Your Choice: Hard Decision 2008

What about a candidate is important to us? We cannot let the major news stations decide for us. We cannot not let base psychological appeal decide for us. We should not even let our parents decide for us. But considering these three things are the primary ways of consciously or unconsciously creating an opinion about one candidate or another, how do we get away from them in the first place?

The only way I know how to do so is to strip away all the “noise” surrounding me and get down to brass tacks: what do I want to get from the future president's actions for myself? What do I want this president to do for others? This is a question you must ask yourself: though they will try, no media source can answer this one for you.

Secondly, how to do we assess a candidate's probability of actually doing these things? We do not have much to go by considering almost every piece of information we receive is strategic propaganda. This includes all major candidates: Clinton, McCain, and Obama. As New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd commented, “Voters try to figure out who they trust to have life-and-death power over them, but there’s so much theatricality and artifice in campaigns you can get a false impression of who someone is.”

Please do not believe for a moment that you can choose a candidate based on their trustworthiness, because any politician that looks more trustworthy than the other is just a much better liar. Opponents of Bill Clinton called him “Slick Willy” for a reason. Or if you are thinking about giving your vote to whomever you fancy most, we need to have a talk about how you got into Fordham.

We could try voting for someone based on the issues they claim to care about, but history has shown us that presidents often go an entirely different way once in office (even Lincoln, who initially stood up for state's rights “to order and control its own domestic institutions according to its own judgment exclusively,” interfered with the issue of slavery on a federal level through the Civil War). In addition, all candidates have flip flopped on many of the issues important to voters, including Barack Obama, who voted for bills supporting the Iraq War such as the “Military Funding and Tax Cuts Amendment” in 2006.

We could attempt to choose a candidate based on party politics and the people that would surround them once he or she were in office (after all, it takes a village to make a presidency), but this method still amounts to quite a bit of guesswork: George W. Bush's first campaign in 2000 was funded by many fiscal conservatives that believed his term would echo his father's. Instead, W. increased non-military government spending at twice the speed of his predecessor.

Perhaps those with the most experience should be given preference. After all, politicians that have been in the media's radar screen for a while are known quantities. This process would lead a voter to one of two candidates: Hillary Clinton or John McCain. However, please consider the idea that all this experience has let these candidates become jaded and totally without the refreshing vision that Obama so glibly offers.

For purposes of efficiency, we could flip a coin, but that deprives us of our future right to complain about the president, since the method is probably just as productive as not voting at all.

I don't have all the answers (just yet). So I leave this question to you, dear Dímelo readers. We have some time to think about this – until November, really, since none of your absentee ballots being submitted in March will actually be counted (except for you, Ohio...stupid swing state...).

For the next issue, email us at dimelo_publication@yahoo.com and explain to us what your criteria is for choosing a candidate. We don't particularly care if you are voting for McCain, Obama, or Clinton right now, just how you came about (or are about to arrive at) your decision.

When times are hard and the wallet is soft, there are ways to escape the boredom on a limited budget.

When times are hard and the wallet is soft, there are ways to escape the boredom on a limited budget.
By: Jason Montoya

Dormitory life or off-campus housing = $
Car payments or transportation = $$
Tuition, books, lab fees, equipment, supplies, snacks, drinks, personal bills, social and recreation expenses- such as movies and other social events- or personal expenses like toiletries, haircuts, laundry and clothing, groceries, restaurant meals = $$$$$$



When times are hard and the wallet is soft, there are ways to escape the boredom on a limited budget.



It is not only a fact, but a hard-faced reality that New York, besides from being one of the most intriguing places one can come across, also takes a substantial monetary stand for a person to get by. The average college student not only has to worry about surviving through limited budgets that their overpriced education results in, but they also have to find ways to bring some leisure without causing a heavier burden on their wallets.


If people don’t learn from advice, then personal experience will become even more influential than any professor at any college. Unless a student has no financial troubles, overspending, especially at the most inconvenient times will likely create severe frustration and embarrassment. Obviously, quick solutions to money problems can include calling parents for money or borrowing from a friend, or even anxiously waiting for your puny student-employment paycheck to come in the mail; but what will happen to life until then? As we all know, money makes the world move, but when one’s bank account is frozen, how does a person manage to live in the world? Part of the solution is to create a budget that realistically takes into consideration the cash flow of an individual.


A student budget should also be one that adapts to changing circumstances of college life. Once a student has designed a realistic plan for spending, he or she will know how to go about spending his or her limited financial resources. To help alleviate the burden of financial limitations, Dímelo’s staff has compiled some ideas of cool places one can go to with friends, when the wallet is not necessarily on fire.



The Bronx Zoo:The Bronx Zoo is open every day of the year!!! From 10 am to 5 pm on weekdays, and from 10am to 5:30pm on weekends and special holidays. To get to the Bronx Zoo, you can take the #2 or #5 train to East Tremont Ave/West Farms Square. Then, walk straight ahead following the train uptown for almost two blocks to the Zoo’s Asia gate entrance to be admitted. Normal Costs: the average adult would pay $14.00 and there is a special offer called the pay-one-price pass (POP) that will cost an additional $11.00, which will allow you to ride a few special rides. However, one can also take advantage of Wednesdays, when the admission is a pay-what-you-wish donation. The zoo suggests a donation of $14 for adults, but being college students with economic hardships it is okay to get away with giving a couple of dollars to support the work of the zoo. Suggestion: It is preferable to use public transportation like the trains as parking can cost up to $10.00 per visit.



MoMA (Museum of Modern Art): Adults have to pay $20, while students pay a reduced admission of $12. This is a great reminder for you to take your student I.D, in spite of how possible hideous the picture could be. The cheapest way to get in, however, is not to take your student I.D., but to take advantage of the Friday specials. Admission is actually free for all visitors during Target Free Friday Nights, which are sponsored by Target. Every Friday evening, from 4:00pm to 8:00 p.m., tickets are given by Target; however, these tickets are not available in advance, so if you want to ensure your ticket, you should anticipate people in your same circumstances trying to get these tickets as well. The museum is open everyday from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm and on Fridays, it is open until 8:00 pm.
Subway directions: take the E or V to Fifth Avenue/53 Street or B, D, F trains to 47-50 Streets/Rockefeller Center.



The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Located on Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street, the museum has a rather tricky schedule. It is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 9:30 to 5:30 pm. However, the guards will begin to remind the visitors that the galleries will close, in advance. On Fridays and Saturdays the museum remains open from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm. It is recommended that you take the 6 train to 86th street, unless you don’t mind the extensive yet pleasantly appealing walk across Central park. There are suggested admission costs that help sustain the museum ranging from less than $10 (with student I.D) to $20.



Brooklyn Botanical Garden: This is perhaps one of the most budget-friendly-curiosity-based trips. This trip also allows the opportunity for people to appreciate what the botanical community has to offer New Yorkers. Adult visitors would be requested to pay $8 and students with ID get their price reduced to $4. On Tuesdays, admission is free of cost as it is be on Saturdays for a limited visit of two hours from 10am to Noon.
Subway directions: Take the #3 train to Eastern Parkway.


Manhattan Mall:The Manhattan Mall is a local and not as easy place to catch, because it is indoors. The mall is located at 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue near Macy's. The mall offers a fluid variety of stores made to cater a community of people wanting to look nice and trendy at very reasonable prices. Stores like Charlotte Russe and Strawberry guarantee an access to an updated wardrobe that won’t pull the purse strings. If the multitude of stores does not seem enough to satisfy your tastes, then outside of the mall, at reasonable walking distances, there are many other cool places like H&M, Forever 21, Victoria’s Secret and others. For food there are some occasional fast food places within the mall like Starbucks and McDonald’s and the occasional ethnic restaurant that can be found inside or outside the mall. In general, anywhere beneath midtown, like the East and West Villages and Chelsea offer the possibility of making it through the day with a decent budget.




Theater Shows:
It is hard to conceive that shows are actually accessible to students, but there are ways of getting around and experiencing these shows without having to pay the full price. Here are two suggestions:
1. TKTS (pronounced "Tee-Kay Tee-Ess" not "tickets") allows people to purchase Broadway tickets at a discount rate. There are two booths: one in Duffy Square (near Times Square) and the other by the South Street Seaport in Lower Manhattan. However, these booths sell their tickets almost always on the day of the performances, so one must anticipate possible traffic congestion and time constraints that could make getting these tickets difficult.
2. Rush tickets: These tickets are sold on the morning of the scheduled performance, which is why it is imperative for a person to get to the lines of the ticket booths at least a couple of hours before the show opens just to ensure her or his ticket. Tickets can run as cheap as $20, which is practically a bargain compared to the original price. For off-Broadway shows, however, one might be lucky enough to get tickets without having to go through so much trouble.

Union Square: Offers stores and costs that range depending on where one goes. If one is willing to go on without spending money, then window shopping would be an ideal activity here as there is an eclectic selection of places and stores to get to know.

Times Square: It is not so much the ideal place to shop money-wise, but it certainly offers a variety of stores for the curious eye.

Central Park: Every year the Park offers a wide variety of theatrical performances brought by Shakespeare in the Park. There are also several artistic showcases which satisfy the diverse tastes of people that visit the park.

Chinatown: Offers little shops and tasteful restaurants that are near Canal Street. Also, it offers a different environment that isn’t as extravagant in comparison to Lincoln Center.

Other Tips: Walking along 5th Avenue, and Greenwich Village, or anywhere in NYC should be something to enjoy and experience. After all, this is apparently one of the most exciting places in the world, so at the corner of any place there should be something to look at.

How NOT to Scare Classmates Away: The “Donts” of Making New Friends

How NOT to Scare Classmates Away: The “Donts” of Making New Friends
By: Carlene Morillo

Many people decide to attend college, not only in pursuit of higher education, but also to meet new and interesting people. Four years –some may even have to stay for five –of college can be very painful without having friends to make memories with. I know that friendship is a concern for many new incoming students, and even some retuning students. The classic answer to making friends in college is to join clubs. But what do you do next? Or more importantly, what do you NOT DO so you do not scare away potential friends?

When meeting people for the first time make sure to try and not get too personal. No one wants to know about how many times you used the bathroom in the past hour or how bad your armpits smell, within the first minutes of meeting you, or ever for that matter. Try not to talk about people who are not present or that your company may not know. Yes, that means you have to refrain from talking about your boyfriend or girlfriend back at home, for at least one conversation. But, that does not exclude gossip. I know everyone says that they do not like gossips. But let’s be honest, we know we love it. It is surprising the number of people that have come together over a juicy whisper about other people’s business.

For a college student, Facebook is a great internet tool for connecting with fellow classmates. Remember, it is still the internet and there are a lot of crazies out there, so be careful in choosing who could see your profile. Once, my friend was approached by a Facebook friend while shopping. She had never met this person before, and did not even remember accepting her friendship request online. This internet acquaintance went about making a new buddy the wrong way and completely freaked out my friend. If you see someone on Facebook that you recognize, but you are not sure that the person may know who you are, send a message with your friend request. The message could be something as simple as, “hey, aren’t you in my English class?” This way you can approach the person in class without seeming threatening. Now you have started a dialogue both virtually and in real life. This is the solution to avoiding the problem of having an online friend that you never talk to because you think it would be too awkward.

Do not typecast yourself. When looking for friends, some may find it comforting to seek people who are similar to themselves or to their old friends. Come out of your box. Try not to be the person who only has black friends, or gay friends, or dance major friends. I know of this one girl who only has guy friends and is portrayed as the “campus slut.” If you want to have the full college experience, you have to open yourself to the diversity it has to offer. And seriously, no one wants to be confined to a label, especially one like ‘campus slut.’

Finally, do not be quick to judge. We all know that first impressions are crucial, but do not base your complete judgment just on that. My friend’s internet acquaintance could have turned out to be completely not-a-psycho; given another circumstance, that is. Maybe the campus girl with only male friends is lesbian. You never know until you really get to know who people are. So, give people a second and third shot; I am sure you would appreciate people doing the same for you. I wish everyone good luck while friend hunting.

World Youth Day Interview, Stephen M Hill, FCRH 2010

World Youth Day Interview, Stephen M Hill, FCRH 2010
By: Laura Veras

Dímelo recently sat down with Stephen Hill, Fordham College at Rose Hill 2010, to discuss his experiences at World Youth Day 2008. World Youth Day (WYD) is a gathering of Catholic youth from around the world, called together to celebrate, live, and preach the Gospel values.

1.What motivated you to attend WYD?

To be honest, I thought WYD would be an interesting way for me to go back to Australia. It provided me a reason to travel 'Down Under.' However, as the group formed and grew spiritually, my motivations shifted. I began to realize that this pilgrimage to Sydney would be a very important growing period in my Christian discipleship.

2.How did your family/friends respond when they found out you were going to make this pilgrimage?

There wasn't any outright hostility, nor was there any extreme enthusiasm. I found it difficult to explain the purpose of this pilgrimage and what exactly we would be doing while in Australia. I think there was a lot of confusion among my family members, and the trip was viewed in practical terms rather than in its spiritual nature. The under girding of any pilgrimage is the detachment of material comforts and trusting in God more, which got thrown to the wayside in favor of "where are you going, what will you be doing, why should I help you pay for this, etc.?"

3.How did the group prepare for the pilgrimage?

Our group extensively prepared for the pilgrimage, which is the main reason, in my opinion, why it was so fruitful. Our two Jesuit leaders provided weekly reflections on certain spiritual aspects of pilgrimage and other areas to foster reflection. We were advised to keep a spiritual journal to track our reflections and to see where the Spirit was leading us. Also, our group retreat really formed friendships, trust, and enthusiasm and was the jumping-off point for our journey.

4.What did you expect to encounter in Sydney?

Every World Youth Day has a scriptural theme and this year’s was: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8). This theme struck me when I read it in the Pope's letter preparing the pilgrims, because it providentially corresponded to my current prayer focus of how to be a fully committed Christian disciple. During my preparation for WYD I was praying over the juxtaposition in my life of desiring to give more of myself to Jesus Christ and the reality of being part of a nominally Catholic family. My return to the Church has caused some tension between my family and me. Through my reflection over the weekly themes I realized my life had two sides: the enflamed Catholic while at school, and the 'same old Steve' while at home. At this time one of the Jesuits recommended asking for a specific grace to receive while at WYD. I then asked Christ to grant me the strength, courage, and perseverance in more fully living out my call to be a disciple. There is not enough room here to begin to tell you how my expectations to receive grace from Christ via World Youth Day were met and greatly surpassed. I know when on my death bed, I will look back at World Youth Day as the moment I took up the Lord's invitation to Come and See. WYD will be the turning point when the rest of my life will be the tireless pursuit of following Jesus Christ.



5.Tell us a little bit about Magis….

It was a multinational program run by the Australian Jesuits two weeks before the World Youth Day week of events. The thrust of Magis was participating in "experiments," which is an Ignatian term for experiences. Jesuit novices undergo experiments in works that put them outside of their comfort zone in order to trust more in God. For my half of the group, we teamed up with groups from India and Taiwan and an Aussie leader group and traveled 14 hours north to Brisbane. We set up a community in the Glasshouse Mountain range and hiked, prayed, talked, and ate a lot of food together. The bonds that were formed will be forever in my heart.

6.What were some of your first impressions about Australia?

I can't say I had first impressions, because I had been to Australia several years earlier to visit my Aunt who lives in Sydney. However, every person is captivated by the stunning, and heavenly, beauty of Australia and the down-to-earth people of Australia. It's the best place on earth, hands down.

7.What were your impressions of Pope Benedict XVI?

I love the man! Not only is he a brilliant theologian and has the pulse of our time, but his pastoral sense is unbelievable. I saw him at the Youth Rally in Yonkers last semester and several times at World Youth Day. Each time he drew me closer to Jesus in different ways, but he has no, and desires no, cult of personality. He wants to give us –his sheep: his fruits of prayer, reflection, and knowledge in order for us to manifest Christ to the world. He is an unbelievable man.

8.Did you witness any changes among the group/other pilgrims as your journey progressed?

Our group became like family while on pilgrimage. We had shared the discomfort, the bad food, the Spirit-filled prayer, the people, and experiences and we came together more and more as the days went by. Also, the first couple days we were all reserved in reaching out to fellow pilgrims from places as varied as France, India, Taiwan, Hungary, Germany, Bolivia, Kenya, and [America], but as the trip progressed and the Spirit was moving among us, we made lasting friendships with many brother and sister Christians from around the world.

9.How was Christ present to the WYD pilgrims?

I can only speak for myself, or rather how I experienced Christ at World Youth Day. First, I came to the realization that Jesus’ exhortation to the Apostles at the end of Matthew's Gospel "to go out and make disciples of all nations" had been accomplished. I met people and saw flags from France and England, China and Taiwan, India and Pakistan, Spain and Brazil, Kenya and Madagascar, the United States and Iraq; Different languages, cultures, food, fashion, and songs, but one Creed, one Lord.
Secondly, Christ in the Eucharist was deepened for me while at World Youth Day. Our group hosted an all night adoration chapel for the pilgrims at the school where we were staying. An overnight exposition of the Blessed Sacrament requires at least one person in the chapel at all times, so I volunteered both nights for the 2am-3am shift to experience this powerful time of prayer. One of the nights I stayed beyond my shift and there came a point around 4am where I wanted to go back and crawl in my sleeping bag, but the Eucharist in the golden monstrance on the altar was so attractive I couldn't leave Jesus. I always believed Jesus was present in the Eucharist, but it was in that moment of attraction and desire for Jesus that His presence became real.
Lastly, Christ's presence through His Spirit was extremely powerful throughout the pilgrimage. The people I met, the prayer times, certain lines sticking out in the Pope's homily, and spiritual conversations with my fellow pilgrims all contributed to the Spirit incarnated in many people and events during World Youth Day. The Jesuit mantra "finding God in all things" went from a cliché to a reality.

10.Is there any message you were entrusted to bring back to your community and peers?

Jesus Christ is alive in our world today! There is hope, there is a way to love, there is purpose, and there is truth in a world which denigrates each of these necessary aspects of humanity. Our hope, our love, our purpose, and our truth is Jesus Christ. Please whoever reads this interview, go to Mass and meet Jesus. Do not be afraid to lose yourself for Jesus, He gives to each of us what we truly need to be happy beyond all imagination. Do not be afraid to be a voice proclaiming a different message. Do not be afraid to move outside [of yourself] for others. Do not be afraid to look past money, power, and prestige. Trust in the Lord, and you will arrive victorious. Do Not Be Afraid!

Cold War Reignited?

Cold War Reignited?
By: Alex Jallot

On August 8, 2008, it wasn’t just the Olympics in Beijing that caused a spectacle. On that day, under the guise of the Olympic fervor that caught the world, President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia decided to ‘make-good’ on his campaign promise, and attempt to bring South Ossetia and Abkhazia back under the control of the central government. President Saakashvili sent in his troops and began a siege of the capital of South Ossetia with artillery fire.

Perhaps he thought the world would be too distracted by the Olympics to notice his brazen foray into South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Unfortunately for him, not much gets past the watchful eyes of Prime Minister Putin of Russia, who promptly left the Olympics to address the situation in Georgia.

In response to the attacks on South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russia sent in its own troops to the two disputed areas to protect its citizens and to lend support to Russian peacekeepers who were already stationed there. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are under dispute between Russia and Georgia, because Georgia claims to have territorial rights to both areas, while Russia made claims on the areas thanks to the fact that it issued Russian passports to the citizens of South Ossetia and Abkhazia effectively making them Russian citizens.

Russia is obligated to protect its citizens no matter where they are. Georgia is a pro-western nation that has close ties to the United States and Europe. Under the leadership of Mr. Saakashvili, Georgia sought admittance into the European Union and into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which in turn, has caused alarm in Russia. Russia is suspicious of its former republics becoming cozy with the west, as Georgia and other countries such as Ukraine and Poland were once, under the sphere of influence in Russia.

The position of the United States in this conflict is that Russia should eventually withdraw all its troops and allow a neutral nation to install peacekeepers and respect Georgia’s territorial integrity. The problem is that that can be likened to telling the United States to drop the Monroe Doctrine and give up its sphere of influence in Latin America and the Caribbean. The position of the United States and its backing of Georgia have significantly strained relations with Russia to a point that it hasn’t been since the fall of the Soviet Union. Will this conflict mean a return to hostilities between the United States and Russia? Only time and the decisions of the leaders of both countries will be able to tell.

*Let us know what you think about this topic at dimelo_publication@yahoo.com!

RISING FOOD PRICES

Rising Food Prices
By: Alexandre Jallot

In 2007 the grain prices increased by 28 percent: this spells disaster for the lower income people of Latin America in which grains make up 43 percent of their diet. The prices of soy, corn, wheat, and sugar have all jumped at an alarming rate. Latin America has seen the sharpest incline of the food gap in the world. The food gap is the amount of food needed to raise consumption of all income groups to the nutritional requirement of around 2,100 calories per person per day. In Latin America and the Caribbean the food gap has increased to 24 percent. On countries that rely heavily on grain imports such as Peru, Guatemala, and Honduras, this is expected to have a particularly disastrous effect. One of the reasons for this is the increase of the price of petroleum. An increase in the price of petroleum inevitably leads to an increase in the price of fertilizing, transportation, and the processing of food.

The spike in oil prices has prompted many governments to turn to alternative sources of fuel such as bio-fuels made from corn and sugar. If Latin American countries begin to invest more heavily into bio-fuels then that would further increase the prices of food, making the lives of the poor in Latin America all the more difficult. This isn’t just a matter of being able to not go to bed hungry, though that is important, but this is also a matter of mental health and capacity as well. If children aren’t getting enough nutrients and calories due to high food prices, then they won’t be able to perform as well in school. If adults are in a constant state of hunger, or have to constantly divert their resources towards food, then the chances of them working productively decrease.

This is a growing crisis that needs to be addressed because it affects societies in Latin America as a whole.

Write to us at dimelo_publication@yahoo.com to tell us what you think would be efficient alternatives to the crises affecting countries around the world regarding food prices.

Ingrid Betancourt y el Rescate de los Rehenes en Colombia

Ingrid Betancourt y el Rescate de los Rehenes en Colombia
Por: Tanya Grimaldo

El día tercero de julio de este año fue un día impresionante para todo el mundo. Algo que se pensaba que era imposible se hizo realidad. El 3 de julio del 2008 fue anunciado que quince rehenes en poder de las FARC habían sido liberados, por acción del gobierno nacional. Entre estos quince se encontraban, Ingrid Betancourt y los tres rehenes norteamericanos, Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes y Keith Stansell. Los tres norteamericanos fueron capturados cuando el avión en que ellos viajaban cayó cerca del campamento del las FARC el trece de febrero del 2003. Ingrid Betancourt fue secuestrada hace seis años, durante su campaña como candidata para la Presidencia de la República.

El tres de julio del dos mil ocho, a doscientas millas sudeste de Bogota, el ejército de Colombia planeó una misión de rescate para liberar a los rehenes de las FARC. La misión fue todo un éxito, sin un disparo, ni personas heridas. El ejército de Colombia ya había infiltrado a las FARC anteriormente y gracias a esto, pudo establecer una reunión con 15 de los secuestrados, los cuales se encontraban en tres puntos diferentes de las selvas colombianas. Los comandantes de las FARC a cargo de los secuestrados creyeron que el secretariado era el que había solicitado la reunión para trasladar a los secuestrados a un lugar diferente, donde se encontraba el nuevo comandante Alfonso Cano. Pero en realidad, todo esto había sido un plan del ejército Colombiano.

La unidad a cargo de la misión del rescate fue una unidad especial del ejército. Ingrid Betancourt recordó el momento cuando abordó el avión que la liberara, como una experiencia extraña, ya que usualmente cuando los secuestrados escuchaban a los helicópteros, les tocaba salir corriendo a esconderse. Durante el rescate, Betancourt vió al comandante cruel, que la había maltratado todos estos seis años, en el piso, cuando el ejército colombiano les dijo a los rehenes "ustedes han sido liberados, somos del ejército colombiano". Ingrid Betancourt y los demás rehenes fueron entonces trasladados a una base militar y después a Bogotá. Betancourt fue recibida por su madre cuando aterrizó en Bogotá. Por el contrario, los Norte Americanos después de aterrizar en Bogotá abordaron un avión con destino a San Antonio, Tejas, donde fueron sometidos a chequeos médicos y luego se encontraron con su familias.

A los familiares de los rehenes y al resto de la gente que tiene familiares secuestrados por las FARC, les dio mucha alegría saber de este rescate. Esta misión impecable ha dado esperanza a muchos de que el gobierno colombiano sí esta haciendo algo para salvar a los rehenes todavía en cautiverio.

Las FARC han tenido muchas decaídas durante este año y parte del pasado. Muchos han dicho que esa ha sido la razón por la cual ellos están más débiles en este momento. Su aparente vulnerabilidad puede ser explicada por la muerte de Pedro Antonio Marín, mas conocido como Manuel D Marulanda “Tirofijo”, el fundador de las FARC, quien murió el 26 de marzo del 2008 por causas naturales; y también por la muerte del segundo en orden, Raúl Reyes quien fue abatido en una misión del ejército colombiano en Ecuador en Marzo 2 de este año.

Nelly Ávila Moreno, quien era comandante de un campamento de las FARC, no ha oído de las FARC en los dos últimos años y dice creer que están en su punto más débil. Los Estados Unidos ha indicado claramente que ellos no participaron en el rescate, y que la victoria es completamente del gobierno colombiano; sin embargo, Los Estados Unidos sí prestó ayuda médica a los rehenes después de que estos fueran liberados.

Personalmente, yo como Colombiana, en verdad pienso que esta misión fue una victoria impresionante y que Álvaro Uribe, el Presidente de la República Colombiana nos ha dado una esperanza mas de paz en Colombia.

(1) Know Your New York: Stories from Columbus Circle

Know Your New York: Stories from Columbus Circle
By: Sarit Ofer-Moran

Whether you're a resident or a commuter, you've been through Columbus Circle a million times. Maybe you even took pictures of it your freshman year, psyched to finally make use of the camera you bought with half your graduation money. But have you ever taken the time to truly appreciate your surroundings?

One night, a coffee-induced reverie inspired me to search for more than the name of the guy in the middle of the circle, and what I found was pretty cool. I don't expect you to explore the World Wide Web for hints about Columbus Circle after buying some overpriced drink at Starbucks like I did, however. Instead, inside every issue of Dímelo will be another story about the history of Columbus Circle.

Let's start with...

THE UNSOLVED MYSTERY OF JOE COLOMBO: June 28, 1971: Columbus Circle was the site for the Second Annual Italian-American Civil Rights League Rally.

The FBI were dumbfounded that Joseph Colombo, the head of one of the "Five Families" - the most important Mafia Families in America, started an organization against the discrimination and harassment of the Italian American people. What they regarded as a joke quickly received an outpouring of support, even from people like the United States Attorney General, John Mitchell, and New York Governor, Nelson Rockefeller. The previous year, Frank Sinatra headlined at Madison Square Garden in a benefit for the League.

At the Second Annual Rally, five U.S. representatives as well as various entertainers were on stage. But the main act was Colombo. Fifty thousand people roared their approval as Joe Colombo approached the red, white, blue and green stage. The league had named Colombo Man of the Year, regardless of the fact that he had been sentenced to two and half years in jail earlier in the year.

All this publicity was troubling to more than just the FBI. Not only had Colombo gone on talk shows, he had been extremely forthcoming while on the stand in a trial about some nicknames and dollar amounts found in his employee's briefcase.

According to Colombo, the dollar amounts were donations to the Civil Rights League, and named the names of the "organization donors," many of which were also heads of Mafia Families. The mob bosses weren't too pleased that Colombo so freely gave out their names, no matter in what context. One especially concerned boss was Carl Gambino, and it is rumored that when Gambino approached Colombo with his concerns, Colombo literally spit in his face.

By 1971, Joe Colombo had amassed quite a few enemies. His public life had certainly cast an undesirable spotlight on the underbelly of New York City. But more than that, there were people who were hungry to take hold of Colombo's power themselves, and a good hit would get the job done. Despite Colombo being one of the most progressive Family heads in mob history, some people in the Family felt that he was self-centered, inexperienced, and indulgent. The Gallo brothers, especially "Crazy" Joey, were bitter about their comparatively smaller piece of the pie, and felt they deserved to be head of the Colombo Family.Joe Colombo was making his way toward the stage's podium as three shots rang out in the middle of Columbus Circle.

A street hustler named Jerome Johnson, disguised as a photojournalist, put three holes into Colombo's head. Immediately afterward, Johnson was gunned down by an "unidentified assailant." Though Colombo lived, he was effectively "made a vegetable," as he was comatose for the remaining seven years of his life. "Crazy" Joey was the police force's first suspect, as he was known to encourage the Mafia to fraternize with the black Harlem underworld, and Johnson was black. Another suspect was Carl Gambino, who had a connection to the assassin. However, no one has ever found any substantial proof, and on the record Jerome Johnson is a lone gunman.

Many people celebrated when Joe Colombo was incapacitated, and probably not least was "Crazy" Joey Gallo. During 1972, "Crazy" Joey gained power in the Mob, kept a lion in his basement to put a scare in deadbeats, acquired fame through a movie based on him (The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight), hung out with the Hollywood crowd, and was shot dead next to his Cadillac on Mulberry Street. You would have thought Joey would have learned from Joe Colombo: fame isn't good for business.

Grizz

I come up with new rhymes, I don't ever get rusty
I can spit a poem 'til my lips get crusty.
I tells you the truth, man. You can trust me
you are what you eat, so I must be
Push me into doing something I don't want and I ain't gonna do it
you better ask somebody else, man, cause I ain't your trick.
You better ask someone, I ain't nothing to play with
disrespect me again and I'll break you
Shift my style from happy to sad to funny real fast
I'm tryna get better as a poet so I can last.
I figured I can do this by not smoking grass
if you don't like I don't get high, you can kiss my
Ask you a question. Why do dudes spend a buck on kicks?
Why they wear shirts and pants with paint splashed on it?
Why they wearing button-ups with matching fitteds?
Answer: Most of them have tiny little
Dictate the words of Tyrone Grizz
the only 21 year old who don't got any kids.
"Is it true that he likes them Spanish girls?" You know that it is
and I didn't have to ask your girl for me to grab her ti-
Take it easy. I wasn't gonna say what you thought
say something that'll get me kicked out of New York.
Put me on TV, say something that'll get me kicked off
people love starting drama, they won't hop off my
Cock-a-doodle doo the rooster says in the morning.
When my pen touch the paper, the pad starts moaning
I write rhymes every minute, even when I'm snoring.
Got girls screaming my name, and we ain't gotta be
Bonafide genius that's on this stage
who lives in Brooklyn, but sounds like he's from the A.
Every poem I write is at least one page
So I'ma end this piece now and fall back. Okay?

©2004 Ty(rone)Grizz

The Vagina Monologues: Fordham vs. Brandeis

The Vagina Monologues: Fordham vs. Brandeis

By: Jason Montoya.

I have seen the past two Fordham University’s productions of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues,” and I recently attended a separate production of said event by Brandeis University.

In both universities the monologues are widely awaited by the student population, and tickets are sold in advance, as well as on the nights of the shows. Each performance is either about to reach full capacity, or entirely sold out. At the end of the shows, there are question & answer segments that allow for the students who dedicated major efforts into the productions to explain the artistic visions that inspired their new adaptations of the massively reproduced play. The students are then highly praised at the end of the night by close friends and relatives that may have been invited to see the show. At the final performance, both schools assertively strike the sets of their performance space, even in the presence of people and outsiders, as they not only realize the success of their efforts, but they also have a responsibility to the school and the space that is offered to them.

As I watched both environments, there were obviously strong differences that a student like myself, who attends a school with a religious affiliation, could have noticed. Most interesting difference of all I found was the sentiment build up and the initiative created by the student organization. As my close friend Kaye Reyes, who was the Assistant director and performer of one of the monologues, briefly explained to me, the monologues and their production are held almost independently from any school department or faculty program. There is obviously some guidance by professors, but the production comes from the actual Vagina club at Brandeis University, which sponsors this yearly production. To this day, the Vagina club at Brandeis has been able to allocate close to $30,000 for charitable organizations in the endeavor of assisting actions that fight violence against women. At Brandeis University, the show was presented in the Shapiro Theater, which is the center of the community for social events that hold the students’ interest. The theater could potentially provide seating to over 300 theater-goers, but on its first night, the monologues were entirely sold out, forcing people to settle for seats on the stairs, or to stand at the back of the theater. A theater of this magnitude is technically equipped to provide the most professional theater experience for people. For those of whom who were able to attend Fordham’s version of the play, you would know that the production was held in McMahon hall, room 109, which is known by students as a conference room.

Despite the tremendous efforts that outside groups that support the monologues do to enhance this event, one may wonder, what could possibly be of the event if it were not only supported, but encouraged by the school’s administration? I believe that in spite of the difficulties and lack of support from the school administrators, there is a great deal of admiration for the students who participate in this event, as they manage to raise a production from the ground up. In addition, the production also manages to contribute a substantial amount of money to fund institutes that have the same objective in mind.

However, the non-supportive tone that the school sets almost creates a feeling of hostility between the administration and the students, who are passionate about social justice events like “The Vagina Monologues.” Despite the administrations’ logic as to why events like these should not be fully supported, the lack of support makes students afraid and perhaps even feel left out, because they feel as though their schools might be conveniently censoring their educational path by limiting the options of what they are permitted to learn and engage in.

In a school like Fordham, located in an area of such great diversity, perhaps the tone should change into one that is willing to embrace different approaches towards learning. Sometimes open and in-your-face productions like “The Vagina Monologues” make people aware of things like domestic violence, genital mutilation, and misogyny; topics that any well-rounded student, from a respected school like Fordham, should be well aware of.

In an era with so much available information, it is easy to lose focus and not pay attention to these issues that could seem minor to those who don’t face problems such as domestic violence. However, to those women to whom “The Vagina Monologues” and productions such as this are more than an artistic experience, but a cold-faced reality, it would be almost therapeutic to see something that pays homage to the adversity that they go through.

Frida Kahlo, a Woman with Conviction.

Frida Kahlo, a Woman with Conviction.
By: Michele Velez

It is impossible to separate the life and work of this remarkable person. What made her so exceptional was that she never painted her dreams, but only her reality. Her paintings became her biography.

Frida Kahlo was born in Mexico City in 1907. Her father was a German Jew photographer, and her mother was Spanish and Native American. Her life was to be a long series of physical traumas, and the first of these came quite early. At the age of six she was stricken with polio, which left her with a limp. However, as a child, she was a fearless tomboy, and this way of being made Frida her father's favorite. He took her education seriously, and in 1922 she entered the National Preparatory School –the most prestigious educational institution in Mexico- which had only just begun to admit girls.

It was there that she met her husband-to-be, Diego Rivera, who had recently returned home from France, and who had been commissioned to paint a mural there. Kahlo was attracted to him, and she demonstrated her feelings by teasing him, playing practical jokes, and by trying to excite the jealousy of the painter's wife, Lupe Marin.

In 1925, Kahlo suffered a serious accident, which was to set the pattern for much of the rest of her life. She was traveling in a bus, which collided with a tramcar, and suffered serious injuries to her right leg and pelvis. The accident made it impossible for her to have children. This misadventure also meant that she would face a life-long battle against pain. In 1926, during her recovery, she painted her first self-portrait. This was the beginning of a long series of works that depicted the events of her life and her emotional reactions to them.

She met Rivera again in 1928, through her friendship with the photographer and revolutionary, Tina Modotti. Rivera had been recently divorced, and he and Frida found that they had much in common, especially because they were both communist militants. They later married in August 1929.

Rivera's artistic reputation was expanding rapidly in the United States. In 1930, the couple left for San Francisco and then to New York in 1931 for the Rivera retrospective, organized by the Museum of Modern Art. Kahlo, at this time, was only considered to be the wife of a famous artist, but the situation soon changed. In 1932 Rivera was commissioned to paint a major series of murals for the Detroit Museum, and here Kahlo suffered a miscarriage. While recovering, she painted Miscarriage in Detroit, the first of her truly penetrating self-portraits. The style she evolved was entirely unlike that of her husband, being based on Mexican folk art.Kahlo pretended not to consider her work important. From Detroit they went once again to New York, where Rivera had been commissioned to paint a mural in the Rockefeller Center.

The commission erupted into an enormous scandal, when the patron ordered the half-completed work to be destroyed because of the political imagery Rivera insisted on including. But Rivera lingered in the United States, which he loved and Kahlo now hated. When they finally returned to Mexico in 1935, Rivera embarked on an affair with Kahlo's younger sister, Cristina. Though they finally made up their quarrel, this incident marked a turning point in their relationship. Rivera had never been faithful to any woman; and Kahlo now embarked on a series of affairs with both men and women, which were to continue for the rest of her life. One of Kahlo's more serious, early love affairs was with the Russian revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky. Trotsky was being hounded by his triumphant rival Stalin, at the time, and was offered refuge in Mexico in 1937 on Rivera's initiative. Another visitor to Mexico at this time was the leading figure of the Surrealist Group, André Breton. Breton arrived in 1938, and was enchanted with Mexico and with Kahlo's paintings. Partly through his initiative, she was offered a show at the fashionable Julian Levy Gallery in New York later in 1938, and Breton himself wrote a rhetorical catalogue preface. The show was a triumph, and about half the paintings were sold. In 1939, Breton suggested a show in Paris, and offered to arrange it. Kahlo, who spoke no French, arrived in France to find that Breton had not even bothered to get her work out of customs.
Marcel Duchamp rescued the enterprise, and the show opened about six weeks late. It was not a financial success, but the reviews were good, and the Louvre bought a picture for the Jeu de Paume.

Early in 1940, Kahlo and Rivera divorced, though they continued to make public appearances together. In May, after the first attempt on taking Trotsky's life, led by the painter Siqueiros, Rivera left for San Francisco. After the second and this time successful attempt, the police questioned Kahlo, who had been a friend of Trotsky’s assassin. She decided to leave Mexico for a while, and in September she joined her ex-husband in San Francisco. Less than two months later, while they were still in the United States, they remarried.

Kahlo’s health grew visibly worse from 1944 onwards, and she underwent the first of many operations on her spine and her crippled foot. In early 1950, her physical state reached a crisis, and she had to be hospitalized in Mexico City, where she remained for a year. During the period after her remarriage, her artistic reputation continued to grow, though at first more rapidly in the United States than in her native Mexico. She was included in prestigious group shows in the Museum of Modern Art, the Boston Institute of Contemporary Arts and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In 1946, however, she received a Mexican government fellowship, and in the same year an official prize on the occasion of the Annual National Exhibition. After her return home from the hospital, Kahlo became an increasingly fervent Communist. Rivera had been expelled from the Party, which was reluctant to receive him back, both because of his links with the Mexican government of the day, and because of his association with Trotsky.

While the 1940s had seen her produce some of her finest works, her paintings now became more clumsy and chaotic, thanks to the joint effects of pain, drugs and alcohol. Despite this, in 1954 she was offered her first solo show in Mexico- which was to be the only show of the kind held for her in her lifetime. It took place at the fashionable Galeria de Arte Contemporaneo in the Zona Rosa of Mexico City. At first it seemed that Kahlo would be too ill to attend, but she sent her richly decorated bed ahead of her; she arrived by ambulance, and was carried into the gallery on a stretcher.

In the same year, Kahlo, threatened by gangrene, had her right leg amputated below the knee. It was a tremendous blow to someone who had invested so much in the elaboration of her own self-image. She learned to walk again with an artificial limb. But the end was near for her. In July 1954, she made her last public appearance, when she participated in a Communist demonstration against the overthrow of the left-wing Guatemalan president, Jacobo Arbenz. Soon afterwards, she died in her sleep, apparently as the result of an embolism, though there was a suspicion among those close to her that she had found a way to commit suicide. Her last diary entry read, “ I hope the end is joyful and I hope never to come back.”

De La Vega, A Living Hero

De La Vega, A Living Hero
By: Michele M. Velez

James De la Vega, 32, is best known for his similar artistic views as Keith Haring and Francisco de Goya, and for mixing a quiet idealism with searing social commentary. He is also well known in Spanish Harlem, El Barrio, for his vivid murals, featuring Puerto Rican rapper Big Pun and Tex-Mex singer, Selena (as well as others), that have transformed East Harlem's stale bricks into statements of Latino pride. The intelligent and ambitious artist who is a graduate of Ivy League college, Cornell University, just opened a brand-new East Village gallery, Galeria De La Vega, which he is very excited about and is located at 102 St. Marks Place New York, NY 10001.

James De La Vega lives and works in New York City's, El Barrio. He has a store on St. Mark's Place in the East Village and is primarily known for his murals and the chalk drawings he creates on public surfaces, such as sidewalks and building walls. His murals can be found all over Spanish Harlem, and his chalk drawings may show up anywhere in the city. His street drawings, mostly in chalk, are usually accompanied by aphoristic messages, like "Become Your Dream." Even though De La Vega’s work can be considered graffiti, many see his work on another level.

De La Vega's appreciation for his Puerto Rican heritage and the tensions of his neighborhood are also evident in much of his artwork. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, gentrification began creeping north of 96th Street –the invisible border between East Harlem and the Upper East Side. Several of De La Vega's works take note of this harmful cultural inroad. Through his mural and paintings he expresses this by writing, "Don't think we haven't noticed the 96th Street border moving north."

The public and counter-cultural nature of some of his work has gotten him into trouble with the law many times. In July 2003, De La Vega was charged with vandalism for a mural he painted on a blank wall in the Bronx. He was offered one year's probation in exchange for a guilty plea, but that would have required him to state that his intent was to "damage" property. He refused to declare this, however, because he believed that his art was not meant to cause damage but to open people’s eyes.

In spite of his refusal to admit that his work of art was intended to damage property, in June 2004, De la Vega faced trial for the offense, and the judge found him guilty. After apologizing to the building's owner, De La Vega was sentenced to 50 hours of community service at the Point Community Center, at 940 Garretson Avenue, on the charges of attempted criminal mischief, attempted graffiti making, and one count of possession of graffiti tools. Failure to comply with the stipulations of this sentence can result in a thirty day in-jail term. The authorities are not the only ones that are disturbed by De La Vega's work. Some of his opponents relentlessly mar the appearance of his most elaborate murals as well.

De La Vega used to own a studio and small store, where he sold his self- designed El Barrio-themed t-shirts and his art work, on 104th Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. Later on, in 2005, he moved his studio to the East Village on St. Marks place between 1st Avenue and Avenue A, where it currently is located.

Sin Senos No Hay Paraíso

Sin Senos No Hay Paraíso
Por: Tanya Grimaldo

Sin Senos No Hay Paraíso. Esta es una frase que ha sido muy contreversial últimamente. Originalmente “Sin Tetas No Hay Paraíso,” esta frase es en verdad el título de una novela que fue hecha basada en la historia del primer libro de Gustavo Bolívar. La pregunta es, por qué es tan contreversial? Por qué ha tenido a la gente hablando al respecto. Y la respuesta es porque esta historia se trata de una chica de quince años que quiere salir adelante y convertirse en actriz. Ahora, cualquiera que lea eso debe de estar pensando no hay ningún problema con querer ser actriz, pero la realidad es que en tratar de hacer que este sueno se cumple, la niña, Catalina Santana, por ambición, prefiere involucrarse con los narcotraficantes mas peligrosos de la cuidad para poder salir de la pobreza lo mas pronto que pueda.


Aunque Catalina y su hermano, Bayron, tienen a una mamá que los cuida y les exige que permanezcan en el colegio, ellos no ven futuro en eso, especialmente porque no han visto a nadie llegar a ningún lado estudiando. Entonces, como ven a sus amigos haciendo dinero rápido en ese tipo de trabajo, Catalina decide convertirse en una muchacha prepagada (una prostituta), y el hermano se convierte en un asesino profesional, o sea un sicario.


Ya involucrada en un mundo peligroso, Catalina ve como sus amigas ganan mucho dinero porque tienen senos grandes y ella ahora desea tener senos grandes también. Catalina entonces decide juntar dinero para operarse los senos, de manera que pueda llegar a ser más atractiva para los narcotraficantes. Pero esta meta no se cumple fácilmente. En el proceso de conseguir el dinero a Catalina la violan y la engañan. Sin saberlo, Catalina llega a ser un mulo cuando un doctor le dice que la va operar gratis, pero en realidad es que los “narcos” ya la habían escogido para colocarle pastillas de moldeo de cocaína en sus senos, para transportarlas a México. Por obtener la vida rica que desea, Catalina se mete en unos asuntos que finalmente la llevan a su ruina.


Gustavo Bolívar escribió esta historia que es en realidad la biografía de una muchacha que una vez conoció. Pero hablando de los problemas que mas afectan a su país, Bolívar en realidad toco temas que son universales. Esta novela ha sido contreversial porque cuando salio en los Estados Unidos no muchos pensaron que iba ser tan fuerte como lo es. Esta novela toco los asuntos mas hablados en casa, entre familia, y que parecía solo afectar a los envueltos en esta trama. Sin embargo, aunque esta historia sucedió en Pereira, Colombia, la gente sabe muy bien que, por querer ser ricos, sus hijos también están sujetos a ser narcotraficantes, asesinos profesionales, o aún como Catalina, prostitutas.

Fall for Fashion: It's Back to School

Fall for Fashion: It’s Back to School
By: Carlene Morillo

The time that you have been wishing away all summer has arrived. Yup, it’s back to school time! But do not get too down about it because, with a change of season, comes a change in wardrobe.
The first change that you need to make in your wardrobe is to your outerwear. There is no way to survive a cool fall without a warm coat. The ¾-sleeve trend is making its mark this season, as are the wool and trench coats. As fashionable as it may be, however, it is not practical to wear ¾-sleeved coats and expect to be warm. So, to make it more functional, pair your coat with a pair of elbow-length gloves. Another way to keep warm (or should I say cool), is to wear a motocross leather jacket. If you are looking for something warmer, you can always go for a colored fur coat. Please, make it faux fur though; there is no need to harm innocent animals to look and feel hot.


Of course you cannot just wear a coat –you need something underneath. In addition to your jacket, you can relay on a sweater for a little extra warmth. Cardigans are still hitting it big, and so are knitted sweaters, but of course not the type your grandma would wear. Many chic-knits are on the market this year but, for a more formal look, a fitted blazer, inspired by menswear, would do the trick. Speaking of outerwear tops, a ruffled, Victorian-styled blouse would look good under a fitted blazer as well as a vest. For a casual day, a button-down flannel shirt is a good option.


And since those tops need bottoms, the skinny jeans phenomenon continues with a twist. High-waist, skinny jeans are going to be a big hit this fall, so run out to get yours. You can also go for the wide-leg trousers, if you want more comfort. Just because it is not summer anymore, it does not mean that you cannot wear a skirt. Pencil skirts and flared mini skirts are very fall fashion. Wear it with a colored tight for a splash of color and to keep warm.


Now let’s talk about shoes, my favorite topic. The new shoe styles to immerge into this season are strappy, leather, studded boots and peep-toe booties. Also, black and white oxford menswear-inspired pumps can make a grand statement with the right outfit. As for boots, rider boots from last year can still be worn this fall. High, or just the regular short moccasins are also among the new trends.


Oh, and you cannot forget a fabulous bag to go with your outfit! Patten leather has been the material of choice for most designers. Shiny metal buckles are also a big fad. So you cannot go wrong with anything made of patent leather with buckles. These bags are really cute for lugging around your books this semester. To compliment your bag, you can get a thin leather belt to wear high on your waist. So, remember, if you just invest in a couple of these marvelous items, you can be sure to be the talk of campus…in a good way.

LATIN BEAT 2008

Latin Beat 2008
By: Michele Velez

This year’s Latin Beat will commence September 5th opening with a film called Cochochi, and ending September 25th with the film Scrambled Beer. On its 11th year, Latin Beat is more diverse and rich in regards to the style, genre, location, theme, setting, and the number of countries explored. This year, 28 films will be shown in the Walter Reade Theater, all of them exploring the complexities and vivaciousness of the Latin American culture. Throughout the series of films, there will be guest appearances from the directors, producers and actors.

The series includes a range of unique events, including:

A Tribute To Jacobo Morales: Three films by the celebrated Puerto Rican director, whose memorable contributions to film helped develop a cultural identity within and outside of Puerto Rico. Jacobo Morales himself will introduce several screenings.

Spotlight On Chile: Expanding on the strong tradition of political cinema in Chile, a new generation of young filmmakers has developed an accomplished blend of cinematic technique and style in a wide range of genres. This spotlight looks at six original and powerful works from this up and coming group and the newest force in Latin American filmmaking.

Latin Beat Celebrates Machado de Assis: As part of “Machado 21,” a citywide centennial celebration of writer Machado de Assis, director Nelson Pereira dos Santos will present his screen adaptations of two de Assis works and will join in an onstage conversation with Film Society program director, Richard Peña.

Film Comment Selects and Latin Beat Present The Other/El Otro: Director Ariel Rotter will join Gavin Smith for an onstage conversation following a screening of this Berlin Grand Jury prize-winning film.

Brunch and Conversation with Latin American Filmmakers: The Film Society joins forces with New York Women in Film and Television to celebrate the strong presence of women in Latin American filmmaking. Sunday, Sept. 7, 11:30 a.m., free to ticket holders to the 1 p.m. screening of Kill Them All.

Admission: $11 public; $8 senior (62+); $7 Film Society member & student (with ID) and child (6-12, accompanied by an adult). Series Pass: $40 public/$30 Film Society member. Admits one person to five titles in the series. Available only at the Walter Reade Theater box office (cash-only transactions).

For the series calendar or film descriptions go to http://www.filmlinc.com/wrt/onsale/latinbeat08/program.html

Poem: By Anonymous

To fall deep below my breath, I exist through the hidden glory of precise design
I loathe, held captive in a raw sphere of misunderstood incline
Driven to operate life from rewind
I contemplate fate and plot from the end of the line
And unfold eight steps instead of nine
Along the broken path, I scorn life trapped in-between the parallel line
I stress, your miseries can’t be mine…
Dancing along in this wilderness evokes the best of me
But what perplexes me
Is what compensates for the rest of me
For what keeps the heart from beating steadily
Are the four truths mixed into the equation of the carbonic recipe
My heart beats time anxiously
The gates of the four chambers welcome bitterness, all flushed heavily
Duration befalls infinity, stripping all apathy
Disguised in a curse, everything is paced unsteadily
To overlook vigor and energy
I’m naked of longevity
I long for a remedy…

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Interview with Jamie Rocha, FCRH 2010, Assistant Director, St Jude Up Til Dawn - Fordham Chapter

Interview with Jamie Rocha, FCRH 2010
Assistant Director, St Jude Up Til Dawn - Fordham Chapter

...this organization can be found at Rose Hill

1. Tell us a little bit about St Jude's and Up Til Dawn (UTD).

St. Jude is the leading center for the research and treatment of catastrophic illnesses affecting children in the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer center where families are never asked to pay for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. UTD is a student-led, student-run fundraising initiative on college campuses across the country. UTD unites the college campus under a common goal of raising money for the children of St. Jude through fun and creative fundraising events and initiatives.

2. How and why did you and Lauren DeStefano decide to establish UTD on campus?

Fordham had a very small UTD initiative last year, of which Lauren was the only returning member. I was a long-standing intern for St. Jude at that time and the two of us got together and decided that this year we would make UTD a real presence on campus. I had experience with other UTD programs, having worked on them during my time as an intern and Lauren had seen the challenges and successes of an UTD program on Fordham's campus. With the two of us working together, and the great executive board that we recruited, UTD will be HUGE this year!!

3. What makes UTD unique on a campus with dozens of organizations and clubs?

UTD is a unique program on Fordham's campus because of the direct impact that the money raised has on, not only the children of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, but on children in local hospitals as well. St. Jude is the ONLY charity that guarantees [that] 85% of every dollar raised goes directly to the current and future needs of St. Jude’s patients. This money goes directly towards finding a cure to childhood catastrophic illness and these cures/findings are then shared with the entire medical community. So, in supporting UTD on Fordham's campus, you are not only having an impact on the kids down at the hospital, [but] you are directly contributing to cures for children all over the world.

4. What can we hope to see from UTD as the semester progresses?

Fordham will be seeing A LOT from UTD throughout the semester. We will have an UTD awareness week during the beginning of the school year, where the executive board will be out on campus spreading the word about St. Jude with some fun activities and some yummy treats. We will be having our letter-sending party in the fall, where students come armed with names and addresses to whom we send St. Jude fundraising letters, while enjoying food, music, games and FUN! We also hope to host an eat-up at the famous "Pugsley's Pizza" and even more great stuff planned for next semester. So keep an eye out for Fordham UTD!!

-by Laura Veras

Mi Experiencia en Global Outreach o Cómo Aprendí a Parar de Juzgar y Comenzar a Querer mis Amigos (With English Trans.)

Mi Experiencia en Global Outreach o Cómo Aprendí a Parar de Juzgar y Comenzar a Querer mis Amigos

Por: Laura Veras

Recientemente almorcé con un viejo amigo de la escuela secundaria, y le estaba contando sobre mi viaje de servicio durante la semana de vacaciones de primavera a la ciudad rural, victima de la pobreza, de Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. Cuando él me preguntó cuál fue la mejor parte del viaje, inmediatamente dije: "Familiarizándome con mis compañeras", y ¿cómo respondió mi amigo? Se rió. Conociendo bien su naturaleza cínica, no me enojé mucho, pero sí me hizo pensar. ¿Desde cuándo es algo malo querer conocer a otras personas? Como alguien que viaja a la universidad todos los días y con una carga pesada de cursos y responsabilidades extracurriculares, encuentro que se me hace difícil conocer a mis compañeros de clase. A pesar de esto, el programa de Alcance Global (Global Outreach) es una oportunidad increíble para todos los estudiantes, y sí, mi parte favorita del viaje fué conocer a mis compañeras y a mí misma. No solamente pude ayudar en la construcción de las paredes para una casa de tres habitaciones (diez paredes grandes para el exterior y quince o más paredes de diferentes tamaños para el interior), sino que también conocí a unos dueños de una casa hecha por Habitat. Y déjeme decirle que en una sociedad donde trabajamos, trabajamos y trabajamos por placeres futuros, ésta experiencia fue increíblemente gratificante.

Me parece a mí que Global Outreach, junto con varias otras organizaciones y clubes de la universidad, es rehuido por los estudiantes cínicos y apáticos de Fordham Lincoln Center. Odio decirlo, pero el entumecimiento que existe en nuestra sociedad se esparce al corazón de nuestra comunidad. Esto es fácilmente aparente en acontecimientos de club, donde el cebo de alimento gratis es a veces la única manera de asegurar la asistencia. Por supuesto, muchos de nosotros tenemos horarios increíblemente ocupados que nos forza a ser muy seleccionados en cuanto a los eventos que podemos asistir, pero ¿cómo podría ser posible que fuera de 4.000 estudiantes sólo una fracción asiste regularmente a las reuniones de club y/o eventos? Durante mi orientación, hace dos años, yo me asombré de los líderes que hicieron malabares con varios clubes inmediatamente. Pero ahora que ve todo por dentro, puedo ver por qué. Sí, estas personas nos asombran, pero ellos son los únicos que aparecen. Usted sabe de quién yo hablo- ese grupo de más o menos quince estudiantes que usted ve corriendo dentro y fuera del cuarto 408, yendo de un evento al próximo con una botella de agua en una mano y un montón de volantes en la otra. ¿Si ellos no hacen el trabajo, quién lo va hacer?

¡USTED! No se siente en su cuarto mirando programmas de television repetidas que usted ya ha visto treinta veces, o pierda tiempo escuchando a su compañero de apartamento quejándose sobre de su novio o novia. Tan pronto como usted termine de leer este artículo (no pensaría que yo le diría que pare de leerlo de una vez?), encuentre un club en el que usted esta interesado y ¡vaya! ¡Si usted no puede encontrar un club, consiga a algunos amigos y empiece uno! ¡Sí, requiere mucho dedicación y mucha persistencia, pero no es imposible! ¡Este periódico que usted esta leyendo en este momento tomó varios meses de trabajo por un grupo dedicado de personas que quisieron hacer un cambio en la comunidad de FCLC…y aquí esta!!! Así que empiece, y recuerde que hay muchas personas allí que lo apoyarán. De hecho, si a usted le falta una firma para empezar su club, páreme en el pasillo y yo estaré contenta de firmar!

* *Denegación: Mi firma no significa necesariamente que asistiré a las reuniones. Por ejemplo, si usted desea empezar un club de amantes del sushi, yo realmente no soy la persona a la que usted querrá acercarse. El chocolate, por otro lado….eso es otra historia…

English Translation:

[My Global Outreach Experience or How I Learned To Stop Judging and Start Loving My Teammates
By: Laura Veras

I recently had lunch with an old friend from high school, and I was telling him about my spring break service trip to the poverty-stricken rural town of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. When he asked me what the best part of the trip was, I immediately answered, “Getting to know my teammates,” and how did my friend respond? He laughed. Knowing his cynical nature, I didn’t get too mad at him, but it made me think. When did it become a bad thing to want to get to know other people? As a commuter with a heavy course load and extracurricular responsibilities, I find it difficult to get to know my classmates. Yet Global Outreach is an incredible opportunity open to all students, and yes, my favorite part was learning about my teammates --and myself. Not only did I get to help build a complete set of walls for a three-bedroom house (10 large exterior walls and 15+ interior walls of varying sizes), but I met some of the homeowners currently living in a Habitat house. And let me tell you, in a society where we work, work, work for future pleasures, this experience was incredibly gratifying.

It seems to me that Global Outreach, along with several other campus organizations and clubs, are being shunned by the cynical and apathetic students at Fordham Lincoln Center. I hate to say it, but the numbness that exists in our society is spreading to the heart of our community. This is readily apparent at club events, where the lure of free food is sometimes the only way to ensure attendance. Of course, many of us have incredibly busy schedules that force us to be very picky about what events we attend, but how could it be possible that out of 4,000 undergraduates only a fraction regularly attend club meetings and/or events?

During my orientation two years ago, I was amazed at the leaders who juggled several clubs at once. But now that I’m on the inside, I can see why. Yes, these multi-taskers are amazing, but they are also the only ones showing up. You know who I’m talking about –that group of fifteen or so students that you see running in and out of 408, going from one event to the next with a bottle of water in one hand and a stack of flyers in the other. If they don’t get the job done, who will?

YOU! Don’t sit in your room watching Friends reruns that you’ve already seen thirty times, or waste time listening to your roommate complaining about his/her significant other. As soon as you finish reading this paper (you didn’t think I’d tell you to put it down right away, did you?), find a club you’re interested in and get going. If you can’t find that perfect fit, get some friends together and start one! Yes, it takes hard work and much persistence, but it’s not impossible! This paper you’re reading right now took several months of work by a dedicated group of people who wanted to make a change in the FCLC community…and here it is!!! So get started, and remember there are a lot of people out there who will support you. In fact, if you’re missing that one tiny signature to get a club started, stop me in the hall and I’ll be glad to join up!*

*Disclaimer: My signing up does not necessarily mean I will attend meetings. For example, if you wish to start a sushi-lovers club, I’m really not the person you’ll want to approach. Chocolate, on the other hand…. ]

Ojo: No es lo Mismo Decir Preséntemelo por favor, que Introdúzcamelo! (With English Trans.)

Ojo: No es lo Mismo Decir Preséntemelo por favor, que Introdúzcamelo!
Por Stephanie Cordero

Desde que surgió la idea de un periódico bilingüe, me emocioné y no dudé en ser parte de él porque pensé: por fin voy a poder escribir lo que pienso en mi lengua natal. Irónicamente, ya han salido dos ediciones de este periódico bilingüe desde esa primera reunión que tuvimos a principios del año 2007 y ninguna de ellas ha incluido un artículo mío en español. Bueno, finalmente decidí que esta tercera edición no carecería de mis pensamientos. Sin embargo, mientras trataba de escribir sobre un icono de la comedia hispana, me di cuenta que era mas difícil de lo que creí. No era que no tenía que decir, ya que esta persona de la que iba a escribir tiene una larga carrera y muchos éxitos de los cuales hablar; el problema era que yo no encontraba la forma de expresarme en mi lengua natal. Este descubrimiento fue un poco alarmante, especialmente cuando leí el párrafo que había escrito inicialmente y me di cuenta que sonaba a inglés en español. Es decir, las oraciones estaban estructuradas con la sintaxis del inglés, pero con palabras en español. Entonces me pregunté: si yo que viví y crecí en el Ecuador hasta mis once años de edad me he olvidado de cómo expresarme en español, ¿qué esperanza hay para todos aquellos que aprendieron español viviendo en los Estados Unidos?
En el afán de aprender inglés cuando llegamos a este país, muchos nos olvidamos de cómo hablar el español de la manera correcta. Pensamos que solo porque entendemos lo que dicen en las novelas y el lenguaje común de la gente, ya sabemos todo lo que tenemos que saber del castellano; pero este no es necesariamente el caso. Muchas veces los hispanos somos responsables de la degeneración de nuestra propia lengua. No nos importa si una palabra lleva acento o no.

Con que se entienda lo que queremos decir creemos que es suficiente. Incluso han habido varias ocasiones en las cuales yo misma he visto letreros en oficinas de medico, por ejemplo, donde un mensaje ha sido traducido al español pero con faltas de ortografía y de gramática que en nuestros países serían imperdonables si un estudiante de primaria los comete. Para mí esto es evidencia de que muchas veces a la gente que es dueña de negocios u oficinas no les importa si sus letreros en español están bien escritos o no . Esto no solo refleja la indiferencia que existe en este país a la conservación de la lengua castellana, sino que esta indiferencia también tiene otras consecuencias. Por ejemplo, gente que lee letreros o mensajes públicos que están mal escritos pueden seguir ese ejemplo, y usar nuestro idioma de tal manera que lo que decimos ya no tiene sentido.

Si bien, el inglés es la lengua oficial de los Estados Unidos, también es cierto que los hispanos somos ahora la minoría mas grande de este país. Esto hace que el español sea el segundo idioma mas hablado en los Estados Unidos, según el Censo del año 2000. Por lo tanto, los hispanos en Estados Unidos tenemos el poder de preservar nuestra lengua o de ser parte de su deterioramiento. Como ya hemos visto con la creación del “Spanglish,” versiones incorrectas del español son no solo usadas por la juventud y gente de todas las edades pero poco a poco se vuelven normativas. La gente ya ni sabe si una palabra en verdad existe en español o si se originó del inglés. Empezamos a usar expresiones como “yo te llamo para atrás” en lugar de “te llamo de regreso” o “te devuelvo la llamada,” como que si fueran correctas. Es más, cuando alguien usa la versión correcta de una expresión o de una palabra ya nos suena hasta raro. Por ejemplo hoy en día en los Estados Unidos, la palabra “parquearse” suena mucho mas común que “estacionarse.”

Es verdad que los hispanos venimos de muchos lugares que tienen diferentes acentos y expresiones pero es importante reconocer que nuestra lengua es esencial para la preservación de nuestra cultura. Nuestra cultura no se trata solamente de la exquisita comida o de la música movida, pero también de nuestro bello idioma. Si a nosotros no nos molesta que usen nuestro idioma incorrectamente, a quien mas le va a importar? La preservación de nuestro idioma y cultura esta en nuestras manos. Solo nosotros como hispanos podemos conservar la belleza y riqueza de nuestro idioma si nos esforzamos lo suficiente y nos asegurarnos de que cuando hablemos en español sea español que hablemos. Podemos también ir al Internet cuando dudemos si una palabra lleva acento o no, o si queremos asegurarnos de que una expresión o palabra que usemos se deriva realmente del castellano. Tan insignificantes como parezcan estas cosas, hacerlas repetidamente puede hacer la diferencia entre la destrucción o la conservación de nuestro idioma.






English Trans:


[Since the idea of a bilingual publication emerged, I was very excited to be a part of it because I thought: I will finally be able to write what I think in my native language. Ironically, two issues have already been published since that first meeting we had in the beginning of the year 2007 and neither of those have included a Spanish article from me. Anyway, I finally decided that this third issue would not lack my thoughts. However, while I was writing about an icon of Spanish comedy, I realized it was harder than I thought. It wasn’t that I didn’t have anything to say about him, since the person that I was going to write about has a long career and many accomplishments of which to write about; the problem was that I couldn’t figure out how to express myself in my native language. This discovery was rather alarming, especially when I read the paragraph that I had written initially, and I realized that it sounded like English written in Spanish. In other words, my sentences were structured following English syntax, but with Spanish words. So then I wondered, if I, who was born and raised in Ecuador until I was eleven, had forgotten how to express myself in Spanish, what hope is there for all of those who learned Spanish while living in the United States?

In the eagerness of learning English when we arrive in this country, a lot of us forget how to speak Spanish correctly. We think that just because we understand what they say in soap operas and the common language of the people, we know everything there is to know about Spanish; but this is not necessarily the case. Many times, we Hispanics are responsible for the deterioration of our own language. We don’t pay too much interest to whether a word is supposed to have an accent or not. As long as what we’re trying to say is understood, we think that it is enough. There have been multiple times when I have read signs in doctor offices, for instance, where a message has been translated to Spanish, but with spelling and grammar mistakes that would be unforgivable for a grammar student to make in our countries. To me this is evidence that many times people who are owners of businesses or offices don’t really care if their signs in Spanish are correctly written or not. This doesn’t only reflect the indifference that there is in this country to the conservation of Spanish, but also this indifference has other consequences. For instance, people who read signs or public messages that are incorrectly written could follow that example and use our language such that what we say doesn’t even make sense anymore.

While English is the official language of the United States, it is also true that Hispanics are now the greatest minority in this country. This makes Spanish the second most spoken language in the United States, according to the Census of 2000. For this reason, Hispanics in the United States have the power to either preserve our language or to be part in its deterioration. As we have seen already with the creation of “Spanglish,” incorrect versions of Spanish are not only used by young people and people of all ages, but little by little they become normative. People don’t even know if a word really exists in Spanish or if it originated from English. We start using expressions such as “Yo te llamo para atrás” (literal translation of I will call you back, which doesn’t really make much sense in Spanish) instead of “te llamo de regreso” o “ te devuelvo la llamada,” as if they were correct. Moreover, when a person uses the correct version of an expression or word, it even sounds weird to us. For instance, in the United States today, the word “parquearse” (Spanglish for to park) sounds a lot more common and familiar than “estacionare” (correct Spanish for to park).

It is true that Hispanics come from different places that have different accents and expressions, but it is important to acknowledge that our language is essential for the conservation of our culture. Our culture is not only about the exquisite food or of the up-beat music, but also about our language. If it doesn’t bother us that our language is used incorrectly, then who is going to care? The preservation of our language is in our hands. Only we as Hispanics can preserve the beauty and richness of our language if we make a sufficient effort to make sure that when we speak Spanish, it is indeed Spanish that we speak. We can also go on the Internet when we have a doubt about whether a word has an accent or not, or if we want to make sure that an expression or word that we use truly derives from Spanish. As insignificant as these actions may seem, doing them repeatedly can make the difference in the destruction or the preservation of our language.]