (used as the Trapp family home and gazebo).

Baroque, Romanesque and Gothic churches and towers dot the city’s landscape and the 1000-yearold, well-preserved Hohensalzburg Castle, a medieval fortress, dramatically hangs hundreds of feet above the old town on Festungsberg Hill.

If you have the opportunity, take the cable car to the top for spectacular views of the entire city and the aweinspiring Untersberg Mountain that serves as the backdrop of Salzburg.

The city’s many public squares and markets make Salzburg feel open and inviting. During the entire month of December, Salzburg’s massive Christmas market sells beautiful handmade goods and

some of the most delicious examples of German/Austrian cuisine, like the Sacher Torte. As well, in July and August, Salzburg is home to the world-renowned Salzburg Festival, a music and drama festival that has been held since 1920 that sells out almost a year in advance and is visited by some of the largest names and acts in opera, classical and orchestral music.

What truly makes the city unique is its small-town feel surrounded by grand, European elegance of a bygone empire. The city is filled with hundreds of restaurants and beer halls, but the cafe is at the heart of Austrian life. Austrians both young and old spend hours at its cafes each day catching up with friends and reading news. No visit to Salzburg is complete without stopping by one.

All in all, Salzburg is a place steeped in rich history and offers more than meets the eye. I hope all of those who are studying or will study abroad, and to anyone who may find themselves in Europe to please give Salzburg a chance. I am certain its enchanting and unique atmosphere will enamor others as it did me.

CULTURE

December 2, 2015

Page 13

A Culture Comes Together From Paris Attacks

By DELANEY BENISON STAFF WRITER

When tragedy strikes, there are different ways to handle it. Some shut down as a way of coping and others reach out to help as a way of healing. It is only when we are put in such a position that we find out who we truly are when facing heartbreak and fear.

Defiance. That may be one word to use for the Parisian mindset. They are choosing to live their lives as they did before, not as though nothing has happened, but so as not be held prisoner by their own fear. Parisians are choosing to be defiant and enjoy their city and all that is has to offer.

The New York Times interviewed many Parisians after Nov. 13. They were asked about their lives now and how they are choosing to live since the attacks. The Times interviewed a Parisian man named Maxcel Lezeau, who was out to eat at a restaurant not 50 yards away from a cafe that had been shot at only days before. He told the Times, “This was an attack on our way of life. With this simple act, we’re showing that we are never going to let the terrorists get at the heart of France.” They spoke with an eighteen-year-old college student named Camille Dancourt.

She said, “They were trying to kill our very culture — the French way

COURTESY OF AP IMAGES

Vigils have been held all over the world for the events that took place in Paris, Beirut and Baghdad.

of life; they will not succeed.” Many of them found their way out to cafes and restaurants similar to those that were attacked to show that no, they were not going to be afraid.

Terrorists may have had Nov. 13, but they will not have today, and have no reign over the future.

Tributes are being held all over Paris. People light candles and lay flowers in remembrance. The world continues on in the hope for a brighter future. There are beautiful scenes on the streets of Paris

of Muslims blindfolded, asking to be trusted. They want to tell the world that they are not terrorists. They are trusting those surrounding them and asking for trust in return. They are imploring people to understand the difference between religion and extremism. They wait, blindfolded, to see if people will hug them. And people do.

“The West Wing,” a popular NBC show that aired in late 90s and early 2000s, aired an

Review | Music

Logic Reaches for the Stars, but Comes Up Short

Binge Guide | Nicole Fiorica

The 100 At a glance: Genre: Sci-Fi Seasons/Episodes: 2/29 Avg. Episode Length: 42 minutes Available on: Netflix What it’s about: In the indeterminate future, 100 years after a nuclear war left the world (supposedly) uninhabitable, the last of humanity is running out of resources. In an effort to see if they can return to Earth, the space station’s leaders send 100 juvenile delinquents to the ground. Their task is simple: survive. The teens arrive to find that the planet’s radiation is no longer deadly, but are quickly forced to contend with both the volatile forces that remain and, of course, one another. If this sounds like the plot of a dystopian novel, that’s because the show is based off one.

By BRIAN CONWAY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Incredible True Story is the second studio album from Maryland rapper Logic, and it marks a shift in his creative focus. After the grounded personal story of his rise to fame on his debut album Under Pressure, Logic takes things in an unexpected and compelling direction with the sci-fi concept behind his latest release.

As mentioned previously, this is a concept album and, to Logic, this means putting skits between tracks. These skits tell the story of two starship pilots as they navigate space in an effort to find a habitable planet after the destruction of Earth in the distant future.

The two pilots are listening to some “old-school stuff ” and have this new album playing in the background. The story isn’t anything groundbreaking, and while it may be predictable, it keeps the record at a nice pace while adding bits of humor throughout.

In terms of sound, The Incredible True Story comes across more like a dedication to other rappers than anything Logic previously created with his last album. The musical influences are very obvious. From the cool braggadocious Drake flow on “I Am The Greatest,” the Kendrick-inspired hook on “Like Woah” or even the 808’s and Heartbreak-influenced “City of Stars,” Logic never really takes the time to find his own voice

episode called Isaac and Ismael shortly after 9/11. In one scene, the deputy director of communications, also a house terrorism expert, is asked by students visiting the White House what strikes him most about terrorism. He answers, “Its 100 percent failure rate. Not only do terrorists fail at what they’re after, but they pretty

The Incredible True Story is a concept album, which includes skits and songs.

sonically. However, it is worth nothing that the latter of the three, “City of Stars,” is easily the best song on the LP, as Logic writes a distraught love letter to hip-hop, expressing his disappointment at how the game is today. Despite the tributes to other sounds, Logic’s flow always stands out as fresh and exciting on each track, proving he can stand with the best rappers as a technical wordsmith. Tracks that give Logic the freedom to just spit without worrying about a particular motif always impress, with “Upgrade” and “Stainless” standing out

in particular.

Though Logic’s attempt at a concept album is admirable in a hip-hop landscape that seems to lack creativity at times, the overall execution is still flawed.

Logic has yet to find his distinct voice and stand out from the pack, relying instead on imitations of popular trends.

Although the tracks that work do so extremely well, there just aren’t enough memorable moments on The Incredible True Story to warrant multiple listens.

much always succeed in strengthening what they’re against.” “The West Wing,” written by Aaron Sorkin, is bravely trying to demonstrate here that the triumph of the human spirit is built on something far more substantial and formidable than any bomb or gun can ever hope to destroy. This is what Paris, Beirut and Baghdad can take away from the recent terrorist attacks. Terrorists will always fundamentally fail.

While some are now afraid to leave their homes or travel, it does not mean that solidarity among like minded nations has slowed or been deterred. Many people may find by supporting France, they are supporting an idea.

President John F. Kennedy once said, “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.”

Ideas live on through our common practice, in our day to day lives. The idea is that freedom is not a privilege, but a right. We maintain the idea that we will not bend to the fear that weaker men are trying to instill in us. Paris will not be beaten, Beirut will not be beaten and Baghdad will not be beaten. That is the message that Paris sends from this day and everyday forward.

Why it’s so good: The easiest way to describe this show is like “Lost,” but with more teens.

It has the unknown terrain and the enigmatic enemies that come with it — the reluctant leaders, redeemable anti-heroes and of course, the secrets that everyone seems to be hiding. Not to mention “Lost’s” very own Henry Ian Cusack (also known as the beloved Desmond Hume who stars in the series). On its surface, “The 100” may seem like another run-of-the-mill post-apocalyptic scenario. However, it’s actually wrought with intelligent commentary on the lengths humanity will go to survive and whether or not the ends justify the means.

Why you should binge it: The plot of “The 100” snowballs pretty quickly from the first few minutes and when our lovable cast of delinquents crash-lands on Earth, their

lives never quite seem to get easier.

The finale of season one is enough to make you glad you decided to watch on streaming, because frankly, it’s a hard show to stop once you get started. Season three returns to the CW in January, which means you can easily catch up during winter break and be ready for another promising season.

Standouts: A majority of the show’s teen delinquents are fresh faces, who nevertheless do a good job carrying the show.

Keep an eye out for the initially naïve Octavia Blake (Marie Avgeropoulos, Cult, 50/50), whose character development over the course of the first two seasons probably takes the biggest leap. Meanwhile, the adults (still up in space, trying to buy as much time for their people as possible) include some impressive names that lend more complexity show.

Think Isaiah Washington (“Grey’s Anatomy”) as the morally conflicted Chancellor Jaha, whose advisors (Cusack and Paige Turco, Person of Interest) give opposing council on how best not to destroy the human race.

Potential Pitfalls: This is the post-apocalyptic genre compounded with a lot of youngadult dystopian influences and it’s on the CW, so you can expect a fair amount of clichés. Also, lots of love triangles, even a few love squares.

Arguably, there is a reason why these tropes are so popular, and the show’s creators make them work, but you can definitely foresee some eye rolling as a group of kids take charge and essentially lead a war. As one character boasts to an adult in season 2, “You may be the chancellor, but I’m in charge.”

CULTURE

Page 14

December 2, 2015

Review | Book

Embracing All That is Bizarre, Weird and Beautiful

By ALYSSA OPDYKE STAFF WRITER

Most readers and writers advise their peers in literature to avoid judging a book by its cover.

Jenny Lawson’s “Furiously Happy” is an exception to the rule.

Pick out the book from a crowded humor section in any bookstore, library or online marketplace, and it stands out not only for its slightly frightening title, but for the cover itself: adorned with the photo of a frantic-looking, open-armed, taxidermied raccoon in contrast to the glamorous gold and silver background.

Delve into the book, and instantly recognize the vitality of the cover for such a charmingly erratic piece. Lawson, author of The Bloggess blog, highlights her daily life of “arguments” with her Republican, “grown-up” husband Victor, her supportive daughter Hailey, her unassuming neighbors

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Jenny Lawson uses humor and charm to further her discussion on mental health.

and, most prominently, her encounters with both taxidermied and live possums, raccoons and other wild animals — of which she both rants and raves.

As enjoyable as Lawson’s humor sections of “Furiously Happy” are, the most refreshing aspect of the book is an element she minimally touched on in her first, New York Times bestseller, “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened”: living with depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome and a number of other mental illnesses and struggles.

Lawson’s approach to the controversial issues is refreshingly honest, often pausing between humor-focused chapters to delve into mental-health related issues, such as self harm, agoraphobia and feeling the inability to escape both physically and mentally.

Though Lawson quickly returns to more lighthearted topics immediately after, these darker chapters will resonate with all readers, whether living with men-

tal illness themselves or simply living as allies to those struggling.

“Furiously happy” is even Lawson’s personal mantra. In the face of the voices of depression and anxiety, often designed to scare one into living in fear and sadness, Lawson forces herself and encourages other to live as furiously and feverishly happily as possible to silence and defeat these voices.

Lawson concludes “Furiously Happy” with a sendoff of encouragement, recalling her love of the community formed around her writing, and the true reward she considers for her writing — The 24, a concept only understood once readers complete the book.

“Furiously Happy” will make readers both laugh out loud and wonder why no one had written so candidly yet hilariously about mental health before. It is a true representation of Lawson’s encouragement to “Be bizarre. Be weird. Be proud of the uniquely beautiful way that you are broken.”

Review | Television

John Mulaney’s Comedy ‘Comeback’

By NICOLE HORTON CULTURE EDITOR

John Mulaney brings his brand of observational comedy to his second Netflix special “The Comeback Kid,” following “New In Town” in 2012.

The former “Saturday Night Live” writer hones his ability as a storyteller, talking about his childhood, married life and French bulldog, Petunia, who dethroned him as the alpha in his household. Even more than other comedians, he presumably goes through his day jotting down notes for standup material. He is self-deprecating in his attitude and delivery, so you cannot help but laugh with him.

You may be wondering: does Mulaney view this as his stand-up comeback? After all, his Fox sitcom “Mulaney” — a semi-autobiographical take on his life in an attempt to embody “Seinfeld” — was cancelled following subpar reviews. However, the special references Bill Clinton’s 1992 election slogan “The Comeback Kid.” One of the funniest parts of the show is when Mulaney tells how he donned his best communion suit to meet Clinton at his mother’s law school

alumni benefit.

If you prefer dark or politically incorrect humor, this is not the comedy special for you. Although Mulaney is known for using personal anecdotes as the basis of his routine, this special was missing his sarcastic popular culture commentary.

For instance, in “New In Town” he detailed how Ice-T approached every case on “Law & Order: SVU” like he was new to the unit, and how the crime show can get away with saying just about anything.

He also did a surprisingly spot-on Def Jam comic impression. The closest he comes to observational humor in “The Comeback Kid” is recounting how while working as a temp, his boss said that he was not a duckling, but a duck, and quacked. Although it is humorous to see someone quack, an outlandish older man does not compare.

With that being said, Mulaney’s personal anecdotes are by definition unique to him. His observations and knack for self-deprecation are true to his comedic style, which will make his “SNL” fans happy.

Advice | Catherine Kastberg

Celebrate Christmas, New York Style With the holiday season approaching, I wanted to shed some light on a few seasonal activities at our disposal to get us all in the holiday spirit.

This is a special and unique season, the only time of the year when certain activities are held. People travel from all over the world to get a taste of the holiday season in New York City, and there is no reason why we shouldn’t take advantage of it as well.

Theatre & Performance Broadway thrives this time of year. It opens up many new shows and performances, with Christmas as the central theme.

The Rockettes are a huge attraction in the holiday season.

Tickets can be pricey, but they

are worthwhile. “The Nutcracker” is a classic production that can do wonders to get you in the holiday spirit. It is an experience that everyone should enjoy at least once in their lives, and there is no better time than now to enjoy it. This Wednesday, Dec. 2 the tree is lit in Rockefeller Center. It is a beautiful sight to be shared with friends and family as a way to open up the holidays. Make an evening out of it. Seeing the tree can be combined with ice skating at Rockefeller Center or at Bryant Park, located just blocks from Grand Central Terminal. Ice skating is a true holiday activity, and can be very enjoyable for people that have little or even no experience on skates.

Bryant Park Bryant Park opens up stands

surrounding the ice rink, with little shops selling all kinds of interesting items that can be perfect for family Christmas shopping.

The whole atmosphere in the city in December is magical. Stores and shops put out beautiful window displays for passersby to enjoy. Macy’s is famous for this.

It truly brings out the spirit of Christmas and the winter season.

Bryant Park is also a perfect place to get Secret Santa gifts. Secret Santa is a fun, light-spirited activity to enjoy with friends to celebrate your friendship during the holidays.

Get a group together, set a budget and choose a friend to spoil with a thoughtful present. It can be a fun, joyous experience that will bring everyone closer and truly in the holiday spirit.

This is the final issue of this semester.

See you in January!

December 2, 2015

SPORTS

Page 15

The Fordham Ram

Women’s Basketball Falls in Las Vegas

By SAM BELDEN ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

While most Fordham students spent their Thanksgiving breaks decompressing from the daily grind, the members of the women’s basketball team had bigger fish to fry. The Rams traveled across the country to Las Vegas for the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout, held annually in South Point Arena.

While they went winless in their two games, the women’s showdowns with a pair of firstrate programs provided valuable experience.

“This weekend was a great learning experience,” said head coach Stephanie Gaitley. “It gave us an opportunity to identify our weaknesses and prepare for future Atlantic-10 games.”

In the week before heading to Nevada, Fordham emerged victorious in a pair of local games. On Nov. 18, the Rams tangled with cross-Bronx rival Manhattan. A hotly contested battle for most of the game, Fordham led by just two through three quarters but took control in the fourth, winning the game by a score of 60-49.

Sophomore forward G’mrice Davis led the way for the Rams with 19 points.

On Nov. 24, Fordham hosted the Lafayette Leopards in the Rose Hill Gym. The Rams showcased their defensive prowess, holding their opponents to just 29 points in the first three quarters.

Lafayette was more productive in the fourth, outscoring Fordham by two, but it was far from enough as the Rams won 61-49. Both Davis and senior forward Samantha

SAMUEL JOSEPH/ THE FORDHAM RAM

After starting the season 2-1, Fordham Women’s Basketball fell to Texas Tech and Syracuse in Las Vegas over Thanksgiving.

Clark notched double-doubles in the effort.

With those two victories under its belt, the team appeared to have a good amount of momentum as it traveled to Las Vegas. However, just like during the Penn State game from earlier this year, the Rams were overmatched against a pair of top notch programs — they were outscored by a combined 36 points in the two games.

On Friday, Fordham faced off against Texas Tech. The first half was a tale of two quarters; the Rams were behind by 12 after the first but scored 24 points in the second to work their way back into striking distance. Even so, they lost more ground in the third quarter.

Trailing by eight points at the start

of the fourth, the Rams went on an 8-4 run to close the gap significantly; freshman guard Alexia Douglas hit a decisive jumper to bring her team within four. That was the high-water mark for Fordham. The Lady Raiders went on a 10-0 run to close out the game and won by a margin of 14, 62-48.

Junior guard Danielle Burns was the most productive Ram in the contest, scoring 10 points and adding three steals. Otherwise, Texas Tech’s defense was just too stingy, preventing anyone else from hitting double digits. For its part, the Lady Raiders’ offense was outstanding. Dayo Olabode and Japreece Dean — both coming off the bench — scored 19 and 14 points, respectively.

One day later, the Rams faced off against No. 23 Syracuse in one of the marquee matchups of their schedule. Once again, Fordham held its own for most of the game, but the nationally ranked Orange ultimately proved to be too much to handle, breaking the game wide open in the fourth quarter and winning by a margin of 22.

Thanks to a sluggish start, Fordham fell behind quickly, but the second quarter proved to be a turning point. Trailing by 11, sophomore guard Aaliyah Jones and freshman guard Lauren Holden hit back-to-back three-pointers; Burns hit another jumper to cap the 8-0 run, putting the Rams within three.

Syracuse pushed back, re-

stretching its lead to eight, but another 8-0 run, highlighted by more three-pointers courtesy of Holden and junior guard Hannah Missry, tied it up with about a minute remaining. To its credit, the Orange hit a pair of threes of their own at the end, giving themselves a sixpoint lead at the half.

Davis was Fordham’s most productive player in the second half.

The Philadelphia native contributed 10 points in the third quarter, including eight in a row, to keep the Rams in the game. At one point, the score was tied at 40-40, but Syracuse seized control from there. The Orange’s relentless fullcourt press was too much for Fordham, which turned the ball over 31 times in comparison to Syracuse’s 19. By the end of the game, the Orange’s margin of victory stood at 22 — not at all indicative of the competitiveness of the game.

When asked about her team’s fourth quarter debacles, Gaitley invoked what she called the team’s motto, “Focused For Forty.” “In order to beat [a] national level team, we need to put together a 40 minute game,” she said.

Missry, Davis and Holden scored 12 points each, the most of the Fordham players. Syracuse’s top player, Alexis Peterson, had a banner day, scoring 25 points and adding eight assists.

Fordham’s overall record is now 2-3, but all three of those losses have come against major conference schools. The Rams will get a chance to face off against some more comparable opponents this week. Delaware will be visiting the Rose Hill Gym on Thursday, while Delaware State will do the same on Saturday.

Cross Country Concludes at ECAC/IC4A

By ALEXANDRIA SEDLAK STAFF WRITER

The Fordham men’s and women’s cross country teams competed in their last meet of the season on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 21. They ran in the ECAC and IC4A Cross Country Championships at Van Cortlandt Park. It was a highly successful concluding meet, as both teams finished in fifth place. The men’s team, the two-time defending champion, finished fifth among 22 schools, while the women’s team placed fifth among 16 schools.

The day started with the men’s and women’s coaches races. For the men, only freshman Jerome Vessichio competed in the 8k race. He finished 16th out of the 35 runners, coming in with a time of 28:39.6. The women had a larger representation, with freshman Kieran Hanrahan finishing in third for the Rams with a time of 20:08.0. Freshman Laurel Fisher came in sixth with a time of 20:35.6. She was followed by sophomore Clare Bollnow, who placed ninth with a time of 20:40.3. Junior Josephine JacobDolan crossed the finish line at 21:04.2, putting her in 17th place.

SHANNA HEANEY/THE FORDHAM RAM

The men’s and women’s cross country teams turned in fifth place finishes at the ECAC/IC4A Championships on Nov. 21.

Next came senior Tara Cangialosi, who finished in 19th with a time of 21:09.7. Freshman Maiya Larsen was the last Ram to be in the top 25, with a time of 21:11.3 putting her in 21st place.

The last event of the day was the University Division Championships. The women’s ECAC University Division Championship was first. Graduate student

Brianna Tevnan was the first Ram to finish, with a time of 18:49.3 placing her in 13th. Freshman Angelina Grebe was next to finish, coming in 23rd with a time of 19:07.2. Fellow classmate Kate McCormack followed her, with a time of 19:08.3 placing her in 26th. Finally, sophomore Brynna Harum was the last from Fordham to finish in the top 30 out of

the 163 runners, with a time of 19:11.3 putting her in 28th place.

For the men, last year’s winner, senior Mike Turi, finished in fourth place with a time of 25:57.3. Next came sophomore Nik O’Brien, who placed ninth with a time of 26:06.2. Graduate student Jonathan Annelli finished in 15th with a time of 26:12.9.

Junior Jake Duckworth, the last

Ram to be in the top 30, ran a time of 26:42.0, which put him in 29th place.

Overall, it was a successful weekend for both teams and a great way to end the cross country season. Junior Brianne Roche reflected on the final meet of the season.

“Racing on our home course, at Van Cortlandt Park, was a nice way to end the season,” she said.

“We were all familiar with the course, and we went into the race confidently, aiming to run together and push each other towards new PRs. Everyone finished on a good note, and after some down time over Thanksgiving break, we are looking forward to the start of the indoor season.”

Although the season is over, that does not mean the team will stop practicing. With the great season they had, they are looking to have an even better indoor season.

“This season went great,” freshman Kate McCormack said. “I am excited to see what we can do in track!”

The Indoor Track and Field season begins on Dec. 4, with the Fordham Season Opener at the Vincent T. Lombardi Center.

SPORTS

Page 16

December 2, 2015

Sam Belden

Stephen Fragano

Tim Raines’ Hall of Fame Case

Favorable Start for MBB

The announcement of the 2016 National Baseball Hall of Fame class is a few weeks away. Still, it will be old news by the time our next issue goes to print, so I figured I’d use this space to plead my case to induct one of the most underrated players in the history of the sport: left fielder Tim Raines.

For those who don’t know, members of the Baseball Writers Association of America receive ballots every winter, on which they can mark up to 10 names. In January, all players receiving support from at least 75 percent of the writers are revealed as the Hall’s newest inductees; others who receive more than five percent are placed on the next year’s ballot for another go-round. Last year, Raines received 55 percent of the vote, but his eligibility expires in two years, putting him in murky territory.

That’s a shame because, to me, Raines is a slam dunk Hall of Famer, as well as one of the giants of his era. A Montreal Expos mainstay throughout the 1980s, he paced the National League in stolen bases for four consecutive seasons and won a batting title in 1986. He wasn’t just a singles slapper, either — Raines led the league in doubles in 1984, and his on-base percentage topped .400 on four different occasions. With 69.1 career Wins Above Replacement, he’s a great choice for more sabermetrically inclined voters too.

Still, Raines hasn’t enjoyed very much Hall of Fame support from the mainstream. His candidacy was first supported by lovers of advanced stats, and he’s been slowly building momentum ever since.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of Raines and the great Tony Gwynn. As expected, Gwynn finished his career with a higher batting average, but Raines’ ability to draw walks offsets that; their career OBPs were .388 and .385, respectively. Gwynn hit for a bit more power, but was often overmatched on defense. Raines’ major advantage was his baserunning. In his career, he was an outstanding 808-for-954 in stolen base attempts compared to Gwynn’s rate of 319-for-444.

You’re entitled to your own opinion, but the above comparison suggests that Gwynn and Raines had at least comparable careers. Why, then, did Gwynn go sailing into the Hall with 97.6 percent of the vote in his first year of eligibility, while Raines is facing being snubbed altogether?

Famed baseball statistician and historian Bill James attempted to answer this question several years ago.

He concluded that certain statistics, such as batting average, tend to be overrated by fans, while others, like walks and baserunning stats, tend to be underrated — that’s why the great Rickey Henderson took home only one MVP award in his career.

Other factors are also at play. Gwynn was a career San Diego Padre and is fondly remembered as a franchise icon, while Raines bounced around for a while, muddying his legacy.

At any rate, the voters owe it to both the players and the Hall of Fame to make the correct decision.

With his blistering speed and patient approach at the plate, Tim Raines proved that he’s worthy of a bronze plaque in Cooperstown.

Fordham Men’s Basketball has gotten off to a pleasing start despite dropping the season opener. After losing 77-72 on the road to the University of Texas at Arlington, the Rams have strung together four straight wins.

Queens College, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Colgate University and Manhattan College all share the title of Fordham’s most recent victims, and offense has been a huge strength in these victories. The Rams put up 76 points against Queens College, 85 against FDU, 84 against Colgate and most recently, 87 points against the crosstown rival Jaspers.

The offense has been bundled with decent defense, as Fordham has won by an average of about 23 points in its first four wins. Their only loss, the five point loss to Arlington, also shows that when they have been on the wrong end of the score sheet, it wasn’t by all that much.

Though there’s no “I” in team and everyone contributes, some big offensive numbers have come from three of the Rams’ top players. Forward Christian Sengfelder has scored 69 points in his first five games, while Ryan Rhoomes, also a forward, contributed 74 points thus far, and senior guard Mandell Thomas dropped 88 points through his first five contests.

Fordham’s most recent win against Manhattan College in the so-called “Battle of the Bronx” is a good sign given the Jaspers’ previous strength and record against Fordham. Manhattan took the Battle of the Bronx last year and they lead the all-time series against Fordham 56-52. Despite the Jaspers’ currently unimpressive 1-3 record in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, they’ve been a strong team as of late, making appearances in the NCAA tournament in both 2014 and 2015. The rivals from Riverdale aren’t slouches, so that’s just one extra reason for Ram fans to indulge just a little bit more in Fordham’s current performance.

Coming up next on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. is another big game for Fordham as the Rams take on St. John’s University, another rival. SJU are always formidable opponents, and Fordham is looking to end its recent win-drought against them. The game usually receives a bigger venue such as the Barclays Center, but this year it will be played in the Rose Hill Gym. Currently, the Rams sit in fifth place of the 14 teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Only Davidson (4-0), George Washington (6-1), Duquesne (5-1) and Dayton (5-1) place higher than Fordham at the moment. No one’s ever been crowned top dog in the first five games, but a team can certainly put itself in a good position with a good foundation.

Fordham’s new head coach Jeff Neubauer seems to be on a good course, but five games is an awfully small sample size and only time will tell where the Rams will end up.

Neubauer led his old team at the University of Eastern Kentucky to two NCAA tournament appearances, and it would be nice to see Fordham maroon thrown in the mix this year.

Conference games are still yet to be played, and those games always test a team’s abilities. But there’s still a great deal of the season left, and the only way to take it on is game-by-game.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

It wasn’t easy for Maksuti, but, when healthy, the redshirt senior made the most of her playing time.

Soccer Star Perseveres After Injury

By TYLER FREIRE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Ever since Kristina Maksuti was a little girl, she has had a soccer ball by her feet, and a great support system around her.

Her mother Maureen played a major role in getting Kristina ready for the pressure that comes from being a college athlete. Maureen was a swimmer at Ohio University, and Maksuti’s father Marjan, a former professional soccer player overseas, made sure that his daughter learned the game the correct way. “He laid the foundation for our soccer careers” Maksuti said. “Oftentimes, trainings were a family event, with our brothers most times helping us out by being our goalie or helping with our workouts.” Maksuti has two brothers, Anton and Kristjan, and a twin sister Marjana.

This great support system would be vital as Maksuti made her way to Fordham University on a full scholarship to play soccer. During her freshman year, she was named to the Atlantic 10 All Rookie Team and started 16 of 17 games at forward. She led the Rams with nine goals and 23 points, while tying for the teamlead in assists with five. She had four game-winning goals and began her career with a two-goal performance at Seton Hall, becoming the first Fordham freshman to have multiple goals in her first career game. In her sophomore year she progressed, starting all 19 games and leading the Rams in scoring with seven goals and three assists for 17 points.

But adversity came in her junior year, as she had to undergo surgery on both legs due to pressure buildup from internal bleeding or tissue swelling. This is also known as Compartment Syndrome, a very rare condition with fewer than 20,000 cases a year. Maksuti not only had to deal with this serious injury, but she also tore her ACL the following spring in a game against Fairfield, causing her to miss her senior season as well.

If that was not enough, during her recovery for her ACL, she tore her meniscus in the process, which

required another six months of therapy.

“It was gruesome and painful,” she said referring to the recovery process. “The crucial part was to stay positive through the experience. It was a huge mental hurdle.”

Maksuti continued to refer to her family and just how important they were to her recovery process.

“They were amazing,” Maksuti said. “They helped me with everything. It took the entire family.” She recounted multiple occasions when her brothers would bring her glasses of water and food when she could not walk and help her get to doctor’s appointments and physical therapy.

Maksuti’s twin Marjana transferred to Fordham to pursue a master’s degree, and she was right along Kristina’s side during the tough recovery. “Having my twin here was incredible,” Maksuti stated. “She was my number one supporter.”

It was not just Maksuti’s family that had her back. Her teammates, coaches and training staff were all essential during her recovery process. “This is the best group I ever played with” Kristina said. “We’re a family.”

Head coach Jessica Clinton had nothing but nice things to say about her senior captain. “Everyone on the team rallied around her, they played for her,” Clinton specified. “Not every player can do what she did; she was the heart and soul of the team.”

After a grueling recovery process of about two years and two surgeries, Maksuti found her way back to the field as a fifth-year senior. She remebers how she felt during her last game of the season.

“I spent a lot of time preparing; I thought I would never see the light at the end of the tunnel. I wanted to show what I can do on the field, I wanted to enjoy myself.

I didn’t just want to play, I wanted to play very well and be an impact player.”

And that is just what she did.

As the season began, the Rams proved to be on a mission. Fordham finished an impressive season at 137-2 overall, with a 631 mark

in the A-10. The Rams earned the fifth seed at the Atlantic 10 Championship, after being picked to finish 11th in the coaches’ preseason poll. The Rams defeated VCU in the quarterfinals and advanced past George Mason on a penalty kick shootout in the semifinals to reach their third ever A-10 title game their first appearance since 2007.

Unfortunately, the Rams fell just short, losing to Duquesne 20 in the A10 Championship game.

Maksuti finished second on the team in scoring with seven goals and three assists for 17 points, and continued to show her clutch gene, scoring five game-winning goals. Maksuti had twelve game winning goals through her career with a total of 23 goals.

Maksuti went on to earn Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors, and was the quintessential leader of this team. “To not play for two years then make all conference was a huge accomplishment” head coach Jessica Clinton stated. “Her mentality was to be a great leader on and off the field at all times.

Having that strong leadership quality on our team from our captain was instrumental to the team’s success. Tina and all the seniors have made a major impact on this program.”

Now at the end of the season and her college career, Maksuti says the moment feels bitter sweet.

She still keeps in touch with all her teammates and they hang out regularly. “I had some great memories with my girls, a lot of team bonding,” she said. “It was an amazing time with a great group of people.” Nowadays, Maksuti says she is focusing on life after college athletics, and is keeping all her options open.

She just received a Bachelor’s degree in Communications & Media Studies with a minor in Anthropology this past spring, but says she still has hopes of playing professionally. “I’m still the little girl who loves soccer,” she said.

December 2, 2015

Giulio Ricciardi Champions League Round-Up Barcelona 6-1 Roma: Roma was embarrassed on Tuesday, Nov. 24, as Barcelona put on a football clinic. The trio of Messi, Neymar and Suarez proved yet again to be one of the best, if not the best, offenses in Europe by tearing apart the Roma defense. With the return of Lionel Messi from injury, I Blaugrana dominated the match from the start and never slowed down.

Barcelona has had a dominant start to their Champions League title defense. The team has picked up 13 points from four wins and one draw, clinching its spot in first place and in the Round of 16. In contrast, Roma has had a tough Champions League run. They’ve only managed to get five points in five games but still narrowly hold onto second place in the table.

The match began with a classic Barcelona performance as they dominated possession over their opponents. Despite this, Roma forward Edin Dzeko would have the first real chance as he missed an unmarked header and failed to capitalize. Roma proved to regret this as Barcelona opened the floodgates in the 15th minute.

Luiz Suarez finished a close range shot with ease as the hosts grabbed the lead. Messi doubled that lead only three minutes later as he chipped the ball into the net.

However, the hosts scored again immediately in the second half through Suarez and never looked back. Further goals from Pique, Messi and Adriano heaped misery on Roma, and despite a late consolation goal through Dzeko, Barcelona cruised to a comfortable victory.

Juventus 1-0 Manchester City: Juventus picked up a narrow victory over Man City at home to secure first place in their group table. Croatian forward and summer signing Mario Mandzukic found the back of the net to grant the hosts an important victory in securing their spot in the Round of 16.

With Sevilla and Borussia Monchengladbach rounding out the group, many believed that this would be a miniature group of death with close matches and a tight table. Despite this, both Juve and Man City have both lived up to the tag of group favorites. Both teams are firmly in control of their destiny and have booked spots in the Round of 16. While Juventus are striving to replicate their European form from last year that led them to the final, Man City looks to break their European curse over the past few years.

Juventus needed a win to clinch their spot to the next round, and they proved to be up to the task.

The hosts scored early in the 15th minute when Alex Sandro whipped in a dangerous cross to Mandzukic who one-timed a shot home into the back of the net, leaving Joe Hart with no chance.

The Croatian forward proved yet again to be an annoyance to the City backline as he scored his second goal in 2 matches against them. Despite both teams having multiple chances, the match would surprisingly end 1-0 for the hosts, who maintained their momentum.

SPORTS Varsity Scores & Stats

Page 17

Jack McLoone

Football Fordham 0 0 14 6 20 Chattanooga 21 10 10 9 50 (FOR) Anderson 3 TDs (CHA) Craine 154 yds, TD

Women’s Basketball Fordham 13 15 13 19 60 Manhattan 19 7 13 10 49 (FOR) Davis 19 pts, 10 reb (MAN) Tatum 12 pts

Men’s Basketball FDU 22 40 62 Fordham 35 50 85 (FDU) Potts 15 pts (FOR) Canty 12 pts, 10 reb

Men’s Cross Country ECAC/ICA4 Champs 5th (FOR) Turi 4th- 25:57.3

Lafayette 8 13 8 20 49 Fordham 11 14 18 18 61 (LAF) Hood 18 pts, 8 reb (FOR) Clark 15 pts, 10 reb

Colgate 27 31 Fordham 38 46 (COL) Rivard 11 pts (FOR) Rhoomes 18 pts

Fordham 6 24 10 8 48 Texas Tech 18 16 14 14 62 (FOR) Burns 10 pts (TT) Olabode 19 pts

Manhattan 33 31 64 Fordham 42 45 87 (MAN) Williams 24 pts (FOR) Thomas 26 pts, 5 reb

Fordham 7 19 16 12 54 Syracuse 18 14 15 29 76 (FOR) Davis 12 pts, 7 reb (SYR) Peterson 25 pts

Water Polo Fordham MIT

8 11

Fordham Mercyhurst

11 10

Women’s Cross Country ECAC/ICA4 Champs 5th (FOR) Tevnan 13th- 18:49.3 Men’s Swimming Bucknell Invite 8th 1650 Freestyle (FOR) Sholdra 1st- 15:27.32 Women’s Swimming Bucknell Invite 5th 200 Butterfly (FOR) Polaha 1st- 1:58.47

Athletes of the Week Mandell Thomas

G’mrice Davis

Senior

Sophomore

Basketball

Basketball

In two contests over the past week, the guard has averaged 21.5 points per game and added six steals.

Through five games, Thomas is the leading scorer for a Fordham squad that sports a somewhat surprising 4-1 record.

The women went winless over their weekend in Nevada, but they were up against stiff competition. Davis grabbed 12 points and seven boards against Syracuse and tied the game up with a layup in the third quarter.

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 • Chartouny is A-10 Rookie

• Hodge and Redd Named

guard Joseph Chartouny was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week. In two games over the stretch, both wins, the native of Canada averaged 13 points and 9.5 rebounds per game and added nine assists and a pair of steals. In all, he is averaging 10 points per game on the reason and leads Fordham players in assists. It is Chartouny’s first career weekly award.

Last week, two of Fordham Football’s most productive players were honored for their academic achievements as well as their skills on the field. Just days after being named First Team All-Patriot League, graduate student linebacker Stephen Hodge and junior placekicker Makay Redd were named to the Academic AllPatriot League Team. Just 14 players from throughout the conference earned the distinction.

of the Week On Monday, freshman

All-Patriot League

• Widmann Earns Academic

All-American Honors Last week, graduate student midfielder Jessica Widmann was named to the 2015 Academic All-America Division I Soccer team, earning Third Team honors. Presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America, the distinction honors those who excel on the field and in the classroom. A two-year team captain, Widmann enjoyed a career season in 2015, leading the Rams in goals, assists and points and earning All-Atlantic 10 honors.

•

Swimming Takes Two Individual Awards Thanks to their strong performances at the Bucknell Invitational, senior Steve Sholdra and junior Megan Polaha were honored as the Atlantic 10 Men’s and Women’s Performer of the Week, respectively. In Pennsylvania, Sholdra won three events and set a school record in the 500 freestyle. It was his 12th career weekly award. For her part, Polaha also won three events and broke two school records, good for her fifth weekly award.

– Compiled by Sam Belden

58 84

On the NFL’s Worst Divisions The NFL has been uninspiring so far this season. And while there are multiple issues plaguing it this year, including poor refereeing and a rash of injuries to star players, one of the most apparent has been the lack of parity in the NFL this year.

Since the sixteen-game schedule was instituted, only two teams have made the playoffs with a sub-.500 record: the 2010 Seahawks (7-9) and the 2013 Panthers (7-8-1). This year, there is a chance that two teams could make their way to the playoffs with a losing record, due to the dismal nature of both the AFC South and NFC East.

The AFC South has been the Colts’ to lose pretty much every year since Peyton Manning was drafted.

This continued after their two-win season with the drafting of Andrew Luck. But with their dismal offensive line, Luck’s poor season and his season-ending injuries, the Colts sit at 5-5 going into Week 12. Following right behind them, at also .500, are the Arian Foster-less Houston Texans, who have been spurred on by better than expected plays from quarterback Brian Hoyer and the typical JJ Watt domination. But most surprising are the Jacksonville Jaguars, hanging around at 4-6. Blake Bortles, in his second season out of UCF, has broken out, throwing 20 touchdowns and over 2600 yards. This is due in major part to the emergence of one of the better wide receiver duos in the NFL: Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, who have 7 touchdowns apiece, as well as 871 yards and 716 yards receiving, respectively. And, while flawed, there is a strong possibility they could sneak into the playoffs.

While the AFC South may be dismal, the worse and more publicized terrible division is the NFC East, home to the 5-5 Giants, 4-6 Redskins, 4-7 Eagles and 3-8 Cowboys. In the preseason, the Eagles were the clear favorite behind Chip Kelly and his revamped offense, including the questionable trade for Sam Bradford and the signing of 2014 leading rusher DeMarco Murray away from the division rival Cowboys. However, Bradford proved his mediocrity; compounded with a defense resembling more of a sieve than a wall, you get an incredibly disappointing season.

The Cowboys, the other favorite, are the true victims of injuries, with the loss of Tony Romo sending the team into a tailspin to the bottom of the division. There’s only so much you can do with quarterbacks like Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel. Washington has been, well, Washington, with another season full of disappointing play and a general air of disdain from everyone else.

So I’ll stop beating around the bush: the Giants are probably going to win the NFC East. They’re by far the best team in the division, despite having one of the worst pass defenses in the league, a poor defense overall and a lack of a distinct running game.

Naturally, they’re going to fall backwards into the playoffs, and probably end another Patriots undefeated season in the Super Bowl, taking out an undefeated Panthers team on the way.

All it takes is for a below average team like the Jaguars or Giants to make the playoffs for everything to go haywire. As Howard Cosell once said, “That’s why they play the game.”

Page 18

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December 2, 2015

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SPORTS

December 2, 2015

Page 19

Women 5th, Men 8th at Bucknell Invite

By GREGORY WAGNER STAFF WRITER

Over the weekend of Nov. 20 to Nov. 22, the Fordham swimming and diving team took to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania for the annual Bucknell Invitational.

At the Bucknell Invitational, the Fordham Rams finished the weekend with strong performances from both the men’s and women’s swimmers and divers. Junior Megan Polaha and senior Steve Sholdra were both named A-10 performers of the week with their great performances at Bucknell.

Polaha finished the weekend at the Bucknell Invitational with three individual wins, and she also came home with two different school records. On Friday, Polaha took first place in the 200 yd. individual medley with a time of 2:02.90. However, Polaha’s big finishes came on both Saturday and Sunday when she beat out the competition in both the 400 yd. individual medley and the 200 yd. butterfly.

In the 400 yd. individual medley on Saturday, Megan broke her own school record winning the event in an NCAA “B” cut time of 4:18.91. She finished the 200 yd. butterfly in a time of 1:58.47, again bettering her own school record and finishing in with an NCAA “B” cut time.

Steve Sholdra’s second A-10 performance of the week came after a phenomenal performance at the Bucknell invitational. Sholdra broke a school record in the 500 yd. freestyle in a time of 4:26.81, and he also finished first in the 1650 yd. freestyle in an NCAA “B” cut time of 15:27.32. Sholdra also took first place in the 400 yd. individual medley with a seasonbest time of 3:54.64.

Following Sholdra’s stellar per-

formance, the senior was rightfully very happy. “The 2015 Bucknell Invitational was one of the best meets I’ve ever had an opportunity to be a part of,” he said. “It’s my favorite meet year after year.”

Another notable performer from the weekend was sophomore Liam Semple, who continued to improve as he finished the 100 yd. freestyle in a season-best time of 46.93 seconds on Sunday. On Saturday, Senior Shannon Lulley beat out the competition in the 100 yd. butterfly as she finished with a time of 54.47 seconds.

At the conclusion of the invitational on Sunday, the Fordham women’s swimming and diving team finished in third place out of nine teams, while the Fordham men’s swimming and diving team finished in eighth place.

Although the team finished in eighth place, Sholdra was as upbeat as ever, and was not disappointed in the team’s overall performance at all. Steve stated that “the competition [at the Invitational] is incredible, there is so much talent shown on every team.

“I think our team rose to the level of competition and performed well all weekend,” he continued.

However, the importance of this meet did not end on Sunday according to Sholdra, explaining that “multi-day invitationals are great ways to build our team and to show our freshmen some of the intensity of our season-culminating Conference Championships.”

Looking forward from the Bucknell Invitational, Fordham swimming and diving will take on Manhattan College this Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center, before they have a nice month long break from competition.

By ANTHONY PUCIK SPORTS EDITOR

Typically, this would be my soap box where I wax poetic for 800 words about the happenings in the NHL, but today is not that day. Today, I write my final column as Sports Editor of The Fordham Ram. But how did I get here? How did a loud, obnoxious Brooklynite manage to run the Sports section of one of the top college papers in the United States? One word: hockey.

I came into Fordham with a passion for hockey, and the Sports Editor at the time, Dan Gartland, gave me my shot. “OK, who likes hockey” Dan said to a handful of freshmen, including myself, that were looking to get involved in The Ram. I immediately shot my hand up from the back, much to the surprise of the rest of my classmates, who had no interest in the sport. Dan looked at me and said, “Alright, you got it. Not sure what you’re going to be able to do with the lockout.” It was tough, but I worked with it; I managed to write 500-plus words a week on the stagnation that was the NHL lockout for my first semester on The Ram, and Dan, and fellow editor Chester Baker, were gracious enough to put some of my babbling in print. I would be remiss if I did not first thank them for giving me my start at The Ram. In the next volume, Chester graduated and Dan moved up to editor, with two assistants by the names of Matt Rosenfeld and Max Prinz. I knew Matt from our training class at WFUV, and they allowed me to stay on the NHL blog — partially because no one else wanted it — and I also began covering Fordham Volleyball for the paper. Covering a beat was a significantly different experience than writing my own opinions on hockey, but it allowed me to grow as a writer. I learned the importance of telling a story to the readers of The Ram who were interested in Fordham Athletics but did not necessarily get a chance to attend every event.

Fordham has more to offer than just football, basketball, baseball and softball, and in all four years I’ve been here, The Ram has done a fantastic job of covering every sport equally. Dan, Matt and Max did a fantastic job in Volume 95 and were one of the main reasons I decided to attempt to take a bigger role in the paper the following year.

Dan graduated, Matt and Max

moved to editors, and I became the Assistant Sports Editor. I worked side by side with Matt and Max at the helm, making sure that every score and stat from the week before was put on my page, along with the week’s news and notes. It may not have been the prettiest page in the paper — in fact it was probably the worst looking one if I’m being honest with myself — but Matt and Max were great at making even that page shine. Their passion for The Ram and ingenuity with the section was inspiring, and it was a joy to work with them each week.

I couldn’t have had better editors to work alongside with, and I can’t thank them, as well as editor-in-chief Kelly Kultys, enough for everything they did for me.

But sadly, even they had to graduate, and that left me at the helm with two assistants to find.

If Dan was fortunate to have Matt and Max by his side, I was blessed to have Drew Casey and Sam Belden. They made my job a heck of a lot easier in Matt and Max’s absence, and it’s been an honor to call them colleagues, and more importantly, friends.

Both of their futures are bright, and I know for sure that they will be great at whatever positions they have next in Volume 98. I also have to thank my longtime friend Joe Vitale, for entrusting an entire section to me. What were you thinking?

Thank you for always being the stabilizing force in the print room and our fearless leader. You’re going to go far, kid.

And I can’t go out without thanking the entire Volume 97 staff. Joe, Sam, Drew, Katie Meyer, Chip Frerich, Sydney Keen, Nicole Horton, Amanda Giglio, Laura Sanicola, Erin Shanahan, Cailin McKenna, Margarita Artoglou and Kristen Santer. To the girls in news and opinion, thanks for making every night in the basement of McGinley an interesting one, and to Margarita, thanks for the shared appreciation for WWE and country music (sorry Kristen). And to my fellow seniors, we had a great ride and I couldn’t have done it without you.

I think this will be the only time I ever say this, but I wish this Overtime went to a shootout.

CHRISS/FLICKR

Anthony’s time at The Ram started with articles about the NHL lockout.

Varsity Calendar HOME AWAY

Thursday Dec. 3

Friday Dec. 4

Indoor Track ZACK MIKLOS/THE FORDHAM RAM

Steve Sholdra and Megan Polaha were two top performeres at Bucknell.

Squash

Sunday Dec. 6

Central Conn St. 4 p.m.

Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball

Saturday Dec. 5

Delaware State 2 p.m.

Delaware 7 p.m.

Season Openor 3 p.m.

Swathmore Round Robin

Monday Dec. 7

Tuesday Dec. 8

Wednesday Dec. 9

LIU Brooklyn 7 p.m.

Seton Hall 7 p.m.

SPORTS

Page 20

December 2, 2015

The Fordham Ram

Football Comes Up Short in FCS Playoffs

By ANTHONY PUCIK SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Football’s season came to an end on Saturday, when they fell on the road to the Chattanooga Mocs 50-20 in the first round of the FCS Playoffs.

The Rams started with the ball and tried to set the tempo early, covering a 4th and short from their own 34, but were eventually forced to punt the ball back to the Mocs. Chattanooga responded on its first drive with a 38-yard touchdown run from sophomore Richardre Bagley to take an early 7-0 lead. The Rams then had a quick three and out, and the Mocs once again compiled an effective drive down the field, resulting in a 43-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jacob Huesman to junior wide receiver C.J. Board to make it a 14-0 game.

On the Rams’ third drive, the backfield featured sophomore Jarred Brevard instead of feloow sophomore and Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Chase Edmonds, who left the game with an ankle injury. Junior quarterback Kevin Anderson found freshman wide out Austin Longi all alone down the field on the first play of the drive, a play that would have made the score 14-7 if not for Longi tripping after 45 yards. That proved costly for Fordham, as just three plays later Anderson was intercepted by

ZACK MIKLOS/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham Football’s 2015 season came to an end on Saturday after the team was downed by Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Moc sophomore Lucas Webb, who returned it all the way for a touchdown to make it 21-0 Chattanooga after one.

The second quarter did not go much better for the Rams, as their first drive was halted on a failed 4th and 1 conversion at the Moc 27.

Chattanooga took over and converted a 23-yard field goal attempt to increase its lead to 24. The Rams punted on their next drive, and Chattanooga once again found the end zone when Huesman connected with Stovall from 13 yards out to make it a 31-0 score at the half.

The Mocs picked up right where they left off in the second half, scoring on their first drive with a Derrick Craine 14-yard touchdown run to make it 38-0 Chattanooga. The

Rams finally broke through on their first drive of the half when Anderson hit senior tight end Phazahn Odom for a six-yard touchdown reception to make it 38-7 Mocs. The Rams limited the Mocs to another field goal on their next drive, and on the ensuing drive, Anderson aired it out to senior Ben Johnson for a 54-yard touchdown reception to make it a 4114 score.

The Rams forced a Moc punt early in the 4th quarter, but the Rams were pinned deep in their own territory to start the drive. Fordham ended up punting out of its own end zone, and Chattanooga blocked the kick out of the back of the end zone, resulting in a safety and increasing its lead to 29. The Mocs drove down the field after the safety, but Fordham junior

defensive lineman Emmanuel Adeyeye forced a fumble that the Rams recovered to stop the drive. The Rams responded with an Anderson touchdown pass to senior Tony Patrignelli from two yards out, but a failed two-point conversion kept the score 43-20 Mocs.

Chattanooga added a late touchdown on a Huesman 38-yard pass to Stovall, and the deficit was too much for Fordham to handle. The Rams were unable to convert on a fourth down in the end zone in the waning seconds, and fell by 30 in Tennessee.

Anderson had a good game for the Rams, throwing for 329 yards and three touchdowns, while Odom, Johnson and Patrignelli, all seniors, had a TD reception each. But the story of the game was Huesman, who

had 211 yards through the air with three touchdowns and added 132 yards on the ground for Chattanooga.

The Mocs go on to face No. 1 ranked Jacksonville St. in the 2nd round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday.

Although the season has come to an end, there is a lot to be proud of for this Ram team. The senior class, head coach Joe Moorhead’s first recruiting class, leaves with three straight FCS playoff appearances. They bought into Moorhead’s philosophy and were key pieces in transforming a program that had not won a single game just a few years ago into one that has become a consistent playoff threat over the last three years.

While Odom, Johnson, Patrignelli, Andrew Erenberg, JQ Bowers, David Barletta, Steven Samela, David Conroy, Nick Zawisha, Tim Donahue, Garrick Mayweather and graduate students Stephen Hodge and Lourenzo Smith all leave the team this year, there is still a solid core group of Fordham players returning next year.

Anderson and Edmonds will lead the way for the offense with a young wide receiving group that now has a year of experience under its belt. The defense returns key pieces, including Adeyeye and juniors George Dawson and Jihaad Pretlow.

So while the season might have ended earlier than the team would have liked, expect the best football team in New York to be back with a vengeance next season.

Men’s Basketball Stays Unbeaten at Home

By DREW CASEY ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Men’s Basketball has won four consecutive home games for the first time since 2010.

After dropping their season opener on the road at the University of Texas at Arlington and rattling off back-to-back home wins, the Rams stayed hot at the Rose Hill Gym during the Thanksgiving break. The squad took down Colgate 84-58 on Tuesday, Nov. 24, before blowing out Manhattan 87-64 on Saturday in the annual “Battle of the Bronx.”

“Our guys are playing the right way,” first-year head coach Jeff Neubauer said. “We have a long, long way to go. Our defense is going to get better and our guys are doing a lot of good things.”

On Tuesday, following the women’s basketball team’s 61-49 victory over Lafayette at the Rose Hill Gym, the Rams got off to a quick start against Colgate. The team jumped out to a 7-0 lead behind two quick buckets from recently named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week Joseph Chartouny and never looked back.

With a balanced scoring attack throughout, Fordham led 18-8 later in the first half, but a 14-6 Colgate run cut the Fordham lead to just two at 24-22 with 5:19 left in the first frame.

The Rams answered with a 14-5 run of their own, including three consecutive three-pointers, to hold a 38-27 advantage at the halftime break.

Senior guard Mandell Thomas and Chartouny led the way at the intermission with 10 points each,

@FORDHAMRAMS/TWITTER

Fordham Men’s Basketball is off to a 4-1 start to the 2015-2016 season and takes on Saint John’s on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

while sophomore forward Christian Sengfelder collected six first half rebounds.

Fordham extended their lead to as many as 18 early in the second stanza before Colgate climbed within single digits with 11:11 left in regulation. Minutes later, the Rams went back up by 17, and the final result appeared abundantly clear.

In the final 8:15, Colgate did not climb within 14 of the Rams as they dropped their third contest of the season. Fordham ended the game on a 23-11 run.

Four Rams finished in doubledigit scoring as 11 players saw action in the matchup. Senior forward Ryan Rhoomes led the way with 18 points and just missed a double-double, grabbing nine rebounds. Thomas finished with 17 points, five assists and three steals, while Chartouny poured in 15 points and collected 10 rebounds for his first career doubledouble. Sengfelder finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.

“We talk about balance, and we’re going to be balanced,” Neubauer said. “We’ve got really good basketball players on this team, but it’s not one individual. It’s about guys just playing together.”

Following the Thanksgiving holiday, the Rams turned in another impressive performance against crossborough rival Manhattan.

The nearby Jaspers came into the contest with just seven players, but that did not faze the MAAC opponent early on as they led Fordham 23-20 with 7:30 left in the first half.

From that point on, Fordham took over. Concluding the half on a 2210 run that featured six points from both Rhoomes and Sengfelder, the Rams took a nine-point edge, 42-33, into the locker room.

“In the first half, we turned it over too many times,” Neubauer said.

“We had 14 turnovers and that’s not who we are. In the second half, we played more like who we’ve been and who we’re going to be, mean-

ing we only had five turnovers and we were still throwing the ball in the post.”

Fordham kept its foot on the gas right from the start of the second half jumping out to a 16-point lead just over five minutes into the period, largely in part due to Thomas, who scored nine of the team’s first 13 points in the second frame. Once again, the Rams never looked back as they cruised to their third straight twenty-plus-point victory.

As one would expect, “The Battle of the Bronx” did not end quietly.

On a breakaway layup, Thomas was taken down from behind by Zane Waterman. Waterman was ejected after being assessed a flagrant two, and tensions rose in the nearly packed Rose Hill Gym. Fordham sophomore guard Nemanja Zarkovic and four additional Ram bench players were also ejected in the incident for leaving the bench area.

The game concluded without any additional altercation as Manhat-

tan did not record a made field goal in the final 4:19 of regulation. Rich Williams led the Jaspers with 24 points as the team fell to 1-3.

Five Rams ended the early evening in double-digits with Thomas, the Mike Cohen MVP, leading the way with a season-high 26 points.

“I’ve been part of this [for] four years,” Thomas said. “This has always been intense, Fordham-Manhattan, a rivalry game, this year, another intense game, so it’s fun being out there. The crowd gets into it and it’s even better when we win, so it’s always a good time.”

Rhoomes added 20 points of his own, while Sengfelder contributed 16. Chartouny poured in 11, while Anderson netted 10 off the bench.

The team put up staggering shooting numbers, netting 56-percent of their field goal attempts and nearly 53 percent of their shots from threepoint range. The Rams also bested the Jaspers on the boards 39-27.

Next up for the Rams is another rivalry matchup as the Saint John’s Red Storm will travel to the Rose Hill Gym for the first time since 2010. The teams will meet for the 87th time on Wednesday night.

“I think we’re headed in the right direction,” Thomas said. “It’s been a while since Fordham won four straight so I’m looking forward to Saint John’s, another big team we’re playing on Wednesday. Hopefully we’ll get another ‘W.’” Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday and students are urged to be at the Rose Hill Gym before 6:30 p.m. Students who arrive later than 6:30 p.m. will be turned away, because all other tickets are sold out.