Volume 97 issue 1

The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 Volume 97, Issue 1

FordhamRam.com F dh R

JJanuary 21 21, 2015

USG Releases USG Mid-Year Report By MAX PRINZ STAFF WRITER

CASEY CHUN/THE FORDHAM RAM

While students were on break, tensions flared in the city following Mayor de Blasio’s perceived anti-police remarks.

Students Return to Charged City After Rift Between Mayor, NYPD By JOE VITALE EDITOR IN CHIEF

Following the decision of a Staten Island grand jury not to indict an NYPD officer in connection with the death of Eric Garner during an arrest for selling untaxed cigarettes, New York City experienced several weeks of events that some say revealed its deepest disparities. In response to the decision not to indict the officer, thousands filled the streets and public parks of New York City. Some participated in die-ins (including Fordham students in December), while some remained faithful in the judicial system’s ruling. Speaking at a news conference about the decision, Mayor de Blasio invoked his son, Dante, whom he instructed to take special care during encounters with the police. The comment struck a nerve with police officers. Tensions flared even higher when two onduty officers were killed while sitting in their patrol car in Brooklyn. SEE POLICE, PAGE 6

The United Student Government (USG) released its mid-year report on Friday, showcasing the results of its various initiatives and resolutions passed in the first half of the 2014-2015 academic year. The report, presented by Nevin Kulangara, GSB ‘15, executive president, and Sarah Skrobala, FCRH ’15, executive vice president, outlines the group’s efforts regarding a number of initiatives, including its Sexual Misconduct Task Force. It also attempts to allay student concern about a lack of fitness equipment and introduces various efforts to increase sustainability on Fordham’s campus. “We are delighted to present our results thus far to you in this report,” Kulangara and Skrobala state in an opening letter. “While we have much work to do in the coming months, USG has been using its resources to address the concerns of the student body in a number of different ways.” The 18-page document also re-

Art of the Bucket List, According to Fr. Phil By ERIN SHANAHAN ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

“I’m giving a bucket list promoting good living as a Fordham student and a student of Catholic and Jesuit Education,” Rev. Philip A. Florio, S.J., assistant vice president of Mission and Ministry, said on Tuesday, Jan. 20. It was the day he was scheduled to deliver his “Fordham Bucket List,” an event that took place in Keating 1st Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Florio continued, asserting that his Bucket List was not your average checklist. Father Phil has been a Jesuit for 13 years and a priest for 33. He began his work at the University of Scranton, Saint Joseph’s University and the University of Pennsylvania prior to beginning working here at Rose Hill in 2010. Before being promoted to assistant vice president of Mission and Ministry, Florio worked as director of Campus Ministry

veals the year’s budget allocations and club approvals. A focal point of the review is the progress made by the Sexual Misconduct Task Force over the fall semester. The task force, co-chaired by Caroline Corwin, FCRH ’15, of Women’s Empowerment and Nicholas Sawicki, FCRH ’16, vice president of FCRH, put on several programs, including a speak-out and a question-and-answer session regarding the training of Campus Security Authorities on the judicial procedures and precautions taken in cases of sexual assault. Along with addressing concerns about access to additional fitness space, Kulangara and Skrobala provide an update on USG’s initiatives to address a variety of student interests, including surveillance of off-campus housing, the university’s smoking policy and a lack of water bottle refill stations on campus. The assessment also emphasizes the student organization’s efforts to SEE USG, PAGE 3

Ram Appoints New Editors, Expands Staff By THE FORDHAM RAM

CASEY CHUN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fr. Phil’s bucket list is more than a list. It can be “a good way of living,” he said.

during his first year at Fordham. As assistant vice president of Mission and Ministry, Florio oversees the religious activities presented by the Rose Hill, Lincoln Center and Westchester campuses.

In March 2014, CAB sponsored Rev. Joeseph M. McShane S.J., president of the university, to share his Fordham Bucket List with the student body. His list included points SEE BUCKET, PAGE 2

The Fordham Ram has named Joe Vitale and Katie Meyer, both FCRH ’16, as editor-in-chief and managing editor, respectively. Laura Sanicola, FCRH ’17, has been named News editor, Margerita Artoglou, FCRH ’18 has been named Opinion editor and Anthony Pucik, FCRH ’16, has been named Sports editor. Amanda Giglio, FCRH ’17, has been promoted from assistant editor to Culture editor, which she will co-edit with Nicole Horton, FCRH ’16. The Fordham Ram has also expanded its photography staff to three members and added three staff members to increase its online presence. In addition, The Fordham Ram has named Robert Frerich, FCRH ’16 as Copy Chief and Sydney Keen, FCRH ’17, as Assistant Copy Chief. See page 12 to meet the rest of the Vol. 97 staff.

in this issue

Opinion page 7 The Argument for Net Neutrality Culture

page 18 Race, Gender Roles Misrepresented in Movies

Sports

page 20 Fordham Track Remembers Michael Walsh

Students Wager Working Without Wages By LAURA SANICOLA NEWS EDITOR

It’s a Friday evening when Elena Meuse, FCRH ’16, steps off the Metro North platform and makes her way back to her Walsh apartment. Her week ends after completing a 16-credit workload and 16 additional hours interning at

Random House Children's Books in Manhattan. Presently, however, the English and communications major, hoping to break into the publishing field, walks away with something other than the valuable work experience coveted by thousands of other college-aged interns: a paycheck. “It got very exhausting having

to balance interning with both class and a job because my internship was costing money,” Meuse said in reference to the unpaid internship she held last year. “Since my current internship is paid, I am able to cut back my work-study hours so I have more time for school work. Last semester I just didn't sleep.”

Internships are widely regarded as a rite of passage among the 20-something pre-professionals of the United States, and Fordham University boasts that on average, 91 percent of Gabelli School students alone hold at least one internship during their college careers. SEE INTERNSHIPS, PAGE 6