“When Charity GO!es Wrong” by Sean Franklin
“Students who are interested in serving others. They could volunteer with homegrown organizations like FDM or venture out further into the Bronx with organizations like the Bronx Volunteer Coalition. There are plenty of opportunities right here at home that will do far more good than a GO! trip ever will.
Campus Ministry, for their part, should either fully finance GO! trips or leave the cost up to the students alone.”
In this article: Sean Franklin discussed the ethical problems of Fordham’s Global Outreach program. His article was well-received on campus and helped push for changes to the system. The piece also drew an opposing article by Eric Stolar, FCRH ’19, who was involved in the Global Outreach program.
Sean Franklin, FCRH ’21, is an urban studies and economics major from Alexandria, Virginia. His articles usually focus on local policy issues, New York City and events on campus.
“Misleading the Flock: The Murray-Weigel Fiasco” by Gregory Hopp
“Perhaps the province ought to look more to Church teaching for guidance. Catholics are taught growing up that in Confession, if one remembers certain sins but chooses not to confess them with the others, their sins are not forgiven. The province has not shown the Fordham community the openness which doctrine demands but has instead continued the toxic pattern of corporate tribalism visible in the church today. The church has instituted reform after reform to deal with the sex abuse crisis, and many of these reforms have been effective. But how can the soul of the church heal if our institutions practice continual secrecy and cannot place their trust in the lay people whom they are called to serve?”
In this article: Gregory Hopp, who is active in campus ministry, discussed his point of view on some of the recent controversies surrounding clerical abuse. His article is a great example of how members of the Fordham community who do not regularly write for The Ram can use the outlet to contribute to discussions on campus. Articles from new writers can provide great insight into issues on campus.
Gregory Hopp, FCRH ’21, is a Middle East studies major from State College, Pennsylvania. His article was written in reaction to The Ram’s breaking of clerical abuse and its relation to Fordham University last semester.
“Never Too Old for Young Adult Fiction” by Jessica Cozzi
“The fact of the matter is that nobody else has the right to be a gatekeeper on literature, no matter what our personal opinions on the subject may be… The best part of the book world is that everyone has a multitude of options to choose from — and nobody has the right to stand on a pedestal and lessen others’ intelligence or maturity because of it.”
In this article: Jessica Cozzi discussed her love of young adult fiction and the problems with much of the criticism of young adult fiction, particularly from those dismiss the genre as “childish.” The article discussed the need for readers to be open to all literary genres.
Jessica Cozzi, FCRH ’20, is an English major from Long Island, New York. Her article was a response to a From The Desk piece by Vanessa DeJesus.
“Debunking Fordham’s Class Sizes” by Nicholas Zaromatidis
“The type of classroom can heavily impact a student’s ability to learn; whether it be through the distribution of desks, the size of the overall classroom or the technology that the classroom is equipped with. The room should accommodate different styles of teaching and learning. Obviously, a math or economics class would not work well with a seminar table, but most English classes would greatly benefit from this assignment.
Professors must advocate for their particular classrooms strongly and those at the university in charge of classroom sizes should take time to evaluate class size and style when selecting classrooms.”
In this article: Nicholas Zaromatidis detailed how the size of classrooms can impact the ability of students to learn. He argued for more consideration of class size by Fordham’s administration.
Nicholas Zaromatidis, GSB ’21, is an applied accounting and finance major from Franklin Square, New York. His other articles usually focus on political issues.
“Defend the Kurds” by Timothy Kyle
“Though it is unlikely with President Trump’s newly isolationist policy towards the Syrian conflict, keeping US Special Forces embedded in Kurdish militias would also serve as an effective deterrent. Encouraging talks between the Kurds and the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad for mutual protection and assistance might be another path moving forward.
As the United States puts in more concrete plans to withdraw from Syria, it is important we continue to protect our local partners and those who have fought with us. We cannot simply desert the Kurds because our priorities have shifted. America has a long history of hanging regional allies out to dry once their assistance is no longer necessary. If we persist in this trend in Syria, we abandon the Kurds of Rojava to instability, war and death.”
In this article: Timothy Kyle discussed the urgent need for the United States to defend the Kurds abroad. Although the Kurds have been a constant ally of the United States, the Middle-Eastern ethnic group lacks its own country and is facing discrimination from the Iraqi, Syrian, Iranian and Turkish governments. The Syrian Civil War pushed the Kurds of Syria to create their own government in Rojava.
Timothy Kyle, FCRH ’21, is a history and political science major from West Hartford, Connecticut. He regularly writes on foreign policy and politics.
“After Seventeen Years, It’s Time to Leave Afghanistan” by Dane Salmon
“This is no grand crusade against evil as in the Second World War, a struggle for the rights of man as in the Civil War nor the birth pangs of a great nation as in the Revolution.
We are on a misguided, vaguely-defined, profit-driven mission into barren corners of the earth with no end in sight.”
In this article: Dane Salmon argued that the United States ought to withdraw from the War in Afghanistan. The conflict has devolved into the longest war in American History and shows no signs of ending anytime soon.
Dane Salmon, FCRH ’21, is an economics and philosophy major from Coppell, Texas. He often writes on political and economic issues.
