Honors Students Win Creative Writing Prizes

On April 28, two Honors students were awarded the Ully Hirsch/Robert F. Nettleton Poetry Prizes by Fordham’s Creative Writing Department.

Wallis Monday, a third-year student at Lincoln Center, received the prize for her poetry collection entitled “Lonesome Years in the West”.

Samantha Norman, a first-year student at Lincoln Center, received the prize for her poetry collection entitled “New West”.

Congratulations to both students, and we hope for further developments in their literary careers.

Review: “Obama’s Crackdown”

Source article: HuffPost

Gunar Olsen’s recent article on American whistleblowers describes a stark contrast between high-ranking officials and “low-level employees” when they are charged with leaking classified information.

While figures like Chelsea Manning and John Kiriakou are shackled to heavy prison sentences, former CIA director David Petraeus will likely face only probation and fines. Petraeus’s actions are also more likely to be glossed over than the publicity surrounding, for example, Edward Snowden.

On one hand, whistleblowers have tried to “reveal government corruption, abuse, and wrongdoing” and have been faced with severe consequences. On the other, Petraeus’s plea deal reveals a double standard in Washington.

Gunar Olsen is currently a sophomore in the Honors Program at Lincoln Center. You can read his full article, “Obama’s Crackdown on Whistleblowers: Petraeus Plea Deal Reveals Double Standard for Leaks”, here.

Reflections: On Kawara – Silence

By Adam Fales, FCLC ’17

I took a break from the retrospective On Kawara—Silence to buy a few postcards for friends and family at the gift shop near the top of the Guggenheim’s famous rotunda. As the cashier rang up various pictures of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed museum’s exterior, I asked him how his day had been. “Just another Sunday at the Guggenheim” was his response.

It is this passive attitude towards time that I think Kawara’s work simultaneously abhors and upholds as necessary to our human experience. The contradiction between the active and passive times in life haunts the entire retrospective. Continue reading Reflections: On Kawara – Silence

Walking the Walk and Talking the Talk

By James Berrigan, FCLC ’18

This post was written to reflect upon and promote the service learning seminar at Fordham University.

Doing a good deed is a reward within itself, but why is that? When Father McShane speaks about being “men and women for others,” what does it mean to be a responsible member of Fordham’s community? Yes, service and learning are good things in themselves, but in isolation they miss the bigger picture. As a Jesuit university, Fordham strives to build graduates who “go out and set the world on fire,” but how can they do so? One simple way is to participate in a service learning seminar. Continue reading Walking the Walk and Talking the Talk

The Resident Comic: Chandler Dean

By Sunny Kim, FCLC ’18

At first glance, he reminds you of an Amish computer programmer. It turns out he feels similarly:

Meet Mr. Chandler Dean, the Houston native that took the Fordham comedy scene by storm. I first saw him perform at First-Year Orientation in September 2014, bringing the audience to tears and aching stomachs during a standup routine at the Orientation talent showcase. Tough luck for whoever has to follow that, I thought. Then they called me onto the stage. Continue reading The Resident Comic: Chandler Dean