The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 Volume 97, Issue 5
FordhamRam.com F dh R
Admin Responds to Budget Breakdown
SAGES Launches Sexual Health Network
By LAURA SANICOLA NEWS EDITOR
In analyzing Spring 2015 budget allocations, the numbers speak for themselves. Almost. $413,890 — the amount of money that Fordham’s budget committee had available to distribute for the Spring 2015 semester. Seventy Seven — the number of clubs requesting funding for that semester. Zero — the number of political speakers funded by the budget committee. Zero is also the amount of funds that referendum clubs are required to make transparent. Among the 10 clubs with referendum status is Fordham’s Campus Activities Board. CAB takes up 42 percent of the available club funds. It is student run, but the club also works closely with Alanna Nolan, assistant dean of student leadership and community development. “CAB is held to a high standard by the department, and they simultaneously hold themselves and each other to important goals, deadlines, and accountability,” said Nolan. “While the group greatly contributes to regular programming, a lot of their behind the scenes work and effort may go unnoticed.” The behind-the-scenes work largely stays that way due to the fact that CAB, along with every other referendum club, is not required to provide a breakdown of its budget each semester. “I have no doubt that the work done by CAB is extraordinary and they are far and away one of the most important organizations on campus,” said Michael Billotti, president of College Democrats and a member of the budget committee. “They do hold themselves to high standards and I think the university benefits greatly from their hard work. However, I still have issues regarding the lack of transparency with their budget.” When asked if CAB would consider making their budget transparent, Nolan declined to comment. The Campus Activities Board is the primary programming entity on the Rose Hill campus and an extension of the Office of Student Leadership and Community Development. SEE BUDGET, PAGE 7
in this issue
Opinion
Page 9
Career Services Failing Students
Culture
Page 13
Major Changes Coming to the ‘Daily Show’
Sports
Page 19 Softball Wins Big at Florida Tournament
February F b 18 18, 2015
CASEY CHUN/ THE FORDHAM RAM
Coffee is among a number of fair trade products available on campus.
Students Continue Push for Fair Trade Status ByJOE VITALE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Fair trade — the movement that strives to foster economic development through equitable trading partnerships — has steadily established itself as a part of life at Fordham Students for Fair Trade (SFT) is a campus organization that works with artisans to provide a Western market for their products. Along with a number of courses on fair trade, fair trade products are available for purchase at every retailer on campus. Fair trade products are also available at many university events and eating establishments. Still, according to Fair Trade Campaigns, an organization that works to educate consumers about socially responsible business practices, Fordham is not officially a fair trade university. Fordham has already met four of the five requirements, according to SFT. The requirements include having a fair trade team, the involvement of campus outlets and fair trade products at events and meet-
ings on campus. The fourth requirement is a commitment to fair trade education, which the group says has been met by some courses offered by the Gabelli School of Business. The final step — a resolution passed through by the Board of Trustees or the President’s office — has not been completed. Many in the community, including students and professors, continue to press for a resolution by the university. The issue was one of several initiatives discussed during January’s Student Life Council Meeting. There, SFT’s President, Tiffany Melillo, GSB ’15 and Vice President, Michael Billotti, both GSB ’15, appealed for the university to make a statement committing to fair trade. “It’s a sustainable way to fight poverty,” Melillo said of fair trade. “Instead of just putting a band-aid on the problem where you’re giving out food, it’s coming from the bottom.” SLC voted in support of the initiative, echoing a similar step SEE FAIR TRADE, PAGE 6
USG Unveils Open Forum for Student Discussion
By ERIN SHANAHAN
By JOE VITALE
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Last Fall, the Fordham SAGES (Students for Sex and Gender Equality and Safety), won the attention of the university by publically displaying its demands on campus. The group has resurfaced for the first time this semester and will be hosting an information session about its new sexual health network, “The-Just-a-Friend-Network.” SAGES not only deals with sex related issues, such as a lack of contraceptives on campus, but also works to enforce freedom of speech, combat women centered issues and address LGBT concerns. Last September, members of SAGES were seen distributing condoms at President's Ball. Then, on Nov. 3, the group officially brought its grievances to the university in the form of a petition and demanded reform. In addition to placing the petition and demands on the door of Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, the group then organized a demonstration near Dealy Hall.
A month after releasing its midyear report, United Student Government (USG) has announced a new series of events for students to voice specific concerns and ideas about a range of topics concerning the Fordham community. The series, called Center Stage, will open with a discussion about free speech — a perennial issue on college campuses which was not directly addressed USG’s student mid-year report. The discussion, scheduled for Monday Feb. 23, will address current concerns fielded by students regarding speech and expression at Fordham. “The ‘Center Stage’ series is based on the idea that students should have a safe forum to voice their concerns and ideas in regard to any topic,” said Nevin Kulangara, GSB ’15, executive president of USG. “While the Internet has provided a place for student to express their frustrations and worries, these concerns often become lost throughout various social media platforms.”
SEE SAGES, PAGE 3
SEE USG PAGE 2
JOSHUA KIM/THE FORDHAM RAM
Spring Sports Settle Into New Season In the next few weeks, Fordham’s spring season teams will begin league play. Check out our full preview of each team in a special insert inside.
Pride Clubs Provide Safe Space for All Students By ASHLEY KATUSA STAFF WRITER
Over the years, Fordham has made continued efforts to be inclusive towards all, and one way it does so is by promoting clubs to help raise awareness for those of all sexualities and all genders. Kathe Rockelein, FCRH ’17, spoke as a member of the Pride Alliance. Rockelein refers to it as an
all-inclusive environment that helps many students feel safe and at home at Fordham. The Pride Alliance hosts many events, such as the Vigil for Change and Coming Out Week. These events are supported not only by those belonging to the LGBT community, but also by cisgender and heterosexual students interested in learning more about other genders and identities and supporting those who
are a part of the LGBT community. Aside from the Pride Alliance, Fordham also has a Women’s Empowerment club. Although the name may sound misleading, this club welcomes and encourages all genders to join, and strives to recognize the fluidity of gender, often thought of as a very rigid term. The club also uses very deliberate language, meant to reiterate this fluidity.
“Though this may seem small, intentional things like language and representation are at the core of Women’s Empowerment and strengthen our commitment to recognizing the intricacies of gender and sexual orientation,” said Rachel Dougherty, FCRH ’15. Regarding gender identity, Dougherty identifies as genderqueer. Genderqueer, a term that SEE LGBT, PAGE 3