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Observer the
Y 1981- 2021 SAR
September 22, 2021 VOLUME XLI, ISSUE 7
Lincoln Center Cases Rise to Highest Number Yet
see CASES RISE page 8
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
Crowded hallways and elevators are a common sight on campus and, for the first time since the pandemic started, the Lincoln Center campus has more COVID-19 cases than Rose Hill.
Fordham Men’s Soccer Defeats La Salle in A10 Kickoff By GABRIELLA BERMUDEZ and CHRIS MURRAY Contributing Writer and Asst. Sports & Health Editor
8/1
The Fordham men’s soccer team beat the La Salle University (LSU) Explorers 2-1 on Saturday, Sept. 18. The victory marked the Rams’ second of the season and was a resilient response after a 1-0 loss to Manhattan College on Sept. 14. The match was the squad’s first Atlantic 10 (A10) competition of the 2021-22 season. Entering the game, La Salle had lost seven consecutive matches against Fordham. The Rams were also selected to finish first in the A10 according to preseason projections, with the Explorers slated to finish ninth. La Salle’s key advantage was Fordham’s recent struggles, as the reeling Rams had gotten off to an underwhelming 1-4-1 start to the 2021-22 season. After winning the A10 Championship last year and being named the 23rd-ranked program in the nation, the team opened the 2021-22 season with four losses in six nonconference matches. While the season may have begun with a brief skid, the start of conference play offers a clean slate for Fordham to begin its quest for another A10 Championship.
The United Student Government (USG) at Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC) unanimously approved the formation of the Committee on Sexual Misconduct (CSM) on Sept. 9th. The committee’s goal is to create a “safer and more informed student body on sexual misconduct,” according to Djellza Pulatani, the CSM committee chair and Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’24. This is not the first attempt at FLC to form a committee focused on issues of sexual harrasment, sexual assault and consent. In previous USG presidential campaigns, candidates discussed the creation of the committee. Joseph VanGostein, USG president and FCLC ’22, said that often in politics “people give up their promises once they are elected.” He attributed the formation of the group this year to “committed and dedicated people.”
see MEN’S SOCCER page 6
see COMMITTEE page 5
9/1
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Matt Sloan, GSAS ’22, played an integral part in the match, with his throw-in leading to Fordham's game-tying goal in the 36th minute.
Student-Led Committee to Address Sexual Misconduct By OLIVIA REYES Contributing Writer
Arts & Culture
Features
News
Sports & Health
Opinions
9/11 Anniversary
SJP Posts Campaign
Football Woes Persist
Life in Quarantine
Met Gala 2021
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Page 7
Page 11
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20 years later, New York commemorates 9/11.
More than 3,100 students have signed in support of the club
Rams fall to Florida Atlantic, 0-3 season record
A positive Covid-19 diagnosis at Fordham is full of unknowns.
The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center
A lexicon of glimpsing celebrity from the crowd.
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News
September 22, 2021 THE OBSERVER
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First-Year Students Frustrated With Late Housing Assignments
New residents expressed their heightened anxiety regarding ResLife’s unresponsiveness and poor communication By INSIYA GANDHI Staff Writer
In anticipation for the fully in-person fall 2021 semester, first-year residents reported receiving their housing assignments two weeks later than anticipated and poor communication and unresponsiveness from the Office of Residential Life (ResLife). Jenifer Campbell, director of residential life, said the assignment of first-year students to housing was “ongoing through opening” of the fall semester. Campbell is also the dean of students at Lincoln Center. Several first-year residents who completed their housing applications expected to receive their assignments at the beginning of August but received no communication from ResLife until mid-to-late August. Lydia Williams, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25, completed her housing application weeks before the deadline
and chose to be randomly assigned a roommate; she did not receive any confirmation email. Students who selected roommates ahead of time were instructed to form a group on the application; however, the housing portal crashed. A Google form to create roommate groups was introduced instead.
“ The person I spoke to
wasn’t very sympathetic to my questions. ”
Delaney Schwantes, FCLC '25
Emma Burden, FCLC ’25, explained that she selected her roommate ahead of time. When she attempted to create a roommate group, the application would not allow her to do so. “I emailed ResLife and they emailed me back with a Google Form at 11pm in June, they nev-
er emailed my intended roommate and I had to send it to my roommate,” she said. ResLife did not announce when housing assignments would be released. They only specified that assignments would be sent out in early August. Williams explained that many firstyears interpreted this period to fall within the first week of August; instead, students began to receive their assignments on Aug. 12, with the rest arriving in the last two weeks of August. Williams noted numerous and lengthy phone calls with ResLife. She received her housing assignment shortly after contacting the office directly, with other students receiving theirs on Aug. 26 and Aug. 27. “After calling ResLife at least three or four times and sitting on hold for nearly 45 minutes, I was told my assignment over the phone and my email was sent immediately following that call, which took place on August 20,” Williams said.
The Class of 2025 is so large that 236 first-year students were assigned to McMahon Hall.
PHOTOS BY ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
Some first-year students received little to no communication from ResLife during the summer concerning their housing assignments.
Move-in for all first-year residents was on Aug. 29, only two days after some students received their assignments. Due to the historic class size of incoming first-year students, 236 first year students were assigned to McMahon Hall for the 2021-22 academic year. Delaney Schwantes, FCLC ’25, echoed a similar experience with ResLife. Schwantes called twice and during one of the calls, ResLife informed her that housing assignments would circulate later than originally scheduled. “The person I spoke to wasn’t very sympathetic to my questions,” she said. Schwantes ultimately received her housing assignment on Aug. 18. Not all first-years had the same troubling experiences with ResLife. Stella Rose, FCLC ’25, shared that her experience was positive. Rose expressed initial concerns when submitting her application. She explained her apprehension with completing applications alone and accidentally excluding
information, attributing her anxieties to a lack of communication on behalf of the university and unclear directions. “Fordham was very helpful, though, when I had ResLife inquiries. They were concise and quick to respond to my questions,” Rose said. Williams noted that the delay in her housing assignment prevented her from gathering necessary dorm items with her roommate. She communicated that increased transparency and clarity from ResLife would have been appreciated. She added that the process of receiving her housing assignment was disheartening and insufficient. “I think all the freshmen are excited to be here and are appreciative to have a dorm to call home for the year, but the stress that was applied upon families is wildly disappointing,” Williams said. Students have reported issues with ResLife’s communicativeness, quarantining conditions and gender inclusivity in the past.
Fitness Center Reopens After Long-Term Closure
Following a yearlong closure due to COVID-19 related restrictions, the fitness center has reopened for student use By MARIN HOWELL Staff Writer
The McMahon Hall Fitness Center officially reopened on Sept. 13 with extra COVID-19 precautions in place. Students who use the gym will be required to wear masks and utilize provided supplies to sanitize equipment after use. Access to the Fitness Center will remain the same as in previous years. Students can still enter the gym using their Fordham ID and are not required to sign up beforehand. Many students at Fordham Lincoln Center are excited about the reopening, particularly after the Fitness Center’s long-term closure during the 2020-21 academic year. Dana DeVries, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, used the gym regularly throughout her first year on campus and said she is eager to return to exercising on campus. “When it (the gym) wasn’t open, I kind of didn’t have a place to go because I didn’t want to pay for anything extra, so I’m glad it’s opening now,” DeVries said. DeVries said she is happy with the COVID-19-related re-
strictions Fordham currently has in place, such as routine deep cleaning of the fitness center, and hopes the university will continue to act with students’ well-being in mind. “I’m hoping Fordham is taking every precaution that they possibly can be taking, but I feel like it’s important for me to do that for myself anyway,” DeVries said. “I just hope that Fordham is looking out for me the same way I am looking out for me.”
“ I just hope that
Fordham is looking out for me the same way I am looking out for me. ”
Dana DeVries, FCLC ’23
Fordham’s Facilities Operations and Kencal, an outside contractor, will administer deep cleanings in the fitness center twice daily. During these deep cleanings, all equipment will be washed down with an antibacterial disinfectant and bathrooms and locker rooms will be disinfected as well.
Olive Fox, FCLC ’23 and a McMahon Hall resident, shared her appreciation for the work the university has done to ensure students’ safety in the gym, though she said she wishes there was more communication between Fordham and students regarding the reopening. “I really wish that Fordham had sent out an email giving us information about the fact that the gym was opening,” Fox said, who learned about the reopening through a flyer posted near the McMahon Hall elevators. “I’m just concerned that they’re going to shut it down without any notice or any email.” Information about the gym reopening was included in an email from Laura Auricchio, FCLC Dean, on Sept. 15. Jenifer Campbell, dean of students at Lincoln Center, said the university plans to ensure all health and safety requirements are being met by students who use the Fitness Center. “There will be spot checks of the facility in addition to the expectation that individuals will adhere to the protocol,” Campbell said. “If infractions become egregious we may revisit use of the Fitness Center.”
ALICE MORENO/THE OBSERVER
Students were excited about the reopening of the McMahon Hall fitness center on Sept. 13. Masks must still be worn at all times while in the gym.
The university will follow New York City guidelines when it comes to determining whether or not the gym should close again, according to Campbell.
She added that the university is in the process of providing students with information regarding use of the Fitness Center going forward.
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER September 22, 2021
News
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Fordham Hosts Screening of ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’
Jessica Chastain, Vincent D’Onofrio and Director Michael Showalter discuss the legacy of Tammy Faye Mesner By CHLOE ZELCH Asst. News Editor
Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture hosted a screening of the new film “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” followed by a discussion panel with the cast at the AMC Lincoln Center on Sept. 15, two days before the public release of the film on Sept. 17. “The Eyes of Tammy Faye'' tells the story of famed televangelist Tammy Faye and her rise and fall from glory alongside her husband, Jim Bakker. The movie focuses on Tammy Faye’s marital and career struggles — as well as her opioid addiction — which contrasts her bright and bubbly public persona. “We were excited to host this screening and discussion with the cast and director because a film like ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ is almost the perfect nexus of religion and culture,” said David Gibson, director of Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture and moderator of the panel. “The story of these televangelists and the ‘prosperity gospel’ is central to the history of American Christianity.” “It was interesting to hear firsthand from the people who made the film how they thought the narrative around these public figures deserved to be changed,” Eleana Olsen, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’23, said. Jessica Chastain, who plays the role of Tammy Faye, com-
mented during the panel that she was inspired to produce the movie after seeing the original documentary “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” released in 2010. “I thought she was a clown,” Chastain said. “The documentary showed behind the gossip ... and showed the true woman that she was.” Vincent D'Onofrio, who plays televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr. in the film, echoed Chastain’s sentiments about Tammy Faye’s clouded legacy. He highlighted all aspects of her career, the good and bad. “This script goes right down the middle. It doesn’t try to push you in any direction,” D’Onofrio said. “It shows (televangelists) for who they were, and it’s very fair… I think we’ve confused Tammy Faye with Jimmy Bakker and that bothers me a lot.” Although supporting LGBTQ+ rights has always been a taboo within Christianity, Tammy Faye was outspoken in her care and love for the queer community. In 1985, Tammy Faye interviewed Stephen Pieters, a gay preacher who had been diagnosed with AIDS, on her Christian television channel. Chastain talked to Pieters herself while working on the film and noted several times that this was an aspect of Tammy Faye’s career that fascinated and shocked her. “She tried to connect with everyone who felt unloved … it was everything to her to make everyone feel worthy and loved,” Chastain said.
JILL RICE/THE OBSERVER
The cast of "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" engaged in a panel discussion, following the movie screening, where they reflected on the life of Tammy Faye and the values she supported.
Director Michael Showalter also commented on the warmth Tammy Faye exudes. He discussed growing up in the ’70s and ’80s during the rise of televangelists. “I have a warm feeling about it … there was a desire to recreate this time period,” Showalter said. Tammy Faye was well known for her extravagant makeup. During filming, Chastain spent four hours in the makeup chair
transforming into Tammy Faye. Throughout the filming process, Chastain said she changed her mind about Tammy Faye hiding behind her makeup, instead realizing that she used her makeup to celebrate her beauty. “I realized, I don’t think she was hiding who she was, I think she was trying to express who she was,” Chastain said. “(Tammy Faye) said … ’I feel pretty this way’ … Why would God be
against something that makes you feel so good?” Chastain explained that she looks up to Tammy Faye and her outreach for those who were most unwanted by society. Chastain believes that her name has been clouded by the legacy of Bakker and tabloid gossip. “I wanted to right a wrong that I felt our society had done by clouding a legacy that really should be celebrated.”
Remembering 9/11 in New York, 20 Years Later By MIA AGOSTINELLI Features Editor
On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks last week, people gathered at Ground Zero to pay their respects to the friends, family and strangers who lost their lives twenty years ago. The day is solidified as a memorial to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and it serves as a reminder to an ever-growing, distant memory for all of the individuals whose lives were forever changed in New York City.
PHOTOS BY MIA AGOSTINELLI/THE OBSERVER
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September 22, 2021 THE OBSERVER
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Fordham Recovers From Storm Damage and Plans For Future
Valera talks preparedness and precaution in the aftermath of Ida and what to do moving forward By GABRIEL GARCIA Staff Writer
The beginning of Fordham’s fully in-person fall semester was disrupted by tropical storm Ida, which led to the cancellation of classes on Sept. 2 and Sept. 3 — only one day into the fall semester. The tropical storm tore through the region, killing at least 42 people in New York and New Jersey. In addition to the lives lost in the storm, there was torrential rainfall throughout the city, with Central Park receiving 3.15 inches of rain in a single hour, beating out the previous record of 1.95 inches of rain that was established less than two weeks before Ida on Aug. 22 by tropical storm Henri. The inf lux of extreme weather that New York City has experienced recently has led to
concerns about the future impacts of climate change. Marco Valera, vice president for facilities management, said the Lincoln Center campus did not endure much storm damage besides some flooding in the 140 West building. The damage at Rose Hill, however, was “quite severe,” Valera said. There was significant flooding in the Walsh Library and McGinley Center basements, where two to three feet of water seeped in. Valera said it will take months for facilities to handle the situation. Valera explained that the severity of Ida was unexpected. He also added that although there were some preparations to prevent flooding at Rose Hill, they were ultimately not fully prepared, as there was “water we have not seen in my 20+ years
of working here at Fordham.” Lessons were learned from Hurricane Sandy almost a decade ago. Elevators were shut down as a precautionary measure, and a warning was issued by Public Safety. Valera stressed that the campuses are different in regard to infrastructure, so Lincoln Center is less prone to flooding while Rose Hill is more vulnerable due to the size of the campus. In addition to campus damage, many transportation methods that commuter students, faculty and staff rely on were shuttered by the storm — some of which took days to return to full service. For several hours, the New York City subway system was battered, with stations partially submerged from the tropical storm rain. In addition, the temporary shuttering of other
PHOTOS BY GRACE GETMAN/THE OBSERVER
Club and administrative offices suffered water damage from the storm.
The Garden Lounge area by Argo Tea has experienced flooding due to Tropical Storm Ida.
methods of transportation such as the PATH, Metro-North and LIRR inhibited members of the Fordham community from traveling to and from school. Many faculty and staff also had complications with their homes being flooded. The Public Safety email that announced the closure of all campuses for Sept. 2 was sent that morning at 6:20 a.m., canceling classes and events planned for Welcome Week. On the night of Wednesday, Sept. 2, it was decided that campus would be closed for an additional day. Fordham College at Lincoln Center Dean Laura Auricchio announced via email to students that due to the cancellation of classes, the add/drop period for classes had been extended to Friday, Sept. 10.
For future extreme weather events, Valera believes that New York City will be more “conservative” in making proper preparations. Valera also said there is only so much Fordham can do since many campus pipes overflow under heavy rain conditions and the Walsh Library was built to be low rise. This is the third time in two years that the start of a semester was disrupted for classes at Fordham Lincoln Center. The first day of classes in January 2020 was delayed and then canceled following a water main break on West 63rd Street and Broadway. On the first day of classes for the spring 2021 semester, both campuses closed and in-person classes were canceled due to the snowstorm that hit the city.
SJP Continues Fight for Club Status After Legal Loss: ‘We are not going anywhere’
Students for Justice in Palestine begins a new phase of advocacy with the launch of a letter-writing campaign By JOE KOTTKE News Editor
Continuing a six-year-long battle for the club’s existence on campus, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) launched a letter-writing campaign on Sept. 9 to demand that Fordham reinstates the group as an official club. In January 2021, the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division overturned the original ruling that mandated Fordham’s recognition of the club. Now, the decision to sanction SJP once again lies within the power of Fordham administrators. “We were officially sanctioned for three semesters without any issues from the Office of Student Involvement or United Student Government,” said one Fordham SJP member who requested anonymity due to Canary Mission, a website that displays compiled information on undergraduate students who advocate for Palestine and seeks to defame them. “Fordham’s attempts to intimidate us have not worked, and we are not going to be scared into submission,” another anonymous SJP member said. “We are not going anywhere.” Veer Shetty, vice president of SJP and Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’22, said the let-
ter-writing campaign is to push the issue of SJP’s presence on campus and to tell administrators “you can’t get away with brushing us under the rug.” Within the first 24 hours of the campaign’s publication, SJP garnered more than 350 signatures in support of the club’s recognition. Now, the total is more than 3,100 signatures as of Sept. 21.
“ You can’t get away
with brushing us under the rug. ”
Veer Shetty, SJP vice president and FCLC '22
SJP began working on the campaign in February 2021 and originally planned to launch it in March, but MPower Change, a Muslim advocacy organization, connected with the group and “changed everything.” “We had people who were experienced with campaigns like ours helping us in its development,” one SJP member said. They also said the process was prolonged since MPower Change is a busy organization and had delayed responses.
SJP launched the campaign during Lincoln Center’s club fair. This decision was based on both the completion of the campaign and symbolism. When SJP was officially sanctioned in 2016, they tabled at the club fair in the special interests category. “If Fordham did not take away our status as an officially recognized club, we would’ve been tabling on the 9th at 11:30 a.m.,” one Fordham SJP member said. “When we realized that it was Club Week, we thought it would be powerful to do (the campaign) then.” The link to the campaign was distributed to the club’s mailing list and its social media platforms. SJP members also emailed it to most Lincoln Center clubs, providing an additional social media kit to encourage the clubs to post on their social media accounts as well. The campaign is also circulating among professors who have expressed support for SJP in the past. Though SJP is not currently sanctioned by Fordham and does not receive a university budget or designated space on campus to hold meetings, the club is making plans for the semester. Both the Jewish Student Organization at Lincoln Center and the Young Democratic Socialists of America at Rose Hill reached
LOGO COURTESY OF SJP, GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
Students for Justice in Palestine received over 350 signatures from their letter-writing campaign, working to make their situation known on campus.
out to SJP to collaborate, which one SJP member said they are “absolutely thrilled about.” In addition to maintaining connections to other student organizations on campus, SJP is focusing on the preservation of its infrastructure to last beyond the graduation of its editorial board members.
Shetty, who has been at the forefront of the legal battle since February 2019, will graduate at the end of the fall 2021 semester. “We want this club to continue to exist and have been fighting for it to exist for so long, and now it is up to the younger students to carry that on,” he said.
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THE OBSERVER September 22, 2021
News
5
Free Korean Classes Prove Popular Among Students
Fordham’s modern languages and literature department has made its Korean offerings into multiple full classes By SEAN RYAN Contributing Writer
After holding popular unofficial Korean classes for two years, the Fordham Institute of American Language and Culture has increased its offerings this year, holding two free Korean language courses and one Korean culture course every Wednesday for the duration of the fall semester. Students can take these classes and receive a pass/fail grade for “Korean Workshop” on their transcripts, but they will not receive credit hours. Hie-Myung Jo, associate director of Fordham’s Institute of American Language and Culture, said “students were taking the (less official) class really seriously ... so we thought offering a course for them would be a great opportunity.”
“ It was a lot of fun to
participate in. It did not feel like too much work on top of my other classes ”
Gabi Hernandez, FCLC '23
These courses are intended to offer a fun, free and practical opportunity for students to learn the Korean language. The beginner class professor, Kyung Eun Lee, noted how Korean can help you “see the world from a different point of view” and “expand your ideas and world of thought.” Lee had previously taught at both Columbia University and New York University before joining Fordham as a Community-ESL (English Second Language) instructor in 2018. She created the curriculum based on resources for learning Korean, including “Talk to me in Korean,” which provides learn-
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
Professor Kyung Eun Lee teaching the Korean level 2 class, intended for students looking for a free and practical opportunity to learn the language.
ing materials for beginners to advanced students. The course will include a few assessments, a final presentation and one-minute speech later in the semester. The beginner class is “designed for those who have no prior knowledge of Korean.” The courses have been offered in less official capacities for the last two years. Students previously gave great reviews, which prompted the class to be made more official. Kathleen Kye, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’22, said it was “more put together and educational than some of (their) other courses.” Gabi Hernandez, FCLC ’23, said she “really enjoyed the course, it was a lot of fun to par-
ticipate in. It did not feel like too much work on top of my other classes, but rather a fun break in the middle of the week to study something interesting and fun.” The beginner course saw an almost full classroom on Sept. 15, the first day of class. Students gave a variety of different reasons for why they wanted to learn Korean. Davis Pak, FCLC ’24, said he hopes to speak to his cousins because they currently can only speak to him in English. Bell Pendon, FCLC ’24, said she joined the class because she wanted to know more about the culture and language. “I’ve always been interested in the culture,” Pendon said. “I’m from the Philippines so when I was
growing up, we were very catered towards Korean culture and Asian cultures in general, and plus learning a language is cool.” Another student, Rayne Davila, FCLC ’25, said that her passion for languages brought her to the class. “I really like learning languages so I learned Spanish in high school. I’m learning Mandarin here too, I just want to learn a lot of languages,” Davila said. Reaching this level of legitimacy for the class was not an easy task, and a number of requirements had to be met. “We asked for the grant from the Korean government, then we got the grant and that’s how we unofficially started the Korean
class,” Jo said. After receiving the grant, Jo and other involved faculty were able to offer the less official class, and had to speak with the Korean government further to make it what it is this year. There is some thought that this class could be expanded into a Korean minor, but there are no official plans for the program yet. The Institute of American Language and Culture wants to support the trial of a Korean program in fall 2022, given that there is funding and student interest. Both Pendon and Pak said they would pursue a Korean minor if one was offered in the future at Fordham.
USG Approves Sexual Misconduct Committee Seven Years After Rose Hill
The committee is currently temporary but will be inducted as a formal entity in the 2022-23 academic year COMMITTEE from page 1
Currently, CSM is an ad hoc committee, meaning it is temporary and designed to serve a specific purpose while running for the duration of the 2021-22
academic year. It is written in USG’s constitution that a committee cannot be formally added until the following year. “The next administration will make CSM a full-fledged committee once its trial as an ad hoc
committee has expired,” VanGostein said. USG at the Rose Hill campus created a CSM in 2014. Similar to Rose Hill’s committee, any Lincoln Center student may join CSM, though they must become
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
Djellza Pulatani is looking forward to hosting events and providing educational resources as chair of CSM.
a general member of USG. The time that Pulatani proposed the committee’s creation to the time of its unanimous approval was only two weeks. The organization of the committee was “the quickest turnaround of any USG initiative” he has seen in his time at Fordham, according to Van Gostein. USG’s constitution states that no committee can get to the voting stage without the president’s initial approval. VanGostein said that his approval of CSM was just a formality due to his belief “in the importance of this committee and Djellza’s initiative.” VanGostein said he approved it as soon as he was able to. “This is something needed on every campus; it doesn't matter if you are 10 students or if you are 100,000 students,” Pulatani said. Pulatani is enthusiastic about heading the committee because of the encouragement she received from other members of USG. She said she did not experience any pushback from peers or faculty when proposing the committee. “(Fordham’s) goals for this year are really aligned with what this committee is serving to do and the mission statement of this committee just in terms of social justice and really advocating for their students and
their community,” Pulatani said. There are already events in the works for the rest of the academic year, according to Pulatani. She wants to focus on misconceptions of consent to make sure Fordham community members are educated on the topic and ensure that FLC is “a more safe and informed student body.” She is looking forward to a “great year filled with events and a lot of educational resources and meetings,” including bringing guest speakers on campus. In comparison with Campus Assault and Relationship Education, CSM is completely student-led. “The student government serves as an entity to advocate and express student concerns and we are really making decisions that are whole heartedly based on the students,” Pulatani said. “It is necessary for a student body to be representative of this and be the ones advocating for it because obviously the administrators want us to be safe but we also need to hold each other accountable and try and make the campus more informed.” Pulatani believes the committee is going to be part of “the campus’s legacy,” as opposed to her own, and hopes it will last for years to come.
Sports & Health
Sports & Health Editor Patrick Moquin sports@fordhamobserver.com health@fordhamobserver.com
September 22, 2021
THE OBSERVER
Why the Delta Variant Threatens Fordham’s Return to Normalcy
Increased hospitalizations and breakthrough infections by new strain prove the pandemic is not over By GUS DUPREE Asst. Sports & Health Editor
Ever since its declaration as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, COVID-19 has been, and continues to be, an ever-present threat to public health and safety. While the pandemic itself is ongoing, a variant of the coronavirus has spread across the world despite human efforts to contain and eradicate it. Dubbed the “Delta variant,” experts believe this strain to be more debilitating and twice as
infectious as the novel coronavirus. Since its discovery in December 2020, the Delta variant has spread across 140 countries. The variant is responsible for over 99% of new infections reported in New York City. Fordham administration has advised students to remain vigilant, regardless of their vaccine status. According to Maureen Keown, director of University Health Services (UHS), the university utilizes VitalCheck in combination with an indoor mask mandate to contain the virus. Keown also stated that UHS
administers tests “to those students or employees who are exposed.” Rapid and PCR testing is also available to students showing COVID-like symptoms. The WHO currently designates the Delta variant as the only “Variant of Concern” (VOC). Multiple different strains of COVID-19 have also been identified. Like the Delta variant, these strains are given Greek letters for identification. As of Sept. 21, the CDC classifies nine additional strains: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Epsilon, Eta, Iota, Kappa, Lambda and Mu.
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
Undergraduates are now around 99% vaccinated, but the Delta variant continues to propagate the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing continued mask mandates and social distancing on a crowded campus.
These are considered “Variants Being Monitored” and collectively make up a small portion of total coronavirus infections. The WHO views these strains as less dangerous. The Delta strain itself was initially a “Variant of Interest” upon its classification on April 4, 2021, before being given its current VOC designation on May 11. Berish Rubin, who holds a Ph.D. in biology and is a professor of biology at Fordham, said that variants differ from their parent strains because of mutations to their genes, which in the case of Delta has made the virus more infectious. The Delta strain is far more serious due to several distinct factors that set it apart from both other variants and its parent virus. According to Rubin, those infected with the Delta variant may have “approximately 1,000 times more virus in their respiratory tracts than those infected with earlier strains.” People infected with Delta are also far more infectious, as symptoms tend to take six days to manifest compared to four with the original strain; thus the contagious individual usually isn’t aware they’re infectious until almost a week after infection. The Delta variant also appears to take more of a toll on the human body than its parent strain. 96.1% of individuals now hospitalized with COVID-19 in New York City are unvaccinated, proving their ability to significantly lessen one’s odds of infection. “While vaccination provides very effective protection from infection with the earlier strains of SARS-CoV-2, a significant number of vaccinated individu-
als have become infected with the delta variant,” Rubin said. Though the vaccine provides effective protection against hospitalization and death, it is no guarantee against contracting the virus. The vaccine still makes an individual less likely to contract even the Delta variant, but the dominant VOC is largely responsible for increased rates of “breakthrough cases” among vaccinated individuals. Those who were infected with previous strains of the coronavirus are also at risk, with re-infections becoming more common. Rubin surmised that “these observations clearly reveal that in some individuals the delta variant is able to replicate even in the presence of an immune response that blocks the replication of previous strains of SARSCoV-2.” Much has changed in the fight against COVID-19. An estimated 42.6% of the global population has received at least one dose of the vaccine. About 98.76% of undergraduates at Fordham are vaccinated. However, considering the limits to the vaccine’s effectiveness against the Delta variant, Rubin warned that “containment procedures would likely need to be more aggressive than was needed for previous strains of this virus,” even in largely-vaccinated communities. Though the Delta variant is a more infectious and potentially debilitating virus than the original strain of COVID-19, knowledge of the virus and methods to combat it have improved. The Delta outbreak, while more serious for those who may become infected, is still manageable.
Men’s Soccer Triumphs in Comeback Victory
Bolstered by formidable defense, the Rams come from behind to start conference schedule in style MEN’S SOCCER from page 1
The first half of the match got off to a slow start, with La Salle hardly mustering any opportunities in Fordham’s defensive zone. In the first minute of play, a cross from the foot of Adrian Valentine, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’23, was stopped by the Explorers’ defense, but Fordham maintained pressure in La Salle’s defensive half. Minutes later, Galen Flynn, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’24, narrowly missed the net while attempting to finish another cross. The stalemate was abruptly broken with 22 minutes left in the half, when Junior Nare, LSU ’24, navigated the Fordham defense and connected with the back of the net on a nearly uncontested shot from just outside the 18-yard box. This shot was one of La Salle’s only scoring chances of the half, but Nare capitalized on a rare lapse in the Rams’ defense. Fordham continued to apply pressure to the Explorers’ defenders with multiple dangerous crosses, but it was not until the 36th minute that the Rams evened the score. A strong throw-in from Captain Matt Sloan, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ’22, made its way into the six-yard box before a La Salle defender inadvertently headed the ball into the net. The blunder leveled the match at 1-1. Soon after, the Rams had a golden opportunity to take the
lead. A messy turnover by La Salle with five minutes left in the half put the ball at Flynn’s feet inside of the 18-yard box, with Flynn making a move to get an open shot at net. The shot was aimed directly at La Salle keeper Mitch Foster, LSU ’23, who easily contained it and kept the score even heading into the second half.
While the Rams’ young season has gotten off to a tumultuous start, Fordham’s aspirations of repeating as conference champions remain alive and well.
Welcoming in the second half of the game, Fordham reentered the field with strong defensive plays as the Rams applied pressure on La Salle and limited opportunities on their side of the field. Fordam’s strengthened defense was a disorienting surprise for La Salle as they struggled to maintain possession of the ball and regularly missed passes. In the 64th minute, a whistle against La Salle was blown due to physical contact with a Fordham player, giving the Rams a free kick. The shot was deflected
by the Explorers who seemed to find their defensive confidence again. Given the opportunity for a corner kick, Max Rogers, FCRH ’24, lined up to drive the ball straight into the net but La Salle gained possession only to then lose it again to Rogers, who assisted Jack Sluys, GSBRH ’22, giving Fordham a 2-1 lead. La Salle, feeling pressure to even the score, worked hard to get in a shot but were constantly blocked by goalie Nick Buchholz, GSBRH ’24, who controlled the goal posts throughout the game. Fordham’s speed and aggressive play kept the team in the lead in the second half. Defender Jack Sluys stayed close to the goal post with intense energy that seemed to catch Justin Brunow, LSU ’24, off guard as Sluys tailed Brunow and brought him to the ground. La Salle was determined to make sure the Rams did not hold possession again, but this was difficult as Fordham’s defense was consistent throughout the second half. The Explorers had an opportunity to make a shot as Aimar Leunda Etxeberria, LSU ’24, passed the ball to Dominick Bachstein, LSU ’24, only to immediately have it stolen as the Rams made sure that La Salle would not have a good pass in the last eight minutes. The game was nearing its end, but the Explorers had no intention of giving up. Although the Rams were in the lead, they were no less determined to
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Nick Buchholz, GSBRH ’24, made the most of his second career start, limiting opportunities for the Explorers.
maintain it. Bachstein held possession of the ball as he headed straight for the goal, only for Rogers to come speeding behind him, bringing both of them down and leaving the ball to roll out of bounds. Fordham continued to push into La Salle’s defensive zone in the final 90 seconds of the game, ensuring that the Explorers could not bury a heroic game-tying goal as the match drew to a close. After 90 tense minutes, Fordham claimed its second victory of the
season by a score of 2-1. The Rams’ improved effort gives hope to the rest of the season, with Fordham now holding a 1-0-0 record in conference play. While the Rams’ young season has gotten off to a tumultuous start, Fordham’s aspirations of repeating as conference champions remain alive and well. The Rams will look to carry this momentum into their next competition, as they take on nonconference opponent Rider University on Wednesday, Sept. 22.
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER September 22, 2021
Sports & Health
7
Fordham Football Handled by Florida Atlantic in a 45-14 Rout
Exceptional defensive play and Owls’ miscues are not enough as Rams fall quietly in their third loss of 2021 season By PATRICK MOQUIN Sports & Health Editor
The Fordham football team suffered a deflating 45-14 defeat against the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Owls on Saturday, Sept. 18. In their second game of the season against a Football Bowl Series (FBS) opponent, the Rams again proved hapless in the late stages against superior competition, falling 0-3 to begin the season. Though Fordham remains winless in 2021 after three weeks, it is generally accepted that the team has only entered one game with a chance thus far, and it wasn’t this one. While the team’s 26-23 loss last week to Monmouth University was competitive and avoidable, games against Nebraska University and Florida Atlantic were never supposed to be close. The advantages that FBS teams hold over Football Championship Series (FCS) teams are numerous and well-documented, to such an extent that programs like Fordham receive a substantial monetary bonus to participate in such lopsided games. In these specific cases, Nebraska and Florida Atlantic are paying Fordham $500,000 and $350,000, respectively, according to the Omaha World-Herald and South Florida Sun Sentinel.
The Rams were never expected to win at this level, and while an 0-3 record is still the poorest start possible, final scores are not yet useful for evaluating the team’s potential. Florida Atlantic’s 31-point victory makes as much sense as Nebraska’s win by 45, and much like the Huskers, the Owls could have made it much worse. Though Fordham was consistently overmatched for most of the game, the team also had its fair share of opportunities, particularly in the first half. In the Owls’ first two drives of the game, their offense only progressed seven yards and could not gain a first down. The Rams failed to capitalize on both occasions and responded with two quick turnovers on downs in turn. Florida Atlantic was not to be denied on its third possession and drove for 71 yards on 10 plays, culminating in a two-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback N’Kosi Perry, FAU ’23, to give the Owls a 7-0 lead. Though they were behind, the Rams didn’t immediately lose control of the game following the first score. Florida Atlantic’s offense stagnated again as the first quarter came to a close, and with possession early in the second quarter, Fordham put together a drive of its own.
Above: Star linebacker Ryan Greenhagen, GSBRH ’22, left, speaks to Matt Jaworski, FCRH ’25, right, in between plays on defense. Below: Running back Antonio Cortez Feria, FCRH ’22, breaks off a long run in Fordham’s losing effort.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Fordham’s defense remained stubborn for most of the game but tired in the late stages.
At the Owl’s 14-yard line, quarterback Tim DeMorat, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’22, found Fotis Kokosioulis, FCRH ’22, in the end zone to even the score at seven after the extra point. As the Rams gathered themselves and applied pressure to their heavily favored opponents, the Owls continued to make costly mistakes. Toward the end of the first quarter, punt returner LaJohntay Wester, FAU ’25, muffed the ball to give Fordham another possession deep in Florida Atlantic’s territory. When the Owls managed to get on offense, they struggled to take advantage of defensive mismatches, as multiple receivers dropped passes that seemed like surefire touchdowns. Following Fordham’s game-tying score, Florida Atlantic worked its way into field goal range but kicker Aaron Shahriari, FAU ’23, missed the 33-yard attempt. Fordham was being thrust into an upset, but the team could do little in response to its opponent’s miscues. The Rams didn’t score again in the half, and with 3:36 remaining in the second quarter, the Owls took advantage of a measly 26-yard punt by John O’Friel, FCRH ’23, and scored another touchdown in just one minute and eight seconds of game time. The rest of the game is of little note, as Florida Atlantic made the necessary adjustments at halftime and Fordham tired badly in the late stages. Early in the third quarter, star linebacker Ryan Greenhagen, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill
(GSBRH) ’22, exited with an injury that clearly weakened the defense. He returned before the quarter ended, but Florida Atlantic scored two unanswered touchdowns in the meantime and took a 28-7 lead.
In fact, based on the success of individual players in the first three weeks of winless play, one might even say that Fordham’s season starts now. With 9:55 remaining in the fourth, Fordham demonstrated its stubbornness on a 48-yard touchdown from DeMorat to Dequece Carter, GSBRH ’23, to make the score 28-14. But the spark of offensive production only seemed to evoke an avalanche from the Owls, who scored two touchdowns — one of them defensive following an interception by DeMorat — and a field goal to put the game away. What could have been a fairly close game will now be seen by all as an unambiguous 45-14 blowout. Despite another resounding defeat, the game was not without its highlights for the Rams. On just three receptions, Carter managed to compile 111 receiving yards and a touchdown, his best performance of the season.
Meanwhile, fellow receiver Kokosioulis has now scored a touchdown in three straight games, an impressive feat considering Fordham’s stiff competition. In what is quickly becoming a regular section of Fordham game recaps, Greenhagen again proved to be an overwhelming powerhouse on Fordham’s defense. Without playing most of the third quarter, the linebacker still recorded 17 tackles, the most of any player on either team, to bring his season total to 76 through three games. He wasn’t alone, though, as linebacker James Conway, FCRH ’25, and defensive back Jesse Bramble, FCRH ’22, earned 15 and 13 total tackles, respectively. After two thrashings at the hands of FBS schools and a tough loss to Monmouth to begin the 2021 season, the Fordham football team is 0-3 and $850,000 richer. There are few certainties in any sport, especially college football, but Fordham fans can be sure of one thing going forward: The schedule will only get easier. In fact, based on the success of individual players in the first three weeks of winless play, one might even say that Fordham’s season starts now. On Sept. 25, the Rams will travel to Stony Brook University for a more reasonable FCS matchup with the 1-2 Seawolves, who are coming off a similar 48-7 defeat against the University of Oregon. Both teams are in desperate need of softer competition and will find it in one another next Saturday.
Students Express Dissatisfaction With Fordham’s M
As students readjust to a fully in-person campus, infection rates increase, creating confusi By MARYAM BESHARA and ALLIE STOFER Asst. News Editor and News Editor
Recorded COVID-19 Cases Every Day at Fordham University Graph Key Fordham Lincoln Center (LC)
Student concerns about the rise of COVID-19 cases at the Lincoln Center campus have prompted questions about Fordham’s plan for managing the surge and protecting community members. Although 96.3% of all students are vaccinated, Fordham is still experiencing high numbers of breakthrough cases within the first few weeks of the fall semester. As of Sept. 21, Fordham has a total of 53 cases, 33 of which are at the Lincoln Center campus. This current spike also marks the first time during the pandemic that the Lincoln Center campus has a higher number of COVID-19 cases than Rose Hill. Last semester, Rose Hill had a high of 232 cases, causing a suspension all in-person classes and activities until the number of cases dropped below 100.
The suspension of in-person classes, activities and events was due to a New York state requirement prohibiting gatherings if colleges surpassed 100 cases. As of Sept. 21, there is no state-mandated threshold that could require Fordham to halt in-person operations or shift classes and activities to an online modality, according to Jenifer Campbell, dean of students at Lincoln Center.
“ We’re not mandating, we’re not checking on whether they did it because there’s no real point in doing that. ”
John Carroll, Associate Vice President for Public Safety
President for Public Safety John Carroll said. To aid in contact tracing, Public Safety is asking professors to create seating charts or take pictures of their classes to help them know who has been close enough to be exposed. Carroll said seating charts are important when identifying where those with vaccination exemptions were sitting because if unvaccinated students are far enough away from the infected individual, they do not have to quarantine. If a student tests positive for COVID-19, Public Safety will contact them with instructions on what to do next. When students are potentially exposed, Public Safety asks them to get a PCR test within three to five days of exposure, though testing is not required, according to Carroll. “We are not mandating (testing), we are not checking whether they did it because there’s no real point in doing that,” Carroll said. “The point is, if they did not do that, to take care of their own health, then where do we go from there?” Before Sept. 20, all PCR tests had a $35 out-of-pocket charge for students, although most insurances reimburse the charge, according to Campbell. Now, students who have had a potential exposure can receive a PCR test for free from University Health Services (UHS).
RH TotalFordham Positive Results and LC Total Positive Results Rose Hill (RH)
250 250
200 200
Fordham Implements Contact Tracing Procedures When an individual tests positive for COVID-19, Public Safety implements contact tracing protocols to determine potential exposure based on proximity. If a student was closer than six feet to the COVID-positive person for more than 15 minutes in a 24-hour period, they may have been exposed. “We do it manually. We speak to the COVID-positive person ... and then we ask them to try to recall where they’ve been the last couple of days,” Associate Vice
150 150
March 14 Lowest number of cases in March at Rose Hill LC Total Cases: 2 RH Total Cases: 104
100 100
50 50
Students Recount Experiences of Exposure Due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the students sourced in this article will remain anonymous. One anonymous first-year student explained that when they received the call from Public Safety about being exposed to a COVID-positive person, they were not told who had tested positive. The student explained that this frustrated
April 3 Rose Hill below 100 cases and can reopen LC Total Cases: 11 RH Total Cases: 195
March 2 First day of data tracking by The Observer’s News Team LC Total Cases: 9 RH Total Cases: 225
May 15 Case numbers on the last day of finals LC Total Cases: 1 RH Total Cases: 2
April 1
Places to get tested off-campus: Mt. Sinai, 425 W 59th St.: 24/7. Offers PCR tests for free
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April 7 Highest number of cases in the spring semester at Lincoln Center LC Total Cases: 15 RH Total Cases: 87
March 4 Highest number of cases in a day at Rose Hill LC Total Cases: 9 RH Total Cases: 232
00 March 1
them as they did not know if they omor had interacted with the student case who tested positive. tion “Two people on our floor test“T ed positive, but unfortunately the p we are not allowed to know who actua due to HIPAA violations,” the Publ student said. “Luckily we didn’t Th have class with these people and profe never had contact with them and sourc my roommate and I both tested their negative with PCR tests, so we’re ty re all safe.” to w The student also added that aged the Office of Residential Life Pu (ResLife) student staff members to th on their floor were not aware of their the positive COVID-19 cases. requ There are different procedures told for those who have been exposed, or re depending on whether or not they areas have been vaccinated. Because were the majority of Fordham students “I are vaccinated, most are encour- itive aged to continue going to classes bly after potential exposure, which since students often follow due to strict call attendance policies. you If exposed, unvaccinated indi- scho RHare Total Positive Results viduals not allowed to go to classes and are expected to quarantine for 10 days. One anonymous, vaccinated no sophomore explained that they continued to go to class after beju ing alerted of their possible exposure from a classmate because they were nervous about accruing absences. Since social distancing is no longer enforced in campus buildings, “having students with confirmed exposures/waiting for test results continue to go to class and around campus freely A seems incredible(ly) irresponsi- their ble,” the student said. three The anonymous sophomore posit said they were notified of a po“I tential exposure less than 24 that hours after their class. to sit “To me, that says that which- few o ever student it was, was wait- know ing for test results and went to we g class anyway, because PCR re- they sults typically don’t come in that of us quickly as far as I’m aware,” the supp student said. If Due to the unavailability will of tests on the day they went days to get tested, the student said antin they had to go off-campus to get whet their test. A second anonymous er or sophomore also stated that they “T had to go off-campus for a test ways because Fordham had no more late i available appointments. they Students who were potential- comm ly exposed to a COVID-pos- beca itive person in class are Carr normally contacted by to ev Public Safety. A third thou anonymous soph- eryb
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May 1 CityMD, 315 W. 57th St.: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., seven days a week. Offers free rapid and PCR tests with results in 3-5 days. Walk-ins welcome.
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June 1 CityMD, 2025 Broadway (W. 69th St.): 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., seven days a week. Offers free rapid and PCR tests with results in 3-5 days. Walk-ins welcome.
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Management of Cases
ion and fear among community members
re shared that was not the for them in their introducto Mandarin class. The way I found out about person testing positive was ally through my teacher, not lic Safety,” they said. he student added that their essor provided them with reces for testing and informed r class that unless Public Safeeached out, there was no need worry. The professor encourd students to get a PCR test. ublic Safety did not reach out he student until a week after r exposure. The student was uired to get tested and was they were not allowed to eat emove their mask in public s around campus unless they e in their dorm room. If I had ended up being poswith COVID-19, it probawouldn’t have been good e they did wait a week to me and tell me ‘hey maybe should get tested with the ool,’” they said.
LC Total Positive I wasn’t angry — one of us were. We all ust wanted to support each other.
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anonymous junior
Testing Positive and the Repercussions
n anonymous junior shared r experience after they and e of their suitemates received tive COVID-19 results. It’s hard enough to process you have COVID, but having t down and be like ‘Yeah so a of us have this and none of us w who gave it to who or where got it’ was just so strange,” said. “I wasn’t angry — none s were. We all just wanted to port each other.” f a student tests positive, they be required to isolate for 10 s. The location of their quarne will vary depending on ther the student is a commutr resident. There are many different s to isolate — people can isoin their homes if that is what choose to do, and many muters will probably do that ause they commute anyway,” roll said. “They may need us ven isolate them here even ugh they are commuters. Evbody is different.”
The anonymous junior was allowed the option to quarantine at home given that they lived within the tri-state area. ResLife remained in touch with the student to develop a plan for their quarantine period. “They spoke with me about the necessary steps to take back home, ensured I had my own room, access to a bathroom just for myself, etc. I was very lucky to be able to go home to quarantine,” the junior said. An anonymous sophomore who went into quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 stated that they were given instructions to take as much food as they had in their dorm since they did not have a meal plan and would not be provided meals by the school. Once in quarantine, they were able to order groceries that ResLife would deliver to their door. The student said the only things provided for them in quarantine were sheets and trash bags. Results As students are testing positive, those who have been exposed are struggling to understand the next steps to take. One anonymous junior shared that they contacted UHS after experiencing symptoms, but they did not hear back until much later. “Health Services was the last person to reach out to me, which I found odd. I called them first and they told me to go to my room and sit and wait for further instructions,” the student said. The student said UHS did not seem concerned that they had not been informed of their exposure until a week later and told them to get tested at any time, according to the student. The anonymous junior who quarantined off-campus reflected on the policies and procedures put in place last year in comparison to the current requirements for COVID-19 testing. “I wish Fordham would bring back intermittent testing,” they said. “I would not have known I had COVID if I hadn’t actively looked to get treatment when I was sick.” Conflicting policies for getting tested, questions about quarantining and a general lack of communication from the administration have continued to confuse Lincoln Center students. As cases rise, students remain worried and wonder if Fordham will adapt its policies to mitigate the infection rate. Joe Kottke and Chloe Zelch contributed additional reporting to this story.
June 16 First cases all summer at both campuses LC Total Cases: 1 RH Total Cases: 1
July 1 ClearMD, 2007 Broadway (W. 69th St.): 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., seven days a week. Offers free PCR tests with results in less than 48 hours and $45 rapid tests. Appointments required.
Vaccination Rates at Fordham University
Employees
Students
Overall: 98.70%
Overall: 96.31%
Full-Time On-Campus Employees: 98.30%
Undergraduates: 98.76%
Part-Time On-Campus Employees: 99.50%
Graduates/PCS: 92.49% September 21 Highest numbers at both campuses this semester LC Total Cases: 33 RH Total Cases: 20
Places to get tested on-campus: Fordham Lincoln Center: between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays in McMahon Room 211. Fordham Rose Hill: between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at the shed by the northeast corner of O’Hare Hall.
August 12 Highest number of cases at Rose Hill during the summer LC Total Cases: 0 RH Total Cases: 10
Aug. 1 LabQ, 62 W. 56th St.: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Offers free rapid tests and PCR tests with results in less than 24 hours. Appointments required.
September 11 First time Lincoln Center had more cases than Rose Hill LC Total Cases: 11 RH Total Cases: 10 September 7 First day of club week LC Total Cases: 6 RH Total Cases: 7 September 2 Second day of classes LC Total Cases: 7 RH Total Cases: 8
Sept. 1 LabQ, 200 W. 54th St.: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Wednesday and Friday. Offers free rapid tests and PCR tests with results in less than 24 hours. Appointments required. PAGE DESIGN AND GRAPHICS BY MADDIE SANDHOLM/THE OBSERVER
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Opinions
Opinions Editor Clara Gerlach opinions@fordhamobserver.com
So You’ve Tested Positive for COVID-19. Now What? ISABELLA SCIPIONI Asst. Social Media Editor
We were two weeks into the semester, and after a hurricane and an extended weekend, we were ready to start our first full week of classes. On Monday, my roommate woke up with what she thought was a sinus infection and called University Health Services (UHS). After describing her symptoms, they told her to come to their office on the second floor immediately and get a rapid test. It did not go how we hoped. I immediately realized that I had no idea what would happen next. For those living on campus at Fordham (specifically in McMahon Hall), take notes, because you never know if this could happen to you. After my roommate tested positive, the remaining five of us were told to immediately call UHS to schedule tests. We were seen by the end of the day, and each of us received a rapid test. If our rapid test was negative, they gave us an additional PCR test for confirmation. My first test came back negative, and UHS told me to stay in my apartment and isolate until I got the results of my second test. I did have some mild symptoms (a low-grade fever and some congestion), and figuring that I probably didn’t have a random cold or another virus when my roommates had COVID-19, I decided to order an at-home rapid test. Although I could have just waited for my PCR results, I strongly suspected that I had COVID-19; I could not properly isolate myself from my healthy roommates until I produced a positive result. After spending an additional $60 to get an at-home rapid test delivered and 15 minutes of playing with the worst chemistry set I’ve ever owned, I tested positive for COVID-19. I immediately called UHS, who had me talk with Public Safety for contact tracing and the Office of Residential Life (ResLife). They asked me the names of everyone I had come in close contact with over the past few days, and I also personally notified anyone I thought might be at risk of getting infected. ResLife called me within the hour and sent me an email containing information about the virus and a brief packing list for my isolation period on the 19th floor of McMahon Hall. Surprisingly, my PCR test came back negative the next day. A nurse from Fordham explained to me that false negatives in rapid and PCR tests are possible — especially in the early stages of contracting the virus — but false positives are extremely
unlikely. The six hours between my first two tests and my last one made the difference in detecting the virus. Considering how mild my symptoms were, I probably would have accepted my negative test results and returned to business as usual if I hadn’t got the third test. I could have continued to spread the virus without even knowing I had it. Of the six of us, four of my roommates, including myself, tested positive. Two received positive rapid tests and one immediately had to quarantine. The fourth is an international student who was only able to receive her second vaccine dose a week before we were exposed. Since you are not considered “fully vaccinated” until two weeks after your second vaccination dose, she had to be isolated for 10 days even though her rapid test result was negative. From isolation, she learned that her PCR test was positive. After testing positive, I was sent to the isolation floor to quarantine with one of my roommates. One of my other roommates went home, and the other was quarantined in
I probably would have accepted my negative test results and returned to business as usual if I hadn’t got the third test. I could have continued to spread the virus without even knowing I had it. a separate apartment with another COVID-19-positive student. I brought as many clothes, school supplies and food as I could in one trip. Since I am not on a meal plan, Fordham did not provide me with any food for my isolation. We were eventually given a microwave. We could order groceries for delivery and ResLife delivered them outside our door between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. if given at least a 24 hours’ notice. We were also told that we could call UHS during their business hours if we felt ill and wanted medicine or to be seen by a health care professional. An important caveat: UHS has limited hours on weekends at both Rose Hill and Lincoln Center’s campuses, and Lincoln Center’s UHS office is closed on Sundays. After we had been in isolation for a day, the city of New York called. And called. And called. All of my roommates who had tested positive
Quarantined students must bring all necessary items with them to the apartment and are required to have groceries delivered.
September 22, 2021 THE OBSERVER
Observer the
Editor-in-Chief Katrina Lambert
Managing Editor Grace Getman Online Editors Corbin Gregg Jill Rice Creative Director Roxanne Cubero Treasurer Adam D’Souza Fundraising Coordinator Shagun Rath Advertising Coordinator Luis Castellanos
PHOTOS BY ISABELLA SCIPIONI/THE OBSERVER
The quarantine apartment was empty except for bed sheets, towels and toilet paper.
received at least one phone call a day from the city ranging from 10 minutes to almost an hour long. Each phone call asked the same basic information (date of birth, address where you live, quarantine location, etc.), and eventually, I started to suspect that they were accidentally making the same initial phone call repeatedly for each of us. I’ve spent more time on the phone with the New York City Department of Health than I did with my mother over the past week. I reached out to each of my professors and told them that I would be missing class for the next 10 days. All have been very accommodating, but I’m still concerned about catching up once my isolation ends, especially since all of my classes are continuing in person. Most frustratingly, I am fully vaccinated and already had COVID-19 last December, but I still contracted the virus. It is horrifying that we could have spread the virus without even knowing we had it, and others who contract the virus may not be as lucky as we’ve been. My circle of friends was shocked and unprepared when we were exposed to COVID-19. I would advise all students to prepare themselves for a potential quarantine and stock up on toiletries (especially hand soap and tissues), over-the-counter and prescription medications, and frozen food. Although it is easier said than done, I cannot advocate enough for the university to bring back mandatory, periodic and free COVID-19 testing for all students, especially considering the increase in in-person activities and the virus’s mild effect on some students. If you are contact-traced due to exposure to COVID-19, please take it seriously. Isolate to the best of your ability and get tested as soon as you can. If your test comes back negative, consider waiting a few days and getting another one, especially if you have any symptoms. And above all, keep taking COVID-19 seriously. I am incredibly fortunate that the worst part of having COVID-19 so far has been quarantining. The first time I had COVID-19 was before the vaccine was available, and even though I am young and have no risk factors, I lost my sense of smell, had difficulty breathing and lost 10 pounds in one week. Everyone may respond differently to the virus, so do not assume that if you are vaccinated, have already had the virus or are relatively healthy that COVID-19 will not make you ill. The best advice I can give is, of course, get vaccinated, wear a mask and practice social distancing as much as possible. I am expecting to receive a phone call from UHS after 10 days of quarantine, and if I no longer show any symptoms and pass a screening test, I will be able to leave quarantine. COVID-19 can come completely out of the blue, no matter how many precautions you take — but if you try to be safe and prepare adequately, hopefully, you can avoid the fate of Floor 19.
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THE OBSERVER September 22, 2021
Opinions
11
Mommy Has Cancer, Not a Cold
Being upfront with children about severe issues can only help them in the long-run JAKE ERACA Contributing Writer
Let’s be blunt: Mom wasn’t feeling well. Sitting us down on the couch, I will never forget those fateful words — “I have cancer.” My initial reaction was shock, followed by a veritable tidal wave of questions. “What kind? Where is it? How bad is it? Do you have a tumor? Are you feeling okay? Are you gonna die? Do I get to miss school? Are you going to lose your hair?” I was nine years old, the oldest of four, with my three younger sisters sitting next to me on the couch. Jillian, just a year younger than me, followed suit with my questions; Mallory, age seven, started crying; and little Ava, age five, simply didn’t know what cancer was. In the ensuing weeks, we would all become very knowledgeable of the disease and what it could do to the human body as we watched my mother suffer from the stress and burden of treatment.
At the end of the whole ordeal, I still don’t know whether Mom was strong for us or whether we were strong for Mom.
She told us she had been diagnosed with Stage 1 thyroid cancer that day, having a papillary tumor just under a centimeter splat in the center of her neck. She also told us she had surgery scheduled for May 12, just a few days later. The surgery would leave her exhausted and scarred — specifically with a large slit on her neck. A day into her recovery at home, my mom found out she had been let go from her job, our health insurance would run out by the end of August and that the radioactive treatment she required was delayed. I did more growing that summer than I had for the rest of my adolescence.
At the last minute, in the second week of August, just two weeks before my mother’s health insurance ran out and her medical bills grew exponentially, Mom got scheduled for her iodine treatment. In a small, lead-lined room, my mother became radioactive. She had to sit in the back seat of our minivan as our father drove her home. As the isotope purged her system of remaining cancerous cells, she was not allowed near small children or animals, nor could she travel at risk of setting off a Geiger counter. Mom quarantined in the neighbor’s pool house, our only contact being phone calls and waving to her from the backyard. After 10 days, I came home from summer camp to cars in the driveway. When I opened the door to the house, my mom was kneeling down to hug me, and I remember diving into her embrace, happy that Mom was OK again. Although the changes affected my family, knowing Mom’s schedule, bringing her black coffee and burnt toast in the mornings before camp, and being amazed at the gory scar she now had on her neck brought me into the struggle with her. I felt closer to my mom and had the safety net of a stable parent preserved. During her quarantine, we kept up over the phone and she would detail how her scar was healing and the phenomenon of having to flush the toilet three times to ensure the iodine was not allowed to settle. She would describe her pain as a screwdriver, pushing deep into her ear. Morbid as that may sound, we empathized with her and always kept a positive mentality. At the end of the whole ordeal, I still don’t know whether Mom was strong for us or whether we were strong for Mom. My experience with my mother’s cancer was driven by having a working knowledge of what was going on with her and how we were going to handle it as a family. Even my 5-year-old sister Ava, who could barely pronounce the word “thyroid” (pronounced “theeroid”) came to understand my mom’s
COURTESY OF JAKE ERACA
Empowered by the love of her children, a mother enters remission; she now celebrates 10 years cancer-free.
disease; this knowledge helped us process our emotions and made the process of healing that much easier. Knowing when Mom met with her doctors, what medicines she needed and how the disease could affect her helped preserve the routine we had established. It felt like I could help, and in my own small way, I did. Upon asking my mother recently about her choice to be open about her cancer, she recounts reading books and contacting the American Cancer Society about how to tell children about cancer. The American Cancer Society advises keeping children in the loop, which helps maintain the routine that children so often need to thrive. As in all cases, knowledge is power, and children are capable of more than meets the eye, especially when it comes to understanding seemingly complex concepts. My mother also drew on her professional experience as a teacher and her studies toward a
doctorate in education. Although it was still scary, and we had our rough patches, my mom’s cancer became an obstacle that we tackled together, and it made us appreciate our time with her that summer all the more. Delaying crucial information such as a cancer diagnosis can only harm a child’s psyche and cause more pain than needed. I can only imagine the horror I would have felt to have seen my mom come home post-op, bandaged and hurting from surgery, and having no idea what was going on. A slit on a mother’s throat is a jarring image, even for adults. In fact, such a sight is classified as potentially traumatizing by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Long-term impacts of such trauma can lead to learning problems, increased contact with child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and even health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. As a 9-year-old, knowing what Mom had been through and the
medical process and reasoning behind it helped me appreciate the surgery and how it saved my mom’s life instead of having a jarring possibly traumatic reaction to my mom’s post-op condition. As someone who has endured this scenario, I can say to not sugarcoat issues like this. A parent is a lighthouse to a child — there to guide them through the storm of life — but they are also a shelter. Children have a right to know when abrupt, painful change may affect them. Preparing them and arming them with the knowledge to handle such traumas as a serious medical diagnosis or injury can turn a terrible experience into a bonding one. Children don’t need coddling and lies — they need honesty and love. Equip them with the tools to succeed and process healthily instead of dumping change on them under the guise of protection. The end result will be a child who can empathize and embrace change instead of shying away from it.
Reform Civil Law and Implement Sliding Scale Fines
While this might be a petty change for some, changing the fine system has no cons CLARA GERLACH Opinions Editor
There are conflicting reports as to how much money Jeffrey Bezos spent on parking tickets in 2020. Some articles gave an estimate of $16,000 and others gave an estimate of $23,000, but the common conclusion is clear: Parking fines mean nothing to the rich.
Parking and driving laws are usually in the realm of civil law, meaning that breaking those laws usually results in fines as the punitive measure of choice. These fines are mostly flat fees and can be unaffordable for some, but they don’t stop those who have money to burn. To the rich, a finable offense like parking in a restricted area is something they can buy, with a price tag that does not serve as a punishment or deterrent.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ROXANNE CUBERO/THE OBSERVER
While some may want to abolish the fine system altogether, it still works as a deterrent for some and is a large source of revenue for cities like New York. Instead of the current fine system, a sliding scale fine would more successfully deter people regardless of wealth. A sliding scale fine is a fine proportional to a person’s yearly declared income. Instead of everyone paying the same amount per offense, fines would be determined by the court issuing the ticket based on the violator’s income the previous year. This system could be structured in a multitude of ways, but any one of them would be fairer than what we currently have in place. If this seems outlandish to you, think about why a fine exists. If the point of a fine is to deter people from committing certain acts, the fine should actually be the factor that keeps people from parking near a fire hydrant or speeding in a school zone. It’s not only about deterrence but also about the willingness to take the risk. Clearly, one would be less likely to park in a zone if it cost $900 when caught instead of $75. The highest parking fine one can currently receive in New York City is
$515 (intercity bus unauthorized passenger pickup or discharge), but with sliding scale fines, proportional punishments would be doled out and thus infraction numbers would decrease. Additionally, New York City’s revenue is reliant on these fines, and this year’s budget aims for a $150 million annual increase in fines and forfeitures. This money will be taken through a flat fee, guaranteeing that this will disproportionately affect the poor. An influx of money, when used responsibly, could do things like fund education and public programming, but it’s important to make sure it doesn’t come from the hands that need it. Some detractors may argue that this would go against the Eighth Amendment’s clause prohibiting excessive fines. The 2018 Supreme Court decision of Timbs v. Indiana held that this clause applies to local governments as well. The proportionality spoken about within the opinion is only further evidence that same does not mean equal. Additionally, if necessary, a cap on fines in the sliding scale would also alleviate the stipulation that a fine is “excessive.” Another potential problem with sliding scale fines is that
they would probably be based on income and wouldn’t include capital gains. As many of the uber-wealthy don’t earn a standard income, this would make it harder for any court to evaluate how much the offender should get fined. Under an income-only evaluation, Bezos would be fined based on his income of roughly a million dollars, as opposed to his true wealth or gains from selling stocks, which brings his net worth to an estimated $182 billion. Nevertheless, sliding scales would be beneficial in bridging the income gap between New Yorkers. A wealth evaluation system based on the previous year’s taxes could also help, but the fine implementation would make a world of difference regardless of the system adopted. A call for criminal law reform can be heard loud and wide, but it’s time we call for civil law reform too. Creating a sliding scale fine system will get us one step closer to an equitable and fair government and allow us to have a punishment that truly deters the rich. Calling for sliding scale fines are the tip of the iceberg, but they would make a massive difference for both citizens and cities.
12
Opinions
September 22, 2021 THE OBSERVER
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Why You Should Be Glad Fordham Doesn’t Have Greek Life
The Delta Delta Delta variant’s toxic effect on colleges across the nation, with no cure in sight to reform the system, rush cannot exist without racism and classism.
ISABELLA SCIPIONI Asst. Social Media Editor
The end of summer means you’ll be seeing viral “Outfit of the Day” videos and creepy door chants flooding your social media feed from students rushing Greek life organizations. (As a Jesuit college, Fordham University doesn’t have a Greek life scene.) Some students may undoubtedly feel they’re missing out on the “traditional” college experience and the glamorized houses, parties and friendships. However, what viral TikToks and Instagram posts don’t show are the ugly sides to Greek life, such as the expensive dues, the safety risks and the discriminatory practices with which historically white social Greek letter organizations are associated. In reality, the Greek life tradition should not be indicative of what a normal college experience in the United States is supposed to look like, but should instead be seen as a dangerous curse, the continuation of which is harmful to college students. Hazing Practices Insiders and outsiders alike of Greek life know one thing about the recruitment process: Prospective new members are often hazed before they can join an organization. This is usually justified by Greek organizations as building brother/ sisterhood or through claims that hazing is just doing menial tasks and is harmless fun. However, hazing in practice is often much more serious.
Although most universities and chapters have anti-hazing regulations and hazing is a crime in many states, this hasn’t stopped the practice.
While every organization is different, some members have described being forced to “simulate oral sex with cucumbers,” “bring bathing suits and magic markers and falsely being told that sisters would circle body fat on new members,” and “sit in a kiddie pool filled with rotten food and excrement for hours.” They were the lucky ones. There have been over 50 hazing-related deaths since 2000 in colleges across the country. Often, these deaths are related to heavy drinking, but official causes of death have included head injury, heatstroke and cardiac arrest. What has been labeled as a “rite of passage” has been recreated year after year in traumatic and sometimes fatal experiences. Because of Greek organizations’ strict policies against sharing what happens during rush, most stories go unreported. Although most universities and chapters have anti-hazing regulations and hazing is a crime in many states, this hasn’t stopped the practice. Rather, it has encouraged students to remain silent for fear of legal repercussions for their chapter and their “friends.” No social organization is worth the lives of dozens of young people and considering how important hazing is to the Greek experience, it
Why Go Greek?
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may be time to give the idea of abolition serious consideration. Still, some argue that hazing is only an issue when recruits first seek out membership in a Greek organization, but Greek life often puts their members and their communities at risk throughout the school year. Community Health and Safety Risks Greek life is associated with a culture of sexual assault. According to The Guardian, fraternity brothers are three times more likely to rape than non-fraternity men, and sorority women are 74% more likely to experience rape than non-sorority women. Recently, the Phi Gamma Delta chapter (also known as Fiji) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus was suspended after students protested the fraternity’s presence on campus due to an alleged assault that took place on the first day of classes. Hundreds of students gathered outside the Phi Gamma Delta house for several nights in a row, and students claim to have received via Airdrop a video from fraternity members inside the house of brothers laughing and making fun of protesters. Many students are calling for the fraternity to be banned from campus, especially since this is not the first time the fraternity has been suspended. Student protests represent a change in the culture surrounding Greek life; however, university officials’ refusal to outright ban the fraternity and the fraternity’s casual and mocking tone toward the protests demonstrates how normalized sexual assault has become in Greek letter organizations. Students aren’t only at risk of being attacked or hazed when they join Greek life, but also of getting sick. Many Greek organizations have been accused of causing COVID-19 outbreaks on their campuses. Last winter, Chi Phi at Lehigh University allegedly hosted “COVID parties,” at which students who tested positive for COVID-19 or who had already been exposed to the virus were invited. Unsurprisingly, the party culture and lack of regulation associated with Greek life have extended to the COVID-19 crisis, demonstrating some organizations’ lack of care for the general well-being of their
campuses and surrounding communities and a belief that they are above the rules — both written and social. Going Greek or Going Broke? Many Greek organizations are the most secretive about one thing in particular: dues. Although most chapters urge their members not to share this information, dues can range from anywhere between a few hundred to a few thousand dollars a semester. This does not include the cost of living in a sorority or fraternity house if a student chooses to do so or the costs associated with fundraisers, gifts for other members, new clothing and other social obligations. Needless to say, Greek organizations tend to attract students of middle- or upper-class standing. It’s All Politics So where does the money go? Most of the money contributes to paying national conference dues, national chapter dues, insurance for the chapter and costs associated with running the individual chapter and its social events. But some organizations dip their hands into politics and donate to the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee, also known as FratPAC.
Starting college is one of the most terrifying and isolating experiences in a young person’s life. FratPAC claims to be a bipartisan organization that seeks to “amplify the benefits of the fraternal experience for students.” However, it does so by advocating against strict hazing laws and for tax loopholes for Greekowned houses and laws that strengthen the due process rights for alleged sexual assault offenders, potentially making it harder for victims to come forward. Although the organization claims to be bipartisan, the majority of its funding goes to Republican candidates, with its largest contribution in the last election cycle going to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
For some colleges, Greek organizations can play an even greater role in school and local politics. At the University of Alabama, “the Machine,” an underground organization of fraternities and sororities, secretly determines how students should vote in the student government and even local school board elections. From 1986-2015, no student government president was elected without the Machine’s support. The group allegedly terrorized non-Machine candidates, specifically African Americans, by putting burning crosses in their yards, threatening them and their families, and even running a campaign member off the road. The group has also been accused of pressuring Greek students into voting a certain way by bribing them with free drinks and limo rides and of using these practices to swing local school board elections. Although the University of Alabama has never formally acknowledged the Machine’s existence, the school’s newspaper published a timeline of the Machine’s alleged activities in a magazine for new students. Considering the political impact of Greek letter organizations, it is worthwhile to examine the historic makeup of these groups. A Hateful Past Greek letter organizations were historically created by upper-class white students on the basis of excluding others, and this practice still exists today. Many students have shared their stories of racist encounters while participating in Greek organizations, leading some chapters to disband entirely. The continued homogeneous presence of Greek organizations rests in the rush process. Former members of sororities describe ranking potential new members based on appearance and how much they look like the rest of the group. In 2010, 77% of sorority members at Princeton University were white, and fewer than 10% were from middle- or lower-class families. Greek organizations actively discriminate in their recruitment process because discrimination was built into their founding. Recruitment has always been this way, and with groups disbanding rather than attempting
So why are students still joining social fraternities and sororities? And why do so many colleges let them run free on campus? For one thing, Greek organizations can justify their existence through philanthropy. Social Greek organizations need to devote a certain amount of money and time toward a specific charity. Every chapter differs in how much they prioritize charity, but looking at Yale Greek life, most organizations raised a few thousand dollars for charity despite each member paying at least $350 in fees and chapters paying for other lavish expenses. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with charity, nonprofit work in Greek letter organizations is not important enough to the Greek experience to justify organizations that continue to harm thousands of young people every year. Many argue that Greek life provides networking opportunities for the rest of a student’s career, and it is true that 85% of Fortune 500 CEOs were in fraternities, as were 76% of all current congressmen and senators. It is worth questioning whether a person’s Greek affiliation is what made them successful — or if it is their privileged position as a white, wealthy educated person that helped them obtain a spot in Greek life that also allowed them to be successful in their careers. While networking may exist in the Greek community, it is not the pipeline to success it claims to be. Philanthropy and networking are sloppy excuses for what Greek organizations are really providing: parties and a sense of community.
Without Greek life, Fordham students do not have to worry about hazing or fitting in with a popular crowd of students. Starting college is one of the most terrifying and isolating experiences in a young person’s life. A community of close-knit friends who always know where the parties and cool events on campus are seems like a dream, even if you do need to pay and jump through some hoops for membership. Greek organizations are fueled off of vulnerable students joining, whether they’re freshmen away from home the first time, sophomores who haven’t seen a “normal” campus yet or anyone else who feels like they don’t belong. Without Greek life, Fordham students do not have to worry about hazing or fitting in with a popular crowd of students. And even though Fordham is not innocent in preventing all discrimination, an organized collection of students who perpetuate discriminatory behaviors would undoubtedly make Fordham much less inclusive. Firstyears, don’t ponder on what might have been if you had gone to a different college. Instead, be glad that Fordham is protecting you from a toxic, unnecessary tradition.
Arts & Culture Editors Madeline Katz Olivia Stern arts@fordhamobserver.com
Arts & Culture
Hey Grammys: Taylor Called, ‘Red’ Is Back
Taylor Swift’s rerecording of her ‘Red’ album is breaking records like it’s 2012 again By KAREN WATANABE Contributing Writer
As New York City’s humid weather comes to an end and fall hovers right around the corner, not only are New Yorkers looking forward to cardigans and pumpkin spice lattes, but Swifties are also eagerly anticipating Taylor Swift’s rerecording of her iconic album “Red,” released back in 2012. It was the first day of school, and I was in the fourth grade. A new girl introduced herself to the class then found her way to the seat next to mine. One of our very first conversations started with, “Do you know Taylor Swift?” “No,” I replied. Soon after, the new girl helped me discover Taylor Swift for the first time by recommending some of her favorite songs like “Teardrops on my Guitar.” Instantly, I was hooked on Swift’s ability to fit love and heartbreak all in one album. Now, many veteran Swifties like myself can watch it “begin again.” Puns aside, as many fans are creating a countdown for this iconic album’s release, one must question: Why is Swift doing this all over again? This isn’t the first time she has done this. She rerecorded her 2008 album “Fearless,” which had previously won four Grammys. Critics might question if she is doing this with the intention of winning more awards; however, they would miss the point because, in truth, Swift is advocating for
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the right for artists to own their work. It all started back in 2014 when Swift removed all of her music from Spotify. She felt that she could “never ever get back together” with Spotify because she did not want to put her life’s work out on the platform for free when Spotify does not fairly compensate writers, producers and artists who worked on the music. Moreover, Swift brought up the point that music is a form of art that should be paid for and acknowledged. Soon after in 2015, Swift wrote
a letter to Apple advocating for artists, especially rising artists. She asked Apple to give artists the success and proper compensation they deserved since previously, Apple would not pay artists during its three-month free trial. Of course, Apple wanted Swift to “stay, stay, stay,” so Apple accepted Swift’s advocacy and declared that Apple Music will pay artists for streaming even during the first three months of a free trial. Now that we understand why Swift speaks up for the right of artists to own their music, let’s return to her rerecordings. Back in
2005, Swift signed a record deal with a record label company, Big Machine Records. The contract gave ownership rights to the company for her first six albums. Of course, Swift was able to keep the copyright to the songs she had written, but Big Machine Records owned the masters to her music. Many years later, after Swift released her sixth album, “Reputation,” Swift and Big Machine Records tried to negotiate what their new deal would look like when she released new music. But in 2018, Swift entered a new contract with
Republic Records and Universal Music Group, which led Swift to own her master recordings for new music that she would be producing. However, media proprietor and record executive Scooter Braun acquired Big Machine Records, including the masters to her first six albums, which gave him the right to sell these masters without her consent. After a monthslong dispute with Braun, Swift opted to rerecord her previous albums to gain ownership back. This was a pivotal moment for her career because she has much more artistic freedom to venture out and try something different. This change was shown in “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” as Swift was able to put unreleased songs in this rerecorded album, which she had never done before. As for the unreleased songs on “Red (Taylor’s Version),” the 10-minute version of “All Too Well” will be released, and fans will “get lost in translation” as they explore her new version of “Red.” In addition to that, “Red (Taylor’s Version)” will feature artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Ed Sheeran, in which Sheeran and Swift will perform their first-ever written song together. Not only am I excited to hear the 10-minute version of “All Too Well,” but I also cannot wait to reminisce, visit fourth-grade Karen and see that “everything has changed” as I witness Swift’s new version of the album, all in “burning red.”
Invincible’s Power Is Not His Toughness
Amazon Prime Video’s new animated show’s restricted budget overshadowed by an electric cast By MAEL QUENTIN Staff Writer
Spoiler warning for “Invincible.” I was initially apprehensive about watching “Invincible.” Beyond the now-famous memes and the gratuitous imagery, I wasn’t very interested in the show. Nevertheless, I succumbed to my friends’ pleas to watch it and ended up very impressed by the show’s gripping action and adult themes. The superheroes-gone-bad trope is inevitably going to draw comparisons to Amazon Prime Video’s other popular show, “The Boys.” Where that show focuses on the broader societal implications of superheroes and their ties with greedy corporate commercialization, “Invincible” focuses on the inner turmoil of superheroes and their relationships with their communities. The story follows Mark Grayson — who dubs himself as Invincible — as he discovers the superhero powers that he inherited from his father Rick, known to the world as Omni-Man. What follows is a story filled with violence, twists and unexpectedly poignant moments relating to fear, inadequacy and the deflation of expectations. The show’s animation is the biggest victim of its limited budget. While high for Amazon Prime’s standards, the $10M per episode budget pales in comparison to Marvel’s $25M for its Disney Plus shows. This makes for animation that is basic and rudimentary, lacking the flair or personality that makes other animated pieces shine with vibrancy and fluidity. However, the show does a good job of overcoming its technical limitations by using other effective ways to depict action.
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The lackluster animation is compensated by the impactful sound design, character interactions and story. Despite the limited production budget, every punch is paired with an unproportionally loud crack and large splashes of blood. The actors’ performances did justice to the emotions of their characters, and the unforgiving nature of the story leaves no character safe, which paved the way for an intense show filled with suspense and fear. The star-studded cast delivers beautiful performances. Steven Yeun’s performance of Mark Grayson is filled with all the naiveté and ignorance that fills the inexperienced eyes of a child looking at godly figures prior to the painful realization that things are not as they seem. Sandra Oh expertly plays the role of an everywoman, a regular human being as she comes to terms with her place in a family of superhumans. She is also the prism through which the show depicts the conflicting nature of marriage and the value of a mother’s warmth. Finally,
the restraint in J. K. Simmons’ performance showcases OmniMan’s many layers, starting from his apprehension with raising a superhero son to the suppression of his cataclysmic intentions and sinister secrets.
What “Invincible” reminds us is that we don’t have to be the strongest or the smartest to have an impact. Mark stands at the perfect crossroads between sheer, godlike strength from his father and the familiar “powerless” but human attitude from his mother. He faces the arduous task of juggling between saving people and making quality time for those around him. The entire show uses Grayson and the people around him to display the meaningful — albeit unoriginal — premise that strength doesn’t solely come from sheer physical strength
or mental aptitude but from heart and character. In the same way Mark’s strength comes from his heart rather than his physical gifts, the show’s heights come from its poignant, emotionally-driven characters rather than superficial visuals and action. Like many other noble comic book characters, Mark’s priority is saving people, but the application of this goal in this universe is much more grounded. Mark cannot save everyone. In his attempts to help the general public, he is sometimes the cause of others’ demise. He is often outmatched and beaten, resulting in numerous casualties that tear apart his misplaced godlike complex and his blackand-white view of the world. The guilt and doubt that inevitably come from these failures ground Mark as a relatable character whose juvenile sense of morality is constantly torn down through multiple grueling encounters. In these brutally helpless moments, Mark shows an intimacy that makes him such an endearing character worth rooting for. Omni-Man is the embodiment
of arrogance. His force reminds us that when we strip humanity of our illusion of power, we become nothing but a vulnerable pile of meat. All the guns, bombs and tight-knit bureaucracies can be so easily taken away. When faced with the fragility of man in a world of gods, mere humans can only hope that one of them cares. Omni-Man does not. Mark slowly learns this horrifying truth about his father, not wanting to believe it at first, and then being forced to confront it head-on. After spending such a long time looking up to his father as the perfect figure, Mark has to learn to not embrace his father’s greed, narrow-mindedness and cruelty. He has to see the people weaker than him as people, not insects. He has to recognize the power of humanity, that having power or intellect is worthless without humility. Yes, Mark is no OmniMan, but Omni-Man is no Mark either. True power can come in a more tame form. A powerful fist. An adept brain. All those mean nothing if not powered by a good heart. Indeed, what saves the world from this abominable perversion of Superman is heart. This show is not done. Amazon has confirmed more seasons to come. Given this unique story, the possibilities for unconventional storytelling are endless, and this universe has a lot more room to explore. What “Invincible” reminds us is that we don’t have to be the strongest or the smartest to have an impact. As long as our hearts are in the right place, we can achieve something for our loved ones. Heart is the strongest power there is.
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THE OBSERVER September 22, 2021
Arts & Culture
14
The Met Gala, Explained
How a small fundraising event became the most exclusive party in pop culture By ROXANNE CUBERO and SARA LOCKETT Creative Director and Contributing Writer
Every first Monday of May, the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art are populated by the most important people in fashion, culture, sports and politics. Across Fifth Avenue, passersby crane their necks and phones to get a glimpse of their favorite celebrities. But it wasn’t always this way. Humble Beginnings The story of the Costume Institute Gala — known best as “the Met Gala” — begins with the history of the institute itself. As theater in America reached its peak in the 1920s, producer Irene Lewisohn and stage designer Aline Bernstein saw a need for an archive of costumes from which costume designers could draw inspiration. The collection grew to over 8,000 pieces when it officially became part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1946. Now known as the Costume Institute, the general public could also see the “clothes as beauty, as part of the embellishment of life,” according to Vogue. The Met Gala was the brainchild of publicist Eleanor Lambert, who also founded New York Fashion Week and the International Best-Dressed List. The first fundraising benefit took place in 1948, coinciding with the Institute’s first exhibit. Branded “The Party of the Year,” it was attended by everyone in Lambert’s “rolodex of the rich and famous” and the most important names in the fashion industry. After the in-
augural gala, the event became the most important event of the year for New York’s high society. The Vreeland Years Following her termination as editor-in-chief of Vogue, Diana Vreeland brought her dynamic and extravagant sensibilities to the Costume Institute and its annual fundraising benefit; she is responsible for the event that we recognize today. Vreeland introduced themes that coincided with the Institute’s exhibit for that year. Themes ranged from honoring fashion designers (1973’s “The World of Balenciaga”) to reminiscing on iconic moments in fashion (1974’s “Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design”). With Vreeland at the helm, the Met Gala also became a means of advertising the exhibitions at the Institute. Previous years saw the Met Gala held at various locations around Manhattan, such as the Rainbow Room and the Waldorf Astoria, but Vreeland made the move to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was during her tenure that the Gala first began harnessing the power of celebrity by inviting the most glamorous women of the time — notably former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis — to co-chair the event, and inviting stars like Diana Ross, Elton John and Cher to the societal event. The Interim of Pat Buckley and the Dominance of Anna Wintour After Vreeland’s death in 1989, socialite and longtime co-chair Pat Buckley briefly took the reins and continued to feature the best dressed of both New York high society and Hollywood on the red carpet. Buckley began to sell “excessively
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROXANNE CUBERO/THE OBSERVER
priced” afterparty tickets for dessert and dancing, and ticket holders flocked to the museum to see the opulently dressed dinner guests. By the time Vogue editor-inchief Anna Wintour took over as chairwoman in 1995, such tickets cost $1,000. The price tag to attend has only skyrocketed since. In 2019, tickets cost $35,000 per person. Fashion houses and brands spend up to $300,000 on tables and invite guests — but Wintour gets the final say on the guest list. Wintour brought her revolutionary editorial sensibilities to the Institute and its Gala like Vreeland before her. In a time when celebrity magazine covers were taboo for respectable publications like Vogue, she took a risk and had celebrities and fashion models grace its cover. She treated the Gala’s guestlist likewise, blurring the line between celebrities and high society. Changes to the Gala in Wintour’s era do not end there. The event famous for occurring on the first Monday of May was traditionally held in December. Following the death of the Costume Institute’s curator Richard Martin in 1999, the Gala was moved to the spring, and it simply stuck. It was only delayed to the fall this year because of the pandemic. The Met Gala as a Pop Culture Phenomenon The mystique of the Met Gala has grown with the age of social media, captivating fashion lovers and pop culture enthusiasts of the internet. Although it is a fundraiser for The Met, the lavish party is almost solely for the public eye. Designers take the opportunity to showcase their best work, meaning that the biggest stars are wearing incredibly intricate, creative and often outrageous
outfits. This is the perfect recipe for internet virality. From Claire Danes’ glowing Zac Posen gown in 2016 to Jared Leto’s replica of his own head in 2019, the ridiculous extravagance of the world’s ultra famous has inspired mockery and awe alike, demonstrated by the memeification of photoshopping Rihanna’s Guo Pei robe into an omelet in 2015. The 2018 Gala, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion in the Catholic Imagination,” was the height of the online craze. It inspired a wave of posts of what people would have worn had they been among the select few invitees. The exhibit became The Met’s most successful to date, selling 1.3 million tickets and beating the previous record. Interest remains high with tens of thousands viewing the livestream of its comeback this year. The 2021 Met Gala The Met Gala on Sept. 13, marked the return of this extravagant event after cancellations due to the pandemic in both May 2020 and May 2021. This year’s Met Gala was cochaired by Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet, Grammy-award winning singer Billie Eilish, National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman and four-time Grand Slam singles tennis champion Naomi Osaka. The theme, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” was a call for national unity and pride amid the COVID-19 pandemic and everdeepening political rifts. Many attendees expressed apprehension about celebrating America. Some, like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, used the highly publicized event to make a political statement. Others chose to pay homage to iconic American eras, with plenty
of glittering Old Hollywoodinspired gowns and tuxedos, and sleek disco looks calling back to Cher and Diana Ross. Such an elite and expensive event is not without controversy. Nicki Minaj, a usual guest, was absent because she refused to comply with the Gala’s mandatory vaccine requirement. Additionally, protesters gathered outside The Met criticizing the opulence of the event during a time of great economic hardship and were violently suppressed by the NYPD while Vogue livestreamed the red carpet. Despite the unrest, the celebration and media fanfare went on. While not every attendee forked over $35,000 for a ticket to fashion’s most exclusive party, guests — like AOC — garnered criticism for attending because of the Gala’s grandeur. Yet there are some inclusive strides being made inside the white tent on the steps. This year’s Met Gala was attended by Quannah Chasinghorse, an Indigenous model and land protector, who saw that it was important to “represent and bring authentic and true American culture to this year’s theme.” Likewise, British racing legend Lewis Hamilton paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy a table and populate it with young Black designers, making space for them at an event whose red carpet is chiefly composed of old, white fashion houses. Perhaps in future years, the party that was once the highlight of the societal calendar will be a platform for highlighting the wide array of societal issues.
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER September 22, 2021
Arts & Culture
15
Who We Met and Missed at the 2021 Met Gala
In the crowd: a lexicon of glimpsing celebrity on the museum’s annual red carpet By MADELINE KATZ Arts & Culture Editor
A cowboy hat. Long grey capes. The back of Timothée Chalamet’s coiffed hair. These were the best you could hope to spot among the throngs of people gathered outside The Met on Sept. 13. The occasion, of course, was the opening of the Costume Institute’s exhibit, In America: A Lexicon of Fashion. With an American sensibility and dress code centered at the forefront of the night’s activities, some celebrities rose to the sartorial occasion while others seem to have lost the night’s theme in their inbox. As the first of a two part exhibition series, however, there is a chance for redemption next May in the second part of the series spotlighting American fashion. This also presents a second chance for Fordham students to catch a peek of the event and its starstudded guest list.
Some celebrities rose to the sartorial occasion while others seem to have lost the night’s theme in their inbox.
Despite some difficulties typical of bustling events of that nature, Maggie Butler, Fordham
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College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, made her way up to The Met for her Met Gala viewer debut. “So I think we might have done it wrong,” Butler said. “Even though I saw Timothée Chalamet from a distance, I couldn’t really make out anyone else that I saw and I had to look up who I saw after just based off of the outfit colors.”
The crowd she was a part of embraced her and others by offering the dual role of spectator and performer.
Still, she persevered in inching her way closer to the tent, the flame that drew celebrities in like moths. She positioned herself at East 84th St. and Fifth Avenue. This was a better spot, but in the process, she was separated from the group she came with. She wasn’t alone, however. The crowd she was a part of embraced her and others by embodying the dual role of spectator and performer. While their eyes were on the lookout for their favorite outfit of the night and the divine being filling its fabric folds, they could be viewed as a collective drawn together by the magnetic urgency of celebrity. For many spectators, the event becomes more of a matter of
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showing up and being in close proximity to their cinematic dreams and the major players rather than seeing every Gala attendee. It is an exercise in appreciating the atmosphere. Still, there is hope to spot a beloved star in real life. “I really wanted to see Dan Levy and I’m obsessed with Schitt’s Creek. I love his show so he was the person I wanted to see most,” Butler said. “And it was so disappointing because I was standing there, watching the whole time but then I saw someone next to me scrolling through Instagram and he was already in there.” There’s no sure-fire way to secure a coveted glimpse of your celeb crush but there are some things to do to give it your best shot. Butler advised showing up in the early afternoon and arriving with your group to avoid the struggle of finding your friends in a crowded space. If you’re looking for a perfectly posed photo with a neat descriptor beneath, you’re better off viewing the Gala online. But, if you’re up for the unexpected challenges and fun of navigating an event space and its surroundings, head uptown. Just remember, in the sage words of Butler, “Bring a pair of binoculars.”
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GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY JANINE BALTAZAR/THE OBSERVER
Fun & Games Editor Kreena Vora puzzles@fordhamobserver.com
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Crossword: Sip Into Fall 1
2
3
5
4
6
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10
9
14
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24 27
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48 52
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47
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BY KREENA VORA
Across 1. Smallest particle of matter 5. Coke alternative
10. Like a movie that does poorly at the box office 14. Ali and the 40 Thieves 15. Chips that could replace chocolate 16. The third one is electrocuted
September 22, 2021 THE OBSERVER
17. Actress Moriarty 18. Triangular one, famously 19. Kendrick or Faris 20. Pig language 22. See 27, 48 and 56 Across 24. Goal 26. Most sick 27. Year-round item at 22 Across suitable for a child 33. Hubbub, to Shakespeare 34. Untainted 35. Places to store grains 39. Lady’s husband, maybe 41. Uncle in Seville 42. First major U.S. environmental law (Abbr.) 43. People after whom a Great Lake is named 45. British colleges, for short 47. Dog’s least favorite person, maybe 48. Basic but delicious at 22 Across 52. Setting of a prison riot 55. Miner’s find 56. An Apple Crisp one is new to 22 Across 60. Lucifer 64. Aide and 65. Leaves to fail 67. An avatar of Hindu god Vishnu 68. Cobbler’s bottom
69. Broke up with, with it 70. Numbers used to add fractions, initially 71. Bought’s opposite 72. Like highlighter colors 73. What a chimney sweep cleans
Down 1. The first victim of murder 2. Scarlett O’Hara’s home 3. Piece in a sad section 4. Lunatic 5. Probability is often expressed as one (Abbr.) 6. Unit of corn 7. British for an idiot 8. 5 Across, for example 9. Mainly Spanish peninsula 10. Young woman in Dusseldorf 11. Weapon in a joust 12. Sounds heard in a sty 13. Chloro- suffix meaning particle of living matter 21. Medical research agency 23. Popular sandwich order acronym 25. Cleaning instrument 27. Soup chain and Hearty
28. Smell 29. Victoria in “Victorious” 30. Chop or slice 31. Question to a crossworder, perhaps: “pencil ?” (2 words) 32. Byzantine pope in 682 36. Jake Borelli in a hospital 37. Group including Congo, Ecuador and Iraq, among others 38. Satisfy, as with hunger 40. Shown 44. is life 46. Icy dessert in a cone 49. Word preceding voyage or name 50. Members of the Class of 2022, e.g. 51. Oyster’s treasure 52. Gather 53. Sex at Fordham, say 54. Immune system component 57. Best 58. list 59. It can be good or bad 61. Dinner on Tuesday 62. Secrets, to a blackmailer 63. Early American political cartoonist 66. Memory cards, for short
Ram Libs: Autumnal Woes It’s the first day of fall, the season of ,
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Sept. 23 — Oct. 22
On a scale of 1-10, rate your work-life balance. If it falls below a 5, use your better judgment; scale back on work and you’ll come out triumphant.
Scorpio
of the fire alarm go off, and
Oct. 23 — Nov. 21
Don’t let your rush to catch the Leon Lowenstein Center elevators turn you into a prick. It’s much better to take the stairs than to be regarded as a lunatic.
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Maybe summer is better than fall. BY KREENA VORA PAGE DESIGN BY JILL RICE
Horoscopes
Aug. 23 — Sept. 22
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By IRENE HAO and KREENA uting Writer and Fun & VORA Contrib Gam es E dit or
Capricorn
Dec. 22 — Jan. 19
Doubting that you’re the GOAT? Don’t be a silly billy, baaaaalieve in your own hooves.
Aquarius
Jan. 20 — Feb. 18
The storm is over, for now. But the consequences of the flood are still yours to bear. Don’t forget to hydrate as you carry their weight.
Pisces
April 20 — May 20
You’ll find yourself on a wild ride this week, Taurus. Hopefully, it won’t be as tumultuous as one on an actual bull, but you never know, especially if you’re sitting in the back of a Ram Van.
Gemini
May 21 — June 20
Your twin XL bed might be feeling lonely as the weather changes, but don’t lose hope — someone to share it with is just around the corner.
Feb. 19 — March 20
The new school year has just begun, and you may feel like you’re swimming against the tide. But don’t worry, you’ll soon find a home with your school — whether that’s fish, friends or at a college at Fordham Lincoln Center.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 — Dec. 21 Aries Feeling indecisive? Centaur yourself before making a choice, and if all else fails, you can’t go wrong with picking half and half.
Taurus
March 21 — April 19
Watch out for Rams this week — you never know when an extra burst of school spirit might hit you ... Or you might just get impaled by their horns.
Cancer
June 21 — July 22
You might be feeling crabby this week. Fear not, a pinch of pumpkin spice and a whiff of sea breeze will cure your September blues before you know it.
Leo
July 23 — Aug. 22
Your roars may seem more like yawns these days, but with a power vacuum left by Father McShane’s announcement, get ready to step up and feel like a king again.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER