The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center

The Observer

The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center

The Observer

The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center

The Observer

RACHEL SHMULEVICH, Opinions Editor Emerita

All content by RACHEL SHMULEVICH
John Brennan (FCRH ‘77) has defended torture and human rights’ abuses. (Pete Marovich via TNS)

Fordham: Are We Passive Towards Torture?

April 29, 2015
Fordham University’s current conflict regarding the honorary degree of CIA Director John O. Brennan is not unique.
(Photo Courtesy of Rachel Shmulevich/The Observer)

My Eastern European-Jewish Experience

April 15, 2015
When Russian Jewish immigrants came to the United States following the fall of the Soviet Union, many were able to receive asylum rather quickly and easily (at least compared to how the U.S. asylum process generally works).
Courtesy of Paul Moseley/FortWorth Star-Telegram via TNS

Is it Dangerous to Make Films Relevant to Current Events?

March 11, 2015
There’s a huge difference between “Selma” and “American Sniper,” and part of that has to do with time.
(Courtesy of Scott Vincent/Flickr)

Free Community Colleges: The Push For-Profits Need

January 28, 2015
On Jan. 19, President Barack Obama announced America’s College Promise plan: a proposal to make the first two years of community colleges across the United States free for eligible students and institutions.
Barnes & Noble shoppers contemplate whether to buy their books in print or to invest in an e-reader. (Lauren Macdonald/The Observer)

Point: Print Books Over E-Books

October 22, 2014
There’s a reason we overwhelmingly prefer print books to their electronic counterparts—simply put, it is much easier to make them, get them and use them.
No Deportation Without Immigration Reform

No Deportation Without Immigration Reform

September 25, 2014
I’ll always be an advocate of legal immigration, but in the midst of our country’s current immigration crisis, the legal channels we have in place simply aren’t going to cut it.

The Media’s Representation of Israel Leaves Much To Be Desired

September 20, 2014
There is no problem with taking a stance on an issue. But there is a problem when it’s based on lies and omissions.
Mary Higgins Clark (left) speaks to Professor of English Mary Bly’s Publishing Theory and Practice class on April 29. She spoke about her career, the writing industry and her new book

Mary Higgins Clark Visits Fordham

May 2, 2014
On Tuesday, April 29, 2014, Mary Higgins Clark, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’79, spoke to students in Professor of English Mary Bly’s Publishing: Theory and Practice class. Clark led a discussion on her works as a whole as well as signing copies of her 1975 best-seller “Where Are The Children?”
Kamrun Nesa/The Observer

2014 Reid Writer Poets Hold Panel Discussion

April 24, 2014
Award-winning poets Vievee Francis and Tracy K. Smith read excerpts from and signed copies of their books of poetry at Fordham University.
Jessica Hanley/The Observer

We Must Remove Desexualization From Equality

April 16, 2014
Gender equality is a battle which it seems we’ll always be fighting—or at least for many years to come—and with every step forward, there’s almost as many opponents pushing us back.
(Brian Peterson/Minneapolis Star Tribune via MCT)

Televising Pistorius Trial Sets a Good Precedent

March 2, 2014
A televised Pistorius trial would force not only the courts to treat celebrities like any other citizen, but would also push the public towards realizing that their favorites actors, musicians and personalities have to be held accountable for their actions.
Courtesy MBR via MCT

Rowling’s Harry Potter Announcement Was Unneeded

February 17, 2014
Rowling’s announcement and fixation on which character Hermione should end up with has placed her series in the category of the superficial and cliché YA romances which have seemingly dominated the genre over time.
Anthony Souffle/Chicago Tribune/MCT

Obama Can Survive Marijuana Legalization

February 12, 2014
The key for Obama to pass a bill legalizing marijuana and to escape without a huge hit to his approval ratings is for him to focus on hard-hitting issues.
Jessica Hanley/The Observer

The U.S. Must Address Its Education Problem

January 30, 2014
As technology and business practices continue to grow more and more advanced over time, we need our students to grow at the same rate.
Sarah Howard/The Observer

Blogs Are Not On the Verge of Becoming Irrelevant

November 20, 2013
Even when compared to Twitter—a social media site with a much larger network than Tumblr—it is clear that Tumblr is still holding its own.
Lina Skoldmor via Flickr

Russian Riots Show Us That Racism is Still a Problem

November 2, 2013
We hear about problems of race all the time—whether in our own country or abroad—but for the most part, we feel that we are far removed from the influence of such backward thinking.
Pete Souza/Official White House Photo/MCT

Ads Against Obamacare Go Too Far

October 2, 2013
These ads try to sway young people from signing up for government health care programs, even though for many graduating college students who are still unemployed or working part time, it may be the only option.
(Tyler Martins/The Observer)

Most Promising Education Policies: Lhota or de Blasio?

September 23, 2013
It’s high time that NYC experiences something different—or rather, someone different—than it has in the years past.
The Ram Café failed to improve the quality of their food, despite an extensive makeover of the cafeteria itself. (Ian McKenna/The Observer)

Fordham Made Poor Decision in Renewing Sodexo

September 9, 2013
On May 15, Fordham announced that they would be keeping Sodexo as their primary food provider for the next 10 years—a decision that shocked a lot of students.
A New York Knicks and Boston Celtics fan hold up a sign on Saturday, April 20, 2013, to pay tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon. The Boston Celtics faced the New York Knicks in the NBAs Eastern Conference playoffs in New York, New York. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald/MCT)

The Boston Marathon Bombings Cannot Become Politicized

April 22, 2013
It’s hard to think of the Boston bombings as domestic, but that’s exactly what they are.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions uses a holistic approach when reviewing prospective students applications. (OBSERVER ARCHIVES)

College Admissions: A Numbers Game

April 18, 2013
This time last year, I was juggling about nine of those fat envelopes from schools that had accepted me, frantically trying to decide which college would be the one at which I would spend the next four years of my life.
Despite evidence against Oscar Pistorius, a paralympic record-setting sprinter,

Oscar Pistorius Doing the Crime, Not the Time

March 4, 2013
We treat celebrities differently, and while this may be okay in our day to day lives, it cannot hold true in the courts.
(Courtesy of Phil Skinner/MCT)

Are We Becoming Too Digitized?

December 12, 2012
While texting is much easier and faster than calling—especially when you’re in a rush (and everyone is always in a rush)—we seem to have crossed the line separating “useful” and “obsessive.”
Elusive Fordham celebrities can make students question whether or not they are actually alumni.  (Photo Illustration by Tavy Wu/The Observer)

Now You See Them, Now You Don’t

November 14, 2012
Either Fordham’s top story on Denzel Washington’s visit to FCLC (and all the Facebook updates that came with it) was just a cleverly constructed ruse or I just have a natural talent for avoiding the rich and famous.

Will New “Low-Profit” College Model Be More Beneficial to Students?

November 6, 2012
Point-Counterpoint: How effective can "low-profit" colleges be?
Despite the notable accomplishments Obama has had while occupying the White House, many US citizens are left feeling empty at the end of his term. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

Obama Out of Office: The Change We Really Need

October 17, 2012
When Obama was elected, it was a huge step for our country.

Students Need Better Financial Advising from Fordham

September 19, 2012
The cost of education is growing exponentially. So called “free” schools, institutions that give out full-tuition scholarships to all their students, are quickly disappearing.
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