The Fordham Ram Volume 107, Issue 10
TheFordhamRam.com
April 23, 2025
McGinley Chair Gives Inaugural Lecture
Regina Hall Announced as Commencement Speaker
By HAILEY BAKER
By EMMA LEONARDI EXEC COPY EDITOR
STAFF WRITER
Fordham University welcomed Father Thomas Massaro, S.J., to the Laurence J. McGinley Chair in Religion and Society position through an installation ceremony at Keating Hall on Wednesday, April 9. Massaro gave an inaugural lecture titled “American Exceptionalism: Catholic Perspectives on a Troublesome Notion.” The lecture explored the concept of American exceptionalism, which the Encyclopedia Britannica defines as the “idea that the United States of America is a unique and even morally superior country for historical, ideological, or religious reasons.” In a time when many Americans continuously debate American values and identity, American exceptionalism is on many scholars’ minds. Massaro, a Jesuit priest and scholar of Catholic social teaching, offered a religiously grounded approach to the topic. Jesuits — members of the Society of Jesus — SEE MCGINLEY, PAGE 5
MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM
Asif Siddiqi recieved funding through the National Endowment for the Humanities before DOGE cuts.
Fordham Professor Has NEH Funding Revoked by Federal Government By SIENNA REINDERS ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Asif Siddiqi, a Fordham University professor, had his research funding revoked by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). This action comes amid the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) attempt to cancel hundreds of research grants across several federal agencies, including
the NEH, National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Health (NIH) and more. Since April 8, DOGE has canceled over 1,400 NEH grants totaling over $427 million, according to a database by The Association for Computers and the Humanities. Now, Siddiqi, professor of history at Fordham, has been affected by these cancellations.
Siddiqi was awarded a $60,000 grant by the NEH in mid-December to fund a project on the negative impacts of space exploration on the environment and local communities. He said the funding would allow him to take a sabbatical from Fordham next year, during which he would travel to Asia and Africa to conduct further SEE NEH, PAGE 5
Fordham Hosts Second Humanities Fest By STUART CREMER
ASST. OPINION EDITOR
though, as a spokesman for those who were forgotten and almost invisible.” Francis was the first pope to take the papal name of St. Francis of Assisi, a pious friar who founded the Franciscan order. This dedication to piety meant he rejected most of the traditional
The Fordham Humanities Consortium put on their second Humanities Fest, a series of events designed to give humanities students an opportunity to present their work to their fellow students on April 10. Nathan Lincoln-DeCusatis, an associate professor of music and faculty director of humanities initiatives, said the goal was to “spotlight the humanities at Fordham through our student humanities scholars and mix in visual and performing arts.” Lincoln-DeCusatis said the Fordham Humanities Consortium hopes to host three Humanities Fests per semester going forward. Each event will feature three student speakers: one humanities
SEE POPE, PAGE 4
SEE HOSTS, PAGE 4
FORDHAM NOW FOR THE FORDHAM RAM
President Tetlow and members of the board of trustees visited Rome last summer.
Fordham Community Reacts to the Death of Pope Francis By NORA MALONE NEWS EDITOR
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, died at age 88 on April 21. Francis served as Pope for 12 years and was the first Latin American Roman Catholic pontiff. Known for his progressive policies and frugal living,
Francis changed the idea of what a pope could be after the resignation of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. “Any Pope is a world figure as well as a religious leader,” said Philip Judge S.J., executive director of Campus Ministry. “Francis singularly captured the imagination,
Actress and producer Regina Hall, FCRH ’92, is set to deliver the commencement address to the Fordham University Class of 2025 on May 17 and will receive an honorary doctorate of fine arts at the ceremony. Hall attended Fordham University from 1988 to 1992, and according to University Spokesperson Bob Howe, Hall “wasn’t a drama student in college.” Instead, she spent her time at Fordham studying English, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts during her own commencement ceremony on Edwards Parade on a rainy Saturday. John Brademas, Ph.D., former congressman and president emeritus of New York University, delivered the commencement address during the ceremony Hall attended on May 16, 1992, just one day under 33 years before Hall would appear on the same lawn to deliver her own. Coincidentally, Hall went on to study journalism at New York University and was completing her first semester when her father died. She credits this tragedy for sparking her interest in pursuing acting. “I realized how brief it can be and how suddenly it can change,” Hall shared in an interview with People. “The thing about feeling broken is that it forces you to be open — you feel like you don’t have much so you don’t overthink everything.” Despite knowing her path had changed, Hall finished SEE HALL, PAGE 5
in this issue
Opinion Page 10 Community Gardens are the Backbone of Our Boroughs
Culture
Page 11
An Enchanting Night at the Ballet: Fordham Jetes Edition
Sports
Page 17
Fordham Men’s Basketball Penalized in Major Infractions Case